1/15 Churchill AVRE with SBG Bridge diorama

[DRUMS01]

SUBJECT: British Churchill AVRE Vehicle with SBG Bridge
MODEL: AFV Club Churchill AVRE with SBG Bridge
SCALE: 1/35
BUILD DATES: Oct 17, 2023 - SEP 15, 2025

OTHER ITEMS:

• Minicraft British WW2 Tank Crew
• Masterbox British WW2 Paratroopers
• Resicast Churchill Stowage
• Tamiya German MG Troops and Accessories
• Tamiya Jerry Cans
• Master Box British infantry Weapons
• Minicraft French Concrete Road Signs
• Minicraft Farm Cart and Accessories
• Minicraft Wood Barrels and Accessories
• Dragon MG42 Team and Accessories
• Alli-Express 3d printed German Figures
• Alli-Express 3d printed British Soldiers at Rest
• Alli-Express 3d printed Standing British Infantry
• 1/35 Various Resin Nuts and Bolts
• 1/35 Brass Ammo Cartridges
• Peddinghaus British WW2 Uniform Insignia
• Tamiya German WW2 Uniform Insignia
• Eduard brassin BREN Mk1 Machine Gun
• Eduard Brassin MG Barrel on Churchill Tank
• 14" x 18" Frame for Diorama Base
• 1/4" Foam Board
• 1 1/2 Insulation Foam
• Milliput Putty (Terrain and Sand Bags)
• Various dimension Bass wood Strips (Bridge)
• SLON by Beadsmith Nylon Bead Rope
• Scratch built metal T-Buckle on Bridge Hoist
• Aluminum Tube to Reinforce Cable Couplings
• Various Landscape Products by Various Manufacturers
• Organic Material for diorama foliage and Trees
• Various Scale Simulated Resin Multi-colored Tree Leaves
• Various Glues: Tamiya, CA Cements, Landscape Glue and Spray
• Vallejo Diorama FX Brown and Dark Earth
• Tamiya, Model Master, Vallejo, and Watercolor Paints
• Tamiya and Hobby Lobby Pastels
• Coremake Resin Colored Water Paste (River/Lake)
• JTT Clear and Blue Resin Water
• And Other Stuff I Can’t Remember…

MODIFICATIONS:

• Added scratchbuilt poly caps to replace those missing in the kit
• Replaced tow cable stowage trough above access doors on panniers with spare PE
• Modified front suspension to simulate load weight of bridge
• Scratchbuilt small spring for mortar barrel to replace part missing from kit
• Scratchbuilt metal t-buckle and added metal tube over plastic to reinforce cable couplings
• Replaced kit cloth thread with SLON nylon bead rope to simulate steel cables
• Replaced kit intake brace rods with metal, kit parts damaged in shipment
• Replaced kit tow cable with SLON nylon rope
• Replaced kit MG on front of tank chassis with Eduard brass version
• Added pioneer tools and fire extinguishers to tank chassis (not in instructions)
• Added driving and tactical lights (not in instructions)
• Added exhaust bracing (not in instructions)
• Added Minicraft tank crew (some slightly modified)
• Added various Resicast resin stowage items to chassis and turret
• Added steel guitar string cut to length for antennas
• Sealed 14x18 base with acrylic over white glue
• Designed from scratch foam levels of terrain
• Designed from scratch wood bridge with bass wood strips
• Added Mulliput to smooth contours of terrain
• Added foam insulation pieces to simulate rocks
• Created sandbags and defensive positions from Milliput
• Created grenade craters through baseboard of diorama
• Created all foliage, and trees with organic and purchased “stuff”
• Built, Modified, and added Farmer Cart, and Cement Sign
• Created tree roots using Milliput
• Added Five Layers of Paint, Grass, and Foliage to Base
• Created all straps, slings, chin straps, etc. with lead foil
• Built up and added all figures
• Built up and added all resin stowage and tarps, supplies

REFERENCES:
Wikipedia, British Churchill AVRE Tank with SBG Bridge
Churchill Tank 41-56 Haynes Manual
Churchill Tank 41-45, David Doyle
The Story of British Military Bridging, J. H. Joiner

Churchill AVRE and SBG Bridge Build String: viewtopic.php?t=31025

Diorama Build String: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=31290

CHURCHILL, THE BEGINNING:

DIORAMA, THE BEGINNING:

PROGRESS PHOTOS:

LET THERE BE TREES:

FIGURING IT OUT:

SLINGS AND THINGS:

STUFF:

Wehrmacht Detonator, or Gluhzundapparat 37; another “official” name used by WW2 Allied doctrine is a German Type 37 Field Exploder.:

FULL DISPLAY, FINAL REVEAL:

(To Be Posted soon! Developing photos as I type this)…

[DRUMS01]

After some time, I’ve finally cleaned up and cropped the reveal photos, enjoy!

[DRUMS01]

The few things we noticed in the final photos concerning the tank siting above the road (not on or in it), the decoupling cable missing, and the water color needing to be toned down from the brilliant blue have been fixed. Here are a couple new pictures with those updates:

Decoupler cable added, along with the tracks and contact patch improved:

Here is the water with less blue Mediterranean and more disturbed river look:

[pr154]

Bravo Drums! You’ve done a phenomenal job with this one This is a very believable setting, with something interesting to look at and a tale to be written at every corner of the board… I somehow don’t think those German soldiers are going to walk off those injuries…

I’m hoping to introduce some foliage into an upcoming build, and am noting the effective use of seafoam and moss as the vegetation. Have you used a commercial armature for the tree trunk and branches as well, or that a product of some meticulous twig collection and reassembly?

I imagine there’s quite a significant counterweight in the Churchill to overcome the pose of the bridge. Really commend your efforts to make it’s contact with the ground both credible and physically correct

[mrb865]

Incredible amount of detail here. Very realistic! Fantastic and visually stunning diorama!

[Cbowling]

This is a diorama that I could look at for hours. Outstanding detail, and I’m sure a lot of hidden gems. Congratulations beautiful execution.

[DRUMS01]

Thanks for all the kind words. This build actually tested both my patience and limits.

As for the trees, they are indeed organic and gathered from shrub blooms along with being built up to the desired shapes for the main branches.

As for finding new things each time you look at it, that was indeed my desired result. I hope you all enjoy.

[Crazy-Creator-5601]

Holy shmackarola! I’m literally melding by watching the amount of work you have put into this masterpiece of a diorama. And to say that I own the same tank, the same British paratrooper figures and and the same few other British troops as well. It is a great scene, very well done and extremely well documented. I wonder how much time it must have taken for you to complete it all, but no matter, when time is so well spent it simply doesn’t count. I am still in awe seeing it. Excellent job indeed!

[PaulC]

Amazing! Incredible detail and incredible craftsmanship. There is a lot going on here. I am in awe. Total respect!

[DRUMS01]

Paul and Crazy-Creator; thank you both for your very kind remarks. This build took on and off around two years. Usually, I have a vision in my head, but in this case the idea kind of grew as it went. Not without heavy research and input from modeling peers.

Some would say that most AVRE’s removed the water waging gear as soon as they left the beach. There are a small amount of images out there showing a few with them still on the first couple days after landing. I chose to keep them on.

I am happy with the results and, to be honest, I’m happy that others find enjoyment in it. Is it perfect in my eyes, not at all… but that is normal for most modelers.

Thanks again and thanks for looking.