Vickers light tank Mk VIB - case report

Hello, chaps!!

   The vehicle for this article is the ubiquitous (in early stages of WWII) Vickers Light tank Mk. VIB. Let's get to know a little more about this brave and reliable British reconnaissance tank.

modified from IWM O 679 photo

Light tank Mk VIB  with the colors of 4th/7th Dragoon Guards 
2nd Infantry Division - British Expeditionary Force
Battle of France -1940 - Bovington Museum

History:

   The Tank, Light, Mk VI (Vickers light tank Mk VI) was a British light tank, produced by Vickers-Armstrongs in the late 1930s, which saw service during the early stages of Second World War.

Vickers Light tank Mk.VIB
England - 1936

Development:

    The Tank, Light, Mk VI (Vickers light tank Mk VI) was the sixth in the line of light tanks built by Vickers-Armstrongs for the British Army during the interwar period. The company had achieved a degree of standardization with their previous five models. See the lineage evolution (Mk.I to Mk. V) of these light tanks in the images below:

 Light Tank Mark I (A4E4)
with leaf springs suspension - Farnborough - 1929

British Light Tank Mk I (A4E4)
England - 1930 

Light Tank Mk IA (A4E8) fitted with
Horstman coil spring suspension

Light tank Mark IA (A4E10) showing tall turret with
two machine guns (.50 and .303) and spring leaf suspension
Lulworth - England

Four Light tanks Mark IA were also built for trials in India.
All feature modified Horstmann suspension - 1930

Light tank Mk.IIB with a two-man enlarged sloped turret.
These tanks had been captured in large numbers during the
Battle of Beda Fomm in February, 1941.
Notice the modified Horstmann suspension.

Vickers-Armstrongs built Light Tank Mark IIB
 identified by the petrol filler cap on the side,
with early Horstman coil spring suspension,
under trials, in England.

Light tank Mk.IIB India pattern, with indian
turret cupola and definitive modified Horstmann suspension,
in need of a little help.

Light tank Mk.III 
with colors of Egypt Army, in 1932.

Light tank Mk.III in test fields

Light tank Mk.IV in a violent stop. The high center of gravity
and the suspension caused this weird roll.
Trials in 102nd Officer Cadet Training Unit (102 OCTU)
Sandhurst - August, 1940.

Light tank Mk.IV in trials
with Royal tank Corps - late 30´s

Light tank Mk.V - 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers
1937.

Light tanks Mk.V from 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers
Trials in England - 1937

    The Mark VI was an evolution of this family of tanks, being very similar to all of them, except in some aspects, such as the turret, which had been expanded in the Mk V to allow a three-man crew to operate the tank, was further expanded to give room in its rear for a wireless set. 

Light Tank Mk. VIB - Canadian Armoured Corps
Borden - Ontario - Canada - 1939

   The weight of the tank was increased to 4.900 kg, which although heavier than previous models actually improved its handling characteristics, and an 88 horsepower (66 kW) Meadows engine was added to the model to increase its maximum speed to 56 km/h.

Meadows 1930s pamphlet on 6-cylinder engines

Light Tank Mk VI from 13/18th Hussars undergoes repair
 work on its engine at a RASC vehicle workshop
France, 3 January 1940

   It had a slightly modified version of Horstmann coil-spring suspension system, which was found to be durable and reliable, although the fact that the tank was short in relation to its width and that it pitched violently on rough ground made accurate gunnery whilst moving exceptionally difficult.

Modified Horstmann suspension
installed in Light tank Mk. VI B

   The Mk VI possessed a crew of three consisting of a driver, gunner and commander, who also doubled as the radio operator, between 4 mm and 14 mm of armour, which could resist rifle and machine gun bullets.

The crew of a Light Tank Mk VIB cook their
New Year´s Eve dinner by their vehicle
31 December 1940

    The light tank in their versions Mk.VI, Mk.VIA and Mk.VIB, featured an armament consisted of one water-cooled .303 inch (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun and one .50 inch (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun.

