Airfix Cromwell Mk IV Starter Set (1:76 scale model kit) Timelapse Build and Review

A timelapse build and review of the 1/76 scale Cromwell Mk IV starter kit from Airfix.
Find out what I think of this kit in my first ever model tank build!
Find the kit here:
www.airfix.com/uk-en/cromwell...
As always, let me know what you think in the comments below!
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[@davelawday6609]

Really appreciated and enjoyed your build.. I've just bought the kit from Aldi this morning.. now you've fully armed me with what to look for during the build.. I can't wait. I'll probably start on it this evening while the wife relaxes in front of the TV..I'm banned from spraying indoors so it's brushes all the way🤣👍

[@ModelMinutes]

I hope you enjoy!

[@michaelbrillantes6168]

If you want an easy larger scale tank to try, the Tamiya Pz. II F is a nice choice. It's 1/35 scale, and despite being 30+ years old tooling, still has the excellent fit and finish Tamiya is known for. It also helps that it's usually very cheap.

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome! Thanks! I'll have to keep an eye out for it

[@michaelbrillantes6168]

It's the version with a set of Afrika Korps Infantry on the box art. So apart from the tank, you get a commander and 4 infantrymen to practice painting figures with.

[@ModelMinutes]

Michael Brillantes that's pretty cool! Can't say I've ever painted larger scale figures, had a go at OO gauge ones though

[@simonrichards6739]

This was one of the first kits I built as a kid with my dad, I might have to revisit it now as it’s long gone.

[@ModelMinutes]

very cool!

[@douglasw.7864]

Matt, your channel has become my favorite modeling one on KZbin.

[@ModelMinutes]

Wow, thanks!

[@lordbodford1]

Did this with my nephew at Christmas nice little kit very enjoyable

[@ModelMinutes]

Sounds great!

[@vega2957]

This video is really informative and helpful. I recently brought this kit myself and it is good to see someone else's go at it.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you found it useful - I'd be interested to see your model when it's finished! :)

[@StuBar2]

Picked up one of these starter kits in 'The Range' and thought I'd give it a go. Half way through at the moment and I have realised that I've painted the tracks black instead of silver! Great video with some good advice. Nice little model too for a few pounds.

[@ModelMinutes]

black is fine - they wouldn't have been silver as such - I used a gunmetal colour which is more like a metallic grey

[@monapanchal3686]

That looks AMAZING also I loved the pacing of this vid and the sound quality is higher that usual too !

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! I put a bit more effort in with this video - tried a few new things and got my normal recording equipment back :)

[@ovidiuschley3346]

Great Cromwell tank 1/76 scale , great work !

[@ModelMinutes]

Glad you like it :D

[@shadowxxe]

I got this kit and tried dry brushing it with Humbrol 11 and wow it really does bring the model to life, thanks for that tip!

[@ModelMinutes]

Great to hear! A dark wash would also help bring out some of the recessed details too :)

[@shadowxxe]

@@ModelMinutes Yeah I did also do a dark wash, I do a dark wash on most of my kits (with some exceptions) so did one prior to applying the Humbrol 11, but yeah thanks again for the tip.

[@davidpearson8449]

Love this video and will watch it again because I have ordered a kit also thanks for mentioning the flying hours thing

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching! :D

[@ednitram]

Nice build and good for a novice to follow. Thanks!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! I'm glad you found it helpful :)

[@emilbt7588]

I might get this, good job

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! It's quite a nice kit to build

[@asd36f]

Reminds me when I built an Airfix Panzer III many, many years ago. I decided to make a little cardboard surrounding diorama that tried to show the Western Desert - I remember getting really small twigs to put on the tank, and then made up a couple of trees in the background, along with some rocks and sand. I never got around to doing any further dioramas!

[@ModelMinutes]

Sounds like an interesting idea! :) Thanks for watching!

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

Airfix did not make a panzer III . They made the IV plus the fitfth(panther) and the sixth(tiger I).

[@tmmt7895]

Good job!

[@ModelMinutes]

Cheers!

[@peteroneill5426]

Bravo, my first tank kit was the Crommy IV. I managed to fluff up the track a tiny bit but overall it was really fun. thanks for the coolio vid!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching!

[@peteroneill5426]

@@ModelMinutes No worries at all, it's my favourite tank in Warthunder as well :3

[@ModelMinutes]

nice! I've not unlocked it yet

[@plastikid1668]

Wow, not bad, for your first model!! I love to build matchbox models, although airfix models were always more detailed and better. I wish you continued success in model making. You're on a good way.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! Yeah, it was my first tank kit :)

[@usmantariqgiki]

Uk

[@grizzleyplays3888]

Thanks very good video👍

[@ModelMinutes]

Glad you liked it!

