Model Military International – September 2019

FEATURE ARTICLE Takom 1:35 Mk. IV Male/Female 2 in 1 • Kit No. 2076

14 Model Military International - September 2019

TRACKS

The kit supplied tracks each had to

have a tiny mould mark removed

from the edge of the lip on the

track face. They click together

beautifully and two runs of 92

links were put together. Fifteen

grousers are supplied for each

run. Grouser placement on these

tanks varied, and from studying

references it seems Deborah (and

some other vehicles) had sets of

three placed closer together in

groups, so this was mimicked on

the track runs for this model.

FASCENE

The Mk.IV tanks involved in the

November 1917 battle of Cambrai

were equipped with a fascene.

These large bundles of saplings

were tied up tightly and mounted

on the upper front of the tanks so

that they could be dropped into an

enemy trench and allow the tank

to pass over it more easily. The

bundle incorporated a plank of

wood (a railway tie) at its base to

help mount it on the hooks on the

driver’s cabin. Dimensions of the

fascene from references stated

ten feet long by four and a half

feet in diameter.

To fabricate a fascene for this

model, I took the stems from a

dried flower arrangement and cut

them to approximately 8.7cm in

length, then gathered enough to

make a bundle 4cm in diameter.

The bundle was gathered and

tightened into shape with the help

of two zip-ties and then diluted

white wood glue was painted over

to help hold it together.

Miniature chain of 40 links per

inch was wrapped around the

fascene and fastened using thin

copper wire. A plank of wood was

made from thick sheet styrene,

and then incorporated at the

base of the fascene. Since the

dried flower stems had a strange

purple colour to them, I airbrushed

the whole thing black, and then

added a colour of greyish brown

afterwards. To break the monotony

Grousers were added to the tracks in groups of three, as seen in references

Small retaining chains were added to each of the towing pintles

Hooks on the

driver’s cabin

for the fascene

were made from

bendable plastic

“

Having recently built Takom’s British Mk.1 Male

tank, the construction steps were familiar to me...

”

The fascene was made from the stems of a

dried flower arrangement, lovingly donated

by my wife.

The base of the fascenes had a railway tie to help mount them, made here

with styrene stock.

40 links-per-inch chain was used to secure the fascene, along with turnbuckles made from

brass tubing and copper wire

B