I have suspended one project but am going on with my other, namely a male Mark IV tank on the battlefield. Pretty straightforward, as you might imagine, but I have a few questions:
1) The tank is not tied to any specific battle or region, but I wanted to make it a relatively early scene as far as the Mark IV is concerned. My Osprey book indicated that tanks were not always marked. Would a "blank" tank be realistic?
2) The scene is where the tank is on the move but not necessarily firing. I read that the machine guns could be pulled in when not in use. Would the outer tubes go inside as well, or just the inner barrels? I'm thinking of scratchbuilding the tubes and balls somehow.
3) This sounds rather silly, but though one thinks of muddy, churned-up ground during WW1 on the Western Front, there must have been some dry periods as well. I wanted to avoid having to make the tank too muddy if possible.
Tom, by machine guns being pulled in, do you mean Lewis guns? In that case the whole machine gun would be pulled inside, as the outer 'tube' (cooling case), interior fins and barrel cannot slide between each other unless you dismantle the whole weapon, which you would avoid doing where possible.
Regarding a dry period, certainly - although the most often used images show Tommys struggling in mud etc, there was of course periods when it was hot and dry - 1st July 1916 was very hot. Unfortunately the vast majority of people seem to think from 4th August 1914 until 11th November 1918 it was constantly raining or at least muddy
Tom, by machine guns being pulled in, do you mean Lewis guns? In that case the whole machine gun would be pulled inside, as the outer 'tube' (cooling case), interior fins and barrel cannot slide between each other unless you dismantle the whole weapon, which you would avoid doing where possible.
Regarding a dry period, certainly - although the most often used images show Tommys struggling in mud etc, there was of course periods when it was hot and dry - 1st July 1916 was very hot. Unfortunately the vast majority of people seem to think from 4th August 1914 until 11th November 1918 it was constantly raining or at least muddy
I was thinking of the "constant mud" stereotype, yes, but I imagined it couldn't have been the case in actuality, just as the Mideast isn't all desert and oases.
Yes, I meant the Lewis guns, but from your description I realized that a ready-to-fight tank would have to have them out. Thanks.
Your tank could also be in the vicinity of Cambrai, which I believe has chalky soil, or in a village or town on a cobbled street.
The problem I have with all the WW1 tank kits is the lack of interior. This means you have to have them "buttoned up" as if in action. I think when they were just "moving up" or getting into position, they had all the hatches and doors open for ventilation; but then you'd have to do a partial interior, or block the view with crewmen, or somesuch.
...The problem I have with all the WW1 tank kits is the lack of interior. This means you have to have them "buttoned up" as if in action. I think when they were just "moving up" or getting into position, they had all the hatches and doors open for ventilation; but then you'd have to do a partial interior, or block the view with crewmen, or somesuch.
This is my preferred option. If you have to have a hatch open, stick someone in it.
Regarding your third "mud-question" - no question is silly! - I had the same problem. To solve this I browsed through my books and the result was stunning! Even when the weather looked not dry (on many photographs), the tanks and the tracks were surprisingly "clean"! So I think a tank in running condition was not covered with mud, perhaps we have those photographs of abandoned vehicles at Passchendaele in mind.
I think it's better to add only a little bit of mud to the model.
