In the absence of the Matador Models modification kits (unless Michel from Black Lion Decals can get some for me next week at Folkestone), I am looking at making some 3D Shapeways prints of Mark IV Male, Female and Tender sponsons for the Airfix kit both extended and retracted/folded for rail transit. Why 1/76, because I am building a large 11 metre layout in OO gauge and to use a large number of 1/72 tanks will contrast too much with the OO Gauge items in shallow 40-60cm deep modules when I am also trying to force the perspective in the background. I would note that I haven't built a model tank (nor a model railway) in forty years, so scratch building the sponsons isn't my preferred option :)
Are the George Bradford drawings accurate for the purpose? Or should I use the Bellona Prints drawings? Are there other items I should have made at the same time? For example does anyone have a drawing or sketch of the supply sled?
I would appreciate any assistance, corrections to drawings or advice other members may be able to share.
If you have the Bellona Prints drawings, these are only of interest out of a sense on nostalgia. One of my first scratch built WW1 subjects was based on them, and I recall the difficulties cause by their inaccuracies. (The front elevation is most clearly wrong.)
There are now several options open to you, as very assiduously researched drawings have been posted here by one of the outstanding contributors to this forum. If you have the patience and skills to make the sponsons you require, you might consider adapting from the card models available from Landships II. Airfix magazine published some primitive adaptations shortly after the release of the original Mk 1, but the result was only an approximation of a Mk IV, perhaps acceptable in a forced perspective without too much scrutiny.
Would screen shots from my in-progress MkIV card model help? The model itself is 1/48, but I could re-scale to 1/76 or otherwise as needed. I have the UK male and female sponsons and the beutepanzer IV sponsons as well. I am attaching non-scale views as a reference.
My card models are posted here on LandshipsII for reference. The MkIV models here are dated, so I am re-doing this one at a larger scale.