I was in doubt if this post would better go to the "Modelling" area or here... I'm contemplating starting the 1/72 Emhar kit of the A7V. On examining the parts, I see that the roof has large gratings that give to the bare interior a degree of visibility. Was this like that in the real vehicles? I find it unlikely, as that would mean a very vulnerable feature.
Were some sort of screen under this? Or perhaps another armored plate that would allow air circulation but with a certain degree of protection?
I have found some nice clear pictures of Mephisto in its actual state but it seems too damaged there to be certain. What's the consensus about the function and layers of these grates? Is the Emhar kit somewhat accurate here? (I thinned already the "turret" gratings to more scale appearance).
Thanks for the clarification. The damaged Mephisto sure is too destroyed to see this clearly.
For modelling purposes,though, I guess it suffices with thinning the grating a bit from below and backing up the area with flat styrene sheet, wouldn't be enough?
Hi, one point missed in the diagram above is that fact they the lowerest level, the armour level had small "L" angles riveted all along the edge of the slits, top side only to catch the bullet splash.
se my pic from inside Mephisto below, it does not clearly show the angle pieces , but you can see the small rivet holes where they were held.
I have marked from of the rivet holes with red in the photo... and you may be able to pick out the rest faintly...
I am not too sure there is a middle layer... I just can't remember wether the upper layer has angles attached to it on the inside...
I lost my other rolls of films of my 1971 shots of the tank in the floods... and I don't think I would be allowed near the tank again to re shoot it.
regards
Sandy
-- Edited by nurgle on Wednesday 27th of May 2015 12:55:27 AM
Thanks Sandy! For my modelling purposes, though, a simple "blind" will do for a completely closed hull (as I intend to model the kit). Temptation is strong to add some kind of interior, especially after seeing the wonderful work made by our Italian forum contributor on his Emhar Mk.IV tank, proving that, if difficult, it's possible. Here's a thing to note for the Emhar kit: the gratings have a slight recessed shape on the inside surface. I planned to add simple styrene sheet shapes into them... well, the recesses aren't regular (parallel sides or completely flat) so fitting the styrene sheet has proved, once again, a bit complicated. I'm trying something different to fit them now, pictures soon!
-- Edited by d_fernetti on Monday 1st of June 2015 03:55:11 PM
The grates will tend to fill in a bit without careful painting, I noticed this when dug out my two finished Emhar A7Vs to repaint them in camo last week
Greetings, Josh
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"General, you have nobly protected your forts. Keep your sword...to have crossed swords with you has been an honor, sir." General der Infantrie, Otto von Emmich
This is the rear louvre of 506; note the three spacers between outer and middle layer. - Just checked it: the Emhar kit does have the spacers (as does the 1:35 Meng kit). So, this post is moot.
-- Edited by mad zeppelin on Monday 8th of June 2015 09:24:11 AM
