Placeholder - Using a Saint-Chamond as a polar expedition vehicle

[RAFF-35]

I'll probably try and think of a catchier name for this build later 
But essentially, the premise is that after The Great War, France wants to shift the public's attention to something a little cheerier than mopping up after the war to end all wars. So it sends an expedition to the Antarctic to solidify Frances claim to Adélie Land and build some research outposts there. They would also attempt the first mechanized trip to the South Pole.
To do this, they would rely on a modified char Saint chamond. Why? Because they were now surplus to requirement and going cheap, plus they were supposed to have  some sort of terrain crossing ability.
Why does this qualify for the Bad Ideas GB?
Due to it weighing circa 20 tonnes and having small, narrow tracks with no suspension, it is likely that the tank would get stuck at nearly every given opportunity.
It's mechanical "reliability" would mean that even in ideal environments, it will break down if you so much as sneeze in its general direction.
It's 90hp engine drinks as much as 90 actual horses, so the amount of fuel that would need to be carried to get to the pole would be impractical at best.
Lastly, the lack of visibility and crew comforts would just generally be horrendous.

There's one thing I haven't fully decided yet. And that is what colour to paint it? Obviously white or silver would be hilariously bad ideas, but I can't think of a reason for them to think it would be a good idea at the time before then realising that they wouldn't be able to find it after a light flurry. Any ideas???

[RAFF-35]

On a separate note,  would "The Antarctic Char" be a funny name for the build or is it quite a weak pun?

[Mossie]

I think the St Chamond counts as a bad idea without anything else being done to it. It'll be good to see how you make it even worse. 

[Old Wombat]

Paint it Blue, White & Red.





Expédition Antarctique Française

[frank2056]

Great idea! The tank ran pretty well on any terrain that lacked trenches, gullies, hills, bumps or irregularities - ie, flat. When provoked, it also had a tendency to drop or break critical bits and pieces of the tracks. All in all, a perfect vehicle for Antarctica!
Remove the gun and it improves the tank somewhat. 

I like Guy's coror idea for the Char Motoneige pour l'Exploration Scientifique de l'Antarctique - maybe paint the ample nose blue, white and red.

[Mossie]

"An elephant on the legs of a gazelle".

[RAFF-35]

Paint it Blue, White & Red.





Expédition Antarctique Française

Great thinking!! My only issue is that it would be too visible in order to qualify as a bad idea    Maybe a silver body with a tricolour nose perhaps?

[RAFF-35]

Great idea! The tank ran pretty well on any terrain that lacked trenches, gullies, hills, bumps or irregularities - ie, flat. When provoked, it also had a tendency to drop or break critical bits and pieces of the tracks. All in all, a perfect vehicle for Antarctica!
Remove the gun and it improves the tank somewhat. 

I like Guy's coror idea for the Char Motoneige pour l'Exploration Scientifique de l'Antarctique - maybe paint the ample nose blue, white and red.

A fantastic idea, I think I shall pirate it 

[Old Wombat]

Paint it Blue, White & Red.


Expédition Antarctique Française

Great thinking!! My only issue is that it would be too visible in order to qualify as a bad idea    Maybe a silver body with a tricolour nose perhaps?

Mate, it's a Saint-Chamond, it doesn't get any worse than that!  

I think one could make a very good case that even the Sturmpanzerwagen A7V was a superior design.

[zenrat]

A marvellously bad idea.  Bravo!

 

[PR19_Kit]

Great thinking!! My only issue is that it would be too visible in order to qualify as a bad idea    Maybe a silver body with a tricolour nose perhaps?

Nooooo, for Antarctic travel a REALLY bad colour scheme would be white, with a few pale grey splotches. 

[Nick]

Paint it black and white with an orange nose and an optional red cap, just like Feathers McGraw ahem.. an innocent nun on winter holiday.

[RAFF-35]

Paint it Blue, White & Red.


Expédition Antarctique Française

Great thinking!! My only issue is that it would be too visible in order to qualify as a bad idea    Maybe a silver body with a tricolour nose perhaps?

Mate, it's a Saint-Chamond, it doesn't get any worse than that!  

I think one could make a very good case that even the Sturmpanzerwagen A7V was a superior design.

I wanted to go with an A7V originally as the Germans would have had a better back-story. But I couldn't find a 1:72/ 1:76 A7V anywhere 

[RAFF-35]

Great thinking!! My only issue is that it would be too visible in order to qualify as a bad idea    Maybe a silver body with a tricolour nose perhaps?

Nooooo, for Antarctic travel a REALLY bad colour scheme would be white, with a few pale grey splotches. 

Very true. What would the justification be? Anti-leopard seal camouflage? 

[RAFF-35]

Paint it black and white with an orange nose and an optional red cap, just like Feathers McGraw ahem.. an innocent nun on winter holiday.

Orange is wayyyyy too visible and would borderline as a good idea in this case