Landships II

Treadhead · Major

GROUP BUILD: British Tanks 1914-18 Welcome!!

Treadhead · Major

Howdy,

Well....don't all you fellas reply at once!

To {maybe} get this thing rolling, I will start it off by posting some pics of the project I've chosen...the 1/35th scale British Whippet kit from Emhar.

I had a little time yesterday after all the hoopla died down, and the kids were busy playing with all their Xmas presents to get some work done on the kit. I shan't go into anything like a review of the kit since our good eugene has already done a bang-up job of that. I'll just instead cover briefly my own personal build.

Below is a pic of one of the sponson's {or track horn's} after assembly. These were fairly easy to assemble, although I didn't care much for the way the small wheel sets {idlers?} were presented...just seems like a lot of work to assemble items that could have been cast differently, especially since, once completed you don't even see them at all. As eugene has already said, the castings of the parts are nicely done and the alignment marks worked fine...

Since the rubber band tracks come in three (3?) pieces, this is how I handled it.

Since there was really no way to hide both track seams, I tried to make it as easy {for me} as possible by placing the seams on the flat portions of the horns.
The rubber that the tracks are made of is a wee bit stiff, so, to facilitate a nice tight fit around the front and rear curvature of the track horns, I first used a heat gun set on 'Low' and softened up the portion of the track I wanted to bend and slowly rolled it between my thumb and forefinger repeatedly as it cooled to force a new 'memory' into the rubber.....worked dandy!

More later.....

Tread.

-- Edited by Treadhead at 19:02, 2005-12-26

Eric · Colonel

Hello list,

I plan to build a Mark II female in 1/72, Airfix kit with Matador conversion and decals from Decalcomaniacs. My choosen scheme is the C21 "Perfect Lady".
Anybody knows where to add the text "Perfect Lady" ?
Thank you in advance.

I will post pictures of the conversion kit soon.

Eric

Treadhead · Major

Howdy fellas,

Here's a couple more pics of my project

The first is a photo of the finished assembly of the rubber tracks on the sponson. I used the same technique I spoke of in the previous post to kind of 'pre'-form the rubber track so it would curl around the horn a little tighter. This method was also helpful in regard to addressing the fact that Emhar moulded the rubber tracks just a tad too short to begin with!

The heat from the heat gun softened the rubber just a smidgeon so that it relaxed and stretched just a little.

Since I've already decided on building my Whippet with a field-applied fender, what little there is of the seam betwix the rubber tracks on top will be hidden from view....

Next up is a quick pic of the main hull and drivers cab....

Again, this was not too difficult an assembly process, just as long as you use your second set of hands

Even though a problem with getting the driver's cab glued together without a seam was mentioned, I think I got the lucky combination of puzzle-making and was able to put it all together sans seams or spaces.....
I did remember to add the missing drivers vision slot before assembly {thanks eugene

}, and plan to place the MG's in the relaxed position once completed.

More to come......

All comments and/or creative input is most welcome!

Tread.

Centurion · Legend

Gentlemen

Its a looong time since I built rather than researched the history. I used to be an active member of a recondite British organisation called the British Model Soldier Society (BMS) and built WW1 AFV amongst other things (I enclose a photo to show I'm not a complete neophyte). but my career took me down a path where I travelled a great deal to countries outside Europe and where conditions for modelling were not always good (for example an accomodation ship in the Red Sea just off Rabigh in Saudi is not a good place in which to build models [but as Rabigh was Lawrence of Arabia's original base it did give me the opportunity to visit in person and research some of the places and events he mentions - I would not put a lot of credence in that mans veracity - but I digress] nor was a hotel in Aden or Iraq etc.). I am now more or less back in Blighty on a permenant basis and very tempted to take up the plasticard and the scalpel again but I am somewhat rusty. Accordingly I've decided on two projects in parallel, the safe one (that I might finish) is the Emhar Tadpole Tail kit (but I'll make new tracks for it) and the out of the ordinary job is a scratch built Medium B Male in 1/32. Here I need help. I've assembled enough drawings to make a start but I can find nothing on the Male version (there was only one built) that had a turret with a 6 pounder in it. Can anyone provide?

eugene · Field Marshal

well, off faster than I thought, and treadhead you are leages away

my kits havent come through the mail yet!

its an mk.V on a verliden bridge, attacked by a fokker D.VII flown by Udet

got the photos of his plane, and the number of that tank he attacked, so soem basic reseach is done just need the kits!!!

Treadhead · Major

Howdy Eric!

Mighty glad to see you've decided to join this happy venture into communal modelmaking.

I sincerely believe that this type of thing can only lead to severe cases of fun, learning, and if one's lucky, enlightenment. I know that the vast bulk of exchange that goes on here at Landships is verbal, but I just know that a good number of you are either modeler's now, or have been at some time in the past......and if this wee Group Build becomes guilty of luring any of you back 'into the fold'....well then, throw the cuffs on me!

Eric, your choice of kits is a good one, and I just wish I were more talented in the braille scales...I'm not familiar with the matador conversion kit you speak of, nor the "Perfect Lady"....could you or someone please provide a pic?..? That would really help since this whole Group Build 'thing' is meant to be as visual as possible.....many thx.

Again, glad to have you enlisted Eric. I look forward to your in-progress posts!

Tread.

Roger Todd · Legend

Yo Treadhead!

Jolly good idea, what? But... it seems to cover only machines actually built, even if merely as one-off experimental jobs. Any chance of expanding the remit slightly to include machines designed but not built, e.g Crompton's designs, or Tritton's Big Wheeler? They do, after all, form part of the evolution of the tank!

Treadhead · Major

Howdy Centurion,

Allow me to shout out a hearty "Welcome!" to you for deciding to take the plunge and build something for this Group Build.

Please also allow me to say that you are indeed humble, if you feel the term neophyte even remotely applies to you after seeing your excellent Mk.V creation. And further, I can completely identify with your modeling time being curtailed because of life's demands....I deal with that wee bit of business on a daily basis myself.

Your decision of Emhar's 'Tadpole' kit is a nice one as well {I've been wanting to build this very kit myself}. My only request to you is that you share your track-scratching efforts with us all. This would be a dandy example of the group learing from one of the others....

As to your scratch built Medium B Male in 1/32, well, that sounds quite tasty! And again, since this Build is designed to be visually heavy, any and all pics of your scratching efforts would be greatly appreciated {my apologies if you have already done this here, but I unfortunately have not seen them yet and would appreciate the accomodation if you would be so kind...

}

Keep the input comin' fellas.

Tread.

Treadhead · Major

Howdy eugene!

My enjoyment level just went up another notch, especially since by your discription you will be building a dio/vignette of some size......very cool

I have been following your recent queries into 'tank v AC' references with great interest, and am happy you seem to have put it all together.

Your project sounds like a very unique idea, and I hope you share your in-progress pics with us as well....can't wait.

Tread.

Treadhead · Major

Howdy Roger,

Many thx for replying to my thread

, and I'm glad you think it's a good idea. Your point about only allowing "machines actually built" is my fault. My original intent was to indeed allow all manner of vehicle into the mix, I apparently didn't do a good job of saying that in my establishing post.....hopefully I have fixed that by editing that post.

Being a scratcher at heart, including all potential experimental, one-offs, and any other variants was forefront of my intent, I assure you...I just should have been more clear. If you re-read my original post I {hope} I've fixed that.
So, please, feel more than free to enter anything by Crompton, or if you're feeling overly 'brassy', go for the Big Wheel....

Tread.

Roger Todd · Legend

Hoorah, Treadhead! Many thanks for clarifying matters, and including paper projects...

Tim R · Hero

Ok Treadhead here is my entry I am going to build the first Whippet,in 1/35 scale with the revolving Austin turret. I will post pictures soon.

All the Best

Tim R.

Sorry Roger I was going to build a Crmpton goodie, but I have been working on the Whippet for awhile.

Eric · Colonel

Hello,

This is my first post showing images :
The Matador conversion box :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/BoiteconversionMarkIIMatador.jpg
The Matador conversion parts :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/PiecesconversionMarkIIMatador.jpg

For the Mark II, the hatch in the roof of the drivers cabin must be removed :
before :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/Hatch.jpg
after :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/Hatchfilled.jpg

Actual state of my project :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/MarkII1.jpg

Note : I filled the hatch first with a piece of plastic and then, for the remaining gaps, with the Tamiya light curing putty. Interesting stuff, not so easy to use in winter as it needs sunlight to cure

Eric

-- Edited by Eric at 18:54, 2005-12-28

eugene · Field Marshal

tread head, change of course,

I dont have enough info on the specific Mk.V, that was attacked by UDet, so thats on hold

my new idea, is a mk.V, one of the earlier ones, that is less than a footnote of history, but had some of the most interesting markings of WWI tanks!

its secret right now, to keep the surpise and you guys will find out gradually as I am building this kit!!!

ifo on it right now
I ahve one photo of it, the only one believed to exist of it, it was one of th earliest tanks to reach France, and it broke down on its way to the front, and no one bothered much about it, until the end of the war when it was fixed and sent to Russia, were it was captured eventually in 1921

ill post the photo when I start building

-- Edited by eugene at 19:23, 2005-12-28

Treadhead · Major

Howdy Tim,

Fantastic!...mighty glad to have you aboard Tim

I'm also glad to see another Whippet in the running, and even happier to see a variant of this vehicle. I am most anxious to see pics of your project, but in the meantime I don't suppose you have any reference photos to share of what you're planning on building?...would you?

