1/16 Scale Ford "Quad" Field Artillery Tractor Design and Build

[airdave]

Thanks John
Yeah I have photos of that particular Ford FAT,
but because it has a camo paint scheme, I ignored it.

But I might still contact them about that vehicle, and see what info they have.
I don't believe that paint scheme is accurate, so it may have been a solid colour FAT.
But that might mean the markings are inaccurate too.


...
I sent them an email.
Their email address is extremely difficult to find...and when found, it is incorrect.
A (dot) is substituted for the @ symbol, so it took a few moments to figure it out.
Maybe they don't want communications? lol

Oh well, I sent a message.
I asked a couple of questions about their 1942 Ford FAT.

Funny thing is, it appears to have a Chevy front end.
The engine cover, grille surround, and the Grille cover itself are Chev FAT design (based on what I have learned so far)
I guess its possible that they used similar Chev parts during the restoration.

But that brings me to my second question...whether the paint scheme is accurate to the time, and that vehicle.
Its not a paint scheme I have seen any where else (on a Canadian FAT...I saw something similar on an American marked FAT)
And if the paint scheme is made up, maybe the markings aren't accurate either?

Lets see what they say...but I am not holding my breath.
They have a page regarding research questions.
Apparently you can get 20 minutes of help, and then have to pay by the hour.

Is the Canadian Government all about making money with everything?

[yukonjohn]

From the canadiansoldiers.com article I have referenced, it seems the over-all green would be "as from the factory", and therefore no unit or classification markings would yet be applied. The field application of camo would then include the vehicle markings once the vehicle was assigned. As is, your model would be fresh from the factory, not yet assigned. It seems the in-the-field standard would include camo.
But the folks at RCA would likely be the definitive source.


Regards,
John

[kf4mat]

I know I would never be able to build one of these but damn, I would love to just try and make one of those awesome tires.

[airdave]

While I agree the vehicles were delivered in the appropriate Green paint.
I can't agree that camouflage was automatically applied (if that is what you are suggesting).

Almost every resto of a CMP vehicle is solid colour.
But almost every CMP in old wartime photos appears to be solid colour too.
Camo paint schemes don't seem to be as common on the CMP Quads.

I keep spotting photos of a Quad with a white star on the sides in a high contrast camo.
I think this is an incorrectly marked resto.
I read in another place that the star is a "recognition" star for allied forces, but that it was supposed to be painted upside down (contrary to an American star).
I don't know if thats true or not...but I'd like to know more about that star.
Not aware the US used CMP vehicles.

And I see a lot of Morris (UK) in camouflage paint schemes.

I've asked over at the CMP Maple Leaf Forum to see if anyone there has any insight.

[airdave]

Originally Posted by kf4mat

I know I would never be able to build one of these but damn, I would love to just try and make one of those awesome tires.

of course you can build one!
one of my aims is to make components simpler, and easy enough for a beginner.
the only tough part for a beginner, would be the volume of parts and number of assemblies.
but each thing is real easy to build.

the tires might be the toughest part. lol

[airdave]

John...reading some of this canadian soldier article.

wow its confusing!
LOL

I love this description of a paint colour:
"very dark grey, almost black, with just a hint of green...unless it's blue."

and this sort of answered my question about the stars...
By June 1944, all Allied vehicles going into Northwest Europe were to have the five pointed American star painted on them instead. These
stars sometimes had a circle, either broken or unbroken, painted around them as well. Canadian units often painted the star on crooked in
order to differentiate themselves from American units.

I'm still unsure about this two tone camo being anywhere near a standard.
lol
Canada.


...
see, things like this make it more confusing...
heres a page about Canadian FATs with some wartime photos
...it focuses mainly on late war Chev FATs but that doesnt really matter.

Chevrolet CMP FAT (Field Artillery Tractor) 4x4 and Chevrolet C15A 4x4 truck crane - field adaptation - case report

only one of FATs shown is the Canadian two tone camo...
and its straight off the boat, still half wrapped, so basically "from the factory".
You can see the factory painted serial number on the door.

And all the rest appear to be solid colour.

Maybe the CMP Artillery Tractors didn't get the camo treatment?

[kf4mat]

I might be able to get something put together but I highly doubt it would resemble anything close to what it was supposed to.

I have however ordered one of your BMW race cars

[airdave]

Originally Posted by kf4mat

I might be able to get something put together but I highly doubt it would resemble anything close to what it was supposed to.

I have however ordered one of your BMW race cars

great!
thanks!
let me know how it goes.

[yukonjohn]

Originally Posted by airdave

John...reading some of this canadian soldier article. wow its confusing!

Yep, unfortunately for us there are fewer and fewer of those who were actually there to straighten things out. Trying to figure out the contradictions from military archives and reality is not for the faint-hearted.

BTW, I think the Chev FAT in camo was offloading from landing craft, not from convoy delivery. I think your weathered factory look would be for appropriate having just been delivered off the deck of a convoy ship in the middle of winter with no markings. Could add sling flanges to all four hubs for that. Finding the right photo of a marked Ford FAT with serials would be a wonderful find.



Regards,
John

[GWC]

Hi Dave, great build interesting subject. I have some files from Armoured Acorn that show the gun tractor with Canadian army markings and such on them. Be glad to send them to you.