Meng Models A39 Tortoise

This is the Meng Models A39 Tortoise super heavy assault tank. The quality of this kit, to me at least, was much better than the resin kit from Accurate Armour. The kit is modelled after the prototype vehicle at Bovington, so does not have the ammo hatch on the left side of the hull that was added for the production vehicles.

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/meng-135-british-a39-tortoise-heavy-assault-tank/

The suspension was the only fiddly part of the build. Once that was done, the build went rather quickly (a good thing knowing how slowly I build models). There are a lot of movable parts on this kit and the hull is textured to match the casting texture on the real vehicle.

The main gun can freely move on its ball joint. The top of the gun brace can be opened in the same way as on the real vehicle; swing the restraining peg out and the latch can open so that you can fold it down. The integral machine gun in the left side of the hull can also move. The tow hooks are movable, and the pins can also be left so that they can be removed as well, but I glued them into place so that I wouldn't lose them. The machine gun turret can turn and the hatch on it can be opened. The commander's cupola can be rotated and the hatch opened. All of the periscopes can be turned as well.

I have painted this first vehicle in the deep bronze green that appeared towards the end of the war, most commonly seen on the Comet. I plan to eventually build a few more tanks in what-if colour schemes; one more temperate pattern and two desert patterns.

 

You may notice I forgot to put a wash on one of the tracks. :P

A39 Tortoise - Tankfest 2011

Tortoise run for the first time in 60 years, at Tankfest 2011.

TANKFEST provides the public with a unique opportunity to see rare vehicles in action. This year, you’ll see the massive Tortoise tank running before the public for the first time in 60 years.

The Tank Museum’s Tortoise is now the only complete surviving example of this anachronistic machine. We believe that it was last run under its own power during gunnery trails in the early 1950’s, over 60 years ago. Its meteor engine (essentially the same as a Merlin engine of the Spitfire), still produces the same pleasing tone as it would have all those years ago. But it is a `thirsty` vehicle, with Tank Museum experts estimating that it will travel at 10 gallons to the mile.

It was removed from display in the Museum in April, from where it was towed (with some considerable difficulty) to the Workshop and undergone a thorough inspection and evaluation prior to its starring role at TANKFEST.

A39 Tortoise - Weathering Again

I had done some weathering on this model before, the first time I'd ever tried it. Unfortunately when I put on the gloss varnish most of it was wiped away. I've just started to re-weather it, applying lessons learned. This time round I decided to do much more extensive weathering rather than just dust and dirt build-ups.

Here's a picture of its current state, after applying the first stage.

A39 Tortoise - Finished

The British A39 Tortoise super heavy assault tank.

A39 Tortoise - 24/11/2009

After a lot of saving I managed to get a 1/35 scale resin model of an A39 Tortoise from Accurate Armour. I am obsessed with this tank. It was build during World War II and 6 were completed a month after the war ended. It has 8" of armour on the front and a 32 pounder cannon with a maximum range of 18.8 km. In it's trials it hit the exact same point on the front of a panther 3 times in a row from 2 km away, tearing it's turret off and peeling up the driver's plate.