Trumpeter 1/72 Challenger I MBT

The FV4030/4 Challenger 1 is a British main battle tank (MBT) used by the British Army from 1983 to the mid-1990s, when it was superseded by the Challenger 2. It is also currently used by the Royal Jordanian Army as its main battle tank, after heavy modifications. The variants for the Jordanian military are to be upgraded using the unmanned Falcon turret.

The tank was used operationally during Gulf War I where it On 26 February 1991, a Challenger achieved the longest range confirmed kill of the war, destroying an Iraqi tank with an armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) round fired over a distance of 4,700 metres (2.9 mi)—the longest tank-on-tank kill shot recorded. These tanks were also used during operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I am not sure why this was listed as a NATO version as the tank was never operated by any NATO nations save the UK. Perhaps it is to differentiate it from another boxing that is for Gulf War I.

In comparison to kits from Revell and Italeri in this scale, it is somewhat complex. Compared to Dragon kits it is simple. The inside set of road wheels/sprocket/idler are molded in place along with the tracks. You add the outer portions of all these when you build it. How much work you want to put into separately painting the road wheel and return roller surfaces is up to you but it won't be easy to do the inner ones.

The lower hull has separate suspension arms and to these the track assemblies are attached. Then you add the rear hull assembly after building it up and then the upper hull and side skirts. The next several construction steps have you building up the turret with the various bits and pieces that attach to it. Then you stick on the turret in the usual click/lock that is common for tank kits.

Instructions are well done, but the painting guide is far too dark and one cannot tell the color pattern very well at all. These tanks are olive drab and flat black. A small decal sheet (not shown) provides two markings options, neither of which is identified. There are a variety of paint references provided with only Mr. Hobby paints covering the full range listed.

From reading through the instructions, this does not seem to be a difficult kit to build. Not a lot of small parts and you can assemble most of it prior to painting. If you want to paint the rubber on the road wheels, I'd leave off the side skirts until you are done. You'll only have to partially paint these items as the skirts cover most of the wheels.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_1

February 2020

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