.303 Vickers water cooled medium machine gun

.50 Vickers water cooled heavy machine gun

    Production of the Mk VI began in 1936 and ended in 1940 with 1.682 Mark VI tanks having been built. Many of those produced were actually variants designed to solve problems found with the original design. 

• The Vickers light tank Mk VI had the return roller in the top of the front bogie, with drum-type simplified turret cupola and no extensions on front fenders. Generally, they did not have grenade launchers on the sides of the turret.

Vickers light tank Mk.VI

• The Vickers light tank Mk VI A had a return roller removed from the top of the front bogie and attached to the hull sides instead, and also possessed a faceted cupola. The presence of grenade launchers on the sides of the turret was standard. Notice the curved extensions on front fenders.

Vickers light tank Mk.VIA

• The Vickers light tank Mk VI B was mechanically identical to the Mk VIA but with a few minor differences to make production simpler, including a one-piece armoured louvre over the radiator instead of a two-piece louvre, and a plain circular cupola instead of the faceted type.

Vickers light tank Mk.VIB

External identification details between Mk.VI, Mk.VIA
and Mk.VIB models. The Mk.VIC model is easily differentiated
by the different armament

• The Vickers light tank Mk VI B (India pattern) was a standard Mk VIB with small differences, such as the absence of the Commander´s circular turret cupola and sighting vane, replaced by a double hatch with periscope and a little deflector flap on front fenders. You don't notice the presence of the grenade launchers on the sides of the turret, either.

Vickers light tank Mk.VIB - India pattern

External identification details between
standard Mk.VIB and Mk.VIB India pattern.

• The Vickers light tank Mk VI C, which was the last in the MK VI series, had the commander's cupola removed, wider bogies and three carburettors to improve engine performance; it was also more powerfully armed than the other models, replacing the .303 and .50 Vickers machine guns by co-axial 15 mm  and 7.92 mm Besa machine guns. 

 7.92 mm Besa light machine gun

15 mm Besa heavy machine gun

7.92 mm and 15mm Besa machine guns

Vickers light tank Mk.VI C

Light Tanks Mk VIs roaring in an exercise in Maltese road.

Foreground vehicle is a Mk VIC, with a Mk VIB parking in the trees.

Malta Tanks - Independent Royal Tank Regiment

 Malta - 24 May 1942

box art from British Light Tank Mark.VI C (#72292)

 ACE Models 1/72 kit

• The Tank, Light, AA Mk I ("Ack Ack" Mk I light tank) was built in the aftermath of the Battle of France and was intended to act as a counter-measure against attacks by German aircraft. It featured a hand-operated turret fitted with four 7.92 mm Besa machine guns.

Tank, Light, AA Mk I, in anti-aircraft readiness.
Notice the chassis of Mk VIB version and yellow cammo. 
African Desert, 15 September, 42.

• Tank, Light, AA Mk II ("Ack Ack" Mk II light tank) was produced which was mechanically similar but had improvements, such as better quality sights for the machine guns and a larger power-operated turret for better access and operational handling. 

Final version of the Tank, Light, AA Mk II, with the upper deck lowered,
which increased stability in the rotation of the tower.
This "ack ack tank" wear a Mk VIB chassis...

Operational use of Vickers light tank Mk VIB 

    When the Mk VI was first produced in 1936, the Imperial General Staff considered the tank to be superior to any light tank produced by other nations, and well suited to the dual roles of reconnaissance and colonial warfare. Like many of its predecessors, the Mark VI was used by the British Army to perform imperial policing duties in British India and other colonies in the British Empire, a role for which it and the other Vickers-Armstrongs light tanks were found to be well suited.

Light Tanks Mk VIB of the Royal Tank Corps
on exercise near Petersfield, in Hampshire
England - 1938

    When the British government began its rearmament process in 1937, the Mk VI was the only tank with which the War Office was ready to proceed with manufacturing; the development of a medium tank for the Army had hit severe problems after the cancellation of the proposed Vickers Mk III "16 Tonner" medium tank in 1932 (after only 3 tanks built) due to the costs involved, and cheaper models only existed as prototypes with a number of mechanical problems. 

