Mendeleev Tank Colour - Completed I think!

[andekmcc]

I'm currently scratchbuilding a 28mm Mendeleev Tank, (really wanted to do the Tsar's Tank but thought I'd start with something a bit simpler), its getting there slowly but surely (with a bit of paint I could probably use it in 'Hull Down' mode as the tracks arent started yet  ).  Question is what colour would this most likely have been I've seen it in grey and green, I know its speculative but which would have been most likely?  Also what sort of insignia, numbers/slogans - if any! would a 1916 Russian vehicle like this have?  I'm hoping to use it in WW1 and Back of Beyond type games.  Last but by all means not least I've put lots of individual plates on it using plasticard can someone suggest a relatively quick and easy method of puting some rivets on, I like the sound of using drops of glue but what sort of glue do people use?  It must be fairly thick stuff I suppose otherwise it wont stay.

many thanks in advance for any suggestions offered..

[andekmcc]

Some pics of my work in progress, pics arent the best, ive included a copplestone russian for scale. Its still a bit rough around the edges, some filling and general tidying up to do. Eventually i will add rivets to the individual plates once i've come up with a method i can repeat with confidence.  I've included a picture with it in 'hull down' mode and also with the disappearing machine gun turret suppressed.  Still interested in any suggestions for insignia or markings for a russian vehicle of this era,

cheers

Andy

[Westfalia Chris]

Superb work! The Mendelejev was always one of my favourite "landships". I seem to recall an illustration of it which sported a dark bluegreen paint scheme overall. I think, though, that the olive(?) you´ve chosen for it, is very "Russian", although it could be a bit more shiny (no truly flat vehicle paints until the 1950s, IIRC) for my taste. Maybe you could add a Romanov crest on the sides, or on the top for aerial recognition (since Russia had one of the largest air fleets in 1914)?

I wonder if you should include any numerals at all, since it might be a one-off after all.

This is, of course, highly speculative and not based on historical facts (on the vehicle).

[Pil]

Very nice, and if you want to make the Tzar as well, here you can download a paper template for it:

http://www.homespunmagixx.com/TzarTank/tzar_download.asp

[andekmcc]

Photo update, nearly finished now.  Rivets added, not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I'm fairly happy with them. Have sourced a company who do Russian Army / White Russian Decals (in 1/72) but they state on there website that they can make custom decals in any scale so I've asked them if they could to the 1/72 one in 1/56 for me, we'll see what happens.

Would love to try the Tsars Tank (as it was actually built) but havent the slightest idea on how i would be able to make those big spoked wheels 

[argsilverson]

Would love to try the Tsars Tank (as it was actually built) but havent the slightest idea on how i would be able to make those big spoked wheels 

I would suggest you to use spoked wheels from Eureka's velocipede or better penny farthing bicycle, it is some spoked wheels without the spokes!!
http://www.fighting15sshop.co.uk/transport-142-c.asp
Or if you want them larger why not to try to use rings of a larger diameter?
It is supposed that on the move the spokes are not be seen by the eye.

[argsilverson]

However nice job indeed!

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

I think spkes would be fairly easy to do. Just get your outer and inner wheel, lay them flat and glue on your spokes, no? You can probably get away with only using half the right number....

[argsilverson]

I think spkes would be fairly easy to do. Just get your outer and inner wheel, lay them flat and glue on your spokes, no? You can probably get away with only using half the right number....

Also a very nice (although I think is more difficult) idea! Might work.

[Westfalia Chris]

For the Czar tank, I recall a military modelling article in an old (1999 or so) Steel Masters magazine that told how to spoke motorcycle wheels in 1/16th. I think the method could be adapted (and wasn´t too complicated, though quite time-consuming, I guess).

It was pretty much the method Curtis suggested, although they used a jig to guarantee the correct angle of the spokes. If you´d like, I would try to find that mag in my folders and scan the section in question for you.

[andekmcc]

If you´d like, I would try to find that mag in my folders and scan the section in question for you.

Thanks for the offer, if its not too much trouble I'd be grateful.  I feel that for the 'Tsars Tank' if you can't get those huge spoked wheels right its a waste of time as there the things that people will notice the most.

[1ngram]

Lovely tank - but where's the door?

[andekmcc]

Lovely tank - but where's the door?

Thanks, the door is at the rear of the vehicle  This photo with the tank in hull down mode also shows the vent for the engine.

[andekmcc]

Just got my 1/56 scale transfers from Black Lion Decals, am about to put some on the tank to finish it off, I was wondering if anyone could tell me whether the Imperial Russian army used White/Blue/Red chevrons and roundals to identify their vehicles or were they a purely a White Russian thing from during the RCW?

any help gratefully received
cheers

Andy

[andekmcc]

this is the last photos of this i promise  I've added some black lion decals and some other wee details here and there and given it a matt varnish spray.  I'm quite happy with the overall result.  With a little help from my polish wife who spent 9 years reading russian as school I'm told the word is 'firey'.  I hope shes right!  I've also got chevrons or roundals which I may add at a later date if I get confirmation that they would have been on an imperial russian vehicle of this period.