1:76 Matilda Tank Nov-26

Matilda - a British infantry tank in 1:76 scale from Airfix

An injection-molded plastic kit of the British infantry tank Matilda, that is the Infantry Tank Mk.II, in 1:76 scale. The kit belongs to the Vintage Classics range, which Airfix issues from its classic older molds; you can tell it by the final V in the manufacturer's part number. The 1:76 scale is the British standard for tabletop armies, so the model fits in easily with the figures and buildings of the same range. The number of parts and the make-up of the decals are not stated here.

The real subject

The Matilda, officially the A12 Infantry Tank Mk.II, was a British infantry tank with exceptionally heavy armor and a 2-pounder gun, that is 40 mm. It was built to support advancing infantry, so it had a low speed and a tough hull with the characteristic side skirts covered by sheet-metal panels. In North Africa in 1940 and 1941 it earned the nickname Queen of the Desert, because Italian anti-tank weapons could not pierce its armor at first. As the anti-tank defense grew stronger it moved to the second line; the vehicles delivered went on fighting with the Australians in the Pacific and with the Soviet army.

Building and painting tips

The older mold has finer flash and fewer locating pins, so dry-fit the parts and use glue sparingly. Paint the running gear and the inner side of the skirts before you close the panels up; after that a brush will not reach them. A desert finish comes out best when you lighten the base color on the horizontal surfaces and lay the dust on with pigment from the bottom upward.

Who the model is for

• Modelers of British vehicles in 1:76 scale
• Anyone interested in the classic molds of the Vintage Classics range
• Builders of tabletop armies and North African dioramas
• Beginning modelers who want an undemanding hull

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.