[@anthonybeech676]

Nice job. I nearly bought this from Aldi as they were going cheap but decided against it. Wish I had now as it looks really good.

[@ModelMinutes]

Yeah, they had them for half price over the Christmas period last year, which is where I got mine! :D. It's quite a good build and I had fun doing it

[@jjhistoricalmodels]

very good job, I loved the exterior finish. Regards my friend

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! I'm quite pleased with the results :)

[@jjhistoricalmodels]

Congratulations

[@atnorange5491]

I just bought this kit and I'm quite pleased. Your painting tips helped quite a bit as this was my first model kit I ever painted. Thanks for the tips.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you found it useful :)

[@atnorange5491]

@@ModelMinutes could give tips on how to apply the tracks as I'm currently having issues with it

[@ModelMinutes]

Hmm, they sorta act like a sandwich - install the first set of wheels closest to the hull, then add the tracks, then glue on the final outside parts of the wheels and it should all hold it in place. Take a bit of time as it is a fiddly part. Does that help at all?

[@atnorange5491]

@@ModelMinutes thanks that helped me a whole bunch thanks!

[@ModelMinutes]

I hope it goes well! Don't forget to send in some pictures if you would like them to be featured on a subscriber showcase :)

[@jpw1812]

Thanks for this vid very useful building this while watching so I could get all the colours right

[@ModelMinutes]

Jpw Tube thanks for watching! I’m glad you found it helpful ☺️

[@jpw1812]

Thx I’m only half way through

[@ModelMinutes]

Jpw Tube I hope it turns out ok! If you’re on Instagram you could tag me so I can see pics of it when it’s done ☺️

[@jpw1812]

Model Minutes I’ll try thx

[@Ronno4691]

I've got THREE of these to be getting on with :-) I'm bored with 1:72 mainstays like Spitfires and Bf109s et al so a Cromwell tank makes for a pleasantly diverting change. This is an excellent video so I've liked and subscribed!

[@ModelMinutes]

Nice! Thanks so much!

[@Souza45]

very good kit

[@ModelMinutes]

:D

[@PanzermansBunker]

Good build video. The tank looks very nice. Maybe put it in a diorama? Happy modeling. Bill

[@ModelMinutes]

PanzermansBunker thanks! Yeah, my plan involves it being used sort of in a diorama. Hopefully I'll get around to it soon!

[@rubenszabo1453]

Nice

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@julianmhall]

The amphibious parts would be handy for a diorama of a river crossing, say the Rhine.

[@ModelMinutes]

cool idea!

[@josephbray4361]

Just got it today hence why I'm watching now, couldn't help it had to get the tiger 1 and King tiger aswell

[@ModelMinutes]

nice¬

[@JamessModellingChannel1992]

Well done on the build.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! It was good fun

[@howtocameronsyoungerbrothe5837]

My first airbrush arrived around an hour ago, and the compressor arrived 20 mins ago.

[@ModelMinutes]

Let me know how you get on :)

[@howtocameronsyoungerbrothe5837]

Model Minutes pretty well, I’m still learning.

[@HOBBYACE1]

HowToCameron's younger brother. Sup

[@lordbodford1]

Theres one at a roundabout in Preston. Built at the British layland plant in the town

[@ModelMinutes]

Very cool

[@Andatest]

Hi, the dark wash can be made without the varnish? can you tell me what kind of matt varnish do you use? Thanks!

[@ModelMinutes]

Andatest I use humbrol 49 enamel as my Matt varnish

[@konstantinosv.2858]

The Humbrol 159 which came with the kit is actually a bit off the actual tank colour. Having seen a Cromwell turret myself their colour looks more like Humbrol 30.

[@ModelMinutes]

Ah, maybe it needs to be a little darker

[@konstantinosv.2858]

@@ModelMinutes I actually finished mine an hour ago and it lookwd great with the 30 on it. I might take it to a nearby museum which has a cromwell turret so i can compare their colour. If I actually do this I will let you know

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@jamiegray6931]

Is humbrol 159 an acrylic or an enamel?

[@marsbar7099]

Do you always use airfix's kit description from the box, or do you sometimes make your own?

