I've been looking at the photos of the back of Mk IV's on the website, and I've noticed that on both Loadstar and Flirt the unit which projects between the rear track horns is clearly sloped downwards - but on the one in the Aberdeen proving ground is vertical.
What is this, and why are there two different designs?
The fuel tank at the rear of the Mk IV has a sloping plate of armour if complete. (I think that it is omitted from the Emhar models, so that an easy improvement in accuracy can be made by adding a representation of it.) "Flirt" is an incomplete vehicle, lacking most of the internal features, but does retain the armour.
The "unit" you're referring to is the petrol tank. The Mk IV Male preserved at Brussels and the Mk IV Female at Lincoln both have in place a piece of sloping spaced armour plate that covers this. This sloped armour plate is missing from the example at the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Between the rear horns on the Mark IV is the petrol tank. A sloped piece of armour plate was rivetted over it. This can be seen on Lodestar III, Flirt II, and Grit.
However, Flirt II has been completely rebuilt and during this rebuild they left out the other piece of armour. There should be a second piece of armour plate rivetted on the back above the petrol tank. Lodestar III has it, so does Grit, and the one in the Aberdeen Proving Grounds (APG) has this top piece also.
So Flirt II has the bottom but not the top, and APG has the top but not the bottom.
Sadly, when Emhar were measuring up a survivor to make their model of the Mark IV, they chose the one at Bovington Tank Museum, England (HMLS Excellent), which has neither of the two pieces of armour plate. Somehow it has managed to lose both pieces, and so is the least complete survivor they could have used (Even D51 Deborah has the rear armour!).
Being almost completely inept (I am unable to cut two parallel edges!) when it comes to improvising parts for models, I find this aspect the most irritating about the Emhar kits.
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Thanks for clearing this up folks, I'm grateful as always!
I shall (despite equally high levels of cutting inaccuracy) to add this missing bit of plate to my Emhar model. With any luck the paint finish should cover up the bloodstains
I think there is a good case for a definitive modellers' guide to the Mk IV, with reference to accurate drawings and details since these observations occur with some regularity. Does anyone feel inclined to compile the information?
