After some time just reading and lurking, with only a few posts, I`ve gathered strength to contribute something original to our forum.
My choice is the Trubia Tank series, and I intend to build in paper the first prototype (1926) at 1/72.
Two tank types and an artillery tractor were developed in the series, some of the tractors were later converted to MG carriers. All models and prototypes took part in combats during the Spanish Civil War.
The Trubia series was developed as a response to combat experience in the Rif wars in Northern Morocco. The Spanish Army employed there the Renault FT17 (in both their MG and cannon versions) but their output was far from successful. First of all, the rocky terrain caused severe strain to the caterpillars and limited their mobility; also the extreme summer weather overheated the MGs putting the tanks out of action when most needed.
On the other hand, the Spanish Army praised the Renault turret-tank concept and stuck to it in it's tank research. Army officers where sent to different countries to gather info but very little was achieved as tank designed was top secret at the time. Unexpectedly, some success was achieved in Germany, where tank hulls with the Orion caterpillar system (the ones designed for the K-Wagen) were eventually bought.
The Orion system prevented track shedding and could withstand the loss of track links without stopping the tank, so it was chosen for the Spanish prototype.
The MG overheating problems were overcome with a naive solution: a double ring turret with an independent MG in each ring, allowed the tank gunner to switch guns when one overheated; also the driver had another MG at his disposal.
I hope to post some pictures of the beta model this weekend.
Sounds interesting, Pablo. I came across this machine online in the last year or so and was intrigued by the unusual shape and tracks. I also started reading about the Spanish Civil War recently, although I have yet to reach any use of tanks (reading "The Battle for Spain" by Antony Beevor).
Espero que Ud pueda subir sus fotos del modelo, me gustaría verlas,
I'll begin cutting beta's hull pieces for assembly tomorrow. I want to check that the hull fits smoothly, then I'll draw and add all details. Trubia is a very simple design, and shouldn't be worrisome, but I haven't designed a scratch for almost 25 years now...
Trubia's Orion track wasn't either a success, although it dramatically improved road speed and range (compared to Ft17), it proved too rigid for cross country movement and transmitted the shocks to the engine compartment provoking continuous disadjustments.
The Trubia series A were among the first armor to enter combat during the SCW; there were three tanks in service in 1936 assigned to Infantry Regiment "Milán" in Oviedo (northern Spain) and were used by the nationalist defenders during that city's siege in late 1936 (the Republic had one arty tractor converted to MG carrier, but the were no Tk vs Tk engagements). Due to their reduced mobility, they were used as a kind of mobile strogpoints. After the city was relieved (early 1937) the tanks were scrapped.
Pablo
-- Edited by AgaPablo on Thursday 10th of October 2013 08:54:39 PM
Looks good so far, Pablo. Would you be able to upload your photos directly to the forum instead? I don't know what others think of photobucket, but I'm unsure of it myself.
I finished the beta test of hull and turret, as there shouldn't be any complication regarding caterpillars and other minor details I will redraw where necessary and go on coloring the model.
Btw. Thank You TCP, the file attachment engine at Landships is really swift!
The model is so tiny, I didn't expect it to be so small. Definitely looking good, though. Did you find plans in the blue book pictured in your last post (photo 1)?
Whoops! I'm sorry TCT maybe some guilt in my subconscious resurfacing...
The tank will look a bit bigger when tracks and skid tail are added, not much bigger of course.
The book shown in the picture is the main bibliographic evidence on the subject, the others are small articles in magazines. It covers all Trubia designs, including the three ones I mentioned above and a couple of other prototypes designed later in the SCW, which didn't go into action. Although the book does include line drawings of the tanks (in the case of the Series A a front and a side view) these have some inaccuracies that can be corrected from observation of pictures in the same book. No scale is specified for the drawings, but as overall dimensions for the tanks are provided in a comparative table, then the scale can be easily calculated (1/40).
I used this scale for my original drawings, so that I could add more detail to the design (it helps a lot with the rivets...) and the reduced it to 1/72 for assembly.
At last I managed to draw and colour all pieces and sort them into an A4 sheet. So today I began the definite model (or some sort of .. )
The model is 100+ pieces, but not a difficult one. As soon as I number the pieces and make some kind of instructions (I'm thinking of a ppt file for the later) I'll submit it for download; as regards to this step, would somebody in here kindly explain how to do it?
Regards!
-- Edited by AgaPablo on Sunday 20th of October 2013 08:06:05 PM
You should aim to package the model as a .pdf - I'm not keen on Powerpoint instructions since this relies on everyone belonging the Windows ecosystem - much better
is to use .pdf. Check out the packaging of Wayne McCullough's models on Landships II (landships.info).
I notice that the hull only has a small hole to attach the turret - I guess the intent is to use a pin or dowel to attach the turret. This doesn't seem
to work very well - most of the Polish designers use a fairly large hole in the hull and build a card cylinder to fit into it. I've built a couple of models
where the designer tried to use a small cylinder to attach the turret - the hole in the hull has to be placed with microscopic accuracy otherwise the turret
looks misplaced and the connection between hull and turret is weak and the model easily damaged.
The model is finished at last, and, I'm sorry CharlieC, with the original turret rotating mechanism. Only consider that the cylinder attachment is hardly practicable with the double ring turret system the Trubia tanks had.
It's the T1E1 - designed by Alberto Periili in 1/48 and 1/72 scales - available on Landships II.
I guess I should write an article on Trubia tank for Landships II - it seems a nice synergy - "download the model, read about the vehicle on the same website"
Any thoughts on doing the Trubia model in 1/48?
Regards,
Charlie
-- Edited by CharlieC on Wednesday 30th of October 2013 12:14:44 AM
-- Edited by CharlieC on Wednesday 30th of October 2013 12:18:26 AM
Looks good, Pablo, and the comparison is useful too. Out of interest, do you know which variant of Cunningham T1 light tank you have there - is it the T1E2?
My original design is 1/40, as I used a greater scale to be more accurate. I'll reduce it to 1/48th and try to see if it fits into 1 A4 (difficult) or folio (maybe does) sheet.
I'm sorry I'm unable to attach the PDF files to a private message, so I'll post the files provisionally right here. Fetch them and put to the appropriate place. Only I have to correct myself, I'm sorry I was deceived at first glance, and the models aren't 1/48 but 1/72nd. 3 versions are attached: one 1935 Parade and 2 SCW "what ifs" from both sides Nationalist and Republican.
Author is: Jesus M Lopez Bea, You may open a new folder for him, only state that all three are repaints of my original model.