[@ModelMinutes]

Sometimes I do my own thing - but I tend to use the included scheme

[@marsbar7099]

Excellent jot on this one! Do you recommend it?

[@ModelMinutes]

Yeah, this is a good one to do

[@mattapacka54]

Would a good idea to paint the turret after being placed on the model, to safe that step?

[@ModelMinutes]

You could do that, but i decided to do it separately so that I could get a reasonably neat finish under the turret too

[@vilmafoley2591]

BRUH THATS MY 1ST TANK I EVER BUILT TOO!

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome! How did it turn out?

[@vilmafoley2591]

Quite nice (few painting mistakes)

[@mckenzievlogs6675]

Hi I'm very new to modeling and I got this starter pack and wanted to paint first so I was just wondering which paints did he use for each bit

[@ModelMinutes]

Pretty much everything is green. The only things that aren’t are the tyres on the wheels, the tracks and machine guns

[@mckenzievlogs6675]

Thanks

[@mckenzievlogs6675]

Also are the tracks black or grey

[@ModelMinutes]

@@mckenzievlogs6675 more metallic than anything

[@thearmoredgeorgian2736]

Can I build kits to see if I like the hobby then go and paint and apply decals later?

[@ModelMinutes]

Yes, of course you can. I went through a phase of only building the kits. Then i had a phase of painting them. It's your hobby, you do what you want! :D

[@alphanoodell7952]

Hi- i have a problem with this model. The tracks seem too small, and can't fit them on, even when I position the sprockets correctly. I can't continue building it with this problem as I will have to snap the tracks and put them around the tank which will leave a gap which obviously isn't good which is a shame since I want to finish this. Any tips or a way to go around this problem?

[@ModelMinutes]

I found mine fit absolutely fine, I’m guessing that if you’re struggling it’s because you are either trying to put them on the wrong way round, or have not assembled the wheels correctly. On the subject of the wheels, have you added the ones closet to the hull, then the tracks, then the outer wheels? If you don’t do it in that order (like a sandwich) there will be no way the track will go on

[@alphanoodell7952]

@@ModelMinutes I attempted to do it in that order (in the first place) but now it seems it's just a production problem and I got unlucky

[@ModelMinutes]

@@alphanoodell7952 that’s a shame. If you email Airfix with some pictures maybe they’ll send you a replacement

[@samuelcornell2224]

How do u find the glue would u say its worth buying a different brand like clear modeling glue

[@ModelMinutes]

The humbrol glue in the sets is quite thick. It bonds ok but isn't easy to place and doesnt flow due to being so thick, I do more frequently use tamiya extra thin or revell contacta now

[@samuelcornell2224]

K thank u

[@bales1569]

Hello, I'm new and this is my first kit. When I applied the same paints it turned out a lot darker than this video - why is this? Am I putting too much paint on in one go or something?

[@ModelMinutes]

It could be that you didn't mix the paint as thoroughly as needed (sometimes the pigments separate and can lighten/darken the paint) or maybe that it wasn't thinned as much. Alternatively it could be nothing that you did and the actual batches of humbrol paint are slightly different . . .

[@bales1569]

@@ModelMinutes Thanks for the reply, loved the vid!

[@ModelMinutes]

@@bales1569 thanks!

[@elliottframe236]

I just started model buliding and I am not very experienced so made the sill mistake of building the Cromwell tank then painting it once finished , plz leave some tips for me.

[@jamiegray6931]

I just made a similar mistake. The only part that was really a problem for me was painting the wheels. Just do the entire part in green, then go over with the black on to tracks and the tires

[@ModelMinutes]

Airbrushing/spray painting could help you reach the hard to get to places with the paint

[@jamiegray6931]

@@ModelMinutes I managed to get it done with a smaller paintbrush. I think it came out looking quite well.

[@ModelMinutes]

Jamie Gray awesome!

[@scalesmodellingmagic5883]

Hi Matt I have seem to have lost my decals for this kit how can I get another set of them?

