forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Armour, Artillery, Vehicles, Ships => WW1 Armour, Artillery, Vehicles, dioramas, associated figures and Ships => Topic started by: gedmundson on January 05, 2026, 08:13:31 AM
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Whilst waiting for an order of decals to finish off my latest project, I needed to start another one, and after much sorting through the stash and pondering what to do, I was at a loss. As I sipped tea from my favourite mug it gave me the prompt I'd been searching for, and I decided it was time to put together the Meng British Mk.V Male tank.
Although this will be another back-drop for a few figures and another CSM motorbike, I decided since it had a full interior I may as well indulge in the "journey" and assemble it all. Even with all the hatches open there will be little to see inside...and the engine actually has a housing covering it completely. There is much debate around painting and weathering assemblies that cannot be seen, but I'll make my own calls along the way here.
Amazing fit of all the parts - wished I'd started this one a while ago.
Cheers!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55023001687_eb3dac30ef_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rQcgqT)DSC_2910 (https://flic.kr/p/2rQcgqT) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55023002632_fb8ea3e902_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rQcgHb)DSC_2919c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rQcgHb) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
Even though the engine can't be seen in the final display, I couldn't resist adding some ignition wires.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55024147044_949fc6ba47_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rQi8Uq)DSC_2922c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rQi8Uq) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
The componnet detail continues inside the track housings...and I think I won't bother painting and finishing these.
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I never knew this kit was so detailed!! Looks very cool.
Steve
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The supreme deity will be very pleased that you have added ignition wires just for him/her/it/they. Looking forward to another cracking build, this is a lovely kit.
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THE classic WW1 tank 8)
Strangely enough I've never seen one of these built up although I've seen loads of the kit boxes at shows etc. (and perhaps even been tempted)
Looking forward to how it shapes up
Paul
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I have seen articles on line where builders have made the side gun casements removable to allow interior viewing. I have this kit in my stash, so I will following your build closely. How about adding minature LED lights inside to help see the interior with a side casement open. Just a thought.
Bob W
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I have seen articles on line where builders have made the side gun casements removable to allow interior viewing. I have this kit in my stash, so I will following your build closely. How about adding minature LED lights inside to help see the interior with a side casement open. Just a thought.
Bob W
Thanks for that Bob - I've reviewed quite a few builds online, and the idea of removable sponsons or roof doesn't work for my purposes since I like to finish off with a vignette display that doesn't get touched. But the idea of internal lighting was an interesting thought - I'd added LEDs to a previous build of a 1910 London Omnibus which worked well. After careful consideration, the amount of faff involved with this build (where to mount them and how to run the wiring) isn't worth the eventual small gain. I think I'll have to be happy with the build-progress interior photos.
I can see why a lot of modellers choose not to build this kit since the amount of parts make it intimidating. Trying to decide to start it means whether or not to tackle painting & weathering the interior and considering it a shame if not attempted. I've built a few of the Takom British WW1 tanks (3 Mk.1's and a Mk.IV) and they are a walk-in-the-park compared to this Mk.V. Not that this Meng kit is trickier, but there's such a lot of things to do.
Here's a picture of some of the sub-assemblies jumbled together. At some point soon I'll have to start to paint things.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55027609429_3f1b2c293b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rQAT9H)DSC_2924c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rQAT9H) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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Plenty of fun left to be had with this build.... ;) Looking forward to seeing some paint on it.
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I forget what prompted it but I've recently been looking at tank kits - my father-in-law even got me the Airfix 1/72 Sherman Firefly starter set for Christmas! - and am amazed at the amount (and quality) of detail one can get for the money. This is a prime example and I don't envy the decision you have regarding whether to do anything more inside the hull.
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Thanks Nigel & Zac, decisions on what to paint and how far to carry the weathering and added detail are continual on this one.
With a mostly white interior I decided to undercoat most things in dark grey, then slowly add some off-white until I was happy. There are a lot of paint call-outs in the instructions that I question, and very little reference on what colour things were originally. I did find a few photos of the Mark V interior in The Tank Museum at Bovingdon and saw that Meng got most of their info from that (they credit them in the instruction booklet).