Vickers Medium tank Mk III - command version (A1E3)
Salisbury Plain training area - 1935

   As a result of this, when the Second World War began in September 1939, the vast majority of the tanks available to the British Army were Mk VIs; there were 1.002 Mk VI Light Tanks, 79 Mk I (A9) and Mk II (A10) Cruiser Tanks and 67 Matilda Mk I infantry tanks. Of these tanks, only 196 light tanks and 50 infantry tanks were in use by operational units of the army.

    When the Battle of France began in May 1940, the majority of the tanks possessed by the British Expeditionary Force were Mark VI variants; the Royal Armoured Corps divisional cavalry regiments, the principal armoured formations of the BEF, were each equipped with 28 Mk VIs. The 1st Armoured Division, elements of which landed in France in April, was equipped with 257 tanks, of which a large number were Mk VIB and Mk VICs. The 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, which formed part of the division's 3rd Armoured Brigade, possessed by this time 21 Mark VI light tanks.

Vickers light tank Mk VI of 13/18th Royal Hussars,
France, near Arras - 12 October 1939

Bren carriers and Light Tanks Mk VI crews of
4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards mount up during an exercise
 Bucquoy, France - 12 January 1940.

Light Tank Mk VI crews of 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry
attached to 51st (Highland) Division.
France - 19 March 1940

Light Tank Mk VIC knocked out during an engagement
on the road between Huppy and St Maxent, in the Somme sector.
France - 27 May 1940

A French soldier talks with the commander of a
British Vickers Mk VIB light tank about the combat situation, ahead.
The driver seems to be concerned about the situation...
France - 1940.

    With the operational employment of the Vickers light tanks Mk VI, their shortcomings proved simply disastrous. Compared to their far better armed Panzer II and Panzer 38(t) light tanks contemporaries, they resulted in significant losses.

German Panzer II and Panzer 38(t) light tanks of the 7th Panzer Division
push through a small creek on the way into the heart of France.
May - 1940.

Vickers light tank Mk VIB abandoned
 after being penetrated in the frontal armor
(see perforation in the margin of the stain of the photo)
being inspected by a German soldier.
France - 1940.

A damaged Vickers light tank Mk VIB from C Squadron,
 9th Troop, second tank, 3rd Royal Tank Regiment.
Notice the penetrations in the front base of the turret and in the cupola.
Calais, France - 1940

The same vehicle above, with German soldiers 

posing for photographs wrapped in .303 ammo belts.

The divisional rhinoceros insignia from 1st Armoured Division

it is clearly visible.

Calais, France - 1940

    Of the nearly 340 light tanks that were sent to the continent, only 6 managed to be evacuated from France, in 1940. This left England almost entirely bereft of any type of armored vehicles when the Battle of  Britain ensued.

Vickers light tank Mk. IV Bs destroyed by the Germans
Notice the tank in the foreground bearing
evidence of rear penetrations 
France -1940

Two Light tanks Mk VIB destroyed 
near Dunkirk, northern France - 1940

A Vickers light tank Mk VIB from 3rd RTR, 1st AD
being inspected by a German soldier, after being abandoned,
along with a Bren Carrier, stuck in the sandy terrain
near Calais - 1940.

   Several of these vehicles were captured in good conditions by the Wehrmacht, repaired and being redesignated as Leichter Panzerkampfwagen Mk. IV 734(e) and used sporadically and occasionally as vehicles for police patrol and  training purposes until the fall of 1942. 

A Light tank Mk VIB, captured by Germans in France,
painted in panzer grey and with German markings, used as
 Leichter Panzerkampfwagen Mk. IV 734(e).

Leichter Panzerkampfwagen Mk. IV 734(e), in panzer-gray.

a Vickers light tank Mk VI captured by Germans and 

used by Schutzpolizei des Reiches. 

Notice the modified gun mantlet, with a

single .303 Vickers light machine gun.

    But these vehicles were not very useful for the Germans as tanks, but as they were tracked vehicles and their chassis and mechanics were robust, they had the potential to be converted into support vehicles and self-propelled guns. Hauptmann Alfred Becker, 227th Infantry Division, Doctor of Engineering, saw the potential in this and other captured Allied vehicles.

