A7V Mephisto Tank
Comments
1 20 February 2019, 09:29
Scott DuttonThanks all.
It has been on my desire list for a while, as the original in Queensland has someone with the same surname as mine grafittied on it with a hammer and nails under the heading "Tank Boys" from the war period. I don't believe any relation to me.
I have been searching to see the vehicle for a few years now, it was lost in action following the floods in 2011, then off to the war memorial in Canberra. It has returned now, I am told, so would love to see it, as I have not since my university days in the 80's.
I even had to search long and hard to find reference material (even at the museum who published a few books many years ago. Found something at the Tank Museum at Puckapunyal a few weeks back, together with a postcard from the museum.
I cant afford the space for bases, and it would pretty much be a dirt field anyway.
I was inspired by a beautiful model (with base) done at Tank Museum in Samur, France when I visited last year. Theirs was sensational with very Aussie fugures
James, the museum only has this one vehicle, its not a tank museum.
Personally I'd like to see it go to War Memorial or Tank Museum, but understand why its in Brisbane, and very gratefull it has been kept all this time, as its the only example left in the world.
Interestingly, as the only survivor you'd think Meng would have modelled it on this example, but they don't give the decals for this one (even before capture without all the large graffiti on it) and the one they modelled has a completely different gun mount (Pedestal vs Trapezoidal). Makes you wonder how companies do their research, the replicas may be very accurate I don't know, and easier to get to, just interesting.
There is meant to be a YouTube doco coming out involving its recent restoration after the floods together with Police explosives research on the battle damage. Would love to find that as well, an interesting story.
Glad you enjoyed, I did.
18 March 2019, 07:39
Album info
German A7V lost around Villers Bretenoux and recovered by the Australians, and returned to Australia where it now rests as the only surviving example.
