ICM Australian Army Car .... Model T 1917

Post by **digger303** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 2:34 pm

Great art work to get me in the mood

Opening the box the first noticable thing is a sturdy box and a attractive instruction booklet.

The sprues

all two of them

a couple of parts had become separated, but they were securely bagged. So no probs

The clear is very thin and clear

Here is my cut and paste, but it's not very long and interesting at least to me

The 1st Light Car Patrol was formed in Melbourne during 1916 as part of the Australian Imperial Force during World War I. First named the 1st Armoured Car Section, it was also known as the 1st Armoured Car Battery. Equipped with three armoured cars built at the Vulcan Engineering Works in South Melbourne, a 50 hp (37 kW) Daimler, a 60 hp (45 kW) Mercedes and a 50 hp (37 kW) Minerva.[1]

All were armoured and the Daimler and Mercedes were armed with Colt machine guns. The unit fought against the Senussi in the Sudan and Western Desert. The 1st Armoured Car Section became the 1st Light Car Patrol on 3 December. As their original three vehicles became worn out from hard use in the Western Desert and were irreparable due to shortages of spare parts, the unit was reequipped with six Ford light cars. Extra drivers and motorcycles were provided. The cars were given names: Anzac, Billzac, Osatal, Silent Sue, Imshi and Bung. These were traded in for six new Fords on 11 December 1917.[2]

In May 1917 the unit was redeployed to Palestine by rail, and served throughout the campaign there.[2] Like similar British units of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force it was used to conduct long range reconnaissance and patrol duties, often operating well in advance of forward cavalry units. By November 1918 they had reached Aleppo with the British Indian 5th Cavalry Division, where they were believed to be the furthest advanced Australian unit at the conclusion of the campaign.[3]

Post by **barrythornton** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 3:39 pm

Gotta love that Aussie camo scheme

never seen one of these, and interesting back story. Aleppo seems to have been a conflict zone forever !
Good luck sir.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 3:43 pm

Awesome
Yep, nothing says I am hiding like bright yellow

Post by **digger303** » Sun Sep 02, 2018 2:02 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sat Sep 01, 2018 3:43 pm Awesome
Yep, nothing says I am hiding like bright yellow

Yep and hiding in plain sight isn't going to work.... The emblem on the radiatior isn't right either I think it is supposed to be the coat of arms with a palm tree growing out of it. Can't see myself scratch building that

Post by **digger303** » Sun Sep 02, 2018 2:04 am

barrythornton wrote: Sat Sep 01, 2018 3:39 pm Gotta love that Aussie camo scheme
never seen one of these, and interesting back story. Aleppo seems to have been a conflict zone forever !
Good luck sir.

Thanks

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Sun Sep 02, 2018 11:58 am

Interesting subject mate, looking forward to this one

Post by **Tomcat64** » Sun Sep 02, 2018 6:40 pm

Found this pic while I was hunting around for background info on these Ford T gun carriers

Looking forward to seeing how yours comes together mate

Post by **pourquoi61** » Mon Sep 03, 2018 12:01 am

Spotted this at a local model shop and thought about buying it as well as the ambulance (American) and nurse/ patients both ICM.
Nice choice.

Post by **digger303** » Mon Sep 03, 2018 12:25 am

Tomcat64 wrote: Sun Sep 02, 2018 6:40 pm Found this pic while I was hunting around for background info on these Ford T gun carriers

Looking forward to seeing how yours comes together mate

Ahh this pic shows the emblem clearly different from the kit as I alluded to earlier.

Upon cleaning my H&S evolution AB I found that the seal was shot. The needle just drops right through with no resistance and there was a lump of paint back there. Probably what sealed it, cause it was working. Upshot is I have a replacement parts on route ( I hope ). No detail brush until then.

damn thing hadn't really done a lot of work either.
I shall press on and glue up a few small assemblies..

Post by **digger303** » Mon Sep 03, 2018 1:03 am

The detail is mostly good, a little soft in some places like where the individual leaf springs are. The plastic seems to be soft and not brittle compared to there earlier efforts.

There are some pin marks that need filling,, but not deep and easy to do. Most are hidden away. It should also be noted that there is no wood grain detail on the rear body sides or floor. Now this is not actually a bad thing, because I believe good quality tight grained timber was used and with a coat of paint no grain would be visible.

