Landships II

Topoff · Sergeant

British WW1 Supply Sledges

T140 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Very nice work indeed. Good subject to do.

Topoff · Sergeant

Cheers T140, I like to try and add a little extra

Its defo going to be a long model, by the time the x2 sledges are on, its looking like a good 25"
Rich

Paul Bonnett · Hero

That looks very accurate Rich. Any chance you could put together a set of measurements for us mere mortals ? Welcome aboard by the way
Paul

Granty101 · Colonel

Silly question, but I'm sure someone will know the answer: Were these sledges mass produced in a factory, or were they 'field made' locally?

As for the models your doing Rich, you have done a good job based upon little information. Well done.

Grant

RCD · Lieutenant-Colonel

Very impressive. I have looked into making some sledges but you have really gone to town with the research. It will make life alot easier for a modellers like me.

Topoff · Sergeant

Cheers for the comments lads, much appreciated, Paul, no problem, Ive just got in from work but will defo get the measurements sorted for you later on & thanks for the welcome

, Granty101- Dont know about them being massed produced but after making these I can say that they would be very easy to ship out in a flat pack, base, x2 ends and the side bars so they may have been UK made then put on a boat. The info is very thin but was I have had a help colating the pic's from other modelers

Nice one RCD thank you

I just think its a shame to have a model like this with the effort Takom have gone to & not try to put a bit of effort into the sledges. Cant wait to start filling them up with supply's
Thanks again all
Rich

Granty101 · Colonel

Again Rich, good scratch built modelling.

Grant

Topoff · Sergeant

Hi guys, I have thrown up some measurements on one of the sledges, hope that helps, Ive also included the towing block build, Cheers 101

CharlieC · Legend

With permission I can assemble this thread into an article for Landships II - that is - unless you want to write this up yourself.

Regards,

Charlie

Topoff · Sergeant

Yes please CharlieC that would be great, new to the site so still finding my way around.
Thank you

Rich

THE OLD LANCER · Colonel

Would be handy if you could do up a set of scale drawings in 1/35th!!!!!

THE OLD LANCER

T140 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Just looking at the photo there if the tadpole pulling the 2 sledges, thats quite impressive! The ground looks pretty bad in that pic. I'm surprised the tanks could do it given what were relatively low powered engines and simple tracks. Amazing.

Topoff · Sergeant

No prob would love to make up some drawings im off work wed/thur so I'll have a go then, I have to say though that the whole sledges mesurments will be right to my model but they are only guesses off of the real thing, Ive guessed these going off what cargo is inside the photo's of the sledges, the width Ive gone off the photo of the sledges from the rear it shows they are a couple of inches thinner than the tank in the pic & the height is guessed by the chap walking behind in one the pics

Thanks for showing interest

Topoff · Sergeant

It is amazing how these beasts was put to use, one thing I noticed with the tadpole pic is the sledges directly behind is full to the gunalls & the rear sledge is only half full.

Some thing else is if you look carefully at each of the pics there is x2 sledges in each one so maybe that was standard practice ? food for thought though

RCD · Lieutenant-Colonel

Topoff wrote:
No prob would love to make up some drawings im off work wed/thur so I'll have a go then, I have to say though that the whole sledges mesurments will be right to my model but they are only guesses off of the real thing, Ive guessed these going off what cargo is inside the photo's of the sledges, the width Ive gone off the photo of the sledges from the rear it shows they are a couple of inches thinner than the tank in the pic & the height is guessed by the chap walking behind in one the pics
Thanks for showing interest

This would be really appreciated even though I work in 1/72 . Its no big deal to convert to the appropiate scale. As for accuracy its probably more accurate that the Emhar 1/72 tadpole/MkIV I will be using!

Granty101 · Colonel

RCD wrote:

This would be really appreciated even though I work in 1/72.

I'd also like to see some plans done in the smaller scale. Even for a novice scratch builder, this is a perfect first project, as it's all (mainly) straight lines, with few curves to worry about

Grant

Tonys · Field Marshal

It looks as if the exhaust pipe was removed between the rear of the tank and the rear of the first expansion/silencer box?

Tonys · Field Marshal

Tremendous article - so useful.

One question, was it only the MkIV that towed sledges or did the later tanks also do it?

Tony

Topoff · Sergeant

Hi guys, thanks for all the interest shown, I have included a set of plans, if anyone needs any more info then please just ask, no problem.

