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M22 Locust (T9E1) Airborne Tank (British Version)
Bronco Models 1:35 Scale Kit No. CB35161
Page 4 of 4
backnext Summary of British modifications needed for the kit to represent a Locust used in Operation Varsity:
As you will see most are quite minor and easily done with just some basic work, the most
work is needed on the rear towing pintle mounting but the hook can be 'borrowed' from other kits.

1. Front and rear towing lugs replaced (supplied on Sprue G)
1. Remove and sand flush the moulded on US style mounting brackets front and rear.
2. Glue the new British style lugs in place in the same position as the US lugs
3. Add the small bold heads to the front lugs as per the reference photo.
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2. Don’t fit the siren and remove siren mounting from glacis.
Modifications to the glacis, trim off the siren mounting and the small locating marks the etched head light guards
which are not used on the British version.
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3. Don’t fit the etched headlight guards supplied.
Reference image showing the guards not fitted.
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4. Replace left clear head light with blackout light.
I have used a modified blackout light from Bronco's GPW Jeep kit.
Also note the modified lifting brackets as in 5.
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5. Remove lifting bracket detail.
The British Locusts didn't have the lifting brackets fitted, you need to trim off the brackets detail
for the rear hull sides and from parts A24, then drill two small bolt holes and add two small bolt heads to the bracket mounting plates.

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6. Add two large grab handles to glacis inspection hatch.
Handles added from thin wire, also see the blackout light and small etched bracket on
the fenders which come in the kit.
See reference images above
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7. Add towing pintle and mounting bracket centrally on rear hull plate.
Note that the towing pintle is of US design and not the usual British tow hook, therefore if "borrowing" a tow hook from
another kit make sure it is the US type and not the British type such as those on Universal Carriers or British Shermans.

Image showing the modified DML Sherman pintle mounting plate with plastic card mounting and US Style tow hook
Also included is an image of the British style hook (right) showing the differences.

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Bracket added to the kit, note; this is located centrally between the left exhaust outlet and the inspection hatch
the bracket actually overlaps the hatch slightly as per the references below.

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Tow hook added to mounting bracket as per the stowage diagram and reference images below.
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8. Use the “normal” M3 37mm barrel tube (supplied) and not the barrel with the Littlejohn Adaptor.
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8. Available images of one of the Locusts used and lost during Operation Varsity show the rear fender with a distinct upward curve
and it may be surmised this is a modification?. My interpretation on these images is this is actual damage to the fender as the larger image
shows an upward bend to the right fender resulting in the top fender line being uneven, this would not be the case if this was a
deliberate modification. The second available image showing the exact same fender bend is I believe the same vehicle prior to
being knocked out and burning resulting in the turret markings being absent on the larger image.
There are no images of the left side of these vehicles to determine in the fenders were altered the same as the right fender.

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9. On the Stowage layout diagram there are two lifting eye brackets welded to the rear hull sides.
Unfortunately there are no clear photos available showing these brackets on actual serving Locusts
so it can't be said with certainty these were actually fitted as per the diagram?
Also note the style of fenders shown on the diagrams differ from the kit but period photos
show these fenders were not actually fitted and that the kit fenders are correct for operational Locusts as above.

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