[@ModelMinutes]

Have you filled out a spare part form on the Airfix website? If not, you could always look for some aftermarket decal sheets online

[@scalesmodellingmagic5883]

@@ModelMinutes where do I find the spare parts form on the website

[@ModelMinutes]

@@scalesmodellingmagic5883 www.airfix.com/uk-en/contact

[@scalesmodellingmagic5883]

@@ModelMinutes cheers also I can’t seem to find the acrylic khaki drab on the Humbrol website

[@ModelMinutes]

@@scalesmodellingmagic5883 They only do that one in the starter sets in the tiny pots in acrylic. If you want the exact same colour you'll have to get the enamel - or find a replacement. This is the reason I used Vallejo paints on my churchill

[@Jmf-jh8kj]

Bought 3 of these for my wargaming, if want to do another airfix tank then the tiger 2 is great. I started building my king tiger years ago but I stopped because I was stupid and spilt a pot of paint on the wheel instructions, pretty bummed about that still

[@ModelMinutes]

I'll take a look at the tiger 2! You might be able to get the instructions online, I know airfix put them on their website now

[@Jmf-jh8kj]

Oh yeah forgot to mention I lost the tracks too haha

[@ModelMinutes]

Ha! Sounds like you've got the start of a great diorama there!

[@Bearmonkey13]

You've put it as 1.72 in title not the 1.76 scale as it is, other than that great, helpful video!

[@ModelMinutes]

Bearmonkey13 a good spot! You’re the first person to notice. Must be force of habit from all those planes I normally build

[@Bearmonkey13]

@@ModelMinutes I was looking for Airfix tanks in 1:72 hence how I spotted the mistake. Wish there wasn't a scale difference between planes , vehicles and especially soldiers.

[@ModelMinutes]

Bearmonkey13 yeah, it’s a bit annoying that they’re just slightly off scale 😂

[@StalkeraBg]

Model Minutes Im sad they didnt go for 1:72, cromwells are a rarity here and no shops sell 1:72 . Buying Italeri Sherman kit with infantry, and Tiger II starter kit for a massive diorama i have planned, Cromwell and a T34 would be grand..If i can ever find such.

[@PiperStart]

The Cromwell has to be one of the best of their little tanks. The Airfix Matilda and Panzer IV are also brilliant. I watched your Sherman make, and like the Airfix Churchill it is not an easy build due to mold issues and tank track imperfections. The Airfix Chi-Ha and Grant tanks are also pleasures to construct and paint. The Tiger is a poor kit-set, unfortunately.

[@ModelMinutes]

I'll have to see about getting some more of their little tanks! This was better then the sherman, but I think i've got the churchill in the stash somewhere . . .

[@arandomyoutuber6634]

It's called the Cromwell after Oliver Cromwell because it is olive coloured so the real name for the tank is the Olive Cromwell.

[@ModelMinutes]

haha!

[@alessiodecarolis]

It's incredibile that Airfix only recently made a kit of this important allied tank, a beautiful model but why they don't add crewmen? This add realism to the model, I saw this www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1419 they are americans but there are soviets & germans also the British are arriving

[@ModelMinutes]

I would love to see more crew in my kits!

[@HOBBYACE1]

Hi

[@ModelMinutes]

Hi!

[@HOBBYACE1]

Thanks bro 👍🏻👍🏻👌🏻👌🏻🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@atnorange5491]

Your voice sounds familiar. I don't know but it sounds familiar

[@ModelMinutes]

maybe you've watched some of my other videos :P

[@atnorange5491]

Model Minutes but this is the first model kit video I've watched

[@ModelMinutes]

Well, thanks for joining the community! :)

[@jontymarsh0463]

build an airifix mosquito

[@ModelMinutes]

Good suggestion! :)

[@LHoriginal]

Sorry, this might be a stupid question but why does it have a star on it if its British? Because the star is American isnt it? Sorry im not much of a tank expert, i know more about planes

[@ModelMinutes]

British vehicles also had the star as an identifier during the later parts of WW2 - in this case, the large star on the top will help indicate to Allied aircraft that it is friendly, and not to attack it. It makes sense to use the same symbol when they are all fighting in the same places to help with speedy identification and prevent friendly fire incidents

[@LHoriginal]

@@ModelMinutes ok, that makes sense. Thanks for replying :)

[@_not_nuno_]

Actually, the starter set is the same price as the regular

[@ModelMinutes]

Yes, you’re right, it does come with different decals though ?

[@_not_nuno_]

@@ModelMinutes If it does then that's quite nice

[@chrispacer4231]

Boy that was a ugly looking tank. Not your build. Just it’s design overall. Love AIRFIX kits though. Your videos are very good and informative. I like making small dioramas and Airfix kits are perfect. Need more crews for the vehicles. Anyways keep them coming

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks! Yes, I would love it if they came with crews!

[@xXturbo86Xx]

You will get a MUCH better result if you apply lots of very thin layers of paint. What you're doing is.....meh...

[@ModelMinutes]

Indeed, if you watch my more recent videos you will see an improvement