1/35 - A7V "Schnuck" from Meng
Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 3:20 pm
Hello,
I would like to briefly present you the current status of a still running 1/35 project, which is not finished yet and unfortunately is on "break" ... firstly because I still lack some figures and on the other hand because my current 1/87 project has in moment higher priority. It is the well-known 1/35 model of the German A7V tank of the WW-1 of Meng, who will then come a small diorama.
The A7V was the only German tank, which was manufactured in series in the 1st World War. The name was quite unimaginative ... A7V stands for "Abteilung 7 Verkehrswesen (Department 7 - Transportation) in the Prussian Ministry of War. In itself, the development was nothing more than an alibi action and was not particularly supported because the "high brass* men in General Staff and Ministry were skeptical on the one hand, because the first British tank attacks were a shock for the German soldiers involved, but really effective the attacks were not in the end. On the other hand, the resources were scarce and therefore had the chief developer - Joseph Vollmer - for example to use for the prototype 2 old used 90 hp engines instead the planned 1 big 180 hp engine and he also had to use steel from scrap.
Originally 100 vehicles were commissioned, but only 10 were to be built as tanks, the remaining 90 as an unarmored tractor for the artillery (called "Ueberlandwagen" = Overland Car"). The Supreme Army Command (OHL) then increased to 20 tanks later. Exactly these 20 + 1 (?) were only built ... which are nothing compared to the Allied numbers - over 6,000 built tanks!
The 21st vehicle (+ 1?) Is a special and unique A7V that was definitely built in addition to the 20 production cars and was named "Hedi". In general, it is assumed that it was built on the basis of a "overland car" shortly before or after the end of the war. The peculiarity of "Hedi" compared to the 20 series A7V is the arrangement of the MG's, because they were different and arranged at the 4 corners. The latest findings show that there may still be a second vehicle of the type "Hedi" ... but like Hedi was no longer used in the war, but by a Freikorps in the riots after the war. Here is the link to a 1/72 resin model, where you see the difference well.
https://www.panzer-bau.de/auft…zeuge/a7 ... orps-hedi/
Due to the small number of pieces, all 20 serial A7V are well documented ... which, unfortunately, very much limits the usual model-making freedom in all respects for the model maker who takes originality seriously. In other words ... you hav emuch more "artistic freedom" if building a serial Panzer IV or Sherman or T-34 ... as here with an A7V.
Due to the fact that all vehicles are well documented, it can also be stated that the German tank crews were apparently a bit boring as it looks like ... because they painted their A7V quite often new and different. So it often comes down to the exact time on an A7V to build ...
The set of Meng gives the vehicle carriage 504 - "Schnuck" again. "Schnuck" is also well documented. For example:
My "Schnuck" will be built and painted just before its last mission ...
Here the photos of the curent status of my Modell ... not yet ready. Please note that I will not glue the roof part on the hull and only lay it on, so the well done interior will be always acceassable to see. Unfortuantely the roof does not fit very well this way.
Important note: Whoever wants to build Schnuck and takes it serious with correct camouflage paint etc. ... forget the instruction for painting in the kit! The sheme is pure fantasy! I took many pictures of Schnuck and painted my one as best as I can like shown on the photos ...
Painting was done by Revell Aqua Color, where I miexed as usual the necessary colors shades my own out of their color range. Aside this I used as usua "Artist Oil Paint" and also I used several weathering and agin techniques like Chipping and Salt method etc.
As told ... maybe it looks quite ready, it isn't!
I would like to briefly present you the current status of a still running 1/35 project, which is not finished yet and unfortunately is on "break" ... firstly because I still lack some figures and on the other hand because my current 1/87 project has in moment higher priority. It is the well-known 1/35 model of the German A7V tank of the WW-1 of Meng, who will then come a small diorama.
The A7V was the only German tank, which was manufactured in series in the 1st World War. The name was quite unimaginative ... A7V stands for "Abteilung 7 Verkehrswesen (Department 7 - Transportation) in the Prussian Ministry of War. In itself, the development was nothing more than an alibi action and was not particularly supported because the "high brass* men in General Staff and Ministry were skeptical on the one hand, because the first British tank attacks were a shock for the German soldiers involved, but really effective the attacks were not in the end. On the other hand, the resources were scarce and therefore had the chief developer - Joseph Vollmer - for example to use for the prototype 2 old used 90 hp engines instead the planned 1 big 180 hp engine and he also had to use steel from scrap.
Originally 100 vehicles were commissioned, but only 10 were to be built as tanks, the remaining 90 as an unarmored tractor for the artillery (called "Ueberlandwagen" = Overland Car"). The Supreme Army Command (OHL) then increased to 20 tanks later. Exactly these 20 + 1 (?) were only built ... which are nothing compared to the Allied numbers - over 6,000 built tanks!
The 21st vehicle (+ 1?) Is a special and unique A7V that was definitely built in addition to the 20 production cars and was named "Hedi". In general, it is assumed that it was built on the basis of a "overland car" shortly before or after the end of the war. The peculiarity of "Hedi" compared to the 20 series A7V is the arrangement of the MG's, because they were different and arranged at the 4 corners. The latest findings show that there may still be a second vehicle of the type "Hedi" ... but like Hedi was no longer used in the war, but by a Freikorps in the riots after the war. Here is the link to a 1/72 resin model, where you see the difference well.
https://www.panzer-bau.de/auft…zeuge/a7 ... orps-hedi/
Due to the small number of pieces, all 20 serial A7V are well documented ... which, unfortunately, very much limits the usual model-making freedom in all respects for the model maker who takes originality seriously. In other words ... you hav emuch more "artistic freedom" if building a serial Panzer IV or Sherman or T-34 ... as here with an A7V.
Due to the fact that all vehicles are well documented, it can also be stated that the German tank crews were apparently a bit boring as it looks like ... because they painted their A7V quite often new and different. So it often comes down to the exact time on an A7V to build ...
The set of Meng gives the vehicle carriage 504 - "Schnuck" again. "Schnuck" is also well documented. For example:
My "Schnuck" will be built and painted just before its last mission ...
Here the photos of the curent status of my Modell ... not yet ready. Please note that I will not glue the roof part on the hull and only lay it on, so the well done interior will be always acceassable to see. Unfortuantely the roof does not fit very well this way.
Important note: Whoever wants to build Schnuck and takes it serious with correct camouflage paint etc. ... forget the instruction for painting in the kit! The sheme is pure fantasy! I took many pictures of Schnuck and painted my one as best as I can like shown on the photos ...
Painting was done by Revell Aqua Color, where I miexed as usual the necessary colors shades my own out of their color range. Aside this I used as usua "Artist Oil Paint" and also I used several weathering and agin techniques like Chipping and Salt method etc.
As told ... maybe it looks quite ready, it isn't!