If you print it off on A4 then its to 1/35 scale

Rich Reid

sledge plan.jpg

Topoff · Sergeant

Dont know if its just the MkIV that had sledges but the tadpole exauste looks like they took the lot off

If anyone has the info then im defo interested

Rich Reid

RCD · Lieutenant-Colonel

Thanks for taking the trouble of producing your plans clear and concise - clearer to use than many model instructions! Most appreciated

argonne64 · Captain

Hello
To answer regarding the removal of the exhaust pipe , it is due to the fact that the Anchor point for the top towing system required to have the pipe removed for the instalationon the roof.
Re routing the pipe after the job was not a priority.....
Reason why not placed back. Only the interference Anchor point / unditching beam was taken in acount ( rails were extended above as the anchor point is highter than the original rail design , beam would have hit...)
MK IV with top towing system were also used ad wire pullers at Cambrai
Best Regards
Olivier

Topoff · Sergeant

No probs about the plans, it was quite nice playing with it hope they scale down ok, would love to see some pics if you do make any

Nice one Argonne64, makes sences as the block is a bit of a beast, thanks for the info, I will check out the wire pullers at Cambrai, if you have any pics would love to see also if there is any one got any pic's of the chain mule that connects the single chain from the tank to the mule which splits it into x2 chains that link onto the sledges, I would imagine they was used for other things too but am struggling to find a source WW1 Sledges mule.jpg

any how started work on the second sledge

Thanks for looking, any imput always welcome

Rich Reid

argonne64 · Captain

Great job
On my side I do not have seen any better pictures of chain connected to the anchoring point than the one you showed ( The wire puller tank in the pound).
Maybe somebody have one ?
Best Regards
Olivier

Topoff · Sergeant

Cheers Olivier, I really like the idea of all these converstion tanks, the ones with just a slight difference but enough that makes it usefull for a difference perpose, the brits have always been good at that, will defo be hunting for the wire puller now
Thanks again
Rich

lostiznaos · Field Marshal

Thanks a lot! You've made a great work and your drawings are especially useful!

Tonys · Field Marshal

Lovely crates/boxes - what did you make those out of?

Beautiful job all round.

Tony

Topoff · Sergeant

glad there of some use Lostiznaos

Cant take the credit Tony for the crates, im using a mixture from all different companys, the grey ones I think there from Value Gear, they do some cracking bits & bobs, I will be making a few larger creats out of coffee sticks & balsa, just to pack out the sledges

Thanks for your comments

Rich Reid

Tonys · Field Marshal

Rich,

What colour did you paint the tadpole?

With the light coming from a different direction, it's amazing the apparent colour of the sides being quite different from the top.

Regards,

Tony

Topoff · Sergeant

I havnt touched it with paint yet Tony, but will be very soon, not decided which colour to use yet

Topoff · Sergeant

Hi guys,not much bench time due work & xmas but have managed to finish second sledge & the towing mule, again Ive had to add-lib abit but have tried to practical & relevant to the period, also started the base using an old bit of a fire place that Ive had sitting around for at least 15 years. You may notice the lead weights in a couple off pics, ive had to do that for now as to get to the pull on the chains, speaking of chains- I didnt think the chains would be off the tracks but after a bit of playing I think that there at the right height & length from the tank.

As always good or bad please jump in

Rich Reid

Paul Bonnett · Hero

Looking spot on so far. Many Thanks for the measurements and drawings, just need to find a source for 1/35 'D' shackles lol

Topoff · Sergeant

Cheers Paul, no probs I have put a request in on this site last week to some one who is putting together some WW1 tank extras for the Mk1 I asked for the 'D' shackles as we could do with some

Topoff · Sergeant

Hi guys, just making some Lg crates for the sleges, just to bulk them out a bit for all the small crates

Happy xmas all

Rich Reid

Tonys · Field Marshal

Would you believe that I cannot find wooden stirring sticks in South Africa? With all the "progress" everyone has gone to plastic, so I had to order them from China!

Tony

Topoff · Sergeant

Thats so unfair Tony, complain about how plastic isnt ozone friendly & makes the coffee taste funny lol.

Heres an update on the sledges, managed to get a couple of lg boxs made, & got enough bits & bobs to fill a sledge, still lots of cleaning up to do & start on the second sledge

Any comments (Good or bad) always welcome

Rich Reid

Tonys · Field Marshal

Hell's Bells - obviously you weren't spending much time on Xmas shopping making that lot!!!!

Fantastic collection of boxes, crates, shovels, etc.

What's for an encore? stencils on the boxes?

Very inspiring work - I'm sure that a lot of people will be amazed when the next round of IPMS competition comes around and they haven't been watching this thread!!!!

Tony

T140 · Lieutenant-Colonel

Yep those crates look excellent. Good job!

Granty101 · Colonel

Tonys wrote:
Would you believe that I cannot find wooden stirring sticks in South Africa? With all the "progress" everyone has gone to plastic, so I had to order them from China!
Tony

Tonys, if you had mentioned earlier, I could have 'borrowed' a few more and posted them to you from the UK.

Grant