Tamiya 35100 - 1:35 Churchill Crocodile

Plastic model kit of the British Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tank in 1:35 scale

The Churchill Crocodile was a Churchill Mk.VII infantry tank turned into an assault weapon: a flame projector replaced the hull machine gun, and the fuel was piped from an armoured trailer towed behind the vehicle. Tamiya 35100 reproduces it in 1:35 scale from tooling dating to 1977.

The model captures the long, distinctive Churchill hull with its tracks running right around it, and the details of the fuel trailer — including an opening service hatch and a movable coupling between tank and trailer. The kit also offers a choice of versions: it can be built as the Crocodile with the flame equipment, or as a standard Churchill Mk.VII. Two figures, a tank crewman and an infantryman, allow a simple vignette to be set up.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and running gear parts
• Armoured fuel trailer with opening service hatch and movable coupling
• Parts allowing the model to be built as a Churchill Mk.VII without the flamethrower
• Vinyl band tracks
• Two figures: an infantryman and a tank crewman
• Waterslide decal sheet for two marking options: 79th Armoured Division, vehicles „Briton" and „Banner"
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35100
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 213 mm; approx. 340 mm including the trailer
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (the trailer and flame equipment are additional sub-assemblies)

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The tank itself builds easily, and the vinyl band tracks simplify the work on the Churchill's complex running gear. Decide early which version you are building — the Crocodile with its flame projector or the plain Mk.VII — as this determines the parts used on the front hull plate. The trailer is a separate, compact sub-assembly, and the movable coupling lets you angle it, which looks effective on a display base or in a diorama.

For painting we suggest the British olive-khaki shade typical of 1944 vehicles; in the Tamiya range XF-62 gives a close match. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a good final finish. A wash brings out the rivets and track guards, while pigments help recreate mud on the tracks — Crocodiles worked mostly across country.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out detail
• Optional: weathering pigments for mud and dust

About the vehicle – Churchill Crocodile:

The Crocodile was one of „Hobart's Funnies" — the specialised vehicles of the 79th Armoured Division, prepared for the Normandy landings and the fight against German fortifications. It was based on the Churchill Mk.VII infantry tank, valued for its thick armour and its ability to cross difficult ground.

The flame projector replaced the hull machine gun, with the fuel forced through by compressed nitrogen from an armoured single-axle trailer towed behind the tank. The flame reached out to around 110 metres. The trailer could be jettisoned when necessary, and the tank retained its full fighting value thanks to the gun in the turret.

Crocodiles were used in Normandy and throughout the subsequent campaign in Western Europe. Their effect was psychological as much as physical — the mere appearance of one was often enough to persuade bunker garrisons to surrender.

Original vehicle specifications (Churchill Crocodile):

• Type: flamethrower infantry tank based on the Churchill Mk.VII
• Armament: flame projector (in place of the hull machine gun) plus the turret gun
• Flame range: approx. 110 m
• Fuel supply: armoured trailer with flame fuel, pressurised with nitrogen
• Crew: 5
• Combat weight: approx. 40 t (tank)
• Armour: up to 152 mm (Mk.VII front hull)
• Combat use: Normandy and the campaign in Western Europe, 79th Armoured Division

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade and made wooden models, releasing its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 tank that established the world standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise tooling and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures. Tamiya instructions are clear and well illustrated, with painting guides referenced to the company's own paint range. Besides kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.