Good afternoon all!
Well, after some considerable time thinking about the build, I finally managed to find some time over the Christmas and New Year break to see it come to fruition....
The subject is His Majesty’s Land Ship ‘Centipede’, otherwise known as ‘Big Willie’ or, more often, simply as ‘Mother’, the successor of ‘Little Willie’ and the prototype of the Mk.I tank – a pioneer in many ways.
Based on the Mk.I model created by forum member WayneMac, and amongst a number of his creations available (for no cost) over at Landships II, this isn’t so much of a conversion but more of a redraw I guess! Wayne’s models are originally in 1:76 – just too small for me to build anything that looks anywhere near satisfactory, however, the detail of the originals allows for enlargement (as I have done previously) to 1:48.
Having dropped a courtesy email to Wayne to let him know of my intentions, the redraw and build began.
First job was to redraw and recolour the original (in Corel Draw). By leaving the majority of the outer (or cut lines) alone and only ‘playing around’ with the inner detail ensured no problem later with parts no longer fitting.
Redrawing was aided by the examination of as many photos as I could find of the vehicle (there are some great views here on the IWM site), and, by overlaying the redraw on top of the photographs, it was a relatively simple task to add new detail.
A cursory glance of ‘Mother’ alongside a production MkI throws up few differences, but, when one looks closer, there are a number of significant, if rather small differences...
• Rear door is longer and a little narrower
• Hydraulic gear (ram and pressure cylinder) similar to that fitted to Little Willie
• No radiator grill on the back (port side) – square access plate here instead
• Ventilation holes in top at rear
• Access hatch closer to front
• Exhaust covered by curved covers (rather than triangular), later removed
• No observation slits, few (and different shape) pistol/gun ports – covered with plate
• Simpler shell case disposal cover in sponsons (below access doors)
• Addition wheel (just beneath track tensioner)
• Different shape track tensioner hole
• Additional rivets (due to use of ‘boilermaker rivet pitch)
• Different MG aperture on cab front
• Headlamp posts on horns rather than on bow plate
• Smaller reinforcement plates on steering tail
• Two (rather than four) sets of springs on steering tail
All of the above have been included in the redraw.
The colour of Mother has produced a considerable amount of dialogue in the past (particularly over at Landships II) however, consensus of opinion seems to point to the vehicle having been painted a lightish grey with (early on in her life) the front and underside painted white, and I have depicted her in this scheme. To add a little variation to the colour a subtle ‘grunge’ overlay was placed over the entire redraw, giving at least an impression of general grime.
The nameplates on the side are a little bit of artistic license. There is such a nameplate in the archives of the Tank Museum at Bovington, however, there is no photographic evidence of it ever having been attached to the tank and could possibly have been a much later addition.
Thanks must go to Wayne for the original model - as always with Wayne’s models, I relish the build, and this one was no exception, made even more enjoyable by the time spent in researching and redrawing.
As always guys I welcome your comments and critisms about the build, all of which further my level of competence.
Shawn
Well, after some considerable time thinking about the build, I finally managed to find some time over the Christmas and New Year break to see it come to fruition....
The subject is His Majesty’s Land Ship ‘Centipede’, otherwise known as ‘Big Willie’ or, more often, simply as ‘Mother’, the successor of ‘Little Willie’ and the prototype of the Mk.I tank – a pioneer in many ways.
Based on the Mk.I model created by forum member WayneMac, and amongst a number of his creations available (for no cost) over at Landships II, this isn’t so much of a conversion but more of a redraw I guess! Wayne’s models are originally in 1:76 – just too small for me to build anything that looks anywhere near satisfactory, however, the detail of the originals allows for enlargement (as I have done previously) to 1:48.
Having dropped a courtesy email to Wayne to let him know of my intentions, the redraw and build began.
First job was to redraw and recolour the original (in Corel Draw). By leaving the majority of the outer (or cut lines) alone and only ‘playing around’ with the inner detail ensured no problem later with parts no longer fitting.
Redrawing was aided by the examination of as many photos as I could find of the vehicle (there are some great views here on the IWM site), and, by overlaying the redraw on top of the photographs, it was a relatively simple task to add new detail.
A cursory glance of ‘Mother’ alongside a production MkI throws up few differences, but, when one looks closer, there are a number of significant, if rather small differences...
• Rear door is longer and a little narrower
• Hydraulic gear (ram and pressure cylinder) similar to that fitted to Little Willie
• No radiator grill on the back (port side) – square access plate here instead
• Ventilation holes in top at rear
• Access hatch closer to front
• Exhaust covered by curved covers (rather than triangular), later removed
• No observation slits, few (and different shape) pistol/gun ports – covered with plate
• Simpler shell case disposal cover in sponsons (below access doors)
• Addition wheel (just beneath track tensioner)
• Different shape track tensioner hole
• Additional rivets (due to use of ‘boilermaker rivet pitch)
• Different MG aperture on cab front
• Headlamp posts on horns rather than on bow plate
• Smaller reinforcement plates on steering tail
• Two (rather than four) sets of springs on steering tail
All of the above have been included in the redraw.
The colour of Mother has produced a considerable amount of dialogue in the past (particularly over at Landships II) however, consensus of opinion seems to point to the vehicle having been painted a lightish grey with (early on in her life) the front and underside painted white, and I have depicted her in this scheme. To add a little variation to the colour a subtle ‘grunge’ overlay was placed over the entire redraw, giving at least an impression of general grime.
The nameplates on the side are a little bit of artistic license. There is such a nameplate in the archives of the Tank Museum at Bovington, however, there is no photographic evidence of it ever having been attached to the tank and could possibly have been a much later addition.
Thanks must go to Wayne for the original model - as always with Wayne’s models, I relish the build, and this one was no exception, made even more enjoyable by the time spent in researching and redrawing.
As always guys I welcome your comments and critisms about the build, all of which further my level of competence.
Shawn
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