1/35 Infantry Tank Mk.III Valentine Mk.IX

This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required.

The Valentine Infantry Tank was designed and built by Vickers as a cheaper alternative to the A12, Infantry Tank MkII, Matilda. It was based on the A10E3, but with improved hull and turret. As it was a private venture,it did not carry an "A" number, it was named after St Valentines Day, 14 February 1940, the day the design was submitted to the War Office. The Valentine MkIX was basically an earlier Valentine MkV with a 6 Pounder gun replacing the 2 Pounder. It entered service in the Summer of 1942 and was used by the British army during the Tunisian campaign in North Africa, and by the Red Army??1942-45. Armour was up to 65mm thick which gave good protection for a tank of only 17 tons. It had a road speed of 24 km/h, it made up for its lack of speed by being agile and reliable and so liked by its crews.