Welcome, I think that the rivet spacing on the Airfix kit is that of "Mother" though Ive never measured it myself so it should be ok.. and full width bettween tracks cab with no hatch.. circular hatch on the top of the hull...
Cheers
-- Edited by Ironsides on Sunday 18th of August 2013 02:19:32 PM
Hi, I'm new here. I'm thinking of doing a few WWI models in the next few years, as a sort of commemoration of the centenary of the Great War, and I'm thinking about the first rhomboid tank; Mother. I understand that the Airfix 1/76th scale tank can be converted to a real Mark I, but it's going a bit further to make a model of Mother. So far, I think there are four differences between Mother and a typical Mark I;
1. Rivet spacing closer
2. No covers over the exhaust holes
3. An array of holes on the aft deck.
4. Gray paint.
Is there anything else of importance I have missed?
Sponson doors opened towards hull on Mother and on Mk I production vehicles.
__________________
"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.
Ah yes, so they did. Also on the Mark II, I observe. Thank you for saving me from the sin of misleading others, James.
Gwyn
It is a burden I have chosen to bear. Got my hands full with Wikipedia.
__________________
"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.
One thing I would point out for discussion, rather than as a certain fact, is that it appears to my eyes that mother, at least early in her service life, looks to have been unpainted.
Some photos, one example of which is the first of Helen's pics above, show what appears to be bare metal plating - the shine in parts is not, to my mind, consistent with a painted surface, even bearing in mind the sheen that paints had a century ago. Little Willie also has a similar appearance in at least one photo I've seen (p.42, A New Excalibur), unless for some reason, it had white paint on the foremost side panels and it was later painted out. More likely, both vehicles started their life of trials without paint and were later given a protective coating.
Any suggestions on how to drill that array of holes on the rear hull in 1/76th scale? Or rather, how to drill them evenly? How did Mr. Rhomboid do it on his excellent model?
Thanks Suvoroff! I initially tried to drill the holes with a pin vise, but couldn't get the holes evenly sized and spaced. Eventually, I settled on cutting small pieces from a worn out electric razor foil. These were flattened and inlaid into a shallow depression ground into the roof plate, and the edges were faired in with modelling putty. The result is not completely accurate, but the effect was reasonable.
I don't want to get your hopes up prematurely, but I saw an ad in Airfix Magazine a few months ago which appeared to offer custom photo-etch sets. Would need to have a look to see if it means that they'll produce sets upon request, or if it only means they do sets of their own. It was an Eastern European business, but I'd need to check the magazine for the name.
One road wheel appears to be missing bettween the the front idler and the first road wheel positioned along the bottom of the hull.. only visible as axle end see the photo of "mother" here (top three):
While going through old threads here in search of more stuff on Mark I's and Mother, I found a reference to Mother having an extra road wheel. Is this so? Where was it, if so?
Never noticed that before ... Mother has an extra wheel, just under the track tensioner. They must of decided it was unnecessary and removed it from the design when they rushed through the MK1s.