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Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> Tanks -> Renault FT repairs in the field.
Post Info TOPIC: Renault FT repairs in the field.
Castle


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Renault FT repairs in the field.
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Hi All,

 

A quick question about the Renault FT tanks.

 

I have bought the Meng kit of the cast turret version of this beast and did so because I love the idea of displaying the interior. So, in order to do this I would like to position the hatches in the open position. On reading the instructions though it would seem that opening the hatches only reveals the engine and not the really nice transmission, fuel (?) tank and other internal details. The piece of armour above all this lovely stuff seems to have a series of bolts that must have corresponding captive nuts or threaded holes in the framework - it can't be studs as the angles would be all wrong and I don't think you could reach all the nuts on the bolts if it were otherwise. So I assume that this whole top section must lift off to allow a more intrusive bit of heavy duty repair!

 

Looking at some of the pictures of the FTs found in Afghanistan in 2003, it would seem to back the idea that is top bit comes off up but here is the clincher - am I right about this and if so, would a field workshop do this kind of work on an FT? Are there any known pictures of this happening? If I was taking on this job, the first thing I would do is to take off the hinged portions to make the thing lighter before I lifted it but without evidence, I just don't know... If not, were improvised derricks made up to lift heavy bits off and on?

 

EDIT: I have noticed that the black preserved example in Switzerland is displayed with the bulkhead between the transmission and the fighting compartment missing. Looking at the kit, this is represented as being held on in such a way as to allow access via 8 large bolts round the edges and six smaller ones around the crank handle on the transmission. This would allow some access to the gearboxes without removing the fuel tank. Is this a more likely bet?

 

It will make a difference to the kind of diorama I am going to plan. If there is no conclusive evidence I may have to consider either a factory model (which leads to all sorts of questions about painting the thing) or, at a pinch, a cut away model which I don't mind but if there is a realistic way of doing this then why not?

 

Many thanks for all your help!

 

Castle



-- Edited by Castle on Saturday 7th of February 2015 09:34:19 PM

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Lothianman


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I have exactly the same problem with my model.

However, one possible approach is to do it as an early FT in which the firewall was, apparently, omitted (or very incomplete).

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Castle


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Cheers Lothianman!

I guess there can't be any information about if there is not much in the way of a reply here!

All the best,

Castle

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Massimo Foti


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I am not able no provide an answer to the question, but I posted a few pics on Flickr covering the Swiss tank:
www.flickr.com/photos/massimofoti/5903696595
www.flickr.com/photos/massimofoti/7038765639
www.flickr.com/photos/massimofoti/5903689869

I have quite a few additional shots showing some interior. If you think it may help, I could zip them all and make them available for download for a short amount of time (it's going to be a huge .zip file).

I also suggest you take a look at the Walk Around book from Squadron Signal, it may be handy for a modelling project (I contribute many pictures for the book, but I make no money out of it):
www.amazon.ca/Squadron-Signal-Publications-FT-17-Around/dp/B00DPI4O5G

Hope it may help

Massimo

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Castle


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Hi Massimo,

Thanks for the links - the photos are great! It does seem that the way that the interior of that one is done shows off (with the rear deck and front driver's hatch open) both ends of the mechanics. It seems that the back to the driver's seat is designed to be quick release both for escape and I suspect maintainence purposes so it looks like we have a winner from a model point of view at least. Does anyone know which versions of the tank had this minimal approach to the bulkhead? Is the Meng cast turret version ok to use?

I must admit to looking at the FT book and thinking about how, in just a few clicks, it could be on my shelf...

Many thanks for taking the time to post this stuff!

All the best,

Castle

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