Airfix

Getting back in the game

August 29th, 2010 |

Author: Rob

Ok.. those of you who have followed my builds on MM or TnT will have noticed that I stopped mid-flight, and haven’t built anything since (for nearly 12 months now). I was in my LHS the other day and I came across the Airfix WWI Mark I Male Tank, and I just had to have it! Anyone who has known me for more than a couple of minutes knows that I love the evolution of technology, and what better model to show the beginning of the armoured fighting vehicle evolution than the original Mark I.

So, I got it home, and that night proceeded to cut open the box, and much to my wife’s dismay, started yet another model lol. Ok, spiel out of the way, more about the kit.

The Kit

Well, as stated, the kit is the Airfix 1/76 scale WWI Male Tank (or as on the instructions, World War I Tank Mk. 1) no. A01315. This was a kit that was originally tooled back in the mod-late 60′s, and I must say that it really has stood the test of time really well. The parts are nice and crisp with minimal flash, and almost no sink holes (only one that I fond wsa on the left side hull by the sprocket bearing housing).

It is generally accepted, although named a mark I, that this kit is a very good representation of a Mark II with Mark I Male sponsons (now, I’m not too proud to admit it that it took me aged to realise that the sponsons are the sticky outy things with the guns in on the side of the hull), but, as it turns out, a Mark II supply tank (as apparently the Mark II’s didn’t usually have the hatch on the top of the cab). The reason this is because Airfix took their original drawings from the, what was beleaved to be, Mark I tank at the Bovington Tank Museum, which turned out to be a Mark II with a Mark I male and female sponson on either side. It is generally agreed that the Airfix kit is a very accurate representation of this tank.

The kit is very rich in detail. There are heaps of rivets in what appears to be the right places, and plenty of other details to keep the eye of the builder pleased. There are a few missing details, mainly the missing box on the steering wheels’ trailing arm, additional rivets on the top and bottom of the sponsons, and missing angle iron on the top of the sponsons.

If there was anything that could be added to this kit to make it better (or the modeler could add too it to make a more prototypical Mark I), then removing the cab hatch and the raised rear hatch, and replacing it with one circular hatch in the roof section, and the above mentioned missing details would make this braille scale tank into something truly amazing.

The Build

(part 1)

I have decided to forgo what the instructions have stated, and start with the hull sides and sponsons first, as these were going to both be the easiest, and the hardest part of the build. As far as ease goes, they came away from the sprews easily and cleaned up nicely. The hull sides are in 2 parts per side. They glue together to make the hull side, track channels and associated drive gear, and horns etc. As they are split down the middle where the tracks go, there is a small visible channel that can be seen, but does not require any additional finishing as they will be later covered by the track. The sponsons, minus the guns, were also a joy to build. They consist of 3 parts, the main front, side, top and bottom plates all in one casting, and the back plate in another, and the door in the last casting. These all fitted well together on the right side, the left had a little bit of clamping needed to make sure everything went together true. I found that a bit of sanding was needed on the bottom of both sponsons where they meet up with the hull sides as they are slightly longer than the back plate, and leave a small gap at the back if not done.

Now, the easy bit is out of the way, I have also decided to add more rivet and angle backet details on the top of the sponson to make it more prototypical. I have used 0.010″ plastic card to make the additional plates and angle brackets, and 0.020 plastic rod to make the rivets that are needed to complete this look. I know that the rivets will be a bit big compared to the rest of the kit, but in this case, as everything is sooooooo small, I think I will give myself a break on this lol. I have decided not to add the additional rivets on the underside of the sponsons, as I see this as building hidden detail and can’t justify the hours trying to get this just right.

This is all for now.

Cheers, and happy modelling