Matilda 1 A11 1/72 plans

[AMStreet]

Does anyone know of a reliable set of plans for the Matilda 1? 

 

Having just watched the Tank Museum's piece on Youtube  I was struck by the simplicity of the design and feel that it would be a candidate for scratch-building.  Road wheels and tracks may be a bit more involved but I will deal with that when the time comes.

 

It seems a shame that this tank has been largely ignored given the events described in the Tank Museum's video and I would like to add it to my tiny, but growing collection of British tanks.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Kingsman]

Several kits are available, just none in injection plastic - although the usual rumours abound.  With the demise of Accurate Armour I can think of 3 3D printed models in 1/35 and it is certainly available in other scales from 1/87 up.  But £££ of course.

 

It is a more complex shape than you might think and all of the 3D 1/35 models have some shape issue or another, mostly with the turret.  At least 1 of those was produced with direct reference to the 2 survivors at Bovington and is currently only available through the Museum shop.  So the answer to "reliable" plans would seem to be a "no".

 

You may be able to use some suspension parts from something like a T26 or Vickers Type E, which are similar.

 

[AMStreet]

Thanks for the advice. 

 

I think that I will forego any of the solid versions, as you say they are expensive and to be honest I have never been a fan of ready-made models.  From what I have seen of 3D printed items the finish often leaves something to be desired and there is no challenge.

 

A shame as being something of a modelling masochist I relished the change from my usual fare of scratch building WW1 biplanes!

[Tigerausfb]

Pretty sure there were plans in Military Modelling, late 80s early 90s as part of a scratch build article. I could well be wrong of course.  Tracks are the usual issue when scratching a subject, rest is relatively easy.

[dromia]

I am just sitting with one of Osiris's 3d printed 1/48th scale (available in multiple scales) Matilda 1s removing the printing supports along with their A9 and Valentine Bridgelayer.

 

I never used to be a fan of single part mouldings but I have to say that with the sharpness of 3d printing it make painting a far easier job.

 

Osiris's Matilda 1 comes in four parts, turret, body and 2 x running gear tracks which makes painting even easier.

 

The finish is first rate and any minute printing layers will disappear when primed, in fact for me the surface finish is perfect for paint.

 

My only complaint is that some lack detail on the reverse of the running gear this is only an issue for me where it is clearly visible on the sprocket and return wheel, this is more or less obvious depending on the type.

 

I am exploring this 3d printed world more and more as it is the only route for me to get models of the types I want in the scale I want 1/48th. So far the quality has impressed me.

 

I currently waiting for further examples from Blitzkrieg, BPM and MarDav so we shall see how they do, the photo's some times look worse than the actual print especially if they photos of the smaller scale examples.

 

These models have long lead in times as they are printed to order and any site showing stock levels isn't to be believed

 

 

[John Tapsell]

I agree with Dromia. If you pick your models carefully, there are some outstanding 3d printed kits available. However, I'm wary of many manufacturers and their reliance on 'plans' (aka any three-view drawing they find). Those 'plans' are often not accurate and were never meant to be. They are often promotional manufacturers' drawings designed to inform the market - generally OK in shape but but fully accurate.

The Osiris Models A11 is very nice. Like Dromia, I have (completed in my case) their A11 kit. I tweaked a few details as I would with any plastic kit. I didn't consider £16 (plus postage) unreasonable for a 1/48 kit.

In the unpainted parts image at the bottom you'll note a selection of 'micro webs', the tiny printing webs that need to be removed to complete the kit (around the headlamps and between the track link teeth for example). These particular Osiris kits already have their main printing trees removed, but thata's not the case with other kits. Some kits have more parts than others, so it isn't always the case that the whole thing is one or two printed parts.

In the case of the A11, it's produced under licence by Osiris and is primarily intended as a wargames piece and there are some simplifications in the design as Dromia mentions. It is not necessarily reflective of their own in-house products.

 

 

[AMStreet]

Thanks for all the help. 

 

I model in 1/72 almost exclusively as I find that anything larger unappealing.  So the scratch building route looks like the way to go.  As something of an old fossil I do have a large stack of Military Modelling from the period that Tigerausfb mentioned.  I see if there is an index of Military Modelling on-line as that will make the job of tracking the article down a lot easier.  Kingsman's suggestion to see if the Vickers Type E will provide parts that I can use is a real help as I have a kit of that in stock and I will make a mould and cast the tracks to save cannibalising the kit.

 

All in all this project looks like it may get off the ground and I will have what I consider to be one of the forgotten heroes of the Battle of Arras 1940.

 

One final thing. 

 

John Tapsell's diorama really puts my efforts into the shade.  As an old soldier the sight of that Red Cap brought back shivers.  Guilty conscience, me?

Edited February 7 by AMStreet

[dromia]

As I said Osiris kits are available in multiple scales including 1/72nd scale @ £9.00.

 

Osiris A 9

[Kingsman]

I can see 2 goofs with that 3D print.  The pairs of roadwheels on the rearmost double bogie were steel, not rubber.  The fire extinguishers shown are US pattern, not the British Pyrene type.  Reduction in parts count inevitably leads to simplification but the finished result certainly looks the part.

 

Form a scratchbuilding perspective, the bogies would give you the most trouble.  They  are somewhat more complex than the simplified print suggests.  A T-26 or Vickers Type E kit would give you usable tracks, lower bogie parts and possibly sprockets but little else of use.  The upper parts of the bogies were very different and the idlers larger.

[John Tapsell]

9 hours ago, AMStreet said:

John Tapsell's diorama really puts my efforts into the shade.  As an old soldier the sight of that Red Cap brought back shivers.  Guilty conscience, me?

Thanks  

 

It's a cheap black photoframe from Asda and the cobbles are just an 2 dimensional image found on the internet and then printed off in colour on my printer. Wouldn't work in 1/35 probably, but for 1/48 or 1/72 it's a great 'cheat'.

The figure has been sitting in my stash for several years. It's a Dartmoor Military Models white metal casting. You get two likely lads in the set - the British Redcap and a German 'Kettenhund'. They also do a set with a US Snowdrop and a British Bobby.

[John Tapsell]

6 hours ago, Kingsman said:

I can see 2 goofs with that 3D print.  The pairs of roadwheels on the rearmost double bogie were steel, not rubber.  The fire extinguishers shown are US pattern, not the British Pyrene type.  Reduction in parts count inevitably leads to simplification but the finished result certainly looks the part.

As I said, it's a wargames print so there are compromises present. I considered swapping the fire extinguishers because they are only half-round, but carving them off the rest of the tank when I was looking for a quick and enjoyable build meant I didn't bother.  

This one however, looks a better option if I do another A11 (and it has the correct rear roadwheels) - 1st Corps are a wargames company but their British 28mm vehicles are scaled at 1/48 rather than the more traditional 1/56. They offer a variety of early-war AFVs, included both early and late A11s (image is from their website).

https://1stcorps.co.uk/product/a11-matilda-mki-infantry-tank-late-model/

 

 

 

Edited February 7 by John Tapsell