US Churchill MK.VII Tank

The AFV Club Churchill MK. VII is the most detailed kit for this vehicle available at this time. Although the Tamiya Churchill MK. VII is an easier to build kit, some builders consider it to be over simplified. Although the AFV Club version commands a higher price point than Tamiya's kit, there is good reason for it. The AFV Club kit has a workable suspension that incorporates actual metal springs. There are clear plastic periscope blocks and parts to construct a complete engine that can be displayed if the engine hatches are mounted in an open position. Unfortunately, if the builder does this, the turret can not be positioned with the gun barrel pointing forward. The main gun part is an aluminum barrel. I was slightly disappointed that the kit only provided a piece of string to build the towing cables. Although the tracks are single piece vinyl parts, the builder will not have to worry about replicating track sag as the upper track portion is nearly completely covered by the vehicle's massive side fenders. Due to the complex suspension assembly and the involved painting process of the engine and engine bay, this kit is recommended for intermediate to advanced modelers. For novice builders, it is recommended that they select and build the Tamiya version of this vehicle.