Landships II

My congratulations to these fine truck models everybody.

I have that kit (still unmade) and it looks very promising. I hesitated building it so far because I am uncertain of two aspects, and would appreciate your input on them:
1. The kit or really all of them contain two sets of wheels. Which ones are correct for WW1 - both?
2. Also included is a beam as on Kaiser's model's front. It appears to me having read this was introduced only after WW1 but I cannot find that reference now?

Thanks & regards, Pat

Hi Kaiser nice model looks great

Hi Pat i do believe the extra wheels are intended for different WW1 versions of the truck as i said in a previous mac thread all 3 kits have the same sprue, not sure about the bowser though, the truck Im working on utilises the other wheels in the kit.... I have 3 of these kits but only 2 of the versions, I'd would be interested in a copy of the instructions for the flatbed...


Cheers

-- Edited by Ironsides on Tuesday 4th of January 2011 10:25:11 PM

Thank you for the kind words gentlemen.

Pat,
If we are to beleive RPM's instructions the bumper beam was featured on the trucks during the war. But how accurate RPM is in this regard is anyone's guess...

Hello Pat!
According to the kit instructions, the "cast" wheels were to be used with the bowser attachment. However, as I have never find an actual picture of this truck (with that crazy camouflage pattern as depicted on the box art) I cannot say which type of wheels were used. I suppose (and it's just my opinion) that cast wheels were used on later marks than the wooden spoked wheels on Mack trucks, as the cast variety was still used on postwar truck models.
I saved the set of "artillery type" (wooden spoked) wheels to build a scratchbuilt trailer for the bowser. A few months ago I visited a horse racetrack (of all places!) that had a large shed with old tools and appliances, and there was this old water bowser trailer, with BIG spoked wheels and a sturdy iron beam "chassis". I was told it was used -adding to it a special device- to water the dirt tracks and keep the dust settled down during races.
There was also a smaller water cart, if it's of interest I'll post pictures later.
Here's a few of my modded bowser (sans truck!). I added a few bumps and creases, and domed ends, as I saw that the kit pieces were a bit too tidy for something that gets knocked once in a while.
PS: Even when my surname shows my Italian ascendency, I can't speak that language! I'm from Argentina, where many Italians and Spanish immigrants came and settled in. Cheers!

-- Edited by d_fernetti on Wednesday 5th of January 2011 12:42:13 PM

Cheers, PDA! Wonder how someone in the wastelands of Argentina can get some past issues of this rag. Is there a website for this? I'm interested to know which were the issues and the topics covered there. My cunning plan is to slowly build material enough to make a 1:72 aerodrome, with some tenders too!

That´s a great little truck.....it´s got style.
A very nice build.
Cheers
Paul

-- Edited by Paul H on Thursday 6th of January 2011 02:54:52 PM

Thanks for the info everybody - now I've got one reason less not to complete a model. 

Pretty sure Kaiser's Mack will be RPM's 1/72 model, available in a few different guises. I doubt there are any 1/35 models of either truck.

It is a lovely model, but I do think that the tissue paper method of covering the tilt spoils the effect slightly because of the crinkled look it has taken on. Might a finely woven light fabric such as voile be better, relying on the paint to help disguise the scale of the weave (if needs be)?

PDA wrote:

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Another excellent model. Well done, mate.

All these bulldogs are tempting me (as well) to dig mine out and finish it off.

I can't recall if 'Great War Truck' has covered the AC Mack in his series of articles in Military Machines International. If he has, they are great reference material; he has an amazing collection of contemporary photos. I think we are behind the times here (in the snow covered sub zero wastelands of cottage country), but the December edition has the Crossley Tender in it.

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 I have actually submitted a Mack article to MMi and it should be published in February (or about then). Next Month (December) MMi will carry my article on Karrier trucks and Octobers was British water tankers. From my observations all war time Macks (including the water tankers) had wooden wheels. Steel wheels (made by Dayton) did not i understand come in until the early 1920's but i have an image of prototype steel spoke wheels in 1916.