The instructions are quit easy to follow.

Thanks Tomcat for that great pic

Post by **barrythornton** » Mon Sep 03, 2018 11:09 am

The emblems in raised detail .Whats the plan ?
Or does it cover with a decal ?

Post by **digger303** » Mon Sep 03, 2018 12:50 pm

barrythornton wrote: Mon Sep 03, 2018 11:09 am The emblems in raised detail .Whats the plan ?
Or does it cover with a decal ?

There is a decal......phew

Post by **barrythornton** » Mon Sep 03, 2018 4:20 pm

You dodged a bullet there mate .

Post by **pourquoi61** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:38 pm

Looking swell so far.

Post by **DRUMS01** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:25 pm

Nice and interesting subject; good build so far...

Ben

Post by **digger303** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 1:12 pm

DRUMS01 wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:25 pm Nice and interesting subject; good build so far...

Ben

Give me time , I'll bugger it somehow

Post by **digger303** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:15 pm

Ok this where I'm at now, engine done and most of the chassis complete. Oh I should mention If anyone else is going to bild this at step 26-27 don't assemble the fire wall until after the doors and windscreen frame are cemented then dry fit to the chassis . One mistake here and the engine will be in the way.

I broke the steering rods whilst attempting to clean the mold fines and there are a few of them and at times not that fine. So that's a bit of a minus for this kit

I thought I would replace the bonnet handles. I have made them slightly different by incorporating a small up ish bend. Who's going to sue me

I used brass wire 0.4mm. This is easy to bend and has a certain amount of stiffness so it doesn't easy bend out of shape when handling.

Next is the Lewis machine gun. Not particularly well done rendition. Poorly molded with a problem mold line.
However I don't have a replacement and am going to go with it. I broke the tri-pod trying to remove the mold lines. I went and drilled the end of the gun out and it's a massive hole. I then got some Albion tube which has a thin wall and after drilling a small hole inside the large hole

I inserted the small tube to replicate the barrel. Quite happy about how that turned out.

Currently trying to find the clutch pedal that flew over my right shoulder

cheers

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 4:23 pm

HA ha, here he goes with the modifications. Great work so far

AWESOME!!

That brings a mediocre kit up a few notches
keep at it

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 6:41 pm

Some really nice mods going on here, I do really like the Lewis gun

Post by **digger303** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 2:50 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 4:23 pm HA ha, here he goes with the modifications. Great work so far
AWESOME!!
That brings a mediocre kit up a few notches
keep at it

High praise indeed....many banana's

Kevthemodeller wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 6:41 pm Some really nice mods going on here, I do really like the Lewis gun

Thanks guys

I under cut the bonnet vents a little, hopefully the paint won't refill them. They are difficult to see in the pic , but at the right angle from 4 inches...yae !

And I came across another little problem. The flooring is a little short and you can see right through to the ground. I don't think that would have been acceptable even in 1917. So that was dully plugged . The other mod is ?

As I mentioned yesterday the clutch pedal went on a long flight over my left shoulder. I could not find it so I made another and in the process of fitting that it too went airborne across my desk. Not to be found so I made another. Needless to say it was an awkward cuss to fit and doesn't match the others. Hey it adds interest !!

Post by **pourquoi61** » Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:40 pm

You are doing a great job with the build.

Post by **digger303** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 3:12 pm

Hi all, no big leaps forwards this weekend , but I did notice in the instructions the footplate had a distinctive pressed foot plate on the running board. There was no part or PE to match in the box so I thought I would have a go at replicating it. I used the tin foil that some food tins use as a seal.

It does lack some evenness however I think it will be fine.

thanks for looking all.

Post by **gaz45** » Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:51 am

I'm liking this one mate nice detail that you have added

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:51 pm

Nice work so far mate and loving the extra details you're adding.

Seam lines on flimsy parts should be banned by the UN or something!!

Looking forward to seeing this progress

Post by **digger303** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 2:35 pm

Thanks Gaz and Tomcat.
Re...seam lines.... ENGINEERS should be out there building and fixing stuff well before actually designing ! So heartly agree Tomcat

A incremental update.
All primed and a base coat of black, cause as Henry said " they can have it in any color they want as long as it's BLACK " So I figurte it started life as being black then was re-coated to the armies needs and they would have only painted the outside.

