Well, Gentlemen...we can say that Matilda is a sub-product of the Grant CDL Project ( see here:
http://www.planetarmor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4578
and so, lets rock !!!
All starts with this:
No WWII photos exist...Only old draws:
...and contemporary drawings:
But, continuing the description of the kit
The first thing that I did : to reproduce the Verlindenīs turret, only for my use, because they are many the versions and I intend to do all.....(Churchill, Valentine...) and was very hard to find this conversion set...
The great detail is the Matilda (and Valentine) they were the first ones to use the concept CDL and they used the early turrets, without the dummie gun and with a enormous lateral hatch:
As the Verlinden turrets are of the late type, the way was to modify the copy:
Removing the details that characterize the late version:
...and, with plasticard, threads and recycled pieces of Matilda, the turret was like this:
Like this, the thing is more similar:
But returning to the recycled kit: This Matilda was bought build, as donor of organs. After several like Frankenstein surgeries , itīs began to be like this:
Scratchs, new spotlights in the frontal fenders (mini-CDLīs)...
exhausts:
Closing the holes that the Mrs. Tamiya pushed us formerly, before the competition ...heheheheheh
Repair that the exhaust were covered with a thermal ribbon, executed with paper-tape...
Here, the Matilda, in good company:
The Grant is drying...and the Matilda wīll be primmed !!
like this:
Now, itīs looks like a respectable kit, brand new !!!: