Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: Buzzbomb on February 01, 2026, 04:11:53 PM
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So just back from our club Modellers Retreat Build weekend. As always, dedicated building time gets a lot done. A couple of builds are relevant to Whiffer world, with one, being a Centurion based Stridsvagen 104 teetering on the edge as it just an out of the box build at the moment while some thinking time is done.
But on topic is exploring a steam powered Landship using the Hobbyboss St Chamond, which was aquired for just such a purpose.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2d20mb6soblt6o1vwxub1/SteamTank_1.JPG?rlkey=zp84fq3xg49zgr5n7keltazf1&st=vyk0zffq&raw=1)
Not much deviation from the out of the box build, until the very end, which after a sit and stare session led to deciding to actually go the What If path.
So first up a couple of Stacks, to get the creative process underway
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w0at1fk9mjgrf03zkdgwv/SteamTank_2.JPG?rlkey=rl6i0e1yazpoif9kdd9dmm2z5&st=g5s5k0e2&raw=1)
For me, the current gun fits in my Steam(punk) ish timeline, so that can stay. However the various machine guns are being replaced with something that looks a bit more gatling like.
As a bit of info, the construction for the majority of the time spent to get to this stage for this kit was on the suspension and running gear, which is quite complicated, and I have to say appears to be quite complete as to what the real thing was like. Not that you ever see it unless you display it turned upside down, which would make a pretty specco diorama.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/k2vduupzdrz0gdnmu2yx4/SteamTank_3.JPG?rlkey=7shvkig6jfw4azcfxe3aih6oc&st=w64xmcv1&raw=1)
More to come, mojo is high. Next will be things like flywheel housing, some nice fillegree lacework perhaps and other stuff as it happens.
I suppose I need to glue some gears on it to call it Steampunk ;D
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Those smoke stacks look like the ones on paddle steamers, are you going to add a paddle wheel to the back and make it an amphibious tank :P
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You need to get a bit pre-Dreadnought & put a couple of offset Renault FT turrets on the top deck. ;)
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Those smoke stacks look like the ones on paddle steamers, are you going to add a paddle wheel to the back and make it an amphibious tank :P
Yes they do, for exactly that reason. ;) And no ;D
work on the flywheel housing which would lead to some sort of gearbox and then to the chaindrive.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q45y3ob64x1mi9ae7hw3x/SteamTank_4.JPG?rlkey=60fmllu33wqt5efz4l8qh18az&st=irb3ju90&raw=1)
Time for a bit of scale-o-rama methinks.. 1/48 it is.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wfit71sc1jsu3pp4si0na/SteamTank_5.JPG?rlkey=pejhsya25fro2k9q27mkwgu8k&st=xuzzebqb&raw=1)
Is it just me who thinks it needs some weird wheel gizmo up front ? Probably just me ;)
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Time for a bit of scale-o-rama methinks.. 1/48 it is.
Oh wow I always thought the St Chamond was a lot bigger, the 1/35 figure looks like he could barely fit inside :o 1/48 looks more like what I'd imaged the size to be.
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Time for a bit of scale-o-rama methinks.. 1/48 it is.
Oh wow I always thought the St Chamond was a lot bigger, the 1/35 figure looks like he could barely fit inside :o 1/48 looks more like what I'd imaged the size to be.
Same here! :icon_surprised:
I guess it's the images that are shown of it looking huge, & looming, & menacing. :-\
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Time for a bit of scale-o-rama methinks.. 1/48 it is.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wfit71sc1jsu3pp4si0na/SteamTank_5.JPG?rlkey=pejhsya25fro2k9q27mkwgu8k&st=xuzzebqb&raw=1)
Is it just me who thinks it needs some weird wheel gizmo up front ? Probably just me ;)
I think 1/72 would be even better for a "Landship".
It does have a roller up front underneath but a single short track out front like the Bullock tractor would be neat.
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I like landships :smiley:
Go with 1/72.
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In that case you need some serious turrets on top! Maybe even set into the sides like the USS Arizona.
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In that case you need some serious turrets on top! Maybe even set into the sides like the USS Arizona.
That'd be "in sponsons like USS Arizona". ;)
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Loving it, lots of polished teak and brass! :-*
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I am intrigued. 1/48 will work-any smaller and you'd have to start really modifying the doors and hatches. What about a flying bridge with a couple of Nordenfelts?
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Not sure about this pic - the St Chamond looks VERY small compared to the FT-17 (maybe photoshop) :-\
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Thanks for the interest and support.
I think that boxy tank in the RAAFIF image is actually a Schneider CA tank, which is even smaller again than the St Chamond.
So this session got some things done, overall shot
I am going to go with some front wheels to give a point of difference, so that will be built up next session. These are from the Takom Mk1 Tank, which I am using the spare bits as a quarry for this.
First up.. the anti Infantry fence experiment was dismal style failure. Only white glued on so no damage. Off that stuff comes. Some of it may get a re-run in a more ornate, filligree role maybe
I did fail to resist the urge to "glue some gears on it and call it Steampunk", they are there, but to my eye pretty much blend right in.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wqxuxskw1aw1vrz4cj4uu/SteamTank_6.JPG?rlkey=bsrd7wuyfpky1eg6gtakcvotn&st=l1zco2i9&raw=1)
Gatlingish Machine Gun experiment of rod around a piece of hex goes alright as far as I am concerned. More of those to get done. Also a bit of exterior bizzo, the axle mount for the flywheel
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8wcc0foi8p1i3v627gxyd/SteamTank_7.JPG?rlkey=ohss8g1trvuxvev36vah6yiy5&st=esghg3l7&raw=1)
Main effort was getting some steamy, engine business going. So rivetted up the flywheel housing, added a whistle, the whirly ball thing you sometime see on traction engines. Also some handwheels to lower the stacks for getting under stuff/transport.. who knows. Cables still be added for that. Various other HO/OO railway bits and bobs I have. Put on some stay cables for the stacks as well.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ohpydskq6a29srf4zc9c0/SteamTank_8.JPG?rlkey=b96o20v7nxlx9x63s0xl2oy6d&st=3f9mokny&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r9k6v7fh5nvr6850q252m/SteamTank_9.JPG?rlkey=cx5yo1wlp80mxprymk60mz13i&st=tsvfvqnu&raw=1)
So there we have it so far.
