Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on March 21, 2013, 06:36:04 AM
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The 1930s were a time of great innovation for the French army. They sought to take the lessons learned from the Great War and apply them using modern technology. This meant an upgrade for the French Armored Corps. Many French companies submitted tank designs, but the Peugeot design stood head-and-shoulders above all others due to its great size. Such a menacing machine seemed perfect to defend France.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_001.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_002.jpg)
The new tank featured four 7.5 m.m. machine guns mounted in side sponsons along with a 37 m.m. cannon in a turret on top. This was a great advance as France had no heavy tanks with turret-mounted cannon at the time.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_003.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_004.jpg)
It was thought the new heavy Peugeot tank would be the ideal weapon for stopping both enemy armor and infantry in its tracks.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_005.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_006.jpg)
Unfortunately, turret-mounted guns were not yet a mature technology. The Peugeot company had trouble finding the right lubricant for the turret. While they eventually found a workable solution, the new lubricant had a distinct odor that many compared to an unclean cat box. Thus the new tank was given its unofficial nickname of "Merde de Chat".
While tank crews eventually got used to the smell, the rest of the French army never did and troops ran away fast when the Merde de Chat approached. This caused problems attempting to coordinate armor and infantry during maneuvers.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/ontherunatverdun.jpg)
This spelled doom for the Peugeot heavy tank prototype. All further work was abandoned and today all that's left is this design model, found in the men's room of a derelict Peugeot factory in Mal Odeur, France.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_007.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_008.jpg)
This modeling mis-adventure started innocently enough with Airfix's magnificent 1/76 scale W.W. I Female tank. The box art is a classic, and seeing this tank in action certainly stirs the blood:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/aifixfemaletankbox.jpg)
Of course, there was no way mine was going to look like that by the time I was done. This kit may be marked a Skill Level 1, but I think it's more like a 9. I was hoping for something easy, but those clowns at Airfix fooled me again!
Right off the bat, I knew this tank needed a turret. Fortunately, Airfix's Grant/Lee tank comes with a spare which I swiped for this build.
I started by reversing the upper part of the chassis and bending the end a little so it would fit.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_prog_dark_03.jpg)
Then I covered over the holes with cardstock and stuck the ring from an orange-juice carton pull tab on top of one of the kit's big rear wagon wheels. On top of the ring went the turret.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_prog_dark_04.jpg)
I extended the roof with more card and added the square cupola meant for the top to the front.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_prog_dark_02.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_prog_dark_01.jpg)
The model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics. I was worried about the tracks, but dry-brushing a little steel-colored paint over them seems to have helped. The decals came from my stash and I used railroad markings for everything but the roundels.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_010.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Merde%20de%20Chat%20tank/MdC_009.jpg)
This is the first tank I've built since I was about 10 years old. Challenges aside, I had a lot of fun with it and I especially liked the small scale which seemed easier than the typical larger scale Tiger tank I built as a lad.
I'm beginning to see how AFVs can be addictive and fair warning, I've got three more tank kits in the pile!
Brian da Basher
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Wowsers! Nice little vehicle you created out of that kit bashing!
Are you going to make a spot available for this model on a flat surface or will you be attaching it to your aerial display that hangs from the ceiling? :)
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What you need in your nascent AFV collection is...a tank with spats!!
Tank hull supported on 3 big, knobbly all terrain tyres, covered by some awe - inspiring '30's style spats!! Maybe mounting a Tesla Death Ray, perhaps...
Lovely tank there mate, real nice!
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It looks great, Brian!
Lets see, with a crew of about 8 -10 sharing the same space as the engine and poor ventilation... I can imagine where the smell is coming from. I just hope none of the crew ate beans the night before!
What you need in your nascent AFV collection is...a tank with spats!
like this?
(http://silodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Monowheel-Tank.jpg)
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;D ;D Nice one!! I remember seeing that online somewhere...pretty mad idea for a tank - better off with a spherical design, I think, so it can't fall over!
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If only I'd come up with a design as plausible as that one, Frank.
*sigh*
Oh well, back to the drawing board work bench!