Nothing mind blowing, but it's all part of it.
thanks guys

edit...AND I'v spent 2 days of and on trying to find the spare tyre

Post by **Tomcat64** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:18 pm

Nice to see it all primed up - definitely coming together well

And yep a lot of them were delivered black and then painted over in the field according to the research I dug out

Post by **digger303** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:45 pm

Thanks Tomcat,

Ok so I'm onto to the wheels and I deviated from the illustrated version in the kit and painted it my way

Also waiting for a enamel wash to dry...only 2 days now...sob !

And then the Lewis gun

Factoid
^{The Germans weren't slow to note the implications of the light, portable machine gun. They bitterly dubbed the Lewis the "Belgian Rattlesnake" because of their enemy's habit of ambushing raiding parties with a sudden, furious hail of copper-jacketed venom. The highly practical Germans were quick to exploit every Lewis they could capture and included its care and feeding as an integral part of instruction of all new machine gunners.}
Not quite finished, but close enough to post

Damn the camera is fibbing it isn't really silver.....I'll never make a photographer.

Actually this car kit to me has become all about the Lewis gun, certainly a bulky looking thing. I actually learned why tonight. It is ingenious the reason why I always thought it either was because the barrel got so hot or a early flash hider.
BUT no this is why....
Factoid
^{A Distinctive Profile

With its stovepipe-like shape, the Lewis gun's prominent barrel shroud is particularly noteworthy. Colonel Lewis put a tapered extension at the muzzle end so that blast over pressure will cause a vacuum and draw cooling air from the receiver end through the shroud as the gun is being fired.}

^{One of the most distinctive aspects of the Lewis is its top-mounted 47-round pan magazine. With no springs to break or become weak with use, and no bothersome belt to drag along, the Lewis magazine offers significant advantages over competing designs.

Located handily on top of the receiver, it doesn't scrape the ground nor does it put the weapon off balance by poking out one side or another. Its low profile doesn't interfere with the sights and it doesn't stick up like a lethal position-marker above the gunner's head.}

^{In short, the Lewis magazine might seem to be nearly ideal except for the fact that it is completely open underneath, providing an entryway for grit and moisture.}

Post by **digger303** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:49 pm

pourquoi61 wrote: Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:40 pm You are doing a great job with the build.

Thank you. I d%&@d up my detail ab so please excuse the quality of the brush work....

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:08 pm

The Lewis gun looks great Digger

What colour did you use for the stock and pistol grip?

Post by **digger303** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:49 am

Kevthemodeller wrote: Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:08 pm The Lewis gun looks great Digger
What colour did you use for the stock and pistol grip?

Thank you.
Lifecolor UA-714 WARM WOOD base color Must be the camera, cause the stock looks better in the pic than what I see and the barrel looks better in life than the pic....

Post by **Timplastic** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 6:53 am

The car looks great, good job getting all to fit so neatly.

Loved the factoid !
Always wondered why the shape of the shroud

Post by **digger303** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:50 am

Thanks Tim.
Only one pic as it's been more a case of gluing on the pieces I would have knocked off if I had followed the directions. I still have some touching up to do a gloss coat and maybe some weathering . Small scale weathering only...maybe.

Factoid
I_{taly had occupied Lybia in 1911, and although had been at war with the Senussi, an Islamic Religious sect, with Germany’s help they were able to persuade the Senussi to join the fight against the British. The Senussi were expert raiders who could seemingly strike from nowhere and then disappear. Their usual method of attack was on camel back, and the Senussi were better fighters on camel back and they knew the desert well than the British camel mounted regiments which were initially formed to combat the Senussi threat. The senussi camels were however vulnerable to artillery and machine gun fire. But mobility was needed to chase down the raiders. The answer came from the use of armoured cars, specifically the Rolls-Royce, but they could not keep pace with the fast moving camels, and were quick to bog down in the desert. What was needed was a lighter more reliable car, that could move swiftly and carry the additional fire power.

This was the modified Ford Model T and gave birth to the Light Car Patrols.}

AND this eventually gave rise to the LRDG of WW2. The lessons learnt in WW1 were no forgotten !

Post by **pourquoi61** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:43 pm

Super fast build and the factoids add to the build.
Now I must look for some for my build.

