flying tank

[kpnuts]

In early 1942 the British were made aware (by the Master spy Leopold Tepper) that the Russians were developing a flying tank. The A-40 Krylya. This information was was passed on to the MOD who hastily commissioned the design our own flying tank.

It was decided this tank should be able to take off and land under its own power and not,as a glider towed by another plane, just increasing the target size and not as useful.

The top designer, a young handsome genius by the name of K.P. Nuts was called in to do the job, his first request was to find the lightest, strongest materials available, it was discovered the MOD owned a patent on a product called Carbon fiber, invented by W. Watt, L.N. Phillips and W. J. Johnson.

The Grant M3 was the tank chosen to be used on the project. The turret and mantle would be made of carbon fiber and the middle set of wheels would be removed and carbon fiber skids added to replace them, reducing the weight from 30 US short tons to 19 US short tons.

I realise I've been a bit inventive with history carbon fiber was not invented till 1963 (at least as we know it today, they did have it in 1939 but was not useable for this type of thing)

I will be building the tank as normal to start with, to get the experience with washes and stuff, my first attempt was not very good.

as you can see very crude and no washes, but I hope to improve.

[kpnuts]

Well have started the Grant. please let me know about the weathering, (is it any good)its all watercolour so it will all come off if no good, also i have bought some filters how do I use those, it says nothing on the bottle.

[kpnuts]

here is todays update

Edited July 12, 2014 by kpnuts

[kpnuts]

here is tonights update, I've tried an experiment and used pastels and water I think it looks quite good, but feel free to disagree, I want to improve.

[kpnuts]

hi all here is the latest progress.

[kpnuts]

And here is tonights tank progress.

[kpnuts]

well the tank is done

now all I have to do is make it fly.

The way I visualize this is another smaller wing above this one with a massive jet engine in it also a cockpit either in the smaller wing or the one you see here as i dont believe you could pilot it from within the tank, also I think it would be impossible to make all the cable controls detattchable with the wing then reattatch them when the tank was finished its job.also some big fuel tanks hung beneath the big wing or between the big and smaller wing.

[kpnuts]

hi all off to Scotland early in the morning father in laws 80th so not much to be done this weekend.

So what do you all think over the top, not big enough, all comments welcome.

[Matt182]

Ah, was thinking nice build of an M3 here, then saw the wing.... love the alternative thinking!

Your not going to throw it right?!

[kpnuts]

thanks matt I will only throw it if it won't play right.

[kpnuts]

hi all got a fair bit done today

I have just placed the top wing on to see how it would look not sure I like it. What do you think

[kpnuts]

Hi all here is my revised top wing, not as dramatic but I like it

so what do you think. Still got to make the front more aerodynamic(not sure how yet) but I am sure it will come.

[kpnuts]

Hi all does this look like an operating jet engine.

[kpnuts]

Here is tonight update I have to say I think it is starting to look like it may just fly.

[ing]http://i.imgur.com/Lpo8qvG.jpg[/img]

so what do you think will it fly

[John_W]

What about disposable aerodynamic fairings for the Grant? The assymetrical turret might cause a bit of drag.

[kpnuts]

Thanks for the suggestion john but I'm calling it finished, what do you think, air rifle target practice, or keep.

[John_W]

Absoloutley bonkers, but awesome as well.

Definitely a keeper.

[kpnuts]

Hi all an update on a model I considered finished. people keep telling me it looks like a bat tank so..... (you must keep your public happy)

hope you like the change, I must say I am quite pleased with it.