TERRAPIN MK I
scale 1/35 ref 35.1210
kits built and painted by Christophe nachtergael
history
Terrapin was conceived by Thorncroft but the production was realized by Morris Commercial. Approximately 500 were built and the major part of them were used by the 79th armored division during the autumn 1944, when they were used to complete the fleet of DUKWs during the operations amphibian on the schelde, on the Belgo-Dutch border.
A typical British conception!
Let’s judge:
- Two engines, pulling each 4 wheels of a single side. Imagine if one of them breaks down and the other still works….
- A cockpit placed in the center of the vehicle….not really ideal for the visibility so in front as behind.
- Two slipways in front of and behind the cockpit. Forget the transport of material of big lengthes…
- No suspension. The amortization was assured by tires from a farm tractor.
- The pair of wheels in front and behind was heightened with regards to power plants. They served only in case of accosting of banks, even in case of very heavy loads for those situated behind.
Furthermore, it was particularly slow on earth and tended to be submerged on the water.
An improved version was in the course of development to resolve these problems but it arrived too late to participate in the war. But this is another story….
the kit
here are the parts of the models as you can see it when you open the box:
Le montage
I was lucky to take up this kit while it wasn’t distributed yet. That’s why certain parts on the photos of assembly are not the ones definitive of the kit. In particular for tires corrected afterward and present on the diorama.
The box consists of several bags, classified by subsets faciliting the assembly of a board of photocut, a not in black and white and a cd containing photos of archives and the assembly for more legibility with regard to the photocopies of the note.
To note that if you buy directly at Resicast, the manufacturer supplies you free of charge a set of jerry cans, in the form of pavement of resin to fit out holds.
It amounts quite easily if you have a little experience with the resin and photocut.
A little of attention is required for the assembly of the side “bumpers” in photocut but nothing insuperable…..
If you want to represent the system of linkage of the rudder, you’ll need a lot of patience bout you’re not obliged to do it because this system wasn’t always settled and a “coxswain” was then necessary for the navigation.
To note that the air inlets of the engine were voluntarily gone up back to front with regard to the plan in view of the photos of time, which show a certain freedom for the assembly. It seems much more aerodynamic like that!
Paint process
Wishing to represent a vehicle to the stop on the bank some moment having come out of the water, I used two types of green. A very dark green for the bottom and a clearer for the “dry” zones.
Black’s juice comes to underline details and a dry brush, more clearly than the tint of base comes to enlighten reliefs.
Comes after a patient work of micro painting to represent scales, very present on this type of vehicle considering its use.
paint chippping is darker in the “wet” part than for the top.
To note that the “rail” was wooden, the eraillure is also in tones of circumstances.
Painting of the cover in oil, dust in pigments, diverse tracks and coulures also in oil, détails and load of holds by means of the box with extra and of the set of Jerry can higher mentioned Resicast comes to complete the set before the application of varnish glittering on the sensible part of the vehicle to be immersed a few minutes before.
The helixes of the rudder were painted bronze but subject to artistic license, to look a little of color to the monster. Another touch of color in front being brought by a banner to the colors of the Netherlands and the monarchy.
figures and diorama
Figurines are also from Resicast. They are completely painted in oil having changed an arm to make them correspond to the history of the diorama.
The action is situated in autumn, 1944, on the peninsula of Walcheren. A noria of Terrapin brings the provisioning to the troops. A little of running, boxes of rations and biscuits but especially of the warm food, very appreciated in this particularly rainy period.
kit available directly from
Terrapin was conceived by Thorncroft but the production was realized by Morris Commercial. Approximately 500 were built and the major part of them were used by the 79th armored division during the autumn 1944, when they were used to complete the fleet of DUKWs during the operations amphibian on the schelde, on the Belgo-Dutch border.
A typical British conception!
Let’s judge:
- Two engines, pulling each 4 wheels of a single side. Imagine if one of them breaks down and the other still works….
- A cockpit placed in the center of the vehicle….not really ideal for the visibility so in front as behind.
- Two slipways in front of and behind the cockpit. Forget the transport of material of big lengthes…
- No suspension. The amortization was assured by tires from a farm tractor.
- The pair of wheels in front and behind was heightened with regards to power plants. They served only in case of accosting of banks, even in case of very heavy loads for those situated behind.
Furthermore, it was particularly slow on earth and tended to be submerged on the water.
An improved version was in the course of development to resolve these problems but it arrived too late to participate in the war. But this is another story….
the kit
here are the parts of the models as you can see it when you open the box:
Le montage
I was lucky to take up this kit while it wasn’t distributed yet. That’s why certain parts on the photos of assembly are not the ones definitive of the kit. In particular for tires corrected afterward and present on the diorama.
The box consists of several bags, classified by subsets faciliting the assembly of a board of photocut, a not in black and white and a cd containing photos of archives and the assembly for more legibility with regard to the photocopies of the note.
To note that if you buy directly at Resicast, the manufacturer supplies you free of charge a set of jerry cans, in the form of pavement of resin to fit out holds.
It amounts quite easily if you have a little experience with the resin and photocut.
A little of attention is required for the assembly of the side “bumpers” in photocut but nothing insuperable…..
If you want to represent the system of linkage of the rudder, you’ll need a lot of patience bout you’re not obliged to do it because this system wasn’t always settled and a “coxswain” was then necessary for the navigation.
To note that the air inlets of the engine were voluntarily gone up back to front with regard to the plan in view of the photos of time, which show a certain freedom for the assembly. It seems much more aerodynamic like that!
http://panzerdesign.fr/
Paint process
Wishing to represent a vehicle to the stop on the bank some moment having come out of the water, I used two types of green. A very dark green for the bottom and a clearer for the “dry” zones.
Black’s juice comes to underline details and a dry brush, more clearly than the tint of base comes to enlighten reliefs.
Comes after a patient work of micro painting to represent scales, very present on this type of vehicle considering its use.
paint chippping is darker in the “wet” part than for the top.
To note that the “rail” was wooden, the eraillure is also in tones of circumstances.
Painting of the cover in oil, dust in pigments, diverse tracks and coulures also in oil, détails and load of holds by means of the box with extra and of the set of Jerry can higher mentioned Resicast comes to complete the set before the application of varnish glittering on the sensible part of the vehicle to be immersed a few minutes before.
The helixes of the rudder were painted bronze but subject to artistic license, to look a little of color to the monster. Another touch of color in front being brought by a banner to the colors of the Netherlands and the monarchy.
figures and diorama
Figurines are also from Resicast. They are completely painted in oil having changed an arm to make them correspond to the history of the diorama.
The action is situated in autumn, 1944, on the peninsula of Walcheren. A noria of Terrapin brings the provisioning to the troops. A little of running, boxes of rations and biscuits but especially of the warm food, very appreciated in this particularly rainy period.
kit available directly from