US Holt Steam Wheel Tank
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The United States entered WW1 totally unprepared and unequipped for modern warfare. The Holt Manufacturing Company (now known as Caterpillar), had been making giant, steam powered, wheeled agricultural tractors for years. They bolted some armor around one, added two 6-pounder guns and two machine guns to see if it would work as a tank. The US Army testing did not start out well - it got stuck right away. Further testing wasn't a lot better. The single prototype, which was the US's third attempt at an indigenous tank was preserved at Aberdeen Proving Grounds for a number of years.
This is another unique Vargas Scale Models resin 3D printed kit in 1:35 scale. The parts count is low with minimal clean-up and prep needed. The big metal wheels provided an opportunity to try out my recently acquired Life Color Rust and Dust paint set. This stuff yielded great results when dabbed on with a sponge.
I finished it with Vallejo's US Olive Drab Primer. I weathered it with a Winsor & Newton Oils and AK Interactive enamel weathering potions and pigments.
It's a big, weird beast and has generated a lot of discussion in the Seattle IPMS Zoom build sessions.
