forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Armour, Artillery, Vehicles, Ships => WW1 Armour, Artillery, Vehicles, dioramas, associated figures and Ships => Topic started by: gedmundson on December 13, 2024, 01:11:53 AM

Title: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 13, 2024, 01:11:53 AM
I have just finished a 1/35 scale German A7V by modifying the Meng kit to resemble the vehicle "Gretchen" at the end of the conflict.

Germany produced 20 of these vehicles late in the war, and it seems each one of them was a bit different than the others. Using what little references I could muster, I tried to match the features seen on photos of "Gretschen" tank no. 501 which included the later markings, bolted plates over the MG positions, and removing the extra armour plate molded onto the upper driver/commander's cabin.

Although very little of it can be seen, I painted up the interior. The model will be soon placed into a small vignette with a few figures to give it some life & character.

Cheers!
Gary

(https://i.imgur.com/NezMwcH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/de82fdK.jpg)
Some of the references I found on the Internet to help with the build.

(https://i.imgur.com/jTlTPS3.jpg)
Despite looking quite big, the A7V was very cramped inside. These vehicles went into action with between 17-25 soldiers on board.

(https://i.imgur.com/LCiM6vV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WvFR9zx.jpg)
Since an engine wasn't included in the kit I just filled the cavity with dark foam.

(https://i.imgur.com/gaW9ufj.jpg)
The fit of the Meng kit is quite good.

(https://i.imgur.com/Rt6bjVc.jpg)
To modify the upper cab, I had to sand off the additional armour plate and add back the bolt, rivet and hinge detail on all four sides.

(https://i.imgur.com/r6XM0tn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9PjfcUJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GTll1fQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NygCIKU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YL66Y6o.jpg)


Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: NigelR on December 13, 2024, 01:18:06 AM
Lovely work Gary. I've been tempted by this one many times. I really like the way you handled the camo and the weathering. I'm sure you can see some of the interior through the open doors and ports.....
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: Borsos on December 13, 2024, 02:00:15 AM
Fantastic build! I especially love the effects of dry and wet mud on the tank?s hull!
Have you had access to the Tankograd book on the A7V?
Andreas
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: DaddyO on December 13, 2024, 02:01:20 AM
Excellent all round build.
I'm especially taken with the mud effects (just needs a nice little bit of groundwork to set it off)  ;)

Paul
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 13, 2024, 02:03:35 AM
Lovely work Gary. I've been tempted by this one many times. I really like the way you handled the camo and the weathering. I'm sure you can see some of the interior through the open doors and ports.....

Thanks Nigel - I had a lot of Internet help with the build from videos by Martin Kovac (nightshiftmodels) and Thomas Morgan's build from a few years ago. And yes - there is a fair bit of the interior one can see with all the ports & doors open. It was fun to put it all in there.
Cheers,
Gary
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 13, 2024, 02:07:03 AM
Fantastic build! I especially love the effects of dry and wet mud on the tank?s hull!
Have you had access to the Tankograd book on the A7V?
Andreas

Thanks Andreas, I don't have that book unfortunately. it would have been a great help with my project. Although I did find a fair bit of information on the Internet, a lot of it conflicted as to which vehicle was which in varying references.
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: Dirigible-Al on December 13, 2024, 05:26:11 AM
That's incredibly realistic and I can't wait to see the vingerett. I cannot imagine though that these things were any use in WW1. Probably just as well they built only 20 of them.
Alan.
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: Borsos on December 13, 2024, 06:21:32 AM
Fantastic build! I especially love the effects of dry and wet mud on the tank?s hull!
Have you had access to the Tankograd book on the A7V?
Andreas

Thanks Andreas, I don't have that book unfortunately. it would have been a great help with my project. Although I did find a fair bit of information on the Internet, a lot of it conflicted as to which vehicle was which in varying references.