Post by **barrythornton** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:25 am

Shaping up nicely. I bet that Yellow wasn't as garish in actual desert use, probably did its job.

Post by **digger303** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:46 am

barrythornton wrote: Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:25 am Shaping up nicely. I bet that Yellow wasn't as garish in actual desert use, probably did its job.

I think I have to readjust my camera as the actual color I used is Tamiya xf- 59 which is browner than that.

Having just done that I think this looks better.

and as you can see I broke the Lewis gun mount...arrrrgg ! ...and flicked the brush across the front wheel. Why does white always attract black paint at every opportunity.

It's ME isn't it !

I don't think I showed my wood grain painting effort. So here we are all dark and grainy with scuffed up flooring from the hob nail boots. I also shined up the side seating from bums on seats

Post by **barrythornton** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 9:55 am

Ah, youve ruined it now

I was looking forward to it being more like this .....

Post by **digger303** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 10:28 am

barrythornton wrote: Thu Sep 20, 2018 9:55 am Ah, youve ruined it now
I was looking forward to it being more like this .....

Post by **ElCapitan** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 10:56 am

barrythornton wrote: Thu Sep 20, 2018 9:55 am Ah, youve ruined it now
I was looking forward to it being more like this .....

Brum!! There's a blast from the past!

digger303 wrote: Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:46 am

This looks so good, I love the colour!

Post by **Tomcat64** » Fri Sep 21, 2018 1:20 pm

Awesome progress Digger - love the paintwork both on the body and in the rear deck.

Cracking job mate!

BTW If you do want a spare wheel let me know - my kit came with 2!

Post by **gaz45** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:35 pm

That's looking awesome mate

Post by **pourquoi61** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 8:33 pm

Very nice indeed.

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Dec 03, 2018 11:42 am

It might be a little late but I saw in one of the modelling comics that DDayMiniatures have brought out a 1/35 figure set called "Anzac LCP Ford T Crew, Palestine 1917".

There's no individual page for them that I can see but it's about 3/4 of the way down here

Post by **digger303** » Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:43 am

Tomcat64 wrote: Mon Dec 03, 2018 11:42 am It might be a little late but I saw in one of the modelling comics that DDayMiniatures have brought out a 1/35 figure set called "Anzac LCP Ford T Crew, Palestine 1917".

There's no individual page for them that I can see but it's about 3/4 of the way down here

I did see that release and this one
https://www.hobbybunker.com/products/th ... res-wad20d
I did briefly consider it, but the price set me back on my heels a bit. I could buy 3 model t's for what they want.

Post by **Tomcat64** » Tue Dec 04, 2018 3:51 pm

digger303 wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:43 am
Tomcat64 wrote: Mon Dec 03, 2018 11:42 am It might be a little late but I saw in one of the modelling comics that DDayMiniatures have brought out a 1/35 figure set called "Anzac LCP Ford T Crew, Palestine 1917".

There's no individual page for them that I can see but it's about 3/4 of the way down here
I did see that release and this one
https://www.hobbybunker.com/products/th ... res-wad20d
I did briefly consider it, but the price set me back on my heels a bit. I could buy 3 model t's for what they want.

Strewth! Sorry mate I'll be honest and say I hadn't checked the prices - that's really steep

Post by **digger303** » Sun Dec 30, 2018 1:49 pm

I broke the gun mount so I fabricated new one from brass tube and rod. Drilled out the plastic and placed it .

decals on and glossed...lovely shine and about to get a pin wash.

Unfortunately I moved this decal when applying the red microsole and I couldn't straighten it again. Couldn't get it off as it clung to the raised detail like a bugger.

I have pin washed it and about to give it a flat coat.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:07 pm

That is looking great
I like the new gun mount

Dirty her up now

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:07 pm

That is looking great
I like the new gun mount

Dirty her up now

Post by **digger303** » Sun Dec 30, 2018 11:28 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:07 pm That is looking great
I like the new gun mount

Dirty her up now

Thanks I plan to add a little dust today.

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Dec 31, 2018 10:13 am

Nice work Digger - looking forward to seeing this all finished off

Post by **Timplastic** » Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:43 pm

Great work so far Digger. So you can carry this build on to the end would you like this thread moved in to the vehicles in progress section and leave a shadow topic in place here ,so you can finish it at your liesure ?