Brian da Basher
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Great work good sir and glad to see you´ve seen the light! :)
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Splendid sensible build Brian. :)
Is a rational next step 1930's improvement of that design. If kept in service it would today likely sport Scorpion or Bradley turret. One 7.62 minigun in each sponson. Tow or Hellfire missiles. Refitted with a modern engine.
Frank3k makes a point - do I recall correctly a hearty bean-onion soup provides stamina for combat ?
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Nice one Brian - that looks great and fits right in with such things as the Char-2C etc... (in fact a "mushroom" cupola from the latter would be fine period addition to your model...)
(http://foto-transporta.ru/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=104151&g2_serialNumber=4)
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Beautiful work and a very nicely worked out story.
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This is one "whiffy" model and story.
Great work Brian. Next time, I expect you will find a way to add spats to a tank.
Ed
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Awesome job......
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([url]http://silodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Monowheel-Tank.jpg[/url])
Has fichenfoo seen this yet?! Its right up his alley. Or maybe MaK style?
Of course one good shot from the side would knock it over if nothing else!
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I can see it knocked over on the side, main wheel spinning, just like a turtle on its back!
I can't stop laughing thinking about it!
Brian da Basher
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with the little fin, once on its side it will act like a helicopter ;D ;D
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I have visions of a tank trap for those things. Dig a trench across their line of advance, then put steel bars across it, like a cattle grid turned at 90 deg, with the spacing of the bars being wider than the tire and the depth great enough to stop it grounding on the bottom of the trench. The monowheel tank just falls betwen the bars and then it's stuck.... You could call it the "bicycle rack" trap ;D
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Love the "Merde de Chat" :) Le pong aside, it's a pity that Peuguot didn't proceed with the proposed Mk.II Char de Spats.
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Great tank Brian. ;D
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Nice to see you building a tank.
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We have seduced you to the dark side... mwahaahaa! :icon_jedi:
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Thanks for setting an example.
With one or two of those in stash. Will do similar kinda bash.
They are asking for a turret each time I see a picture. Turret with four TOW missiles. Tri-barrel 20mm turret off a Cobra mounted upside down. 25mm Bushmaster.
Each side sponson could have two M60 MGs or 7.62 miniguns, maybe 50cals.
Add reactive armor.
New engine.
Thermal sights.
Gets thoroughly updated.
21st Century modernization seen first here at BTS ;)
Know there are 1/72 kits. Is there a 1/35 ?
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Brian check this out. Just found it over on Armorama 8)
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=features&file=view&artid=4825 (http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=features&file=view&artid=4825)
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I took pictures of that one at the Nats in 2007. Very nice build.
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Brian check this out. Just found it over on Armorama 8)
[url]http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=features&file=view&artid=4825[/url] ([url]http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=features&file=view&artid=4825[/url])
It's like you can read my mind sometimes. I've had a nice shot of this saved for a couple of years now.
Brian da Basher
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Thanks for setting an example.
With one or two of those in stash. Will do similar kinda bash.
They are asking for a turret each time I see a picture. Turret with four TOW missiles. Tri-barrel 20mm turret off a Cobra mounted upside down. 25mm Bushmaster.
Each side sponson could have two M60 MGs or 7.62 miniguns, maybe 50cals.
Add reactive armor.
New engine.
Thermal sights.
Gets thoroughly updated.
21st Century modernization seen first here at BTS ;)
Know there are 1/72 kits. Is there a 1/35 ?
Yes, Emhar do (did?) one - see them on eBay sometimes. Company called Pocketbond import them in the UK.
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Did you 1/35 builders read that ?
Deathjester has provided intel on what to look for. Good job :)
Find an Emhar kit. Improve-n-Modernize. ;)
You/us 1/72 builders can do same.
My 1/72 diorama will have one deployed.
Thanks Brian for that last bit of inspirational push I needed.
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Great story and great model, Brian!
"La Merde de Chat" is surely going to be a winner...once they overcome the little problem of the smell :)
I have built also one of those Airfixs kits, and also an 1/35 Emhar kit, and the conclusion is the same in both cases: Good kit. Awfull tracks!
Those hard to mould and hard to paint vinil tracks are really annoying.
Looking forward to see the new and improved Mk II version :)