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ATENÇÃO:
A publicação de qualquer imagem ou informação referentes ao nazismo, fascismo ou quaisquer outros regimes totalitários deve ser entendida como reprodução do rigor histórico e não como apologia a estes regimes, líderes ou símbolos.

Renault FT 17 char mitrailleuse crane - case report

Messieurs tankists!!!
      Continuing in the lineage of the Renault FT 17, the object of our building this time is an engineering variation of the light tank Renault: The Renault FT 17 crane.

Repair of damaged Renault FT tanks - 1st Tank Regiment
Workshop Regiment -  Lodz, Polen - summer 1920.
History:
      As said in the previous post, the Renault FT, frequently referred to in post-World War I literature as the "FT-17" or "FT17", was a French light tank that was among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history. The FT was the first production tank to have its armament within a fully rotating turret. The Renault FT's configuration – crew compartment at the front, engine compartment at the back, and main armament in a revolving turret – became and remains the standard tank layout. 

      As such, historians of armoured warfare have called the Renault FT the world's first modern tank. Over 3,000 Renault FT tanks were manufactured by French industry, most of them during the year 1918.

Recovery and repair vehicles:
      During World War I, some British Mark IV heavy tanks were fitted with jibs to produce "Salvage Tanks", but the majority of their work was at the tank parks in aid of maintaining and repairing damaged tanks.
Mark IV heavy tank fitted with jib  - "Salvage Tank",
      But the first true ARVs were introduced in World War II, often by converting obsolete or damaged tanks, usually by removing the turret and installing a heavy-duty winch to free stuck vehicles, plus a variety of vehicle repair tools. Some were also purpose-built in factories, using an existing tank chassis with a hull superstructure to accommodate repair and recovery equipment. The M31 TRV is an example:
M31 TRV working with a M4 Sherman
       Many of the latter type of ARV had an A-frame or crane to allow the vehicle's crew to perform heavy lifting tasks, such as removing the engine from a disabled tank.
        The Renault FT 17 Is one of the rare examples of early recovery vehicles. Few photos are available of this brave worker, but the available ones are illustrating this work:
Renault FT 17 crane in action
France - date unknow

Specs:

Renault  FT  17  light  tank crane
TypeLight tank
Place of origin                                               France
Specifications
Weight7.2 tons
Length5.00 m
Width1.74 m
Height (without  jib)2.14 m
Crew2 (commander, driver)

Armor8 to 22 mm
Main armament 
Puteaux SA 1918 37 mm gun or 8 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
Sec. armament 
none
EngineRenault 4-cyl, 4.5 litre
35 HP
Transmission sliding gear, 4 speed forward, 1 reverse
Suspensioncoil and leaf springs, with bogies and rollers.
Fuel capacity 95 liters
Operational range 
60 km 
Speed7.5 km/h - 20 km/h

 The kit:
      For this project. I will used an old and scrapped kit from RPM Models. I will reuse the turret with the Hotchkiss machine gun from the MENG kit from my FT 17 dozer project and the jib will be scratch with Plastruct profiles. Let's have fun:
My old RPM FT 17 kit and the amazing
MENG Berliet turret, spare from my dozer project

The comparison with turrets...

Much better!!
       First of all, drawing a profile in 1/35 scale to help in my building....


A project made of scraps ...

Testing dimensions...

Ok!!

The jib with the numbers!!!

Dry-run...


      I did not find anything at all about the details of fixing the jib on the FT 17 chassis. But using the photos as a guide and "reverse engineering", my opinion is that the jib pivot shafts were attached to the tank's front pull hooks: one place already strengthened to withstand tensions in the original design. See the position of the hooks below:
Pull hooks (front)

Scratching the jib pivot shafts

In position...

testing with jib...OK!!!

The jib works well...
Notice the secondary arms

And the jib in position.
I used too the rear hooks for the cables...



Two engineering girls:
Bergepanzer IV and FT 17 crane
       Time to scratch the winch: plasticard and spare wheels...
I used PE spare parts too...

Testing the jib...Complet...


Ready for painting...
      Markings and colors:

Green, yellow and ocre...with Play-Doh!!!

The turret: same treatment

Painting done...Markings;
2nd Section, 1st Company, 505E RAS, France, 1918


      And the Mademoiselle is ready: Renault FT 17 char mitrailleuse crane, from 2nd Section, 1st Company, 505E RAS, France -1918

Renault FT 17 char mitrailleuse crane
2nd Section, 1st Company, 505E RAS, France -1918

Renault FT 17 crane - left side



Renault FT 17 crane - right side

Renault FT 17 crane
The engine is the spare part from FT 17 dozer


FT 17 crane and FT 17 dozer
two heavy duty girls...

Renault FT 17 crane with Kojak and
Rover, the dog.

Renault FT 17 char mitrailleuse crane
2nd Section, 1st Company, 505E RAS, France -1918

Merci, mesdames et messieurs !!

4 comentários:

  1. Again an exciting project ! A very nice version of the "father" of all modern tanks. Another one maybe ?

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    Respostas
    1. Hi Alain!! Man... for now, no more FT's... My stash is over!! Hugs, my friend!!

      Excluir
  2. HI
    I wanted to know if you were selling your models
    Nice day
    Olivier

    ResponderExcluir
    Respostas
    1. Hi, Olivier!! Thganks for your interest.. Yes...I can sell my models.. Please, write to me in my e-mail: panzerserra@gmail.com

      Hugs!!

      Excluir