Doctor Engineer Alfred Becker
20 August 1899 - 26 December 1981

Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross

German Cross in Gold

   During late 1940 and early 1941 he and his specially chosen men (later known as Baukommando Becker (Construction Unit Becker)) converted various models of British and French vehicles into useful vehicles for the German army. The Vickers Light tank Mk VI was one of them. The Germans converted 34 of these trusty light tanks into self-propelled guns and support vehicles such as:

• Twelve  10.5cm leFH 16 auf Geschutzwagen auf Fahrgestell Mk VI 736 (e)

10.5cm leFH 16 auf Geschutzwagen auf Fahrgestell Mk VI 736 (e)

• Six  15cm leFH 13 auf Geschutzwagen auf Fahrgestell Mk VI 736 (e)

• Twelve  Mk VI Munitionspanzer

Mk VI Munitionspanzer with ammo trailer

• Four Mk VI Beobachtungspanzer

Mk VI Beobachtungspanzer

    These converted vehicles served with 15 Batterie, Artillerie-Regiment 227 (part of 227 Infanterie-Division) on the Eastern Front until 1942. All these SPGs were subsequently lost during the defense of France in the summer and fall of 1944.

   But in North African Campaign, the Vickers light tanks Mk VIs performed much better, against the Italian Army because of the fragility of the armor and armament of the Italian tanks and tankettes then in use. 

Italian tank Carro Armato M11/39 and Carro Veloce L3/33 tankette
North African Campaign - 1940

   At this time, the British had 200 light tanks (presumably the Mk VIB) along with 75 cruiser tanks (A9, A10, A13) and 45 Matilda IIs.

Vickers light tanks Mk VIB of 1st Royal Tank Regiment
in trials with infantry - May 1940.

A Light tank Mk VIB from 1st RTR
with a headlamp on the side of a turret cupola,
crossing barbed wire somewhere in the Western desert
 May - 1940.

Light Tank Mk VIA belonging to 8th Hussars
in rough ground in Western Desert - 5 June 1940

 Line of Vickers light tanks MK VIB
belonging to 7th Armoured Division
on patrol in open desert.
2 August 1940

   But soon, Vickers' weaknesses were starting to show: an attack by the 3rd Hussars at Buq Buq on 12 December 1940 resulted in its tanks getting bogged down in salt pans and severely mauled. In ten minutes, 13 tanks were destroyed, ten officers and men killed - including the CO - and 13 wounded. 

The crew of  this Vickers light tank Mk VIB
posing for a photo, on a rest break in the desert.
 3rd King's Own Hussars
December - 1940.

   The 7th Armoured Division had 100 tanks left on 3 January 1941; this increased to 120 tanks on 21 January, when they were used to outflank the battlefield and capture scattered Italian troops, sometimes joining or leaving the main attacks to the cruiser and Matilda II tanks.

A column of Italian soldiers prisoners captured during
the assault on Bardia, Libya, marching to a British army base.
 6 January 1941

   During an engagement at Mechili on 24 January, six Mk VIs were destroyed by newly arrived superior Italian Carro Armato M13/40s for no loss, forcing a retreat until cruiser tanks arrived. The 2nd RTR continued to battle the Italians with light tanks as late as 6 February 1941.

Carro Armato M13/40 in action in the Western Desert
January - 1941

   

The British lost many of these light tanks, but continued to use them, adapting their combat tactics. Thanks to their robustness and reliability, they could still provide good services as armored artillery observation posts and recce patrol missions.

Weak armor and weaponry require a keen eye...
The crew of a fully equiped light tank Mk VIB
looking for any movement of the enemy, near Tobruk.
 28 November 1941

   The light tanks Mk VI in active service were being outnumbered by the best German armor, with the arrival of the Afrika Korps at the Theater of Operations, in February of 1941. They continued in active service until early 1942, when many of them were transferred to Greece (Battle of Greece), where they formed the core of the 4th Hussars and other units, and again in Crete (Battle of Crete), with 3rd The King's Own Hussars and Malta.