So I did paint up the engine for fun...then added the cowling which completely screens it...which in turn will be buried inside the walls of the tank. Again I have to say that the fit of the parts in the kit are really nice...most things line up beautifully like the linkage to the rear of the driver's position. Lots to do, but I'm enjoying the process in between bouts of shoveling snow.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55046802778_31751d96e9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rSifEw)DSC_2930c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rSifEw) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55045722847_2b918091f4_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rScHD2)DSC_2932c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rScHD2) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55045722827_b8f624fcd7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rScHCF)DSC_2944c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rScHCF) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55045740532_c5505665a6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rScNTW)DSC_2933c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rScNTW) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
Still plenty to add to this subassembly as work continues...
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Hey Gary, whether the guts will be visible or not after the diorama is complete, your documentation of the build allows us to marvel in your constant artistry. Your builds are always a treat.
Warren Q
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Thanks for that Warren - much appreciated.
Cheers,
Gary
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That's lovely work all round Gary, the weathering and detailing is spot on. It looks like you are having fun, even if most of it will be hidden.
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Thanks for looking in, Nigel!
A bit more progress with this involved project to share here. I'd planned on using the CSM British Triumph model H along with some figures I'd received on a big order a couple of months ago. They are all nicely printed but quite delicate. One of the heads fell off as I clumsily picked it up and was carrying it between the bench and my photo area. It hit the tiled floor and broke off part of his ear - which had to be replaced with a microscopic bit of epoxy putty.
I've taken a slightly different approach to painting this tank. Since it is all one exterior colour I am painting it in sub-assemblies. For the drivers cabin and commander cabin, it helps with the masking of the red & white ID markings. I mixed up an exterior colour using Tamiya acrylics to make a muddy brown. The colour call-out on the instructions asked for Vallejo Sand Brown 70.876 which I'm not keen on...too pinkish to my eye.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55055699370_2b8d5ab246_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5Rj3)DSC_2948c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5Rj3) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55055352496_e3ee4ef052_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT45cs)DSC_2949c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT45cs) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55055606274_ee5160d972_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5nCW)DSC_2952c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5nCW) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
A putty repair to the broken ear...the resin is so brittle on these 3D printed items.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55055606284_fe9cdc671a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5nD7)DSC_2950c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5nD7) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
The guns were given a metallic finish with Uschi metal polishing powders.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55055352441_a2a9277b71_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT45bv)DSC_2970c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT45bv) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55054443557_d79e1c9585_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rSYq16)DSC_2953c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rSYq16) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
I added a few paint chips with a sponge dabbed into raw umber oil paint. The data plate was a spare from an old decal sheet.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55055606259_4bed56f516_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5nCF)DSC_2972c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT5nCF) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
Painting the sub-assemblies separately allowed the red & white panels to be more easily masked than doing it afterward.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55055530963_ce10ff4647_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT4Zft)DSC_2973c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT4Zft) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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This is some beautiful work Gary. Thank Cthulhu your splendid photography is preserving the artistry before it is lost inside the enclosed hull.
Warren Q
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Lovely work on the interior, the guns look fantastic. And if I ever need ear surgery, I know where to go...... ;)
Interesting approach on the painting by sub-assembly. I hope you are neater than me with your use of glue in assembly....
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Thanks Warren & Nigel! I'm reminded throughout the build that it would have been a shame to have left out the interior, regardless.
And if I ever need ear surgery, I know where to go...... ;)
Interesting approach on the painting by sub-assembly. I hope you are neater than me with your use of glue in assembly....
Nigel - I wish my sculpting skills were much better, so if they improve I'll certainly let you know...should this need for ear surgery crop up ;D
Since the fit of this kit is so good, I'm not too worried about a bit of glue smear hear and there. Easily touched up with my muddy brown paint, and even then everything will be blended over with some carefully placed dust & mud. Well, that's my plan.
One of the features of this Mk. V kit was the added fascine, or "crib" as these later ones were referred to. The cribs replaced the bundle of sticks used during the November 1917 offensive, and appear in many photos of the Mk.IV and Mk.V tanks in the summer of 1918. The kit example comes in many parts, and is quite an effort to paint. After base coating the parts in XF-55 deck tank, I added a streaked pattern of Ochre & Raw Umber oil paint to create a wooden effect, then the frames had to have their metal parts brush painted. I've started on the two and took ages to get in and around all of the angles with some fine tipped brushes. Two more to go - when I feel up to it!
