that is a nice picture of the prototype Fiat 2000 (not 3000; that was the FT17 lookalike)
the main difference is the turret shape - the production model turret was hemispherical, the prototype turret was disc or barrel shaped.
but this picture looks very, er, 'clean', like some pictures of the K-wagen. i wonder if it is a photo of a model?
work on the design started in august 1916. building started in october 1916. first vehicle ready june 1917. four more built in 1919. last vehicle in service 1934 (so would have missed the invasion of Abyssinia). don't know if they saw any action. (info from Tanks of The World 1915 - 45, by Chamberlain and Ellis)
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seems to me they are testing a prototype........It was not uncommon to clean up pictures to create a more pleasing impression particulatly when trying to sell the item........
philthydirtyanimal wrote:but this picture looks very, er, 'clean', like some pictures of the K-wagen. i wonder if it is a photo of a model?
Most likely a doctored photo of a real vehicle. Many photos of that era were retouched by hand (before the airbrush), especially for publication to tidy up a grotty image, giving them a slight air of unreality (the 'clean' look you noted).