British Light Tank Mk VIB destroyed in Galatas.
The tank was one of two that supported the
New Zealand counter-attack on Galatas
Battle of Crete - 25 May 1941.

Light Tanks Mk VIs roaring in an exercise in Maltese road.

Foreground vehicle is a Mk VIC, with a Mk VIB parking in the trees.

Malta Tanks - Independent Royal Tank Regiment

 Malta - 24 May 1942

A Vickers light tank Mk VIC on exercise
in the Maltese countryside.
Notice the typical Maltese stone camouflage
 24 March 1942

Vickers light tank Mk VIC testing their weaponry at a
Shooting Range in Malta - 24 March 1942

The crew of Vickers light tank Mk VIB cleaning his
Vickers .50 heavy machine gun under the trees,
in the Maltese countryside - May 1942

   The 3rd The King's Own Hussars had previously embarked three MK VIB tanks for the Norwegian Campaign, but they were lost in transit to a German aircraft attack. The tanks also saw limited service against the Japanese in Malaya and Dutch East Indies.

A Light tank Mk.VIB from a Light Tank Squadron
of the 3rd King's Own Hussars, Oosthaven, Sumatra, Netherlands
East Indies - circa. 1942.

Two Vickers light tank Mk.VIBs captured by Imperial Japanese Army
with Japanese markings, found at a workshop.
 Bandung, Java - Indonesia - 1946

    As the conflict progressed, the huge shortcomings of the light tank concept became increasingly apparent. Although operated in a heroic and fearless manner, their anemic armament and thin armor turned these machines into true death traps. Surviving operational tanks were increasingly relegated to rear, training or support operations, and by 1942 almost none were seen in lines. That was the end of the operational use of these light, elegant, robust,  mechanically reliable, but essentially useless tanks.

Specs:

Tank, Light, Mk VI (Vickers light tank Mk VIB)
Type	Light tank
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1936–1942 (frontline) 1948 Arab–Israeli War
Used by	United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Canada Egypt
Wars	Second World War 1948 Arab–Israeli War
Production history
Designer	Vickers-Armstrongs
Manufacturer	Vickers-Armstrongs
Produced	1936–1940
No. built	1,682
Variants	Mk VI, Mk VIA, Mk VIB Mk VIC, Ack Ack tanks
Specifications
Mass	4.93 t  - later 5.3 t
Length	4.0 m
Width	2.08 m
Height	2.26 m
Crew	3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Armour	4 - 14 mm
Main armament	.50 in Vickers mg (Mk VIC - 15 mm Besa.mg)
Secondary armament	.303 in Vickers mg (Mk VIC - 7.92 mm Besa mg)
Engine	Meadows 6-cylinder petrol 4.4 liters 88 hp (66 kW)
Power/weight	16.9 hp/ton (Mark VIB and VIC)
Transmission	Wilson pre-selector gearbox
Suspension	Horstmann inclined springs
Ground clearance	250 mm
Fuel capacity	140 liters
Operational range	210 km
Maximum speed	56 km/h - road 40 km/h - off road

The kit:

    This model will be a parallel build project, built together with its anti-aircraft version (Ack ack version), as described in this Bunker article. Therefore, you will see some photos with duplicate parts, but the description of each step will be individual. For the "normal" version, we will use the kit British Light Tank Mark VIB (#56008), from Vulcan Scale Models, from 2010.

Vulcan Scale Models British Light Tank Mark VIB (#56008) box art

The bald one getting ready for another day of work.

   This Vulcan kit is very well injected, almost without burrs and the plastic is pleasant to work with. It's a multimedia kit, with a PE sheet and metal parts (like spiral springs) for detailing the model. The decal sheet is very well printed, with markings for two vehicles. The tracks are link-by-length, which I think is much better to build than the LBL (that I hate with passion!!!).

The chassis bathtubs and other parts, from the parallel building
of the two Vickers. One of the turrets will be anothera
addition to "Kojak's Unbelievable Spare Parts Box".

  The construction is smooth and quiet... The fittings are excellent and the finish of the built parts is very good... For comments on the resin parts in this image below, see the article about Ack ack light tanks.

