The last work I completed today, one more time in the WW1 range.
This is an american Knox prime mover used to pull a french La Buire trailer. The vehicle was deployed improve the strategic mobility of the Schneider CD used in the heavy artillery regiments, but was later employed in the tank unit to move FT and Schneider tanks.
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The model ready to paint :Â
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The tractor could be displayed without the trailer :
Thank you!
To answer Paul : both models comes from Blitz (as most of the WW1 1/35 resin news).
I would be very happy to see more WW1 subjects on the Blast range considering the quality of their products, but I'm afraid they're mostly interested on modern armor.
Hopefully the Blast range will continue, as the shop and online business has just closed. I tried to find these models on their website, but does not seem to be that well organised (ie split into time periods) so a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.
It is also interesting to see an articulated road vehicle from this period, as they were very rare. I have a personal interest in Scammell lorries, and they were involved in the introduction of similar articulated vehicles from 1920s. How was the articulated unit separated from tractor unit?
Interestingly there is a connection with Scammell
quote from Wiki
"One such customer, Edward Rudd, had imported a Knox Automobile tractor from the United States, and impressed with its low weight/high hauling power had asked Scammell if they could make a similar model of their own."
-- Edited by rue_d_etropal on Monday 31st of March 2014 09:49:10 AM
-- Edited by rue_d_etropal on Monday 31st of March 2014 09:53:04 AM
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Mainly interested in narrow gauge railways, currently working a number of WW1 projects in 1/35 scale , website http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/
I really like this. I haven't seen many complete WWI models of tank + transporter (be it tractor or rail), let alone in 1/35. Well painted and weathered.
I should say I haven't consider the way the trailer could be disconnected from the lorry before! It is an interesting question as there isn't any specific device on the trailer. I suppose the crew will just use one or two jacks fitted under the front to give some elevation, move the tractor and then install the dolly.
The Civilian Knox pic is especially interesting and would make a very nice model, thank for the link.
About Blast, as far I know, they only close the model-shop in Paris and will continue their own production. It will maybe needs some time to complete the new system.
One of the things that struck me initially was the similarity to Scammell units built in the 1920s. It was only when I googled this particular tractor unit, that I found the connection to Scammell. At the time Scammell only did finishing work for other companies, so would not have been surprised to find some British trucks in WW1 actually had Scammell bodies. The fully detachable trailer units only came when Scammell perfected the Mechanical Horse in the 1930s. Again it is something I might ask of members of MH club.
I wonder if there are any photos of operations involving these tractors. I wonder if they would have actually kept the alternative drawing axle, and actually kept the tractor and trailer permanently attached. Only photos of FTs being transported is on the back of MAC trucks. Annoyingly there isn't a 1/35 model, and I suspect the 1/32 diecast version I have is slightly too big.