Corgi 1/50th Scale AFV’s
Review By Steve Crofts
It is I know quite a chore to find suitable WWII vehicles to use in our wargames, choice can be somewhat limited as there are very few model kits of this scale and only a few companies actually carry good lead or resin models and these vary in detail from model to model.
It was whilst I was perusing the net for such vehicles and getting nowhere fast, (I’d hit the same sites over and over again!), I suddenly found myself looking at Corgi’s website, low and behold there in front of me was a selection of vehicles at 1/50th scale, hmmm I thought, I bet the chaps on the forum would like to hear about these, so I contacted them and a very nice lady replied and to cut a long story short, she sent some of them for review so we could all see what was on offer.
I received the following: -
1 Churchill tank
1 Panther
1 Sherman
1 T34
1 Sdkfz 7 Krasse Maffei semi track
1 Diamond “T” recovery vehicle, with trailer and Sherman Tank.
The Churchill Tank
This model is based upon a tank which was in “C” squadron, Calgary Regt, 1st Canadian Army Tank brigade, and was landed on the beaches of Dieppe in August of 1942.
The Churchill is a MkIII, and is modelled on the tank which actually managed to cross the sea wall and fight in the Ornamental gardens beyond it.
The model is I must say is very well detailed, features include:- moving tracks and wheels, Elevating gun and movable turret.
The detail on the tracks is very well presented and does I must say look very lifelike.
Hatches etc… are well represented and again detailed, (something one tends to expect from a company like Corgi), the only feature I would have liked to have seen would have been opening hatches, but let us not detract from the fact that these are actually made for collectors as a static model, rather than to be used as a
Wargamer's play thing!
The whole appearance of the model is that of a solid and robust construction, and it is just that, the only thing I would be loathe to do and that would be to trundle it along the battlefield for fear of damaging or breaking the tracks,(but we don’t trundle our models do we! Well only sometimes!!!).
As a point of note the aerials are actually stiff wire which are separate but they locate in the two holes on the turret, it may be an idea to put a spot of superglue on the end of them just to make sure they hold in place and don’t get lost.
All in all this is a really nice model and I must say when I decide to sort out a Canadian contingent for my ever growing WWII collection, These will be on the top of my shopping list!
The Panther Ausf D
The Panther is modelled as one of those which took part in the Kursk offensive in Russia, 1943. The models details are very good, spare track links mounted on the turret sides, detailed Jack and exhaust stacks, plus a very nice array of extra stowage on the sides of the hull. Also included in this stowage are all the tools for changing / replacing broken track links.
Another feature that I liked were the shovel and prising bar, and the nice finishing touch of the towing cables which again very much look the part.
Working features include moving tracks and wheels, movable turret and elevating main gun.
The M4A3 Sherman
The Sherman is painted up in the camouflage pattern for Sicily in 1943 and represents a vehicle of the 2nd Armoured Division of the U.S. Army.
Again this is a superb model and is a really well detailed model, even the light guard bars and ornaments are nicely reproduced on the hull.
Other detailed features on this model include grills, hatches and handles, in fact all the little extras that are featured on this model do credit to the overall look of the tank.
It is funny but I have made quite a few kits of the Sherman, indeed all the models that I have had in this set to review and to be honest it is hard to pick out which is indeed the die cast model without actually picking it up, this I feel must go someway to letting you know how good these models are.
The turret and co-axle Browning machineguns just emphasise this point, as they even show the cooling holes on the barrels, a nice touch!
Talking of nice touches, the canvas sheet on the rear deck which is placed and just covers the last portion of the engine inspection covers, the canvas sheet even features the eyelet holes!
It would, I surmise be quite an easy job to add more paraphernalia to this and the other models in this range such as extra stowage and camouflage nets along with other rolled canvas sheets ect…
T34/76
The T34 is marked up as a tank from the 112th Tank brigade, 6th tank corps, as per January 1943.
Now this I think this one has to be a favourite of mine, why? you ask, well to me it just sums up the Russian front, cold, muddy and rugged.
I do think that Corgi have done an excellent job in capturing the whole appearance of this tank to a tee, the hurried whitewash camouflage slapped over the Olive green paint work looks really good, just like the Russian crew have hurriedly applied it before going into
battle.
Talking of paint work, the “mud” is quite impressive, the way that Corgi have done this is to make it actually look wet, again a nice touch, and to cap off the paint job they have also done a marvellous job of painting the soot from the exhausts.
The tank features stowage but something that I felt was a lovely addition to this model were the grab rails for the Soviet Infantry to hang onto, as the tank transports them into battle.
SDKFZ 7, Krauss Maffei: Semi Track
This vehicle is modelled on a type used in Tripoli, Libia in 1941, by the Deutsches Afrikakorps. Amongst other roles this large half track pulled the mighty 88 flack/anti tank gun, there are two versions which Corgi have made depicting two separate variants of this semi track. One variant carries the quad 2cm Flack gun but having not seen this model I cannot comment, but if it’s anything like this variant it will be just as well detailed. They variant I was supplied with, for review, was the troop carrier.
