Dan Taylor Modelworks

BEF AFVs (1), France 1940

To quote the preamble from Dan Taylor Modelworks: "This set provides markings for tank units of the British Expeditionary Force. Mostly this covers 1^st Armoured Division, but there are also Matilda ls from 4^th and 7^th RTRs. They depict the units as they were during the 'Phoney War' of late 1939 and early 1940 and during the German Blitzkrieg of May and June 1940."

Markings are provided for 24 tanks (not 25 as stated on the instructions, which caused much confusion on the part of the reviewer, prompting 5 judicial recounts):

• A9 CS Cruiser Mk.I, T-7246, 3 R Tanks, 1^st Armoured Division
• A9 CS Cruiser Mk.I, T-7247, 2 R Tanks, 1^st Armoured Division
• A11 Matilda I, T-3439, "DEMON", 4 RTR, France, Spring 1940
• A11 Matilda I, T-3471, "DOLPHIN", 4 RTR, France, Spring 1940
• A11 Matilda I, T-5551, 4 RTR, France, Spring 1940
• A11 Matilda I, T-5571, Base Ordnance Depot, France, Spring 1940
• A11 Matilda I, T-8119, 4 RTR, UK, Autumn 1940
• A11 Matilda I, "DREADNOUGHT", 4 RTR, France, Spring 1940
• A11 Matilda I, "GALASHIELS", 7 RTR, Spring 1940
• A11 Matilda I, "DEOCH", 4 RTR, France, Spring 1940
• A11 Matilda I, "GARBO", 7 RTR, Spring 1940
• A13 Mk.I Cruiser Mk.III, T-2202, B Squadron SHQ, 3 R Tanks, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.I Cruiser Mk.III, T-4397, 5 R Tanks, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.II Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9143, "AGILITY", A Squadron, 10^th Hussars, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.II Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9214, "AURORA", 10^th Hussars, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.II Cruiser Mk.IV, "AMY", 10^th Hussars, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9101, 9^th Lancers, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9128, Queen's Bays, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9130, A Squadron, 10^th Hussars, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9162, 5 R Tanks, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9163, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9175, C Squadron, 5 R Tanks, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, T-9207, B Squadron, 10^th Hussars, 1^st Armoured Division
• A13 Mk.IIA Cruiser Mk.IV, A Squadron, 3 R Tanks, 1^st Armoured Division

As the instructions state, these are scaled for 1/76 models, but they are should work quite well with 1/72 scale kits. Decals are printed by Fantasy Printshop. Colours are bright and register is spot on. Opacity appears to be excellent. Each image is separate from the others. The decal film is very thin. There are a lot of images crammed onto the small sheet, so care will be needed in cutting them from the paper.

As for the marking's accuracy, I can only state that Dan Taylor is meticulous in his research, so I expect these to be quite accurate. I have the first two of this set's four listed references below and the photos contained within them seem to concur with the corresponding decals in this set.

References

[1] Wydawnictwo Militaria 291, Matilda 1939-1945, Jacek Solarz, Warsaw 2008
[2] Wydawnictwo Militaria 335, A13 Mk I/Mk II, Jacek Solarz, Warsaw 2010
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[3] Wydawnictwo Militaria 347, A9/A10, Jausz Ledowich & Jacek Solarz, Warsaw 2010
[4] 'The First Matilda', Military Modelling Vol.40, No.3, Nick Watts 2010

Preview sample supplied by Dan Taylor Modelworks.

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Article Last Updated: 16 August 2018