Mk.IV Male British WW1 Tank by Haliburton - FINISHED - Tamiya - 1/35 Scale

[Haliburton]

Hi everyone, my first foray into tank modelling with this product from Tamiya.  It is advertised as being motorized which wasn’t high on my priority list but having said that it could add a new dynamic to something that is normally a static model. WW1 has a special interest as my grandfather enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at 18 as part of the 71st Battery. His job was hauling munitions by horse drawn wagon to the frontline to feed the artillery. I can only imagine the horrible things he experienced and saw and although he passed away when I was just a toddler I’m told he never would talk to family about those days.   Perhaps he saw one of these tanks during his time in France. 
 

Introduced in 1917 these tanks had a male version and a female version. According to Wikipedia the male version had 4 machine guns and 2 six pound guns whereas the female version had only the machine guns.  420 male tanks were built.   The Germans captured a number of these tanks and put them into service. 
 

I’ve no idea how long this build will take me as it is a bit of a side project but ever project as a beginning so here we go!

 

Scott
 

 

[Egilman]

That is a decent Kit, +motorized? {chuckle}

 

Anyway I'll be lounging around the log, any question feel free to ask... (there are several of us tank nuts hanging around)....

 

EG

[RGL]

Nice. Ww1 modelling is really now a thing, there is new stuff coming out all the time, new 3D printed stuff all the time too. Look forward to this 

[Haliburton]

Thank you for the comments and likes!  A small start with the fuel tank box and gearbox.  Yes RGL I’ve started exploring what it out there and you’re right there is some interesting stuff.  I’ve actually ordered two other items which I’ll preview here when they arrive.  
 

Scott

[Haliburton]

Some work on the battery case (yep you guessed it - batteries not included lol) and screwing in motor and on-off switch. Test fit of one tank side.  ‘Tanks’ for looking in.  Scott

[Haliburton]

Some additional progress showing the fuel tank box assembled and affixed and additional work on the hull. The upper hull is not intended to be glued to enable access to the gearbox.  After I try to operate it I will see how it performs. If I’m not impressed I will glue it as I think that will make painting and weathering easier.   Scott

[Haliburton]

Nothing like a weekend of rain to command time be spent in the workshop.  52 ground wheels assembled.   It should have taken half the time it did but I was distracted by netflix.   
 

Scott

 

[CDW]

Must be raining over the entire continent. Raining here in Florida today too. Glad I found your build and will follow.

[Haliburton]

Yes indeed CDW, another day of rain here in Ontario and another day trying to convince the dog to go out for his daily constitutional - he’s stubborn as a mule with rain but loves the snow.    On the plus side for me no guilt about having to do spring yard cleanup and instead some found time back at the modelling table.  I’ve attached gears and greased the road wheel shafts and attached them here. 
 

Scott

[Haliburton]

I can honestly say I’ve never made such progress in a single day. This rain has been a godsend. So armour plates added to one side. The middle plate is glued with the end pieces ‘sliding’ into place. Presumably this is to facilitate access to the moving treads.  Again, if the motorized element of this model fails to impress I will glue these into place down the road.  I have greased the road wheels on the other side as well. 

Scott 

[Haliburton]

I thought I would share a special photo of my grandfather I referenced in my first post who enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and served with the 71st battery.  I believe this photograph was taken on his enlistment. My grandfather’s cousin was killed in action within a week after arriving at Passchendale. 

[Haliburton]

Drive sprockets are now assembled with the first installed. 
Scott

[Haliburton]

Wow, how did June get here so quickly?  The last few weekends I’ve been busy in the yard, edging, weeding, new soil, planting and adding several cubic yards of mulch. Also digging up roots to make way for a new walkway to a shed I’ve installed (not a hobby shed sigh….just a regular shed). I can’t complain because I do have a small man cave in the basement which is finished.  Some work here on the left sponson. 
 

Scott 

[Haliburton]

Hi everyone, some rain today provided another opportunity to defer yardwork and justify (or make me feel less guilty about) spending an hour in the workshop.  So finished the other sponson and made a small dent in the tracks - 87 pieces per side.  I’m starting to look at YouTube for some inspiration on how to paint and weather this beast as well. 
 

Scott 

[NavyShooter]

Have a look at the "Night Shift" channel on Youtube.  ( @nightShiftScaleModels)

 

He built a diorama of a MkIV in a trench/crater that shows some really good detail and weathering techniques.

 

 

 

 

[Haliburton]

Thanks for that NavyShooter - very impressive stuff.  I’ve never used an airbrush before - maybe I should take the plunge on this one and give it a try. 
 

Scott

[Haliburton]

Well I’m pleased to report some additional progress. The tracks are largely assembled and been given their base coat. I’m going to keep them off the tank until I’ve finished painting the tank proper. The sponsons are now attached. Tamiya uses tabs so they are removable presumably to facilitate access to the battery mechanism. The exhaust and beam rails (in part)  are now installed. 
 

Scott

 

[Haliburton]

As a little bonus the Tamiya kit includes 5 British infantry.  I’ve never built and painted figures before.  I’ve seen and admired Old Collingwood’s napoleonics however and will draw my inspiration from his magnificent diorama.  Please keep your expectations here low as will I and none of us will be disappointed with the outcome!  🤣

 

Scott 

[Haliburton]

Some surface primer applied and a little test to see if the motorized mechanism works.  
 

Scott

[popeye the sailor]

really interesting project.........looks well done  

[Old Collingwood]

On 6/24/2023 at 11:30 PM, Haliburton said:

As a little bonus the Tamiya kit includes 5 British infantry.  I’ve never built and painted figures before.  I’ve seen and admired Old Collingwood’s napoleonics however and will draw my inspiration from his magnificent diorama.  Please keep your expectations here low as will I and none of us will be disappointed with the outcome!  🤣

 

Scott 

Thank you for the  kind  compliment,  with  figures  the  key  is  washes  and  some  dry brushing  to bring out the  high lights.

 

OC.

[Haliburton]

My attempt at weathering the tracks. I think I’m satisfied but I’m very much a newbie at weathering so no idea if this looks realistic. I figure once I have it on the tank I will add mud effects. 
 

Scott 

[Haliburton]

Ok folks the tracks are now installed and a little clip showing it moving.  I think the track tension may be too tight or it’s meeting resistance somewhere because it doesn’t like to stay moving without encouragement. 
 

Scott

[mtaylor]

Back in armor days, I found that ensuring the axles were "true" and then a bit of graphite or vaseline (petrolium jelly) did a lot to make things run smoothly.  Even still, it looks impressive.

[Haliburton]

Thanks Mark, I will give that a try!

[Egilman]

NO VASELINE!!!! Petroleum Jelly will turn it into a plastic blob in a year...

 

Vegetable oil for lubricating Polystyrene.......

[Haliburton]

Thanks EG, I havn’t applied anything at this point so no risk of a b-rated blob horror movie! 😆

[mtaylor]

17 hours ago, Egilman said:

NO VASELINE!!!! Petroleum Jelly will turn it into a plastic blob in a year...

 

Vegetable oil for lubricating Polystyrene.......

 

I guess I was being "old school"......  sorry.

[Haliburton]

2 hours ago, mtaylor said:

I guess I was being "old school"......  sorry.

No need to apologize Mark, we all exchange ideas and it’s great to get feedback and input ~ that’s how we learn and improve together!

 

Scott

[Haliburton]

So some good news, I was able to adjust the track tension by playing around with the cap screws - no need for vegetable oil after all!