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8) :smiley:
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I like were this is headed, its reminding me of the steampunk stuff from the Wild Wild West film.
(https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcGd6NmlkdXczdXhqMno4djdpOTg5eGdlbTNwbDN1ejVoeXJvZGoydyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/3oEduVeIgwk80T5Q3K/giphy.gif)
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This looks fantastic! I was thinking a bridge for the commander (with some voice pipes) would look appropriate
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For major engineering.. this is just about it.
Front and rear 'Undulating Terrain Re-adjustment Stabilizers" ;D
Machine Guns also finished. Maybe, they may get a forward strap around them
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5kdio5f1gluu2eon8b5yc/SteamTank_10.JPG?rlkey=40ot0pqvpi1boxxwtjighdllm&st=ofnaagtp&raw=1)
Frontal aspect, the front stabilizer wheels do have return springs, plus the not so fat controller who is under contruction.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d0z2fjgzzw2l2xl3ggjcb/SteamTank_11.JPG?rlkey=a190194riztw89kwgwsxz5p8b&st=hu81z5oe&raw=1)
The main event really, most of the build effort was around here after the initial construction. With all the cables and bits in place and working on the Coolie hat stack protectors
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6dy0swqaqxf1wxajjjp9m/SteamTank_12.JPG?rlkey=39riu2lihkj92pw8hdj78tw0v&st=230j48sn&raw=1)
Rear Stabilizers, had to clear the door. Need to fix the wonky one.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ixfr2ritdku8v9kw63ze7/SteamTank_13.JPG?rlkey=1cqyxknlvbhow8hxgq7p5lnbc&st=glijljmz&raw=1)
Now some dabbling with some Steampunky filigree ironwork, just using what I have without sourcing elsewhere at this stage. Just white glued on while I am at sit and contemplate mode
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fux8b43uypyleyt6nhtd9/SteamTank_14.JPG?rlkey=y6ieymkd5k874sv84cu7768xy&st=6zusqg4p&raw=1)
This might be it for a month, as I am off on holiday at the end of the week. I do want to see it in primer though, lets see how it goes.
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Great fun build! :smiley:
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Definitely nailing the steampunk theme!!
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Not sure about the filigree work, but the rest of it is coming along great guns! :smiley: :smiley:
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Back in the day they would decorate anything and everything.
Lovin’ the look of this.
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Not sure about the filigree work ...
"You can over capitalise can't you...?" But, with that The Castle quote out of the way, gotta say that I love the filigree! "Adds a bit of charm" and looks potentially lethal to boot ;D
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Thanks folks.
So, the sit and ponder lead to most of the bling going. A few bits are still there to add a bit of glam around.
So here we are in a first primer to stitch it together
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6a54zc8leg10pzia7pxfe/SteamTank_15.JPG?rlkey=p1tj3g6uieel1m7tt2fez0b7p&st=cpvzi9ud&raw=1)
Added a semaphore system and a ladder to get up to the yet to be found/fitted pioneer tools or something
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nrmcw369p0mh38hxrirgb/SteamTank_16.JPG?rlkey=ysr55znkxgm1f26o9js91wsod&st=133gisbq&raw=1)
So now I have a month away to ponder colours. Grey is a bit boring, maybe a bit of a splash of colour
Maybe look at period traction engines for inspiration
(http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/pictures/2008/barleylands/DSC_5011.jpg) (http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/pictures/2009/rls-spring-outing/size4/2009-05-16_13-47-40_DSC_3970.jpg)
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A pity about the bling (IMHO) ... but I get it. She does look much more businesslike now.
Looking forward to seeing your traction engine-inspired colour choices :D
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I like the green enamel color on the tractor to the right. Maybe with some red pin striping and a touch of brass here or there.
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I'm not a treadhead, but this is looking crazy cool !
I'm seeing this in a three colour scheme with a black line between colours a bit like the Char B, just a suggestion ;)
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Enjoying this plausible/implausible build. Keep going. :smiley:
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Back from the OS trip, with a small bit of intensive activity while transitting Dubai. Flying Emirates was a great idea 9 months ago.
Took a few days, but back on the tools. Getting some paint on the Steam Tank
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f8i2d6j2qsxo9xyqxjd4s/SteamTank_17.JPG?rlkey=t3f35jkifny44wfq51o5xcuh5&st=7ycxy34n&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f1wd00czqqu4eb102bnyk/SteamTank_18.JPG?rlkey=evi154d9ky3dvjlez2f72tihr&st=to6k91za&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qrmdd9lh15maje3fe9olh/SteamTank_19.JPG?rlkey=p5arsxh4ot7rztswzlx6fy5nt&st=52d31jr3&raw=1)
Still work in progress but at least some progress shots
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Nice! Liking that look! 8) :smiley:
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I love it, the three layered colour scheme looks very steam boat :D
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Colour me excited!
(https://i.imgur.com/94ilsSg.jpeg)
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Love it! We need more steampunk!
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:smiley: