Landships II

Ok Tread here is a little information on a few of the Whippet prototypes/variants

WHIPPET PROTOTYPES

(Tritton Chaser, Triton No. 2, Light Machine)

 

Prototype 1 A

 

The Prototype 1.A made it’s debut on February 3, 1917.  Full running trial was completed on February 11, 1917.  This Whippet is the Oldbury version, with a smaller/shorter substructure.  It housed a fully rotating Austin armored car turret.  This was located on the left side of the vehicle.  It carried no exhaust on either side.  It also had a distinct feature of a rear unarmored round gas tank.  It had no engine vents on either side of the engine housing.  The suspension had five mud chutes instead of the standard four.  This version also had 16 wheels supports on either side of the suspension, instead of the standard six. 

 

Prototype 1 B

 

This was the first version after the removal of the Austin turret and the addition of the substructure as on the final version.  It had an addition of an exhaust on either side of the engine housing.  This version still had no engine vents.  It retained the same suspension as on Prototype 1.A.  There were no gun ports at this time.

 

Prototype 2 A

 

This was the second version after the removal of the Austin turret and the addition of the substructure as on the final version.  On the picture provided, you can see where the engine vents were being cut and fitted.  The gun mount holes had been cut into the substructure.  It retained the same suspension as on Prototype 1.A.  This photo also shows the first time track spuds were fitted to Whippet tracks.  The round unarmored gas tank was moved to the front.

 

Prototype 2 B

 

This was the third version after the removal of the Austin turret and the addition of the substructure as on the final version.  On the photo provided, you can see the joint on the substructure where the turret was replaced.  The round gas tank is still in its original form, has not been replaced with the armored version as of yet.  All three engine vents have been added per side.  The track suspension had not been changed as of yet.

 

Final Version

(no photo)

 

The final version  received the new version of the armored gas tank.  The track suspension had been changed to four mud chutes.  The wheel supports had been changed. 

 

Prototype 3

 

This version was converted by Colonel Johnson to take a Rolls Royce Eagle Aero engine and sprung suspension with a rear track frame panel from a Mk. V and a Mk. V transmission. 

 

Prototype 4

 

This prototype was the Whippet which was equipped to carry a steering wheel like that which was used on the early Mk. (experimental only)

 

Prototype 5

 

This prototype was the Whippet which was equipped to carry a unditching skid plate, like the ones carried on the French Ft-17.

 

 

Russian Version 6

 

The Russian version was altered to carry a 37 mm cannon in the front of the substructure instead of the standard machine gun.

All the Best

Tim R

Tread

  I don’t think there is another picture, of the Whippet with a tail. I asked Roger Todd, when he went to Bovington to ask Mr. Fletcher about it, It seems it was just a experiment, nothing became of it after its trial run. Mr. Fletcher does not think there is any further information or pictures of this machine.

    It to is on my to build list, I am about 1/2 way finished with my Prototype model, with the Austin turret for the group build; I will post the pictures soon. I am working on a set of drawing's for the tail and skid version, when finished I will post them for you.

All the Best

Tim R

 

Howdy All,

My apologies for this 'bump' but, I thought I'd try to shake something loose from our good TimR....not sure about you buggers, but I am somewhat anxious to see what he has been able to accomplish on his 'turreted' Whippett

...........anything yet big guy?

Tread.

Howdy Tim,

Hey!....no pressures pard', just anxious to see some of your 'how-you-do-it' stuff is all...

My statement of "...Remember Tim, I posted pics of my build when it was only 'pieces-parts'......" was meant to hopefully persude you and other participants into sharing some of their early project photos. In this way we can all hopefully learn something new, or some new method of building...especially where scratching is concerned. I can't tell you how many tips I have picked up by paying attention to how someone else has gone about doing something compared to my method....

So, that said ya big lug, I would love to see some of your 'early' stages of scratching up that round turret thingie before you maje it all pretty and perfect!
And that goes for all of you as well!!

warm reagards,

Tread.