Now that the Bushnell’s Turtle has been launched, (and doing well) and that the design for the Clementine is all but complete, I feel it’s time to start investigating the feasibility of a 1/35 3D printed kit of possibly the finest tank ever conceived.
Research has begun, photos gathered and wildly conflicting plans sourced.
first thing to figure out is just how big this magnificent beast will be, and can I sensibly render it’s perfection using my available equipment.
Rumour has it that had Japan not surrendered after the use of the atomic bombs, the invasion of the home islands would have been spearheaded by these mighty warhorses.
Bob Semple tanks were based on a caterpillar D7 chassis, albeit heavily modified. I’m pretty sure this kit is probably, historically, a model or two too late, but I can’t imagine the basic shape and dimensions and in particular the tracks will have changed much. It’s surprisingly difficult to find the right information. At very least, it should help me sort how the track units attach to the chassis.
It will be super interesting to compare the track units with the dimensions I have for the Bob Semple.
" The first (mild steel) prototype was built on a Caterpillar D8 crawler tractor, a type which was readily available.[5] The Public Works Department had 81 D8s, and another 19 were available.[2] A lack of weapons meant that it was equipped with six Bren machine guns — one in each side, two facing the front, one in the turret and one at the rear. The vehicle was very tall at 12 ft (3.5 m) and performance was poor. Due to the lack of armour plate, corrugated (manganese) plating was used in the expectation it would deflect bullets. The crew of eight included one gunner who had to lie on a mattress on top of the engine to fire his Bren gun.[6]"
I would presume that the available D8’s were of the 1937 model, the next model, D8 2U, was introduced in 1940 so it doesn’t seem likely that 81 + 19 were available in NZ when Bob started this design adventure.
Edit. Now that’s weird. The dimensions I can find for the Semple seem to line up almost perfectly with the D7. The D8 has a nose that’s way too long. Unless they moved the radiator?
Edit edit: Definitely moved the radiator. And raised the front idler?
There is a comment “The suspension was modified slightly and the track assembly was lengthened slightly.” If it was lengthened at the front, that would account for how the ‘nose’ on the tractor appears longer based on position to tracks.
There is also this picture of one of the tractors that were the basis for the conversion:
“Dad” in this image may possibly have had a little more to eat than
the man painting the front end but I would say that the space between
the visible radiator and the tracks is the same the distance between the
radiator hidden behind the front “armour” and the tracks.
The top run of the tracks on the Bob Semple tank also seems to be a lot higher
that on “Dads” restored D8, Could the “smallish” looking front wheel be caused by
using a larger rear wheel and raising the whole thing off the ground by a few inches.
The front wheel is obviously lifted off the ground. The question is if this lifting is
due to a smaller diameter wheel OR by lifting the rest?
Note the difference in space between front end of track and front of armour. The one beign painted above has a lot of space while this one only has an inch or two.
I feel like I’ve seen these vehicles before, as alien robots terrorizing a cabin full of young collage women in a Roger Corman film. If no such film exists, someone should make it. This may be a really bad idea.
