None of the Mk IV's are out yet and we already want something else.

The Liberty tank was barely used in WWI, and even then 100 were produced post war. Not really the iconic status of the MK.IV tank had during WWI. Seem's like kind of a waste of manufactures time when there are so many other more notable historic and modern vehicles which could be kitted. (A7V, Whippet, Cougar MRAP etc...)

Well now that Tamiya and Takom have started, maybe Dragon, Bronco or even HB
will kick in with these.

I am sure many modelers would show interest.

Cheers,

does the Mk VIII share any common components with the Mk IV?

And don't forget Alex. Meng's already done an even more obscure tank recently (the Char 2C heavy tank) which wasn't even produced in WW1.

At least the MkVIII did appear during WW1 even if it didn't see combat so it's still a part of WW1 tank history.

So no-one is interested in a Schneider CA1? Would have thought that would have qualified as a wanted WWI kit.

Cheers.

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does the Mk VIII share any common components with the Mk IV?

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The 6 pdrs and the MGs? That would be it though.

A very different vehicle.

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And don't forget Alex. Meng's already done an even more obscure tank recently (the Char 2C heavy tank) which wasn't even produced in WW1.

At least the MkVIII did appear during WW1 even if it didn't see combat so it's still a part of WW1 tank history.

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Char 2c played a large roll during the invasion of France in WWII. So it spans two wars, and their is more documentation on it, after they were captured by the Germans. The Mk VIII had about 100 produced, was quickly phased out and save for the weapons has little in common with the earlier mk IV's.

The St. Chamond was at least used in combat, produced in some what large numbers (400) and was essentially Frances Mk IV, untill it was replaced.

The MK VIII was produced in small numbers (125), never used in combat and phased out quickly.

The MK VIII would be best suited to a resin manufacturer who focuses on smaller more niche kits. While Takom, Meng could focus on the bigger more well known WWI tanks that still haven't been given proper glory (the Whippet, A7V etc..)

Takom and Tamiya producing these kits more then likely has to do with them attempting to cash in on the upcoming 100th anniversary of WWI. Probably why Tamiya choose motorization, more mass appeal as a toy and Takom is going with the static model to cash in on the serious modelers who want the grandaddy of the modern beasts.

And as for documentation ......there's some surviving MkVIII examples whilst the last Char 2C disappeared in 1948 so we probably know much more about the MkVIII.

And the Mk VIII still appeared during WW1 and is quite a well known tank. I'm really glad Meng gave us the Char 2C but the Mk VIII's just as good a subject as the Char 2C and probably even more so. As for thee Whippet I think we'll probably see that anyway.

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And as for documentation ......there's some surviving MkVIII examples whilst the last Char 2C disappeared in 1948 so we probably know much more about the MkVIII.

And the Mk VIII still appeared during WW1 and is quite a well known tank. I'm really glad Meng gave us the Char 2C but the Mk VIII's just as good a subject as the Char 2C and probably even more so. As for thee Whippet I think we'll probably see that anyway.

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All that said, the MK VIII is still probably best left for resin manufactures who do niche subjects. While Meng and Takom focus on things with more mass appeal and that will be profitable for them.

We'll see. I suspect there might be a higher chance of getting a Liberty than its history might suggest. I suspect we got a 2C not because of it's historical importance but because it is a big, interesting looking tank and makes a neat model. Looking cool probably sells at least as many models as historical background does!

I'm pretty sure we're going to see another "Mark" tank later on. It makes sense for them to start with the IV, with 1400 made it was very prolific after all. I fully expect to see a MkV as well. VIII and IX might well follow, being interesting and noteworthy prototypes.

If we're wishing, I'd love to see a new Whippet, Emhar's kit is a bit of a dog even with the aftermarket tracks. Not sure if you could reach a fully in-scale wall thickness with plastic, but the big rear door would lend itself nicely to a kit with full interior detail.

FWIW, I'd like to see all three: a Mk.VIII, a Schneider CA and a new Whippet in 1/35 scale.

In so far as the discussion of the relative historical merits between the Mk.VIII and the Char 2C, consider:

1) The Mk.VIII was the first "international" AFV design in history, and that combined Anglo-American effort presaged the much talked about (in other threads here) MBT-KPz 70 project by almost a half century.

2) The Mk.VIII was actually produced in significant numbers. TEN times more Mk.VIII's were produced than Char 2C's, and the MBT-KPz 70 never got out of the prototype stage.

3) The Mk.VIII was fielded in multiple-battalion strength by the US Army and formed the backbone of US armor (such as it was) for most of the interwar period.

4) The Mk.VIII was on the books by three countries: England, the US and Canada. The Char 2C was only ever used by France.

5) The Char 2C's contribution to WWII was as a target for German dive bombers after the French scuttled them while they were still rail loaded.

6) The US Mk.VIII's served Canadian forces at least as much, if not more, than the Char 2C served the German propaganda effort.

Interestingly enough, there is another tie-in between the Mk.VIII and the Char 2C - At least one tank was used in the US to test the Char 2C's "Stroboscopic" commander's cupola.

I think the Mk.VIII "Liberty" or "International" is a historically significant subject. We would be well served with a detailed and accurate kit of it. No less worthy luminaries than Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis proclaimed that "the Mark VIII was probably the finest AFV design of the war years..." ("Armour in Profile No. 19," p.10).

My 2-bits...

If you want a tank that was produced in small numbers, had little to no impact on the war, was perhaps even only made after the war, or not even made at all just some designs on paper, and would bypass other more relevant and much needed vehicles in model form.. Address your request to Dragon. Just tell them the Germans captured a few and they will be all over it. Hell I imagine if they made a mk1V they would only include German markings!

Their track record speaks for itself.

Adam. tongue firmly in cheek