Landships II

Erik,

That's great news about the upcoming models. Any idea as to when they'll be availible? I'm especially eager to see the 1/35 scale models.


I've been collecting data on these cars for a while now to help me with the construction of a large-scale, scratch-built model. Actual dimensions for the 1914 Pattern cars are very hard to find. Apparantly no original plans of the 1914 Pattern cars exist and, until recently, it was thought that no 1914 Pattern cars remained. In the last several years, however, it has come to light that there is a somewhat modified and deteriorated 1914 Pattern car at the armoured cavalry museum in Ahmednagar, India. This car has reportedly been measured by an un-named person from Austrailia who is producing a replica - presumably in full scale. Perhaps someone else in the forum has more information on this?

You should note that, based on examination of historic photos, there are some dimensional differences between the 1914 and 1920 Pattern cars as well as differences in the hardware (hinges, handles, vision slits, & etc.) You should also note that historic photos reveal quite a few variations in details from car to car, even within each pattern, although it is difficult to say if these represent factory-built variations or merely field modifications. I have more than 200 historic photos of these cars. Most were found online and are therefor of limited resolution, however. (I also have detailed photos of the 1920 Pattern car at Bovington, taken while it was partially dissasembled for restoration, but these photos are copyrighted and I cannot share them. Their owner is a member of this forum, though, so he may choose to contact you if he is interested in sharing them.)

There is a set of plans for the 1920 Pattern car in the September 1989 issue of Finescale Modeler magazine. These plans appear to be of good quality, but they are not dimensioned so it is dificult to be sure.

Check out some basic info regarding the Rolls Royce Armoured Car series that I've compiled online at: Rolls Royce AC Miniwiki

Mark

-- Edited by MarkV at 17:41, 2006-11-27

-- Edited by MarkV at 21:04, 2006-11-27

sites with pictures:

http://www.rrab.com/nov00.htm

http://www.johnmalamatenios.net/armouredcar.html

http://www.landships.freeservers.com/royce-royce_ac_info.htm

and i have a large folder of pictures that you might like; do a search for 'philthydirtyanimal photos' and you should find it.

Thanks for your help, I really apreciate it.

Also I would like to say Im really impressed with your index Centurion, its a great help when doing research, I hadent found it before you mentioned it. Unfortunatly the MM drawing you refer to (I have this MM issue as well) is much to simple and small to be used for this project, anyhow I apreciate your help.

Yours

 

Erik Ahlström 

rjbartrop,

I've only come across one photo showing the interior of a 1914 Pattern car. That photo is in the small but information-packed booklet Early Armoured Cars by E. Bartholomew. (Shire Publications Limited, Aylesbury, Great Britain, 1988.) There are a number of copies of this booklet availible online from various sources (do a Google Search.)

This photo may show a particularly early model as it appears to have a Maxim machine gun rather than the Vickers which became the standard armament. As I understand it there was a shortage of Vickers machine guns when the squadrons were formed in late 1914 so the Royal Navy removed a number of Maxims from various vessels to equip the armoured car squadron.

It is also interesting to note in this photo that the vehicle's guages were mounted to the firewall down by the driver's feet - this is generally consistent with standard Rolls Royce cars of the time (see 1912 Model Civilian Car and 1914 Civilian RR). Based on photos I've seen online, the fuel and oil guages look very much like their civilian counterparts to me (see photo of 1912 civilian model) as do the speedometer and tach (as seen on the 1914 civilian model). The electrical panel and guage look similar to that seen on postwar civilian cars (see: 1920 Civilian RR)

Another detail that catches my eye is that one of the wheels upon which the turret revolves is visible. I may be wrong but it looks very much like a standard hardware store variety window sash-weight pulley, perhaps fitted with a sightly oversized wheel. No need to "re-invent the wheel", I suppose!

I hope this helps,

Mark





-- Edited by MarkV at 15:16, 2006-12-09

Thanks, that is a help. I don't know how useful this is to the rest of you, but the "The Wolf War I Album" by Ross Burns has a photo of a couple of Rolls armoured cars. THere's a glimpse of the inside of one of the rear doors.

Richard