Hi Folks - I need some help. I am currently building a Takom Mk IV Male tank and I am curious if the tanks went into battle with any kind of stowage strapped to the roof? I've done a few google searches and can't really find any period pictures of the tanks with any stowage. I've seen a number of builds with the track grousers carried in the box located on the rear of the roof but again can't find any photos to indicate this was common either.

Any one have any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks
Mike

Looks like this one has some stuff piled up on the roof, but it's hard to tell what it is....



MR-Model has released a stowage set (#MR-35431) :



H.P.

Thanks Frenchy! That's a great picture. I'll have to see what I can dig up in the spare stowage box!

Mike

This one is a Female variant, but I guess you could also load your Male with fuel cans as pictured (there were no petrol tankers or powered pumps to refuel the tanks, the fuel was supplied in 2 gallon cans and manually poured into the tank by the crew.) :



WW1 British 2 Gal.fuel cans examples :





H.P.

Gear was commonly carried on the roof. The metal box at the rear of the roof was officially the Spud Box. If you look closely at the female photo above that box is overflowing with spuds even though she is wearing full set. She is also carrying a tin bathtub and a Mauser 98 at the back (I have the advantage of regularly seeing a 10 foot wide version of this photo on the wall at Bovington).

Whether the cans on the roof are full or empties originally carried inside and put up there after emptying is an interesting question. It is known that full cans were sometimes carried on top, despite the fire risk. But then they were also sometimes carried inside.

I recommend the Panzer Art 2 gallon cans: I think they are the best. They have WD and commercial pattern. It should be WO for WW1 but D and O are very similar in 1/35. Don't use the Texaco cans: Texaco was sold under the BP brand in the UK at that time. However, Texaco cans could be found on the Continent as they operated from Belgium pre-war.

These are my WIP attempts at rooftop stowage on a Female and a Male that will also have a fascine.

Thank you both again! I've ordered a set of the Panzer Art cans.

Peter - both builds look fantastic! thanks for sharing.

Mike

I bought the MR Modellbau set pictured above but didn't rate it and didn't use it. I did use some of the MR Modellbau WW1 British stowage set, which is mostly boxes and crates, among others.

That whole build, also including a Beute female and a Whippet (yes, 4 at once!), is blogged over on Britmodeller.com.

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235028090-personal-ww1-group-build-mkivs-whippet/