[MOC] Mini MK IV Tank (WW1)

[greg3]

Hi

As a school teacher, I like trying to get Lego into the topics I teach and with a WW1 topic coming up I wanted to find some easy builds that the children could use to create a display. A bit of Googling came up with a number of mini scale tanks but none of them looked quite right in my eyes (they tended to be out of proportion, being too wide and/or too fiddly) So I set about creating my own version of the main British tank of the war - the Mark 4.

Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr

The MK IV was first used in 1917 and was an improved version of the first British tank to be used in action, the MK I (the Mk II & III were slight upgrades used primarily for training). The main improvements of the MK IV were: improved armour; relocation of the fuel tank to between the rear "horns"; a redesign of the side sponsons so they could be partially retraced to reduce the tanks width for transport and the addition of an "unhitching beam", a large reinforced wooden beam that could be attached to the tracks to help get the tank out of ditches, shell holes etc.

There were 3 main versions created; a "male" armed with a 6-pounder gun and machine gun in each sponson: a "female" with 2 machine guns in each sponson and an unarmed supply version. In total 1,220 were built: 420 Males, 595 Females and 205 supply versions. An unknown number were also converted to other roles including: recovery, a mortar carrier and even an airship tug (with a large triangular mooring mast fitted to the top!!). At least 40 were captured and put into service with the Germans. The last MK IV to see service was one called "Excellent" which was used by the Home Guard during WW2!!

My version is a standard male version.

Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr

Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr

Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr

Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr

Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr

Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr

I'm pretty pleased with how it came out although the tracks don't turn (a result of having them wrapped around plates in order to reduce the width) and the ground clearance is a bit low!! I'm also trying to find a way to add a machine gun at the front!! 

Anyway, thanks for looking... comments are always welcome!!

[Wasd]

Cool I have a project on making a ww1 themed anything really and I chose Lego and this really helped! For the fun at the front there are the smooth slope pieces if you have a 2x2 one of those, the gun could fit it the middle