Tamiya 1/35 Challenger 1 (MK.3) British Main Battle Tank.

[RalphSarc]

Tamiya 1/35 British Main Battle Tank Challenger 1 (Mk.3) Build Thread. 

The British Challenger 1 (Mk.3) was a version of the Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank (MBT) that featured modifications for desert warfare, including additional composite and reactive armor, external fuel drums, and smoke generators. It played a significant role in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, where its 120mm main gun proved effective against Iraqi T-72 tanks. The Mk.3 variant was specifically developed by modifying Challenger 1s in Saudi Arabia before the Gulf War.

[RalphSarc]

Okay let the Challenge build begin.
Skipped over the road wheel assembly in step 1 fling myself instead into step 2 and two very fiddly screws attaching parts A24!!! Also attached parts B93 and B94 to the lower hull.

[RalphSarc]

Love the wrapping detail on the 120mm gun barrel.

[RalphSarc]

Completed step 2 by cementing 6 each part 23’s firmly as the instruction say to do, lol!!!

[RalphSarc]

From step 1 I assembled 2each drive sprockets plus 2each Adler wheel and attached them into position in step 3.
Also assembled 4each support rollers and attached them into position along with support roller A44’s in step 3.
Installed 12each part 46 suspension access covers plus parts B52 and B53 which completed the lower hull build in step 3.

[PanzerWomble]

Bit of inspo . QRH in Bosnia 1996 

It's not a bad old kit , built one some years back 

 

 

[RalphSarc]

5 hours ago, PanzerWomble said:

Bit of inspo . QRH in Bosnia 1996 

It's not a bad old kit , built one some years back 

 

 

It’s a pretty fearsome looking tank for its age!! I certainly wouldn’t want to be in the gunners sights that for darn sure!!

[RalphSarc]

Since the road wheels are attached using poly caps I decided to attached the suspension arms separately using the keys making sure that every arm contacts the ground evenly as the little soldier guy said to do, lol!!!
Other than the wheels I think that completes the lower hull suspension?

[RalphSarc]

Let’s return to step 1 and build 12 road wheels!! Each wheel has four parts, a front and rear wheel a poly cap and hub covers!!

[RalphSarc]

Road wheels and tracks test fitting!! Looking good!!

[RalphSarc]

Test fitting the upper hull before assembly. Perfect Tamiya fit!!!

[RalphSarc]

I’m building the Challenger 1 Desert version so assembled the correct gun travel lock!! Got to love how everything fits so well. Perfect Tamiya engineering!

[RalphSarc]

Continuing on with step 6 assembling the rear bulkhead.
Parts A9 and A10 had to have been the most fiddly little parts I ever dealt with!

[RalphSarc]

Completed step 6, 7 and 8 finishing the assembly of the rear bulkhead head, external fuel tanks and hanging brackets and finally joined the upper hull to the lower hull and track assembly.

[BlrwestSiR]

Nice progress. Just catching up with your build. 

[RalphSarc]

15 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Nice progress. Just catching up with your build. 

Oh thanks. It’s coming along nicely after a bit away from it.

[RalphSarc]

Hull completed!!
These Tamiya armor kits are an absolute dream to build. 
Never met a Tamiya kit I didn’t like!!

[RalphSarc]

Jumped to step 12 assembling the front reactive armor mount.
The instructions are a bit vague on how it attaches to the forward hull however after a few test fits I figured it out and of course Tamiya showed me the correct fit!! Assemblers error!!!

[BlrwestSiR]

Interesting how the front ERA is mounted almost vertically on the front of the hull. I never noticed that before. 

[Martinnfb]

because it's wrong, the added appliqué ERA armour is mounted on a front plate attachment point creating a physical gap with the top not protruding from the silhouette of the vehicle.

[PanzerWomble]

On 12/12/2025 at 1:01 PM, RalphSarc said:

 

 

Drivers going to have to lean a long way out of his hatch to see anything on that representation 🤣

It's a pity no other manufacturer makes a Chally 1 , the old 1986 Tamiya kit's ok-ish ( I built a KFOR one a few years ago) , but theres a lot of stuff missing from the boxing .  I see Twumpy planned to do one , not sure if that would be much of an improvement though. 

[RalphSarc]

On 12/12/2025 at 8:15 AM, BlrwestSiR said:

Interesting how the front ERA is mounted almost vertically on the front of the hull. I never noticed that before. 

Yeah it seem to only fit that way!!

[RalphSarc]

On 12/12/2025 at 8:31 AM, Martinnfb said:

because it's wrong, the added appliqué ERA armour is mounted on a front plate attachment point creating a physical gap with the top not protruding from the silhouette of the vehicle.

I thought so too!! I tried several different ways but I agree it’s too high. I’ll have to cut it off a lower it!! If it’ll come off??

[RalphSarc]

25 minutes ago, PanzerWomble said:

Drivers going to have to lean a long way out of his hatch to see anything on that representation 🤣

It's a pity no other manufacturer makes a Chally 1 , the old 1986 Tamiya kit's ok-ish ( I built a KFOR one a few years ago) , but theres a lot of stuff missing from the boxing .  I see Twumpy planned to do one , not sure if that would be much of an improvement though. 

I agree he’d have to have a super long neck, lol!!! Hopefully I can cut it off and reposition it?

[Martinnfb]

Hi Ralph, it seems that the perforated part D14 is supposed to be placed upside-down with the holes in the lower part, yours is in the upper.