1/18 Scale Little Willie - First Tank (No.1 Lincoln Machine)

[Don Boose]

This project is really progressing well and quickly, Dave.

Here's a rendition of "My Boy Willie" to inspire you as you work: Royal Tank Regiment (Quick March) - YouTube

Don

[airdave]

That, and "My Boy Lollipop" really do it for me!

[airdave]

Just wanted to add something I forgot.
Willie is of course on display at Bovington Tank Museum and has been given a fresh coat of gray paint.
You can still see a lot of the surface pitting and damage through the paint.
I'm glad they didn't try to smooth anything out with filler or anything else.



But I'm not sure the original tank was exactly that colour, if it was painted at all.
It varies in tone in different photos.

And after seeing the following photo, I was inspired to create a more weathered look,
rather than a somewhat boring gray painted finish.



To me, it almost looks like the track Housings are painted white or a lighter colour which has deteriorated
very quickly under those testing conditions.
But I am guessing the main body is also painted, maybe a darker gray, since it appears to be scratched
and flaking in many places.

Anyway, I didn't want to go too far...I didn't want to go overboard with the weathering, so I am applying a
light "rusting" to the neutral gray finish.
I will do the same to the body, but not to this extreme...maybe just some rivet rusting.
But I will also make the main body a darker gray.

[rockpaperscissor]

Your texturing is absolutely beautiful, Dave, and the detail you've put into the drive train so far is fantastic. Inspiring!

[Royaloakmin]

I think the tracks look lighter because they have been polished by the mud, hence shinier, lighter light reflection. The weathered look is good, tho.

[airdave]

Thanks Royaloak
Actually I was referring to the side plates of the Track Housings.

(Housings isn't the right word, is it?...I think I will try to refer to them as the "Track Frames")

....

Track work continued last night with a full track assembly.
Starting with cutting out, creasing and folding 46 plates.



I decided to drop the additional raised "strip"
in favour of creasing the ridge in the Track plate a little taller
(and running a bead of CA glue into the crease from the back side).

After the CA glue had dried, I ran a bead along the ridge itself (topside)
which gave it a slightly shiny look (good!) and toughened the ridge even more.

The add-on strips are so thin and hard to fold into shape
and the look isn't any better than the newer crease and glue approach.
I might leave the strips in the kits and leave it up to the builder.

Next step is to start gluing the Track Plates together.
I glued three plates together, using one edge on the cutting mat to keep them in line.

After the glue had dried, I started attaching groups of three plates
into longer sections.



And eventually into a full Track.

My calculations were good - the track slips over the Frames easily.
And the front tensioner Wheels can be pushed out to tighten up the Track.

(I have a few other parts to sort out, so I haven't fixed the tensioners in place yet.)

[jagolden01]

Gee Dave, that looks great. You're doing a fantastic job on the design and build.
Love how the tracks go together and the final look of them,

[Don Boose]

This looks really good, Dave. I think you have a winner here: unquestionably historic subject; scale large enough to see the detail; very high level of accuracy. I imagine a certain set of Forum members eagerly awaiting the outcome of this project. It might even draw a certain retired and antic Navy officer into the ranks of armor builders.

Don

[Miles Linnabery]

Dear AirDave:
Rivits, Rivits, I loves Rivits. I am stockpiling my used Insulin Needles and Gray paint and Glue.
Wonderfull project,
MILES

[Royaloakmin]

Sorry, I did mean the side frames..