Corgi have come up trumps with this model as they have given you the choice of either, the canvas roof in the up and fitted position or in the down and open position. Stowage bins are empty but has that stopped a war gamer from filling odds and ends like jerry cans and canvas roles or camouflage nets? No, so this shouldn’t be a problem either.
Detail on this model again, is superb right down to the exhaust and towage, even the dust on the windscreen has a nice clean section that has been cleared by the windscreen wipers, that I thought was a nice touch in itself.
Diamond “T” Tank Transporter
The vehicles in this set are depicted as belonging to, The Royal Army Service Corps and an M4 Sherman Tank belonging to 2nd battalion, 1st armoured regiment, 1st armoured division as they were in Sidi Bou Zid in 1943. This is a wonderful model which consists of three parts, the Diamond “T” tractor unit, the flat bed trailer and the Sherman tank, yes you get a Sherman with it!!!
There are a few separate parts that come with this set, for the tractor unit comes a spare wheel plus mirrors ect which need to be fitted, for the M4 Sherman a Browning MG and an aerial which fit on the turret of the tank.
The model as you can imagine, when fitted together, is quite long, but it is impressive. There was only one thing I didn’t like about this model and it is only a small niggles, and that is the fact that you can see quite clearly the tiny Phillips screws which have been used on the trailer ramps, it may be the only way the moving ramps could be fitted, which I do think tends to spoil the over all look of the model, (I’ll ask about it in my questions), apart from that the model is excellent.
Although as I said, the set contains a M4 Sherman, its features are very much like those described above in my report of the other Sherman tank so I will not go over these points again except to say, it again is a very nice model.
Questions
The very nice lady at Corgi, passed on my questions to the persons responsible for each of the items and the answers are as shown below:
1) I know these Models are not meant as models to be used for Wargames but, would it have been possible to make the tank turrets have the feature of opening hatches?
The problem with opening hatches is to reproduce the hinges at scale. This is very difficult and tends to look 'clunky'. It is possible but the solutions are costly and also delicate and invariably result in high returns. Our experience with the collector market is that authenticity is more important than working features and so we based our decision on this principle
2) What sources did you use when researching the camouflage and paint patterns on the vehicles.
Numerous sources from books/magazines to museums to enthusiasts and experts. The internet has become an important tool and the colour information on the IPMS Stockholm website is very useful, in particular for aircraft. The Military Miniatures Magazine website (http://miniatures.de/englishContent.html) is also useful, but there are many more
3) I noticed on the Diamond "T" Trailer Phillips screw heads showing when viewed from the side of the model, these are obviously the pivot fixings for the loading ramps, I feel this to be a shame, as it is overall a lovely model, couldn't a different fixing method have been used to attach the ramps?
We did want to use a drive nail but could not source one 'off the shelf'. The cost to develop a specific fixing was not justified given the volume of sales forecast.
4) Do you intend to expand your range of models in this scale, and if so will you be including vehicles such as the GMC troop carrying truck, (as used by the U.S. and Russian forces), along with other trucks such as the Opel Blitz, other types of half tracks along with Armoured Cars as well as expanding the range of Tanks?
We do plan to expand the range but experience shows that soft skinned vehicles are far less popular than heavy armour. Our plans therefore feature far more tanks than trucks
5) Another addition, if you are considering expanding the range, I feel would be of interest to collectors and Wargamers, would be the addition of field guns and anti tank weapons to complement the vehicles, do you think this may be an option for you in the future?
Yes, we are considering our first gun
6) The vehicles in the range are all limited editions,( if you expanded the range), would the other models be limited editions also?
Limited editions are important for the collector and we will continue with this. As the volumes are not huge it is most unlikely that we would ever wish to re-run a particular item so this is not really an issue. We have however recently launched our WW2 Legends range which present the models to a slightly lower level of decoration and these are not limited editions
Final Thoughts
All of these models are indeed a credit to Corgi, they have done a marvellous job of recreating these AFV’s accurately and at 1/50th scale they do add a really good choice open to the 28mm Wargamer.
As I found out with my questions to Corgi the range is planned for expansion but there will be limited stocks of some of them and they do intend to compliment the range with guns.
All of the models featured in this review are in fact limited editions and numbers available range from about 6,500 to just 1,000 world wide, so if you want them, be quick!!!
Check out Corgi’s website for details of prices…..
www.corgi.co.uk
I would finally like to thank Micheala at Corgi for being so kind and such a great help, and for passing on my questions to the relevant persons, Thank you very much indeed.
Steve Crofts -
Senior Reviewer, Wargames Forum.
Please remember to mention Wargames Forum when contacting traders!
