How to convert Cromwells Mk V* into a Mk V

Right now...

...I am building a Mk V, the penultimate of the classic British "lozenge" tanks. What I am doing is converting the Cromwell Mk V* (which is, BTW, a very good kit) and simply reverse engineer it, pretty much in the same way that the guys did when they built it, i.e. removing the inserted portion just aft of the sponsons. That's the tricky part. Then there are a lot of small detail changes... I intend to make it up as a Red Army Mk V, as they appeared during the 20-ies, after being captured from the Whites in the Civil War.

	1. This is the simple start. I have cut the body and the side sponsons in two, to remove the parts that represent the ones that were inserted in the real Mk V*. It isn't too complex, just messy... A Dremel is a must!
	2. Here the parts have been glued together, the gaps filled with filler.
	3. Here it's time to put on the sponsons. As it is to be a Mk V in Russian service, it will be a hermafrodite, i.e. with one gun sponson and one MG sponson. The gun sponson is from Matadors Mk IV correction set for the EMHAR kit. The MG sponson from the EMHAR kit, suitably trimmed. (The Cromwell kit is supposed to be 1/76 scale, but the ease it takes 1/72 scale parts makes you wonder.)
	4. Here the MG sponson has been fitted. On the top of the hull can be seen the makings of the new square cupola, characteristic of the Mk V.
	5. The cupola is more or less done, also the left hand grille has got it's special covers.
	6. The tracks are coming on. The Cromwell kit comes with the extra wide tracks, but I wanted it to be a really "standard" Mk V, so I opted for the Matador replacement tracks for the Mk IV. The cupola has been "riveted" properly. The gun sponson has been supplied with a metal turned barrel from Armo.