Kit: No. 32528
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Tamiya, from Tamiya America, 800-826-4922, www.tamiyausa.com
Price: $24.99
Comments: Injection-molded, 173 parts, cast-metal lower hull, decals
Pros: Good detail overall, ease of assembly, link-and-length tracks
Cons: Hull bottom interferes with the rear fenders, gap between hull front and top, no searchlight detail

Tamiya has now added the Cromwell to its 1/48 scale line of armor kits. The kit features link-and-length tracks, string tow cables, positionable crew hatches, and an optional “Normandy” cowling for the rear deck. Decal options for three Northern European Army vehicles are included.

Starting with the cast-metal lower hull, I attached the front and back panel, painted this assembly and the running gear, then attached the link-and-length tracks. Dry-fitting the major pieces of the hull revealed fit problems. A gap appears between the upper hull front and the lower hull. The sides of the lower hull interfered with the rear fenders (B8 and B9). I sanded the inside edge on the fenders to make them fit. I drilled out the flash hiders on the coaxial and hull machinegun barrels with a No. 11 blade.

Tamiya instructs the modeler to assemble the turret base first, then install the add-on armor. The separate armor pieces lined up correctly. Just remember to drill out the hole for the searchlight. I drilled the light out to accept an aftermarket MV lens (No. 116). I painted my Cromwell with Floquil and Model Master paints, choosing a vehicle from the B Squadron, 2nd Armored Battalion, Welsh Guards. The decals went on fine over a gloss coat of Future, but appying the star and circle over the irregular surfaces of the turret took repeated applications of Micro Sol.

The finished model scales close to the measurements in Christopher F. Foss’ The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles. I spent 15 hours completing this model. Now, let’s see if Tamiya follows this with a Churchill.

– Tom Foti