There is an "easy" solution to the wheels, and Rick Taylor and I have proven it works, but we went about it in different ways: 1) At the bottom of Page 2 (the parts diagrams)of the instructions is a 1/35 scale drawing of the 2 vinyl tread patterns included in the kit. I cut these out, matched them to a .020 thick strip of Evergreen sheet, and using a Friskars circular paper cutter, cut two identical width strips, which I then glued to the wheels in place of the vinyl offerings. 2) Then, using the paper cut outs from the instructions, I glued one directly to the Evergreen strip I'd made for the first wheel, image up, let it dry, then cut out some lengths of "treads" (24 per wheel) using .030 X .080 Evergreen strip. 3) I glued these "tread strips" right over the template glued to the wheel in step 2 above. 4) For the opposite wheel, I wrapped the second diagram from the instructions around the wheel UPSIDE DOWN, applied a liberal coat of Tamiya thin cement, and the ink image transferred perfectly to the white Evergreen strip. I then applied the tread pattern strips over the inked image, just like in step 2/3 above. Rick Taylor used some clear acetate to make his "opposed tread patterns, which is probably a little more exacting than my method, but both work, mine just requires a "sacrifice" of the second page of the instruction sheet to the "modeling gods". But really, it would be great if ModelCellar would produce this for us, so we don't have to resort to these drastic measures, and I applaud them for trying. It would have been better if Roden had got it right to begin with, but it is correctable. VR, Russ

Hi Russ,evidently we are crossing messages =).

Paul, Again, I applaud your efforts, and it's a simple mistake, and you re-issuing the tires is really tremendous, I'll be one of the first to buy a set. To address the things you mention: 1) The "museum" pattern tire photos, seemingly from "different" museums-- I think these are the same gun at different times and different locations at the Finnish Army Museum-- but they also have a gun there that has the "correct" pattern tires, or at least they did at one time. and, I believe the IWM has several 8" howitzers, one of which I think also is "kit standard", but I think all these Howitzers have been "messed with" somewhat for these outdoor displays. In my experience with these museum pieces, the weapon in the worst shape is usually consigned to outdoors display. Rick Taylor and I found one period WWI photo with the tread pattern going the same way as these museum Howitzers (and the kit tires), but according to the 8" Handbook, these wheels are not reversible and are "sided", with diagrams showing the "correct" arrangement. The only explanation I have for that is they were "field expedient" replacements. Knowing what I know about how creative the Finns were during the Russo-Finnish war, I suspect they did anything to keep their guns in action--and perhaps the 1930s Howitzers did indeed have treads that deviated out of that necessity--they were also rubber, whereas the WWI guns were steel. 2) As to the "chevron pattern" you mention, looking back at the wheels from the muzzle end of the Howitzer, it appears the "chevrons" should angle upward from the outside of the wheel to the inside of the wheel. This appears in three of the 8" Handbook diagrams of the 1)Howitzer, 2)the Howitzer in trail, and 3) the Howitzer on the firing platform, it also appears that way in most of the WWI photos I've examined. Thanks again to Paul for making the revision! VR, Russ

Paul, Yep, we are crossing messages for sure. I think I answered your questions in my last post. But here's a suggestion, if it's not too hard to do-- why not make the four main "Rivet Patterns", then folks can choose to buy/build what they want: 1) Steel treads with two rivets on the inside (what we think may be the "early" US pattern). 2) Steel wheels with four rivets on the inside of the pads ("late" US pattern). 3) Steel wheels with four rivets on the pads (British pattern)--these could double as the later steel wheels and rubber tread pad wheels too, it's just a mater of painting. 4) Steel wheels, rubber pads, rivets on the inside (obviously what might be called the "Finnish pattern") Just a suggestion, not sure if its feasible-- or cost effective. VR, Russ

Does it really matter if the resin parts are made too show chevron pointing up or pointing down? Are they left and right handed on the inside? If they are symmetrical on the inside I assume that it would be possible to use the parts for the left wheel on the right side and vice versa. Leave it to the modeller to decide if he/she wants to build chevron pointing up or down. As long as the tread is mirrored. / Robin

Robin, that's a good point. However, I'd defer to the 8" Handbook as the correct pattern, which has them decidedly facing up. I think the one photo you sent with them facing down is exactly what you suggest the modeler can do-- it's just the museum did it on the real thing! looking closely at the photo above, I think those wheels (the one with "chevrons" facing down) have been completely rebuilt with new treads for this museum display piece, they look great, but I think they are totally new, vs. reconditioned or original old parts. In short-- I think these wheels are new--mounted in reverse-- that's not to say crews didn't do this in the field(even though the 8" Handbook said they are not reversible). VR, Russ

I found some photos that claimed to show the 8 inch howitzer with the chevrons pointing the other way but those guns were not exactly similar to the one in Rodens box. There were also guns with wider wheels/treads with chevrons going both ways. The odd ones: Finnish field artillery in WW II Maybe they just made it work and made the "wrong" wheel fit to get an operational gun ... Note that two gunners are wearing different helmets, maybe 'Made in Sweden'. The others have the German style helmets. On display in the Crystal Palace in 1923 The most common or "per regulation" seems to be the chevrons pointing up when seen from the muzzle. / Robin

Robin, that first photo is a Finnish gun during the Russo-Finnish war sometime after 1939, when the US exported 32 "refurbished" guns to Finland. The way to date this photo is (besides the helmets): 1) The presence of the revised recuperating cylinder "lubrication box" on the first barrel band on the right side of the gun 2) The small "lidded cover" over the accessory box the left side of the trail, which doesn't appear in the 1917 or 1918 Handbook (or in the second photo-the kit has this box too, and I just left mine, being basically lazy, i might "fix that "later". 3) The rubber pad design on the wheels. I suspect the wheels have been monkeyed with by the crew, In fact, the right wheel appears to be mounted backwards, or replaced with something totally different, as there should be a gap of several inches between the tread and wheel on that side of the wheel-- and there isn't. I think the wheel is a replacement, but I could be wrong, and the US shipped it that way-- after all who would have cared? the Finns were just probably glad to get it. The other two photos look like vintage WWI (The second one being a display post-war), and the one with the repeated pattern in the wheel tread is one of the "exceptions" I mentioned before-- I think a field expedient. The Roden Howitzer is a Vickers 8" BL Mk VI gun, the bulk of which were manufactured in the US by the Midvale Iron Iron Works of Nicetown Pennsylvania. There were earlier Vickers guns (Mk III-V) built by Vickers in GB, which were less successful and built to different specs, plus a 155mm gun on a similar Vickers type carriage. The wheel patterns are "all over the place" in those guns, so all bets are off for those--some had no tread at all. I should also mention the brake arrangement-- there were different post war brakes. Roden's box top art shows post war brakes-- British designed, which would follow this gun when it was fitted with rubber tires by GB in the 1930s. But the brakes inside Roden's box are the WWI type with the hand-wheels outside the wheels at the front, and the brake shoes inside the wheels, rather than the box art "outside the wheel arrangement-- both types are present at the Finnish Army Museum I think-- go figure. and-- Roden has the wheels in the box art with the "chevrons down" attitude. VR, Russ

Hello Russ I hope this quick question is ok as I'm new to this site, on the Vickers Howitzer bl8 brakes with the blocks inside the wheels some of the hand turning wheels come out the front horizontal and brake block set low in the wheels and others the hand turning wheels come out at about a 30 degree angle and the brake blocks set higher on the rim ,which would you say is the earlier British design . Thanks Mal.