Challenge(r) accepted. ERA everywhere. Group build. Herbert Erpadorp Discord group.

ERA everywhere. Group build. Herbert Erpadorp Discord group.

1/48 British main battle tank. Challenger II

Challenger II lifting the lid on the ERA group build.

ERA?

Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. It is most effective in protecting against shaped charges and specially hardened kinetic energy penetrators. The most common type is explosive reactive armour (ERA).

Reactive armour is intended to counteract anti-tank munitions that work by piercing the armour and then either killing the crew inside or disabling vital mechanical systems.

The rules. Build something, anything with ERA.

The Challenger 2 is the third vehicle of this name, the first being the A30 Challenger, a World War II design using the Cromwell tank chassis with a 17-pounder gun. The second was the Persian Gulf War era Challenger 1, which was the British army's main battle tank (MBT) from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s.

The FV4034 Challenger 2 is a third-generation British main battle tank (MBT) in service with the armies of the United Kingdom, Oman, and Ukraine.

Designed by Vickers Defence Systems (now BAE Systems Land & Armaments) as a private venture in 1986 and was an extensive redesign of the company's earlier Challenger 1 tank.

The UK Ministry of Defence ordered a prototype in December 1988. Despite outward similarities to the Challenger 1, design and technological developments mean that only about 3% of components are interchangeable with the earlier vehicle.

Looking at the box. About 10 of your earth pounds or 12 Earth dollars if you prefer.

On the box we have a Challenger II. Probably not surprising if you think about it.

The Challenger II has a crew of four one of which is poking his head out of the turret. You will have to take my word regarding the others.

Two side panels featuring the model in question. I can't read the Japanese, but I think it says that this one was made for me.

The end panels have the usual info to help us with our selection. I'll have the box with the Challenger please.

Having no chainsaw, I'll cut the bands with scissors...

The main armament is a L30A1 120-millimetre (4.7 in) rifled tank gun, an improved derivative of the L11 gun used on the Chieftain and Challenger 1. Fifty rounds of ammunition are carried for the main armament, alongside 4,200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition for the tank's secondary weapons: a L94A1 EX-34 chain gun mounted coaxially, and a L37A2 (GPMG) machine gun. The turret and hull are protected with second generation Chobham armour, also known as Dorchester. Powered by a Perkins CV12-6A V12 diesel engine, the tank has a range of 550 kilometres (340 mi) and maximum road speed of 59 kilometres per hour (37 mph).

All of that is modelled here in the box...

Dad joke time...

It appears that we have a long weight ahead of us...

The weight of the Challenger II is about 62. 5 tonnes, with a combat-ready weight of 75.0 tonnes with add-on armour modules.

The weight in the box probably isn't that much but I do like the weighty feel that it gives the finished model.

The Challenger 2 eventually completely replaced the Challenger 1 in British service. In June 1991, the UK ordered 140 vehicles, followed by a further 268 in 1994; these were delivered between 1994 and 2002.

And as you can see, I have one.

The tank entered operational service with the British Army in 1998 and has since been used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq.

Dear mum, weathers hot again...

Back to the box.

There is the usual how to put a model together paperwork.

Some basic tips. All good useful stuff.

A set of build instructions and a sheet for the painting.

Decals.

Dear mum, still hot...

Similar to every British tank since the Centurion, and most other British AFVs, Challenger 2 contains a boiling vessel (BV) for water, for use preparing and heating food and drink. It is a British tank after all...

Two sprues of wheels and stuff.

Modern models are so beautifully molded ...

String for the tow cables and rubber parts.

The gun and body furniture.

The big parts. Hull and turret.

The Challenger 2 entered service with the British Army in June 1998, with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, with the last delivered in 2002. After the Army 2020 restructuring, only three Challenger 2 Tank Regiments remain: the Queen's Royal Hussars, the King's Royal Hussars and the Royal Tank Regiment, each of which is the tank regiment of an Armoured Infantry Brigade.

A single Army Reserve regiment, The Royal Wessex Yeomanry, will provide reservist Challenger crews to the regular regiments.