DONE +++ 1:72 Mark I tank (male) under Bolshevik flag, Russian Civil War, 1919

[Dizzyfugu]

They were intended for steering off-road, supporting the basic steering through the tracks, which had to be braked separately and manually(!), but this was not effective and soon dropped. IIRC, only the Mark I tank carried this device, as well as earlier prototypes like "Little Willie", where it was also intended to improve trench-crossing capabilities - but I am not certain if this was still the intention on the heavy and bulky Mark I!?

[NARSES2]

That's come out really well Dizzy 

Yup, the rear wheels were an aid to steering but it was very quickly realised they were not necessary and differential steering could be used instead. They were also prone to battle damage. I've got this description in an Osprey book.

"Steering was difficult, controlled by varying the speed of the two tracks. Four of the crew, two drivers (one of whom also acted as commander; operated the brakes, the other the primary gearbox) and two "gearsmen" (one for the secondary gears of each track) were needed to control direction and speed, the latter never more than a walking pace. As the noise inside was deafening, the driver, after setting the primary gear box, communicated with the gearsmen with hand signals, first getting their attention by hitting the engine block with a heavy spanner. For slight turns, the driver could use the steering tail: an enormous contraption dragged behind the tank consisting of two large wheels, each of which could be locked by pulling a steel cable causing the whole vehicle to slide in the same direction."

[AndrewF]

Excellent as usual 

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you, too! 

[PR19_Kit]

".... first getting their attention by hitting the engine block with a heavy spanner...."

I like it. 

I've had to do things like that too, but not while under fire! 

[Gondor]

Thanks for the info Narces2

Gondor

[Mossie]

".... first getting their attention by hitting the engine block with a heavy spanner...."

I like it. 

I've had to do things like that too, but not while under fire! 

While in the Renault FT, they cut out the middle man and just kicked the driver instead!

[NARSES2]

While in the Renault FT, they cut out the middle man and just kicked the driver instead!

Yup, and that system has been retained through to modern times. I read a piece on one of the Arab/Israeli 1960's tank battles where the Israeli tank commander describes getting the drivers attention by kicking him on the back of the head 

I remember building a couple of those old Airfix kits and using the steering wheels to build a couple of field/anti-tank guns.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

That looks really good - and a great backstory too!

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you - but there's actually only little fiction in the background, it's just an edited capture of the historic events with a Mark I shoehorned into a (real) small delivery of six British tanks to the White Army!