Hi folks,

The road wheels go on in a specific sequence so follow the instructions at step 15 and step 18. Parts A3 and A4 require a little sanding to remove the stub that runs onto the inside of the wheel but it's a simple job.

I choose to add part A8 to A3 and A4 when they were on the tree which made life easier for me anyway.







Wheels added: As mine is not mobile I fixed them in place with a tiny drop of glue once I made sure the sequence was correct.



Then a quick bit of paint:





There are no spare road wheels so don't loose any to the carpet monster.

Cheers

Al

Alan, what was inside the visors, glass?

Hi Roman,

At that point these were known as reflector boxes. The light was bounced off two mirrors that could be replaced if broken by sliding them out.

The visors would have had reflector boxes on the inside.

Cheers

Al

these would be dark glass colour or just transparent?

Just transparent as far as I know but I don't recall ever seeing one up close, best check a few refs from any walk abouts, I would think they appear darkish but could be wrong.

Al

Hi folks,

Well I came to a bit of a decision last night regarding the build. After fitting the central side armour I was able to check the sponson fit and what might be visible though the open doors. That prompted me to start to make a basic interior for the kit and start to block off some of the open spaces in the hull. The interior doesn't need to be bang on, more just a representation of the shape of what would be there. So I'll see what develops.

I also cut off the plugs and holders for the poly caps as I'll glue the sponsons onto the kit.






Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

Started blanking off the holes inside the hull and started to add some seating.

Would anyone have a picture of the floor level in the Mk IV? I assume it was level with the bottom point of entry of the sponsons but I'm not sure.



Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

a bit more, found a piece of flooring about the right size, and added some MG ammo boxes in the sponsons.







Al

Hi folks,

A bit more work and experimentation. The purpose of this interior is simply a space filler not an accurate representation.

The ammo racks are doable with in the space, for an accurate portrayal you would need to use smaller ammo box lids. I used some lids from the Tamiya Bren carrier, as I have a lot of left over carrier parts parts, but they are slightly too large. For the 6 pdr shells I used some 2mm magnets which I de-magntised by heating them up with a lighter. Had the ammo lids been smaller I could easily have fitted in the correct ammo layout but as it stands this will serve my purpose of filling the black hole inside.

I've used the plastic drive wheels and idler wheels, these are in the kit and you just need to add a small axle. I used some plastic rod for that.

The side panels on the kit fit beautifully so a really ncie kit to work with so far.









Cheers

Al

With a quick coat of paint on this is the result.





Al

Hi folks,

The indi tracks are really easy to work with, they just snap together. If you're using the mechanical arrangement then there is a track tension adjustment point on the front at either side. The option is still there if you use the plastic idler wheels just glue rather that screw once you have the tracks fitted.

Easiest 87 links per side I've ever made.



Test fitted my mock engine, I designed this so that it fits to the roof and is lowered into the hull and adjusted to fit.







Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

did a little more work towards filling the4 empty space, progress so far. To help keep the guns straight (the poly caps want to push them up)I added a small blacking plate to the top of the gun sponsons.











At least ow if you look through the open doors you won't see an empty space. This is a model that would benefit from a good interior as i is quite possible to leave one of the sponsons off that would shown quite a lot of detail.

Al

Hi folks,

Some more progress on the build.

























This just leaves the fun part of painting and markings and adding the un-ditching beam.

I see no issues with this kit in terms of making it a static model. The only thing to watch out for are the poly-caps that have a tendency to want to push the parts up and out a bit and if I was doing another I'd leave those off the gun mounts and substitute a fixing ring to hold the guns in place. I removed the caps on the side sponsons for this reason and because I don't need access to the interior as you would if you decide to build a running model.

The parts are excellent with lots of detail, there is some missing rivet detail on the lower sides of the drivers hub and on the lower frontal plate btu these are easy to add.

How much you want to add to the kit is personal choice. As I will be leaving the doors and hatches open I wanted the illusion of an interior so wasn't too bothered about how detailed this might be. There is an excellent opportunity for an AM interior as with such a large side hole for the sponsons you could leave one off for a really interesting display of the inside and out.

The kit itself is easy to work with and has overall excellent detail, the parts fitted together really well and the inclusion of the motorised parts will provide fun for many and perhaps encourage a few of the younger generation into the hobby.

The indi tracks were incredibly easy to work with.

The only other error I saw was the the inclusion of the two hatches on the top rear plate which are present on the Bovington Example that Tamiya used for the detail but absent on the actual wartime pics and plans I looked at. Again, an easy fix if such things bother you, I just sanded them off.

Tamiya provide three marking options for the kit and I dare say we will see more options from the AM companies in time.

Really enjoyed the build a nice simple but detailed kit to work with.

Cheers

Al

Great job and great to hear you enjoyed making it so much.

Hi David,

Thanks it's coming along. I have to find a replacement decal for Black Arrow II. Some how I managed to lift off the 28 on the LHS which now seems to have vanished into thin air lol.

