Scale: 1/76 | Models used: Revell (former Matchbox) Churchill A.V.R.E. (Kit nr. 03297), Airfix – Bren Carrier (AF01309V), Heller – British Infantry (H49604), HaT – British Tank Riders (8264)

A Churchill AVRE of the 79th Armoured Division has arrived to place a bridge on a crossing where the previous bridge has been destroyed. Meanwhile British soldiers leave their Bren Carrier to secure the area. 

Hobart’s Funnies is the nickname given to a number of specialist armoured fighting vehicles derived from tanks operated during the Second World War by units of the 79th Armoured Division of the British Army or by specialists from the Royal Engineers.

They were designed in light of problems that more standard tanks experienced during the amphibious Dieppe Raid, so that the new models would be able to overcome the problems of the planned invasion of Normandy. These tanks played a major part on the Commonwealth beaches during the landings. They were forerunners of the modern combat engineering vehicle and took their nickname from the 79th Division’s commander, Major-General Percy Hobart.

The vehicles converted were Churchill tanks and American-supplied M4 Sherman tanks.

Churchill tanks and a bridgelayer of 34th Tank Brigade during the assault on Le Havre, 13 September 1944.

A very interesting subject in my opinion. The Matchbox (now Revell) Churchill kit still holds up to this day. The running gear can be build up in a few parts, so that’s convenient. I wouldn’t be too afraid of the rubber tracks, they are manageable and will be covered up on the top side. The hatches can be displayed open, which gave me the option to add some crew figures. I added fishing lines to the winch and the bridge to give it that extra detail. The Bren Carrier from Airfix is an affordable – beginner friendly – kit which also comes with a crew and a gun. I only used the carrier for this diorama. The figures from HaT and Heller add the required life to the scene.

Regarding the base: I added some ground texture to a picture frame and placed it on top of an existing bridge piece that I had laying around from an old kit. It resulted in a ramp for the Bridgelayer to be placed on. Of course I also needed to add water to the scene, so I poured some Vallejo Still Water effect in the desired area (which was pre-painted murky green).

The foliage was realised by mixing seafoam with foliage clusters from Woodland Scenics.

I’ve sold this diorama in 2024.