Altaya Challenger £4.99 at Model Zone

In town yesterday for the first time since my hospital marathon back in August. Dropped by Model Zone in Aberdeen and picked up an Altaya Challenger tank for £4.99.

It's a decent model but not the best from Altaya. At £4.99 for a tabletop ready kit, I won't sniff at it. The first Challenger entered service with the Royal Dragoon Guards in April 1983, but in 1979 the then FV4030/2 Shir Iran/Khalid (essentially built for export) was being turned out at the (Vickers) Ordnance Factory in Leeds and individual examples may have been kicking around Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (MVEE) formerly the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (RADRE), and the Armoured Trials and Development Unit (ADTU) at Bovington.

Interesting as a possible one off in 1979 but useful to have around for later Winter of 1983/2011, or Cold War scenarios.

Cheers
Mark