Cheers

Al

Hi Alan,

I haven't started mine yet, but won't be doing "Black Arrow". PM me your address and I'll get the "28" decals in the post to you! (Is it just the number, or do you need anything else? Let me know!)

HTH

Thanks Tom,

Your a star.

Al

Hi Alan ,

that's great i've mist your topic until now !

The build of the tank is simply outstanding and it looks like a very interesting kit too.

Cheers

Kurt

Hi Kurt,

Thanks for the comments and for looking in.

Started the first round of the weathering process and added the decals. Not sure but but the tank may have had B28 on the top of the drivers compartment or possibly the Red/White/Red ID Mark.





Doing a little research on Landships produced the follwoing:

The original Black Arrow appears to have been hit by shell fire and burnt out.

Black Arrow

07-Jun-17 – "B" Bttn, 5 Coy, 6 sec, B29, 2Lt Birme W2 Ditched for 1 1/2 hours just after Black line, unditched then Broke down for 15 minites, repaired and returned. W22

08-Jun-17 – "B" Bttn, 2Lt Birme – Ditched

09-Jun-17 - "B" Bttn, 2Lt Birme - Ordered to assist attack. Order cancelled

25-Jul-17 - "B" Bttn, 5 Coy, 6 sec, B28, " Black Arrow", 2Lt Ramsden WG W2 – List in War Diary, date approximate.

31-Jul-17 – "B" Bttn, 5 Coy, 6 sec, B28, 2Lt Ramsden WG W22 - Attack Southern portion of Green line. Engaged enemy MGs west of Dumbarton Woods. Trampeled uncut wire in front of Jarva Avenuse when suffered a Direct Hit and burnt out.

The second tank fared no better:

Black Arrow II
24-Aug-17 - "B" Bttn, 5 Coy, - Moved from Ouderdom to Lyonsburg W2

04-Nov-17 - "B" Bttn, 5 Coy, - Demonstrated crossing trench with Fascines to watching infantry W2

20-Nov-17 - "B" Bttn, 5 Coy, 6 Sec, B28, 2Lt. Evans JO - In action, rallied WMH

23-Nov-17 - "B" Bttn, 5 Coy, 6 Sec, B28, 2Lt Evans JO - In action, hit and KO WMH

30-Nov-17 - Handed over to Salvage. In enemy territory. Fontaine. W2a Captured X24.p91

Photographed captured by Germans: X11.p110, X74.p22, X74.p23, X78

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4260490877/in/set-72157601074582281/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2238520151/in/set-72157601074582281/

April 1918: Photographed in German workshops: X74.p54, X74.p57

German repair No.19

Possibly German Beutepanzer No. 201, "Max": compare the now visible "B" on 201 (X75.p125) with the "B" on Black Arrow II (X74.p22)

01-Jun-18- Beutepanzer, Abt 13, no. 201, "Max" - Broke down and abandoned before reaching French lines. X75.125

1919 - Photographed where it had been abandoned in 1918 - broken up in situ. X75.126

Links on Landships produced these two pics of Black Arrow II.



Unusually a crew list exists for the tank and brings home just how sad and terrible a war this was.


Tank Crew B28 - 23rd November 1917

Lt W.J.G Birnie, Section commander, KIA
2/Lt J.O. Evans, Tank commander, KIA
Sgt F. Bailey, 76038, KIA
Pte L. Hullett, 75862, Gearsman, KIA
Pte A. Bates, 75920, Driver, KIA
Pte W. Campbell, 75210, 6 pdr gunner, KIA
Pte E. Russell, 75256, 6 pdr gunner, KIA
Pte W. Wilson, 200340, 6 pdr gunner, KIA
Pte G. Hackney, 200304, Gearsman, MIA

Ian Verrinder, provides a crew list for this tank at Cambrai in his book "Tank Action in the Great War: B Battalion's experiences.

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

A bit of work on the un-ditching beam. Tamiya show this just with the chain wrapped around the runners and connected to each end.

Best I can determine is it should look more like this:



The beam consisted an Oak bean with two metal sides fitted with chains that attached to the tracks and could be pulled over and around the tank by the moving track. The beam was secured by rope and two chaps had to climb up top with a spanners, secure the fixings to the tracks, get the axe stored in the spud box, chop the securing ropes and return safely to the the interior hoping the beam would work. All a bit hairy if you were under fire. More on this on page 50/51 of the Hayes book.

Anyway a few minor adjustments of the chain will allow you to fix this issue.

Cheers

Al

BTW if you're building a Mk IV you might fond this link useful:

https://sites.google.com/site/landships/home/lists/mkivtanks/world-war-one-british-mark-iv-tank-2001---2099

Al

Hi folks,

A bit more work on Black Arrow II. Added the remaining items , unditching beam and tow rope. Bit more work to be done on the doors and rear of the vehicle but build wise that pretty much completed all the parts.

My thanks to Tom Cromwell for the additional decals to add to the cab top.

Cheers

Al