I've got the scratchbuilding bug really bad and after collecting many tools and supplies I'm ready to start. Does anyone have scale drawings of the WW1 mortar "Big Bertha", any rail guns or AA lorrys. I'm also looking for the Lebendanko tank drawings. I'd like to post my progress here on the site and perhaps include a few tutorials on techniqes. Any help is appreciated, I'm so glad I found this website.
All the (comparatively few) drawings I have ever seen of the Big Bertha are quite inaccurate. Arie Dijkhuis, who has done an immense amount of research over many years into Great War artillery, has never found original plans, and he and I suspect no-one ever will. However, I do know that someone with superb credentials in terms of both research and draughtsmanship abilities is working on a set of Big Bertha plans*, though these will be some time off so you're best advised to leave tackling that subject until those drawings are completed.
Good luck with your other projects.
*I do not feel at liberty to divulge the name at this point.
I think there were some plans in a Military Modeller from about 25 years ago. I can take a pick axe and do some geological digging in my archives but, if as Roger implies, these are inaccurate I shan't bother. Shame if they are as I can remember that someone spent a lot of time building a model using them. Are these included in your "All the (comparatively few) drawings I have ever seen of the Big Bertha are quite inaccurate" Roger?
Are these included in your "All the (comparatively few) drawings I have ever seen of the Big Bertha are quite inaccurate" Roger?
I'm afraid so, Centurion. The proportions are off, many features have been left off or misinterpreted, and they are generally not very accurate. However, I think the chap who drew them (can't remember his name now as I'm not at home at the moment to check) did a valiant job as, at that time, there was hardly any reference material available to the public - what there is on Landships is a huge improvement on what there was then.
I shall contact my, erm, contact, and find out what progress has been made (I want to build a model too!).
