Background

The British Churchill tank was one of the most important tank designs introduced by the British after the start of the Second World War. Following the collapse of the French armies at the hands of the invading Germans utilizing Blitzkrieg tactics, British forces lost most of their front line military equipment in France in May 1940. The British reevaluated their previous views on the purposes and uses of tanks following these losses, and came up with more modern designs, the Churchill tank being a prime example. It was heavily armored, and with the introduction in 1943 of the Mk.VII, better armed, sporting as it did a 75mm main gun capable of firing both high explosive and armor piercing rounds. In preparation for the D-Day Invasion in June 1944, various “specialized” tanks were dreamed up, including a flame throwing version of the Churchill, named the Crocodile.

Quickboost has released two Parabellum WWI aircraft gun resin details sets, 48 813 (LMG-14) and 48 814 (LMG-14/17). The Parabellum 7.9mm caliber LMG 14/17 was an upgrade of the LMG-14, which itself was a redesign of the MG 08 (The MG 08 was an adaptation of the Maxim machine gun). The LMG 14 was used primarily in German bombers (i.e.: Gotha G.IV), reconnaissance aircraft (i.e.: Halberstadt CL.II), and zeppelins, although it did see some limited use early on with the Fokker Eindecker E.I prototypes. The LMG-14/17 featured a thinner air-cooling jacket, redesigned controls, and an added mounting rail for a telescopic sight. I have included a photograph comparison below of the LMG 14 vs the LMG 14/17 out of the Wingnut Wings 1/32 Junkers J.I kit for reference.

This complete resin and photo-etch kit from Hauler represents the F-55 Feuerlilie (Fire Lily). As mentioned above, the kit also includes the modified 88mm anti-aircraft gun launch platform. If your thinking that this release looks kinda familiar then you'd be right. This kit has previously been available under the Extra TECH banner.

The AA missile is comprised of seven light gray resin bits which are easily removed from the pour stubs. The missile body has some lovely engraved panel lines as well as the detail of the thrust nozzles on the aft end of the F-55.

The guidance wings, which exhibit their own engraved detail, are all of two pieces to which are added two winglets per wing. After assembling the F-55 missile all that's left to do is decide what color to paint it. This was a prototype weapon, so just about any shade of gray would be accurate, as would natural metal. Let your imagination run wild.