The cribs were mounted directly on top of the driver's cab, so unfortunately the large hatch on the roof had to be glued closed. I've seen some builds of this model that push the crib further back...allowing the hatch to be opened, but I'm trying to keep this build historically accurate and therefore will not consider that.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55056168312_83f13a701b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rT8fHf)DSC_2976c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rT8fHf) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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Very subtle weathering. Looks amazing. I'm guessing the motorcyclist's name is Vincent.
Steve
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Nice work on that wood. You made the right decision on the crib and hatch position - I would have noticed...... ;) ;D
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Very subtle weathering. Looks amazing. I'm guessing the motorcyclist's name is Vincent.
Steve
Thanks Steve - Vincent works for me ;D
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Nice work on that wood. You made the right decision on the crib and hatch position - I would have noticed...... ;) ;D
Thanks Nigel - I'm always trying to get things proper in these little scenes because of sharp-eyed modellers like you!
Some further progress and it's starting to look like a tank now. I've found my DeWalt clamps to come in very handy to hold things together while the glue dries. Although the sides of the tank fit well, I just needed reassurance that all was held in place for an hour or two before things progressed.
After I began a bit of weathering, I had to re-spray a couple of areas because I'd forgotten to apply the markings beforehand. Tank 9199 is the one in Bovington, according to a video featuring curator (at the time) David Fletcher - it saw a fair bit of action on the front during WW1.
The photo of the motorcycle shows it in a preliminary state of paintwork, with an initial base coat of XF-1 Black, a cream coloured mix for the petrol tank, and the engine with some Alclad II Duraluminum on the engine. I'm currently trying to brush paint the remainder to bring it to life. It's a painstaking process involving a number of repairs to the tiny brittle resin bits that don't like a lot of handling...and the painting process involves LOTS of handling.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55070555931_b3470e84cc_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rUoZDD)DSC_2977c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rUoZDD) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55070745613_e7c7ae5d9d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rUpY32)DSC_2989c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rUpY32) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55070914625_eff2ef940c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rUqQh2)DSC_2983c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rUqQh2) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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The tank is looking really good Gary. I like your choice of colour. Somewhere in my stash of photos I have a photo of a large scale tank model made by apprentices at Bovington just after the war. They think it was painted in the original paint used on these tanks in the war, and your colour is definitely similar to that, so good choice.
The CSM bikes are amazing. I'll be doing one soon so I welcome your step by step on how to approach the painting of these delicate little gems!
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That tank looks lovely (if I can use a word entirely inappropriate for such a big old lump) I really like the finish you achieve on your builds Gary and can't wait to see the motorcycle alongside.
The motorcycle itself looks like a nightmare to paint whilst handling. (I really dislike resin in some ways and on all my resin figures used cut/break off all the 'sticky out bits' such as swords, bayonets etc. immediately before assembly knowing that it was better to replace them with brass before painting when they'd almost always succumb to my heavy handedness) ;)
Can't do that with your delicate motorcycle however, you'd just end up with a tank, saddle and a couple of wheel hubs. . . .
Paul
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Thanks Paul & Nigel - your encouraging words are helpful!
The CSM bikes are amazing. I'll be doing one soon so I welcome your step by step on how to approach the painting of these delicate little gems!
Nigel - you prompt me to add a couple of photos I hadn't planned on...but if it helps here they are. I find that the bikes need so many steps in painting due to the individual bits of colour needed...gloss coats to prepare for (and protect) decals etc. I mostly have used Vallejo Model Color Acrylics, but also the printer's ink for the brass (gold) and Testors silver enamel for the silver (it dries faster). And then handling the assemblies inevitably rubs off some of the finish, so I'll end up painting the seat & saddle bags a few times. I have to protect the metal paint from the solvent-based wash with acrylic gloss. The first image shows most of the details painted...gloss coated, then a wash of oil paint added. The tyres are a bit sloppy, but they get blended out with the addition of further weathering. Sort of. I may decide to touch them up a bit later.
