C054
Chieftain Bridgelayer +AVLB No-8
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Chieftain Bridgelayer +AVLB No-8
The Chieftain Bridgelayer is unique in that in it’s day it could deploy the longest and strongest tank bridge in the world. At 80 foot long, with an 80 Tonne weight class, the Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) No-8 is a miracle of modern engineering. In fact new aluminium alloys were developed just for this project, along with revolutionary hydraulics.
Anyway…..on to the model! This massive 1/35th scale conversion by Tim Babb is a conversion on the Tamiya Chieftain “Mk-5” model kit*. We opted for a conversion to keep the cost down, and because we need a styrene lower hull for technical reasons. C054 includes both the bridgelayer and the AVLB No-8 Bridge (which alone is 28 Inches/711mm long).The bridgelayer conversion comprises a complete upper hull, and all the detail launching gear castings, pre-drilled main launch cylinders and all other materials.
The models have been made so that the bridge operates, and together utilise five sets of etched brass, brass and plastic rod; a total of over 500 parts. This is a model for the experienced collector, but in a strange quirk of fate at a model show in 1999 we met a customer who showed us pictures of this model completed, and completed superbly too… his very FIRST multi-media kit!
The Bridgelayer Conversion can be purchased separately as C057, and the complete AVLB No-8 bridge as K200.
This product is a Conversion set and a TAMIYA donor plastic kit is needed to make the vehicle shown in the images.