I'm currently building the Airfix Mk 1 tank as a Mk 2, either Iron Duke or Lusitania, and was wondering what I have to do to the back end of it to make it accurate? I thought that i'd just have to fill the four holes in (two on the back plate, one on each inside track), as the wheels aren't to be fitted. However, looking at this photo of Bovington's Mk II, there are two holes in the back which (roughly) correspond with the holes on the backplate of the Airfix kit. Is this accurate for a Mk II, or an inaccurate leftover from when it depicted a Mk I?
I'll let someone else field the back plate question or you could try emailing David Fletcher. The rear stowage box, when visible, appears to have been standard on all Mk II's. I haven't seen a rear shot of "Lusitania" so I can't say for certain whether it had a box but "Iron Duke" definitely did. I've attached a photo of "Iron Duke" and 799 which shows the box better.
P.S. The photo of "Iron Duke" doesn't show the box itself but one of the straps that held it on.
P.P.S. Also note that 799 did not have markings on the rear box. Other tanks did.
-- Edited by Mark Hansen on Thursday 24th of December 2009 01:18:17 AM
-- Edited by Mark Hansen on Thursday 24th of December 2009 01:19:52 AM
I have just made a Mark II male from the Airfix. On the back end all I did was put a small rectangular plate somewhere near the top and centred, and put the box offset to the left; it is not centred. Then there are two thin bars or straps holding the box edge to the roof edge. Both these features can be seen clearly, in this video at 25 seconds, on C21 The Perfect Lady. At 1 minute 10 seconds you can see the back end of the Iron Duke as he drives through town with a track torpedo fitted, and he has sustained damage to the rear; the box is missing though the straps/bars are there, and the plate is hanging.