What if

General Modelling Forum => General Modeling topics => The Idea Bank => Topic started by: Taiidantomcat on October 20, 2011, 12:49:26 PM

Title: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: Taiidantomcat on October 20, 2011, 12:49:26 PM
Been kicking around using a combination of Abrams, Challengers, and some other tanks and backdating them to WWI. Any ideas or thoughts on how to do that? Also have an old and busted M-48 and M-41 that need to be given new life

:cheers:
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: raafif on October 20, 2011, 01:21:55 PM
add full side-skirts with rounded ends like the Ruski T-35 multi-turret tank. Make the turrets more square rather than sloped on the front with a shorter-barrel for the canon.  Add side-sponsons with 6pdr or heavy mg  guns.  Crazy bright multi-colour WW1 paint-job !!  :blink:

Save the M-41 for conversion to a modern Danish or Brazillian version -- they both look quite different (and neat!) with minimal changes ---- or send it to me  ;D.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: arkon on October 20, 2011, 01:25:05 PM
i like this idea! also multiple turrets like the russian t-28.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: pyro-manic on October 20, 2011, 02:28:25 PM
Massive rivet/bolt heads, wrap-around tracks, short-barreled main guns, lots of ball-mounted machine guns (with water-cooling jackets?) dotted around the place. Oh, and an unditching beam on the rear deck.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: Taiidantomcat on October 20, 2011, 04:29:12 PM
Quote from: pyro-manic on October 20, 2011, 02:28:25 PM
Massive rivet/bolt heads, wrap-around tracks, short-barreled main guns, lots of ball-mounted machine guns (with water-cooling jackets?) dotted around the place. Oh, and an unditching beam on the rear deck.

Dude you and I are on the exact same page! What I had in mind so far  :thumbsup: Think big weld seams as well? does that make sense?
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: dy031101 on October 20, 2011, 04:36:11 PM
Not strictly based on an existing tank, but I know I'll have to revisit the idea of a badder T-28 concept again some time...... with a IS-3 main turret, two MG secondary turrets and all......
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: pyro-manic on October 20, 2011, 04:40:21 PM
Welding is too modern, IMO. Great big rivets holding slabs of plate together - gives that lovely Victorian heavy industrial feel, like an old steam loco or ship. :thumbsup:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmphoto/115182834/
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-12019531/stock-photo-surface-of-the-old-metal-tank-with-rivets.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28439790@N03/5130537723/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28439790@N03/5138554219/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28439790@N03/5139165910/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28439790@N03/5050818831/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28439790@N03/5050828569/

OK, I know things like the Char B1 above aren't WW1, but they have the kind of old-fashioned features I'm talking about. :) Plus I'm blatantly using that guy's Flickr album, because it's got loads of shots from Bovington, which is like tank heaven. :thumbsup: All credit is due to him, of course.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: jcf on October 20, 2011, 05:01:45 PM
"Welding" as a method of fusing together metal parts has been around for millennia.
The gas, resistance and arc welding technologies all date from the late 19th century.

Turrets replaced by fixed multi-gun 'citadels' are another possibility, ditto replacing the suspension/tracks
with true Holt-Caterpillar style mechanisms ala the A7V.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: dragon on October 20, 2011, 10:46:14 PM
To verify.
By "backdating", you mean as in the "Time warp" theme?
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: Weaver on October 21, 2011, 04:02:40 AM
Not exactly straight-forward, but how about modifying the tracks so that they run around the top of the hull?

Replace the gun with one of those howitzers with a big recoil cylinder above the barrel.

An early Leo II would be ideal because of it's vertical turret front and sides. Just put lines of rivets down every corner.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: ChernayaAkula on October 21, 2011, 07:59:14 AM
Changing commander's cupolas for simple hatches.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: Taiidantomcat on October 21, 2011, 09:19:22 AM
Quote from: dragon on October 20, 2011, 10:46:14 PM
To verify.
By "backdating", you mean as in the "Time warp" theme?

Yep!

Thanks for the links Pyro!  :thumbsup:

Weaver I was thinking that too about the leopard II, I have the more advanced version the 2A6, it looks a little too sleek, OTOH it does have a short barrel and lots of bolts  :wacko:

I was thinking about adding screens to stop grenades from being throw on top, but I know that might interfere with turret operation... hey how about fixed turrets like Jagdtiger?
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: Weaver on October 21, 2011, 04:38:27 PM
Ironically, the older tanks in your list, the M48 and the M41, are the least easy to backdate, becuase of their cast turrets: for the 1915-1930 look, you really need flat plates and rivets, which, ironically come back (well flat plates at least) with Chobham....



QuotePosted on: Today at 02:59:14 PM Posted by: ChernayaAkula

Changing commander's cupolas for simple hatches. 

Or built-up flat-plate fixed cupolas. Another thing that has to go is the big gunner's sight.

Old-fashioned engine-dress would be good too: "beehive" air filters and a big external tubular silencer.
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: ChrisF on October 21, 2011, 04:53:43 PM
Be careful not to look like something from games workshop though:
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440252a&prodId=prod770021a

;D
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: raafif on October 21, 2011, 05:09:09 PM
external rectangular fuel-tank low-down across the back plate.
Yes !! one (or two) of those BIG vintage silencers on the engine-deck !

Crew ??  must have big Germanic helmets (with "horns") & gas masks - otherwise how would they breath inside with those leaky exhaust systems  ;D

Loving this  :cheers:
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: MilitaryAircraft101 on October 22, 2011, 01:32:27 AM
This for the GB? Sounds terriffic!  :wacko:
Title: Re: Backdating Modern Tanks
Post by: Hobbes on October 22, 2011, 02:35:04 AM
If you want to reflect the realities of early 20th century engineering, there's a few more changes you need to make. Back then, engines were much less powerful than now, so 60-ton tanks weren't feasible. Current tanks are also pretty big by 1900's standards.
- Less armor means more internal volume, so you can add more personnel, machine guns etc.
- Less weight means narrower tracks are possible