1:48 CROMWELL deep wading (TAMIYA)

Cromwell 1:48 - photo-etched deep wading equipment (Hauler)

A set of photo-etched parts, not a kit of the tank. It is cut for the Tamiya kit and adds the equipment for deep wading, that is, the extensions and covers that were fitted to vehicles before a landing so that water would not reach the air intake and the exhaust. The model can thus be built in the configuration of the first hours after a landing, a subject that appears in display cases only rarely.

The subject and its background

At the Normandy landings in 1944 armored vehicles had to leave the landing craft into the water and drive a short stretch across the shallows. They were therefore given temporary extensions and seals, which were thrown off or blown off once they reached dry land. The Cromwell, as a British cruiser tank, went through this modification like the other types that took part in the first days of the operation.

Building and painting tips

A wading set changes the silhouette of a model fundamentally, so think the scene through in advance - fit the parts according to whether you are building a machine just out of the water or one already without the extensions. It is advisable to dry-fit the photo-etched areas and only then glue them with super glue. Run straight bends in a bender, degrease the brass and give it a primer for metal. For the effect of a wet machine a gloss acrylic varnish applied only to the lower part of the hull works well, together with light deposits of sand and salt where the water ran off.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who build a scene from the landings or from the first days of the fighting in Normandy
• Builders of British armor in 1:48 scale
• More experienced photo-etch enthusiasts who can handle bends and dry-fitted alignment
• Dioramas where water, sand and a wet surface are worked with

This is an accessory for building a model. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.