Not another armoured car! (Very WIP and pic-heavy!)

[Trencher]

Inspired by those magnificent scratch-built vehicles in this forum, I decided to build my own. Another source of inspiration were those fantastic armoured penny farthings done by Eureka. I followed their lines roughly, but in a more blown-up / top-chop manner.
The place for the turret isn't fixed yet, maybe I'll situate it more to the front.
Then, I wanted to have some pneumatic tyres. The tyres which are mounted at the moment might look too chunky. As an amusing sidenote, John Boyd Dunlop (who invented the pneumatic tyre in 1887), was a good friend of Queen Victoria (Gawd bless her!). I've chosen the ludicrous wheel layout as looks IMHO very British (think of all those three-wheelers...)
Oh, and there's still a generous amount of rivets to be added. 


Front view. Note the protected headlight.


View from the left side.


View from the right side. I'm not so sure about the positioning of the turret.


Top view. Sorry, this one's a bit blurry!

What do you think? C and C are welcome!

[Dewbakuk]

Not a fan of tyres for VSF stuff (however I didn't know the pneumatic tyre was invented in 1887, learned something new today )

Is the hole at the rear for the smoke stack? I like the shape of the hull.

Oh, and put the turret towards the front. You need space for the water tank after all, also I think it'll make it look more balanced.

[Mancha]

I don't like the way so much of the front axle is visible (needs something to make it look like something more than a tube), and I definately don't like the tires.  Otherwsise, DARN cool.

[Skrapwelder]

I really like the lines of the hull. Pneumatic tires of the time would be smoother with a linear tread like bicycle tires.
Very nice.

[Tom Reed]

I'd either elongate the front end or move the front axle back so it is not so evident.
And how about a couple of small side sponsons?

[Dewbakuk]

I think it's a bit small for side sponsons. Maybe a small nose gun though. Depends what gun goes in the turret.

[Trencher]

I don't like the way so much of the front axle is visible (needs something to make it look like something more than a tube), and I definately don't like the tires.  Otherwsise, DARN cool.

The front axle is going to be as it is. But for sure there will be more details added. I was thinking of some kind of armoured tube to protect the front axle.
As for the tyres, you are right - these really don't fit for VSF. They are just stand-ins. I plan to have some tyre-options for various settings. The bottom uf the hull has to be cleaned anyway before riveting.

I really like the lines of the hull. Pneumatic tires of the time would be smoother with a linear tread like bicycle tires.
Very nice.

I have an old Matchbox MOY (at a flea-market for € 0.50 - serious collectors might call this cultural bolshevism... ) waiting to get its wheels removed. This might do the trick.

I'd either elongate the front end or move the front axle back so it is not so evident.
And how about a couple of small side sponsons?

It's way too small for sponsons indeed. I tried it with some sponsons by Pardulon.

I think it's a bit small for side sponsons. Maybe a small nose gun though. Depends what gun goes in the turret.

I plan to add a Maxim as turret gun. Otherwise I'll have to enlarge the turret.

The hole at the rear will be covered by a bonnet with some grating. As source of propulsion I plan to use a fast running combustion engine (invented in 1882 by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach - the plans might have been stolen by some... ummm... agents? ).
I know that these engines were in their infancy then, but this is VSF!

[fastolfrus]

Like most of the design but not too sure about the turret - would an angular one be possible ? It might fit in with the hull design better.

If this is a British government design, any turret should probably be too small for any kind of a practical gun mounting, or virtually non-existant so that gunners have to sit on the roof in the open, or have a very limited traverse (possibly only capable of firing backwards)

[Mancha]

I was thinking of some kind of armoured tube to protect the front axle.

A curved bumper, sort of like an early Model-T, might do the trick.

[fritzy]

Excellent start, definately change the wheels, you could run some armour plating around the bottom of the body to cover the axle. And you need a distinguished looking chap with a huge handlebar moustache as your commander with a pistol. With a huge tash you wont need any weaponry in the turret

Cheers

Fritzy

[Malamute]

Very nice. I agree about the tyres needing to be changed. 

[JollyBob]

Great stuf, I really like that. 

I'm not too bothered by the chunky tyres, but I would try to put a bumper/fender or some armour over them as Mancha suggested. Then they wouldn't be as noticeable, either.

[Trencher]

Like most of the design but not too sure about the turret - would an angular one be possible ? It might fit in with the hull design better.

If this is a British government design, any turret should probably be too small for any kind of a practical gun mounting, or virtually non-existant so that gunners have to sit on the roof in the open, or have a very limited traverse (possibly only capable of firing backwards)

I wasn't that sure about the turret. A 1-pdr. Maxim QF "pom pom" behind an armoured shield and a large hatch wouldn't spoil the hull lines like a probably too small turret.

Excellent start, definately change the wheels, you could run some armour plating around the bottom of the body to cover the axle. And you need a distinguished looking chap with a huge handlebar moustache as your commander with a pistol. With a huge tash you wont need any weaponry in the turret

Cheers

Fritzy

 

Gentlemen, thank you for your kind input. I'll have some new pics up after the weekend.

[Geudens]

The wheels have to change.  My local craft shop supplies som with a thi rubber tire.  I've been googling for'm with no results, but these come close:

http://www.craftamerica.com/toy_wheels.htm

http://www.craftamerica.com/treaded_wheels.htm

http://www.americanwoodcrafterssupply.com/wooden-products/wheels-axle-pegs.htm#Wheels

If the sides would be too "round" for your purpose, they can easily be sanded down flat on sanding paper. Trust me, it works.

Rudi

[Gluteus Maximus]

I wasn't that sure about the turret. A 1-pdr. Maxim QF "pom pom" behind an armoured shield and a large hatch wouldn't spoil the hull lines like a probably too small turret.

That would work, I think. It would also give the enemy a sporting chance of killing the gunner, which is only fair