The second image is after an airbrushing of diluted greyish-dirt acrylic. So getting close. Studying the last photo shows me that one of the front spokes is missing a small section. Not sure if that was always the case, but it's gone now. Luckily, as they say, a blind man on a galloping horse...etc. I can only use that excuse so many times ;)
Cheers!
Gary
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55071536367_08590e17d0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rUu26H)DSC_2998c (https://flic.kr/p/2rUu26H) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
Handlebars were eased apart for painting - they just press into place loosely.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55072718584_1f879a3923_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rUA5wL)DSC_3000c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rUA5wL) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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Beautiful work Gary, and thanks for sharing those photos, they are very helpful. Much appreciated.
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Beautiful work Gary, and thanks for sharing those photos, they are very helpful. Much appreciated.
Thanks Nigel - I'm anxious to see you start that project with your armoured car and motorbike.
I've been slowly prgressing with my Mk.V and spent some time applying some oil paint washes to enhance detail, and also airbrush some dirt colour which tones down the markings, blending them in with the tank. Meng supplies some chain to be used for the un-ditching beam and crib, but no where do they reference the two small pieces that should be placed to support the rear stowage shelf at the rear (they supply photoetched hooks for them!). So I added those based on photo references. These chains I am painting with chalk pastel dust mixed with mineral spirit.
I made a start on painting the figures for this eventual display. The two seated motorcyclists are almost identically posed, but different enough to work together. It is annoying that the 3D printing support marks show up under magnification and I have to make decisions along the way which to try and fill, or remove, or live with.
Cheers!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55081890595_44aa35ab8c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rVp63T)DSC_3022c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rVp63T) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55081796899_11e14718f4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rVoBcr)DSC_3030c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rVoBcr) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55081723623_b9c1f3271b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rVoeq4)DSC_3029c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rVoeq4) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55081524956_c7bac66f01_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rVndmL)DSC_3023c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rVndmL) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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Even the rock the dude eating hardtack is sitting on looks completely real in magnification. It could have come out of my front yard.
Warren Q
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Even the rock the dude eating hardtack is sitting on looks completely real in magnification. It could have come out of my front yard.
Warren Q
Ha! It's a cork from an English Heritage bottle of Sloe Gin. The gin was not very good - but the corks are brilliant for mounting figures for painting.
I painted the track runs by laying out the runs of 91 links on a sheet of cardboard, then airbrushing them with Tamiya XF-63 German Grey. I then took earth-coloured pastel chalk dust, mixed it with mineral spirits into a very thin "paste" and slathered it onto the lengths of the tracks. After it had dried, I brushed off the surface with a wide paint brush to dust off the excess, then took a mix of Testor's silver enamel mixed with a touch of black oil paint, and delicately brushed this onto the surface of the track runs. If this is done too agressively, the links may pop apart and be difficult to get back together since the "click-fit" of them is weak. The pastel dust tones down the harshness of the silver nicely, leaving just a hint of a metal look, like the tracks on construction equipment seen these days.
One of the many steps in weathering the exterior of the tank involves the addition of muddy residue, again using earth coloured pastel chalk powder. I randomly dump small areas onto the sides, and with a medium sized paintbrush, apply mineral spirits to wick into the powder. When dry, it resembles clumps of dried mud. To give an effect of dampness to some of these clumps, I later add some thinned Tamiya X-22 Gloss with a small brush. I find I have to go over a few areas a few times until an effective weathered look can be achieved.
Cheers!
Gary
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55083075521_5b7841454a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rVvahD)DSC_3033c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rVvahD) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55083075526_6d96288947_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rVvahJ)DSC_3032c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rVvahJ) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55083338514_79c77906b3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rVwvt1)DSC_3035c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rVwvt1) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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That sounds like a relatively simple, or perhaps straightforward, approach to doing tracks. Thanks for taking the time to explain!
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I'm really liking the guy eating hard tack Gary, he's beautifully paint5ed. Nice weathering on the tracks as well, very effective and IMO very realistic.