Hulls and upper decks in position.
Note the unique armored air intake of the Mk VIB versions,
in front of the hulls.

    As the kits do not feature interior detailing, I will leave the driver hatches in the glacis plates closed. What the eyes don't see the heart doesn't feel!!

The hulls almost complete. Left view.
Notice the metal parts, 

The hulls almost complete. Right view.

Now, a tense part of the construction of these kits: the suspension bogies, their arms, wheels and springs...I started this step building a "NASA-worthy device" to allow alignment of the wheels and suspension arms. I know that the purists must be rolling their eyes madly and scandalized in the face of such heresy.

Oh, man!!

 But the two ice cream sticks attached in parallel with adhesive tape on top of a perforated base fulfilled its function as a template with zero cost and zero waste of time.

Vickers-type suspension wheel alignment apparatus
(worldwide patent pending)

Vickers-type suspension wheel alignment apparatus
in action

 

Wartime...mass production!
Bogies ready for the springs...
Important detail:
The bogies must be very well glued and firm before the next step.

   Here, I tried to follow the instruction booklet, using the supplied metal wires and small plastic pieces to insert the springs between the suspension arms... Lads, the thing was a disaster... the springs were flying, the metal wires were bent, a real modeling disgrace... 

The metal parts of the kit were very soft and easily bent...

    And as for me model making is fun and not self-flagellation, I decided to replace the small pieces of soft metal by steel wires sturdier, with the same diameter but longer, so I can handle these sets without having a stroke or a heart attack. Folow the steps, below: 

1- Passing the steel wire freely through the holes in the arms...
The springs will be inserted in the portion pointed by the blue arrow.

2-Testing the free movement of the steel wire...
Then we reposition the wire as in the photo in step 1, above...

   We introduce the fine spring + thick spring (red arrow) + plastic separator (blue arrow) + fine spring + thick spring (red arrow), in that order. Notice in the photo below:

3- Inserting the elastic components of the suspension into the steel wire.

   Notice in the photo below, the locking tweezers attached to the end of the wire, with a small portion of the wire showing (yellow arrow). The locked twizzers will push the wire with the spring assemblies against the arm (short green arrow) until it can fit the end of the exposed wire in the front arm of the bogie (orange arrow). When the wire fits that arm, we release the tweezers and the springs slide to the desired position.

4- Starting to compress the elastic components of the suspension.

   Now, you slide the wire with the tweezers, compressing the springs (green arrow movement) until you can fit the end of the wire (yellow arrow) in the arm hole:

5-Starting the spring compression (see description above).
Notice the small portion of the wire repositioned in the hole
in the bogie arm (yellow arrow).
The plastic spacer (short green arrow) slides along with springs...

6- When releasing the tweezers, the springs occupy the empty space
and we can slide the steel wire to the desired position (green and yellow arrows)
 Then, we cut the excesses with cutting edge pliers.

7- Slide the wire (green arrow) so as to leave 1mm at each free end
of the steel wire (yellow), carefully cutting off the excess (red double arrow)

8- Glue the steel wire into position with superglue (yellow arrows).
Repeat the process on the other side of the bogie and on all bogies.

And the bogies ready for the installation...

   The track links fit perfectly, being easy to install and with no problems adapting to the suspension wheels... Just pay attention to the position of the links, so as not to build inverted tracks...

Vickers light tank Mk VIB, standing on its own paws!!
Left view

Vickers light tank Mk VIB, standing on its own paws!!
Right view

The two Vickers sisters, side by side, with
tracks in position...

Removing this row of rivets for a perfect adaptation
of the armored cover of the hull ventilation.

 Armored covers in position!!!
Notice the fenders installed on the sides of the hulls.

    The construction of the turret has no mystery. The disappointment is due to the fact that the weapons are not mobile, as the cartridge tray does not move. The mantlet should just be fitted (blue arrow, below) by pression until you install the cartridge tray and position the weapons at the correct elevation.

Turret and guns in position...

    The rearview mirror is very fragile and, being prominent, it will be the first piece to be broken when handling the model... To avoid disappointment, replace the plastic rods with metal rods. Prevention is always better than cure!!!