The tank is finished ? shall I check it and look for Gretchen, or better not, as it?s too late anyway?
Oh I also love watching nightshift?s videos  :)
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 13, 2024, 08:23:04 AM
[quote author=Borsos link=topic=14740.m


The tank is finished ? shall I check it and look for Gretchen, or better not, as it?s too late anyway?
Oh I also love watching nightshift?s videos  :)

That's kind of you to offer Andreas, but yes - the tank is completed.
Cheers,
Gary
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: lcarroll on December 13, 2024, 09:13:52 AM
   Beautiful work once again Gary, the weathering and overall finish are eye catching to say the least! Like Borsos has mentioned already the mud effect is outstanding.
Well done Sir!
Cheers,
Lance
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 13, 2024, 02:54:25 PM
   Beautiful work once again Gary, the weathering and overall finish are eye catching to say the least! Like Borsos has mentioned already the mud effect is outstanding.
Well done Sir!
Cheers,
Lance

Thanks so much, Lance - your comments are appreciated.
Cheers,
Gary
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: Edo on December 13, 2024, 04:31:46 PM
wow! this build took me completely off guard...
you captured the spirit of the machine at its best!
can?t wait to see the diorama and the final vignette....
now did you paint the black lines between the blotches? did you use a sharpie?

ciao
edo
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: macsporran on December 13, 2024, 09:29:57 PM
Another masterpiece, Gary.

My only negative comment being the shame that so much of that exquisite interior is hidden away inside. I think your representation of the internal steel plating is superb and the detail work is wonderful.

Without doubt the exterior finish is masterful too and the whole model is a work of art. (But I do wish you had maybe a removable side to show off just how good the unrestricted inside view would be!)

Lovely
Sandy 
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 14, 2024, 05:21:45 AM
Excellent all round build.
I'm especially taken with the mud effects (just needs a nice little bit of groundwork to set it off)  ;)

Paul

Thanks Paul - painting a few figures as we speak to be added to a simple groundwork hopefully soon  8)
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 14, 2024, 05:23:28 AM
wow! this build took me completely off guard...
you captured the spirit of the machine at its best!
can?t wait to see the diorama and the final vignette....
now did you paint the black lines between the blotches? did you use a sharpie?

ciao
edo

Thanks Edo - the dark lines were painted with a "0" size paintbrush using Vellejo Black Grey. Cheers!
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 14, 2024, 05:25:27 AM
Another masterpiece, Gary.

My only negative comment being the shame that so much of that exquisite interior is hidden away inside. I think your representation of the internal steel plating is superb and the detail work is wonderful.

Without doubt the exterior finish is masterful too and the whole model is a work of art. (But I do wish you had maybe a removable side to show off just how good the unrestricted inside view would be!)

Lovely
Sandy

Thanks for the kind words, Sandy. Happy that you like the interior work  ;)
Cheers,
Gary
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: Rookie on December 15, 2024, 09:15:08 PM
Hi Gary,

I am a fervent admirer of your work, the vignets and especially the colouring and weathering.

This is topnotch work again!

Cheers,
Willem
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretschen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 17, 2024, 04:09:19 AM
Hi Gary,

I am a fervent admirer of your work, the vignets and especially the colouring and weathering.

This is topnotch work again!

Cheers,
Willem

Thanks Willem! (Just replied to your PM regarding the Omnibus article)
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 20, 2024, 03:44:27 AM
For this project I wanted a few figures around the large tank. I used the two MG team from CSM, a couple of Model Cellar castings, and one from the Stalingrad line (which I modified). As I'd painted up five figures for the final display, my first thought was to place them all together on the left side of the vehicle. After trying a different arrangement, I chose to populate both sides of the A7V and have no "front" or "back" to the vignette. Cheers!

(https://i.imgur.com/HmV2xSS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oQ2dN6h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v0HfNU5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QbCVJtc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HgWfxlb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PvXO1VR.jpg)
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: Dirigible-Al on December 20, 2024, 04:52:55 AM
You have done those figures brilliantly. This is superb.
Alan
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: ModelCellar on December 20, 2024, 09:09:03 AM
Hi Gary,

Looks fantastic. ...as usual=).

Paul
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: NigelR on December 21, 2024, 08:07:49 PM
This looks fantastic Gary, the figures really help set of the A7V and you did a great job on them. The groundwork is very nicely done as well, great job all round.
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: Borsos on December 22, 2024, 03:18:29 AM
Absolutely amazing!
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: Richtrad on December 22, 2024, 04:44:19 PM
Good Lord Gary, this is beautiful and inspirational. Am I going to start obsessing over Great War armour now?

Warren
Title: Re: 1/35 Meng German A7V "Gretchen"
Post by: gedmundson on December 24, 2024, 06:53:02 AM
Alan, Paul, Nigel, Andreas and Warren - sincere thanks for your kind words on my finished project. I'm anxious to crack on with something fresh in the new year.
Cheers,
Gary