BarleyBop
Active Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2022
- Messages
- 179
... just when you thought things couldn't get any smaller!
Meet the 'tankette': sounds like the name a piece of women's apparel!
But the Italians were serious about these, and produced many during the interwar period.
Seemed like a good idea at the time I suppose... and face it, who has the bigger cojones, a guy sitting in his King Tiger, or the guy shoe-horned into this thing?!
The build:
As per usual, I get sidetracked with the soon not be invisible.
But the engine and transmission do have a certain Italian flair! Built-in cyclotron!
... and mustn't forget our lunch boxes, ammo and field glasses
Dry fitting probably a good idea.
The driver required more than a little persuasion to get in there: shave a bit here, a bit there, move the legs into right position. Tuck in the elbows! Get that hand on the stick!
Get Buddy to sit up top! "I call shotgun!"
In researching the colours for this build, I was introduced to the pseudo legit world of 'official' camo specifications, and the many internet bun fights about colour.
A particularly interesting post I found with photographs of a museum vehicle made it all too clear how we can be led astray.
1. was it painted in the factory, or in the field
2. how long did those 'original' colours last before the environment, and in the case of my North African desert vehicles, the sun, alter those colours?
3. what else was applied in the field? everything from mud, and gasoline, to paint pilfered from opponents stores.
4. how many coats of paint have been applied in well meaning 'restorations' since then?
5. how accurate is a photo, a republished photo, a photo of a photo on a website on god knows what computer display?
Here is a photo of a museum example of a similar tankette, note the layers of paint: The light top one being added after the war...
Check out the link: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235111205-italian-afv-colours-ww2/
That's what I like about this hobby: no end of rat holes to go down as I while away my golden years!
Cheers!
Meet the 'tankette': sounds like the name a piece of women's apparel!
But the Italians were serious about these, and produced many during the interwar period.
Seemed like a good idea at the time I suppose... and face it, who has the bigger cojones, a guy sitting in his King Tiger, or the guy shoe-horned into this thing?!
The build:
As per usual, I get sidetracked with the soon not be invisible.
But the engine and transmission do have a certain Italian flair! Built-in cyclotron!
... and mustn't forget our lunch boxes, ammo and field glasses
Dry fitting probably a good idea.
The driver required more than a little persuasion to get in there: shave a bit here, a bit there, move the legs into right position. Tuck in the elbows! Get that hand on the stick!
Get Buddy to sit up top! "I call shotgun!"
In researching the colours for this build, I was introduced to the pseudo legit world of 'official' camo specifications, and the many internet bun fights about colour.
A particularly interesting post I found with photographs of a museum vehicle made it all too clear how we can be led astray.
1. was it painted in the factory, or in the field
2. how long did those 'original' colours last before the environment, and in the case of my North African desert vehicles, the sun, alter those colours?
3. what else was applied in the field? everything from mud, and gasoline, to paint pilfered from opponents stores.
4. how many coats of paint have been applied in well meaning 'restorations' since then?
5. how accurate is a photo, a republished photo, a photo of a photo on a website on god knows what computer display?
Here is a photo of a museum example of a similar tankette, note the layers of paint: The light top one being added after the war...
Check out the link: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235111205-italian-afv-colours-ww2/
That's what I like about this hobby: no end of rat holes to go down as I while away my golden years!
Cheers!
