What is this...

[Tobsen77]

...or what could it become? I started yesterday without any direction and out came this:



(on the left ) It sure isn't finished now, but what could it be?

Comments appreciated!

Tobi

[Westfalia Chris]

It´s obviously Dr. Tobias Tobsen-Smythes patented self-propelled land torpedo. Moving along at the mind-boggling speed of 5 miles per hour, it delivers an explosive charge weighing in at remarkable 8 pounds (or a gallon of nitroglycerine, for that matter) with hitherto unseen accuracy - during recent tests, it actually moved within 30 yards of the barn door it was supposed to demolish.

[Poliorketes]

Astounding! I didn't knew Tobsen-Smythe solved the problem with premature explosions due to the vibrations of the vehicle. Last iI heard was he tried to build something he called 'counter-shaker' to neutralize the vibrations by shaking the nitro load to the opposite side. did it work or has he found another solution?

[Wirelizard]

I believe Tobsen-Smythe abandoned the use of 'nitro' in favour of more stable (albeit less powerful) conventional explosives.

Later Marks of the Self-Propelled Charge were also capable of a good bit more than 5 miles per hour; they are designed to attack landships, after all, and many of them are capable of a good bit better than five miles per hour, old chaps.

What might look like a boiler door on the end of the Charge that we can see in this image isn't actually any such thing; it's the flap that closes the explosive charge chamber - this small modification (seen in the Mk 2 and above) means the Charges can be stored, carried and even exercised with with no charge aboard at all - a fact appreciated by crews, as these devices are usually carried in open racks on landships, or simply in infantry supply carts, until use.

But that greenish, hideous hominid next to the Charge - that's some Thing out of the Moreau Experimental Establishment, isn't it? I'm shocked this photograph has ever seen the light of day!

[Trencher]

Hey, that's cool. 
Add a small turret and you'll have a nice tankette for 15/18mm VSF.
Otherwise I would suggest the same as Chris...

[DRDHauser]

Interesting however my copy of Conway's Consumately Complete Contraptions vol. IV (1848-1897) lists something very similar as a Tracked Engine Tea Lorry Yielder or TETLY for short.

Apparently Tea and Biscuts are loaded into the marvelous engine and it is sent to troops that have been under fire for numerous days with no risk to human runners. The engine actually heats the tea and biscuits as it moves forward to deliver a tasty treat to the troops at the front line. They are prone to missing the mark on occasion and arriving at the wrong destination. It can be assured that any unit that recieves one would certainly benefit from an increase in morale!

Of course the pictograph in Conway's is a bit blurry so I could be wrong.

[Skrapwelder]

Interesting however my copy of Conway's Consumately Complete Contraptions vol. IV (1848-1897) lists something very similar as a Tracked Engine Tea Lorry Yielder or TETLY for short.

That's the best right there.

Its obvious from the picture that Sgt. Major is in some seriousness need of his cup of brown joy.

[Aaron]

Synflood may have it. I think the improved TETLY MkII had a towed trailer for milk, sugar, and cucumber sandwiches.

[Vanvlak]

Nah, you're all wrong. It's missing a steering handle, admittedly, so it could be hard to identify, but it's clear to me this is the Tobsen-Pinchworthy Victorian Tracked Moped and Foot Warmer combo. 

[Tobsen77]

  Nice ideas everybody... I almost feel like adding a tray and some teacups on top.... and of course explosives  you shouldn't go out without them... I'll continue work on it after I had a few cups of ... *erm* "tea"

Best,
Tobi

[Skrapwelder]

"Look Fritz, those crazy Britishers cannot not even get there lukewarm beverage trolley to go in the right direction."

"Just how bad can this stuff taste? Let's give it a try"

BOOM!

[Modhail]

You could just put a little magnet in that little box on the top?
That way you can switch between different tops: a moped seat and steer, a targetting device for a land torpedo, and a regular chimney (or teakettle whistle) for other purposes... 

[Tobsen77]

Hi,

I casted some of the teawagons... the hole on the top is for a 3mm magnet (thanks Modhail).... the first turrets are currently in the moldmaking process...





Tobi

Edit: A quick brush



Edit 2:

Now with turret

[JollyBob]

Heheh. Kroonbot robo-tanks.

They are kinda fun. Nice one.

[Hammers]

Surely it is a United Locomotive Works MII Combat Vacuum Cleaner, without the hose attached. I remeber the slogan being something like "for the dutiful footman who wants his general to start his day at a tidy and spotless battle field"