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Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> Tanks -> Prop Tank from "Westfront 1918" Photo
Post Info TOPIC: Prop Tank from "Westfront 1918" Photo
Matt Heil


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Prop Tank from "Westfront 1918" Photo
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Here's a good photo from a closed ebay.de auction of one of the prop tanks used in the German film "Westfront 1918":

 

German Film Prop Tank ebay.de

For Discussion Purposes Only

Original auction link here: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-unbekannter-Beute-Panzer-tank-Elite-Renault-FT17-Variante-Prototyp-Char-WW-/380962893049?pt=Militaria&hash=item58b3286cf9&clk_rvr_id=674526309812&nma=true&si=NdcfH4ibRMZL1XYSIeI1R7nGcEc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

It was listed as a "FT-17 Variant/Prototype" , although it does seem meant to replicate something French, with it's anachronistic FCM2 turret!  It looks like it might be fun to model (especially as a paper model, hinthint!).

I know it's hard to see, but does anyone have any idea what tractor chassis it's based on? 



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“[B]ut these tanks are machines, their caterpillars run on as endless as the war, they are annihilation, they roll without feeling into the craters, and climb up again without stopping..." -Erich Maria Remarque

 
James H


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That's an excellent find, Matt. Iirc, both the tanks were based on tractors designed by Joseph Vollmer after the War - I forget which one, but it's in his biog somewhere. I think the design of the superstructure was a bit of a shot in the dark. There is a photo of the cast with one of the machines, but I had no idea this one existed. Brilliant.



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Roger Todd


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I think the superstructure is more than a shot in the dark, James - it's striking how closely it resembles the superstructure of the Char 2C, even replicating the two exhaust silencers (or whatever they are) on the roof...

Westfront 1918 film prop tank 1930 Char 2C comparison.jpg

It's far from impossible the prop-builders had the Char 2C in mind seeing as the film was made in 1930.



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James H


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Apparently a 25hp or 50hp caterpillar tractor designed by Vollmer and built by Hanomag.

I think what I was trying to say was that it was an imperfect attempt to produce historically correct replicas of WWI French tanks. If they had a military advisor and asked him what tanks it would be proper to include, his advice wasn't the best. If you see what I mean.



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Roger Todd


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James H wrote:
I think what I was trying to say was that it was an imperfect attempt to produce historically correct replicas of WWI French tanks. If they had a military advisor and asked him what tanks it would be proper to include, his advice wasn't the best. If you see what I mean.

I do now, apologies for misunderstanding you!



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James H


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All forgotten now.



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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
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