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Thanks Zac & Nigel...the Meng tracks have become quite a problem. Possibly because of how I paint them, but they keep falling apart as I try to string them around their paths. The points of linkage crack very easily and the pins will break off when attempts are made to pull them apart and re-pin them back. And the runs of 91 links are slightly too long and want to sag where they shouldn't. Removing a link not only exasperated the problem of the links falling apart, but that made the runs too short. This has happened with every Meng kit I have built (two FT-17s and a Whippet). But I am persevering with different types a glue and some of the few spare links that the kit provides.
I drilled a hole in the bottom of the tank to attach something to hold the model at this point of construction...a file handle with a screw epoxied into the end.
And work continues on the figures, with the CSM motorcycle troops painted up with Vallejo acrylics. Hopefully the end is in sight.
Cheers!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55091305808_9a02d9cdf8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWekS9)DSC_3046c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWekS9) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55091305813_8548b92a65_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWekSe)DSC_3049c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWekSe) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55091099976_00eb1b78d0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWdhFj)DSC_3044c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWdhFj) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
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Hi Gary,
Amazing work as usual. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Paul
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More nice work on the figures Gary. I don't recall having any issues with assembling the tracks when I built the female version of this one, although they were a bit droopy and have to be glued in several places to get them looking ok. But this seems to be coming together nicely.
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Thanks Paul & Nigel!
I don't recall having any issues with assembling the tracks when I built the female version of this one, although they were a bit droopy and have to be glued in several places to get them looking ok.
Nigel - I am thinking that it's the way I finish my track runs that is causing the breakage problems. I've had issues with solvent washes on certain types of plastic causing the structure to weaken. An Italeri M-47 tank had the wheels fall off their mounts when applied a solvent/oil paint wash to the running gear (many years ago) and had to pin it all back together since the tracks were the rubber-band type that pull tension on everything. Perhaps all that pastel powder also causes problems (??). I may have to re-think how I do these runs...and rescind my previously stated method on this thread ::)
So I have just put the final touches on my Mk.V tank and added the figures & motorcycle to the base. I have much praise for the Meng kit for its parts fit, detail and assembly. I opened up as many hatches as possible to show the comprehensive interior which was fun to put together and paint up. The crib mounted on top and the red & white identification markings make this indicative of the late allied push starting in August of 1918.
The CSM figures and motorbike add a touch of interest to the scene as two of them chat while another adjusts his bike by the parked tank. For the display I chose not to add clumps of turf to the tracks - I've seen it done but didn't figure I could pull it off effectively...so kept it simple.
Cheers and thanks for looking in on the build.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55094647341_648ddf6952_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWwtbM)DSC_3081c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWwtbM) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55093767517_2988817d7a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWrXDp)DSC_3052c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWrXDp) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55093768962_fbb0c898bd_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWrY5j)DSC_3058c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWrY5j) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55094917689_1951273e3b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWxRxX)DSC_3083c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWxRxX) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55094856273_9fc95dfb1d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rWxxi4)DSC_3087c_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2rWxxi4) by Gary Edmundson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/203757257@N03/), on Flickr
Cheers!
Gary
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That's turned out really well, the tank looks fantastic and the figures and bike all bring the scene to life. I particularly like the weathering of the tank - the mud splashes are very realistic and very like the way these tanks appeared in 1918, because they mostly weren't operating in really muddy conditions.
For the display I chose not to add clumps of turf to the tracks - I've seen it done but didn't figure I could pull it off effectively...so kept it simple.
You kept it simple but also very realistic - if you look at photos of Mark Vs in 1918, most do not have mud and grass stuck to the tracks or piled all over the sponsons, because they were operating in more open country and in less muddy conditions. So this appeals to the rivet counter in me!
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Gary,
WOW. Spectacular as usual.
Paul
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I agree with the comments so far. A really superb job.
Alan.
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Nigel, Paul & Alan - thanks so much for your kind comments. This build was immense fun.
Cheers,
Gary
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Well that's another beautiful and well considered scene Gary. Love the overall relaxed atmosphere and the wear and tear on the tank which, as Nigel mentions, is much more appropriate for the time setting. The overall patina on the vehicles is first class and a lesson in subdued weathering that I'll use as a reference if I get around to another vehicle build
Congrats
Paul
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Beautiful work all round, Gary. This is the standard I visualise when thinking about doing a tank or other armour model. Thanks for providing such in-depth WIP posts and explanations as well as the lovely final photos.