Thinking about building a World War I 1/35 dio depicting a German trench with a British MkIV or V.

Any ideas on how to build the trench?

Thanks!

Use styrofoam from any odd packing material cast off. Then cover it with Celluclay or spackle.
There are a couple of other trench builders who may weigh in too.

Hi. I'm building a trench scene for the Canadian Forces Armour (yes, armour has a "u" ) School. I've used styrofoam to build up the ground to the level I wanted, and am using Model Cellar's sandbag sections to form the trench. No photos yet, I intend to put some on here once I get a bit farther along. I just registered on here (like 5 minutes ago), but I'm looking forward to contributing and learning some stuff. I can keep you posted on my progress if you like, hang ups, stuff that worked well, etc. Your call, just let me know.

Lanny

What a "GREAT" Dio. One of my idea's is showing a tank that tried to cross a trench line and it caved in under the weight and the tank fell over into it.

Tauro makes a 1/35 A7V.

Yup, Tauro (Spanish company) makes two...the Totenkopf and the Sturmpanzerwagen...I think the only difference are the decals? You can find them with regularity on eBay. They are pretty basic, but can be turned into a pretty nice build with some attention....I have one I, uhhh, still need to finish, and two in the box (they really are kool).

Check eBay, you'll find it. Check this one: Totenkopf. You may see a couple more in the $40 range...FORGET THEM....that's a silly price.

Mike

Armour has a "u" and so does colour! And the letter "z" is pronounced ZED not ZEE!

OK c'mon stop rubbing it in... Alumin 'i' um
Greg, Scott has shown you a good example of a layout. Why not do a search of others both here on the network and then the www to try and spark a few more ideas?
Cheers
Brad

Hi Greg,
I am currently building a W.W.1 dio (very slowly lind you!) ,here's a few pics of some of the techniques i used up until now.
I went for an Emhar tank, the fitting is a nightmare but it isn't the worst kit out there..

Here's a base that is basically what Scott suggested but with photo's.
Base with styrofoam:


Now i had the same problem as you,i had no idea what the walls of the trench might of looked like, except for a few reference pics.I went by this one:


And improvised with some old speaker wires entwined around some wooden sticks:


Instead of celluclay i went for paper maché layered with plaster:


After seeing various photo's of other dio's i came across alot of corrugated iron used in defensive positions such as trenches.Some sticking dangerously out of the ground, others as shelter.
I simply removed the backing off of the flap of a cardboard box and spraypainted to seal.


This is the stage i am at now during the painting stages:


This isn't the way TO do things, it's just the way i did things.Other guys will hopefully contribute to give you some more advice.

Here is a great W.W.1 dio example:


Some handy reference links of various photo's from W.W.1 tanks and battlefields:
http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/index.html
http://www.wereldoorlog1418.nl/warpictures/index.html

Good luck mate,keep us updated!

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Actually, Tauro is an Italian company. Their 1/35th scale A7V was released in 1979, and yes, the only difference between the two kits is the decals. It's pretty crude, and you'll need filler that doesn't require sanding (like Milliputt), or you'll destroy and have to replace countless rivets when you clean up the joints. The MG mounts need the inner mantlets added, and the interior included in the kit is more wrong than right, but little can be seen even if you open up the hatches. The kit includes a fictitious belly plate (the real thing had an open girder chassis), but that's only a problem if you overturn it. The kit has individual link tracks joined by wire track pins, but it's fiddly to assemble, and the links are fragile, despite being a flexible plastic. A workable (but incorrect) suspension is included with small steel springs.
Tauro's only other 1/35th scale tank kit is a postwar Fiat from about 1922. It's primitive (similar to the AER T-18, a cousin in real life, as the two tanks were knock offs of the Renault FT). There were rumors that Tauro acquired the Fiat tooling second hand from some defunct Italian manufacturer. In any case, if you ever build their Fiat, thin down the turret roof section before gluing it so it doesn't look two inches thick.
Returning to the original question, Model Cellar is an excellent source for WW1 diorama accessories, and has some resin figures as well. And there are now some good Osprey books on both German and British World War One tanks and World War One field fortification designs.

Im currently working on an AB models copy of the Mk IV and its resin...with cast white metal sinle link tracks. Its HEAVY!!..I like the detail on it ,especially the tracks.Ill recomend this kit to anyone who can find it (got mine at a swapmeet/contest)
your Dio has given me serious inspiration...I love the fact the terrain has so many changesin grade.Awesome work on the paint too

Model Cellar makes some good accessories for WW1 tanks, such as 6 pdr's, Lewis guns, and track sections and grabs. A trench crossing crib is available too, all in resin.

ICM makes WWI German and English figures in 1/35.
Did the Germans capture and use any Allied ARMOR (No "U" ...Revolution and all that you know)?
I've heard that the Germans didn't produce many tanks during WWI.

Jeff

Yes, the Germans were VERY fond of the British tanks...and envied the design. There are many photos of captured Brit tanks in German colors...

S/F

Pat