Replacing the flimsy plastic with strong metal!!!

And adding details to our model: fancy headlights!!!

Again, the two sisters, side by side.... wearing details in metal...
left side

The two sisters, side by side....
right side

The two sisters, side by side....
rear view

The two sisters, side by side....
Eeeeeyes left!!!

The tubes of the smoke grenade dispensers came with injection defects (parts D25 and D26). Rather than using putty and sanding, let's replace it with plastic tubes from Plastruct

It's hard to be lazy!!!

Perfect!!! The King is pleased!!

The Vickers is very nice with those little ears!!!

Small details in PE...

How cute are these light tanks!!!

Vickers light tank Mk VIB - rear right view

Vickers light tank Mk VIB - left view

Vickers light tank Mk VIB - rear left view

Vickers light tank Mk VIB - right view

Vickers light tank Mk VIB - ready for painting...

Vickers light tank Mk VIB and 
Vickers "Ack Ack" Mk II light tank
left front view

Vickers light tank Mk VIB and 
Vickers "Ack Ack" Mk II light tank
 front right view

Colors & Markings:

    Ever since I saw this photo from the Imperial War Museums (O 6779), of a Vickers Mk VIB crew hailing and being hailed by a French farmer, I just loved the scene: It speaks about courtesy, respect, trust... I liked so much so that I used it as the opening of this article...This is a colorized version:

French farmer driving a horse-drawn cart salut the crew of
Vickers light tank Mk VI B of 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own),
1st Infantry Division's Recce Regt, near Arras, 12 October 1939.
colorized from  IWM O 679

  And since it's time for the markings on my kit, I asked myself: What if I reproduced this tank??? Searching through the "Holy Internet", I found this decal set: British Vickers Light tank Mk VIB - pt.2 - D356127) from Echelon Decals, which cover the unit, period and this tank in particular: the T 5112!!! Bingo!!!

External part of decal set (D356127) from Echelon Decals.

    The Vickers MkVIB T-5112, markings from Echelon Decals

Echelon Decals instructions

    And the Panzerserra's Colors and Markings guide:

    Starting the painting...sorry...I lost the pic with primer, but the base color is here:

Shades of Bronze Green
Light tank Mk VIB - left front view

Light tank Mk VIB - left rear view

Light tank Mk VIB - right view

Light tank Mk VIB - right front view

Starting the decals, after a layer of Pledge
Notice the small size of census number...

Markings in the Light tank Mk VIB - rear view

Markings in the Light tank Mk VIB
right front view

Markings in the Light tank Mk VIB
front view

Markings in the Light tank Mk VIB
close up front view

After sealing the decals with matte varnish, let's start the weathering...

The weathering will not be intense, as these
vehicles have just arrived in France...

Rear view

Vickers light tank Mk VIB...
these little tanks are very cool!!!

I decided to add a set of roll bags to the rear rack of the tank.
Value Gear to the rescue!!!

Testing the Value Gear kit adaptation...

And applying the primer on this and
other roll bags from other projects...

Roll Bags for the two Vickers light tanks, painted...

    And finally, after all details glued and checked, our little girl is ready: This is Light tank MkVI B, sporting the markings of 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary Own), attached to 1st Infantry Division, British Expeditionary Force (BEF). She's camping in Arras, Battle of France, in October, 1939.

Light tank MkVI B - 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary Own)
1st Infantry Division - British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
Arras - France - October, 1939

Light tank MkVI B
front right view

Light tank MkVI B
right view

Light tank MkVI B
rear right view

Light tank MkVI B
rear left view

Light tank MkVI B
front view

Light tank MkVI B
 left view

Light tank MkVI B
front left view

I'm small, but I'm proud!!!

Light tank MkVI B
with Kojak.

Light tank MkVI B
and the bald one!!!

Light tank MkVI B - 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary Own)
1st Infantry Division - British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
Arras - France - October, 1939

New projects are on the horizon...

The crew of a Light tank Mk VI of 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry,
attached to 51st Division - France, 19 March 1940.
modified from IWM photo