Tread.

Roger Todd · Legend

Treadhead, here's a thread about the prototype Whippet with the rotating turret (complete with photo from Mario Doherr):

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=63528&subForumID=169814&action=viewTopic&commentID=3748890

I'm sure someone once posted a sectional drawing of the turreted prototype, but I'm damned if I can find it and every time I do a search now, the wretched thing freezes up. Ah well...

Eric · Colonel

Hello everyone,

Some progress for my MARK II project :
I scratchbuilt some new MG : https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/MarkIIMG.jpg

And finished my tank .... before paint

https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/MarkII2.jpg

Still not enough information for the marking : C21 "The perfect lady"

Eric

Centurion · Legend

Made a start on the Tadpole (when I found it! Most of my stuff is still in boxes in the garage after the last move, unearthed a whippet and 2 Mk Vs male and female in the process). I found some of the parts showed signs of of mould wear ( 'door steps' along the length of 6 pounder barrels for example) requiring some sanding etc. (Beware the plastic used in my copy does not file clean and a very fine emery stick was needed to finish off). Most of the detail is very good but the Lewis guns are a mere travesty. At a minimum the barrel (actually the air cooling shield) had to be drilled out and a gunners sight appature made in the ball mount. Tip when assembling the six pounders ignore the sequence suggested in the instructions and add the 'wings' on the circular shield after youve attached the assembled gun mount to the shield - its much easier that way.

Any way major components are now ready for assembly.

Eric · Colonel

One In progress shot of my Mark II :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/MarkII3.jpg

Let me know what you think, expecially for the colours of the sponsons. I will add a coat of matt varnish (maybe little satin) prior to decaling and to start weathering.

Eric

Drader · Lieutenant

The Emhar Whippet looks a lot better if the Hotchkiss automatics are replaced with Scale Link ones. Slightly overscale I know, but much less crude. I also tried adapting their Lewis guns for a Mark IV Female, with less success.

Treadhead · Major

Howdy, howdy, howdy fellas!!

My sincere apologies for not being around this thread lately, but I was having some log-in problems {read, I couldn't log-in at all ;-( }
Anyways, I am mighty happy to see this thread alive and strong

I have to run to work now, but I will stop back by at the end of the day and comment more personally on the new members who have joined this bit of fun, and on all of the progress that has been made so far...
I'll even try to share some more photos of what further progress I've ben able to make on my whippet entry.

warm regards,

Tread.

Post Script; I am so impressed by the 'Rhomboid' entries, I am strongly thinking of building one of those as a second entry

Eric · Colonel

Hello everybody,

After a break, find my in progress Mark II project :
A coat of Klir and the decals
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/Mark%20II/MarkII4.jpg
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/Mark%20II/MarkII5a.jpg

Then something like a washing with gouache :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/Mark%20II/Gouache.jpg

The result :
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/Mark%20II/MarkII6.jpg
https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/Nieuport/Mark%20II/MarkII7.jpg

Don't hesitate to comment, make some remarks, I am also here to improve myself.

Now, I have to finish the tracks prior to add mud. In the tips and trick of the Landship site, there is a reference to a heavy dry brush with gun metal. Is it necessary to add a coat of Klir (or similar) before, and do you have a reference to recommend for the gun metal ?

Thank you in advance.

Eric

Treadhead · Major

Howdy Eric!

Superb progress on your Braille scale Mark II

I have always admired all of you buggers that work in this dimunitive scale...partly because of the special challange's that the scale itself demands, and additionally, because I envy the 'youthful' eyesight necessary {IMHO

} that is required for it.

Your project is looking spot-on so far. Your gun sponson work {in your previous post} is nicely done. I like the non-even thickness of your wandering black demarcation line betwix the different shades of camo colour. Trying to imagine how it will look after final weathering since the colours themselves are so vivid...and speaking of "weathering", it appears you did a good job of maintaining a proper 'in-scale' application of nook-and-cranny emphasis...something difficult to do in the 'wee' scales.

Keep up the bloody good work mate......now, if I could just find an aftermarket company that makes those very cool track grousers in 1/35th scale

Tread.

OHHH!!....before I forget {again}...It would be a grreat idea if all of you guys with ongoing projects for this Group Build start your own Build threads {seperate from this thread} so that it will be easier for all of us to individually pay attention to your fabulous progress.....thx

-- Edited by Treadhead at 00:09, 2006-02-06

-- Edited by Treadhead at 00:10, 2006-02-06