1:72 Crusader accessories set

1:72 Crusader accessories set from Black Dog model

A resin set of accessories in 1:72 scale for a model of the British Crusader cruiser tank. It is not a kit of the tank but a set of parts that add cargo, tarpaulins, jerrycans and personal crew equipment to a finished model. The kit of the tank is obtained separately.

The real subject

The Crusader was a British cruiser tank, that is a machine built for speed and mobility rather than for armor protection. It became best known in the North African campaign, where its speed came in useful in open country, while the reliability of its drivetrain and its armament were among its weaknesses. Crews of vehicles in the desert lashed cans of water and fuel, tarpaulins, crates and spare parts onto the hull, because the supply line was long and uncertain. It is exactly this look that the set gives a model.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm soapy water, otherwise the primer will not take. Cut the casting blocks off with a sharp saw over a tray, as the parts are small in 1:72 and easily jump away. Sand the resin with respiratory protection and bond it with super glue. Try the arrangement dry, above all on the fenders and the rear plate. A desert scene takes a lighter base, but make the contrast with texture rather than saturation: a darker glaze in the shadows, a dry brush on the edges and finally a fine sandy pigment on the lower parts and the wheels.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who build the Crusader in 1:72 scale.
• Builders of desert dioramas of the Second World War.
• Anyone interested in resin accessories with experience of small parts.
• Modelers who want to turn an out-of-the-box build into a vehicle in the field.