A7V Identification and Modelling in 1/72 scale
by Gary Ian Zimmer

First of all, well done, Emhar. At last we have a terrific A7V model in small scale. Now if you just want an A7V in your collection, build the Emhar A7V as it comes. If on the other hand you want to get a bit more enthusiastic and model a specific tank, read on. The reason I compiled this is because it helps me get my head around the detail differences between individual A7V tanks. Many other tanks and vehicles obeyed a nice orderly system like Mk.1,2,3 or ausf A, ausf B, etc; or the more general "early" "mid" and "late". Forget it. The A7V were hand-built, and also as a result of in-service modification, all 20 A7V built differed to a degree.

The major differences are:

1. hull sides - single piece (Rochling) or 5 piece (Krupp)

2. front hull plate - twin shutters or single pistol port, either type bent single plate or made from 2 plates

3. rear hull plate - single bent plate or 2 piece

3. type of gun mount – "buck" or "socle"

4. exhaust configuration

5. sprocket/idler flaps - 1 or 2 piece

6. how these flaps were cut by the crews. Some were rough cut, others more carefully trimmed.

7. hinges on these flaps - 2 or 3

8. the presence or absence of steps below the doors. As built 2 per side, some tanks later had them removed.

9. door hinges - 2 or 3

10. extra cab applique armour on some tanks

11. camouflage and markings,

12. the configuration of plates above the gun mounts;

and several minor differences, hardly noticable on a model but are very useful when it comes to identifying individual tanks.

Another point worth remembering (just to drive us modellers mad) is that many A7V tanks changed appearance during their short lives, either in names and camouflage, or because of more serious workshop modifications such as a change of gun mounts. It is like asking what did The Beatles look like without specifying a definite time period - it is asking for confusion. (i.e. have a look at the covers of Please Please Me, Sergeant Peppers, and Abbey Road. It's the same four blokes!)

 

References

Recommended reading is The German A7V Tank and The Captured British MkIV Tanks of World War I by Max Hundleby and Rainer Strasheim, Haynes Publishing Group 1990; ISBN 0-85429-788-X [Ref.1]. This text would have to be one of the best researched and written armour books you are likely to find. It also covers the Beutepanzer, captured British MkIV tanks, and tanks used by the Freikorps in Germany during 1919.

Also recommended is the subsequent follow up article by Max Hundleby published in Tankette (issue no.?) [Ref.2]. This was written after [1], and clarifies a few points regarding manufacturing sequence and chassis allocation.

German Tanks in World War 1; Schneider and Strasheim (Schiffer pub.) [Ref.3] This is cheap and has some good photos, but note that it is superseeded by [1].

You can also find some A7V photos if you do a search on the Australian War Memorial website. www.awm.gov.au

 

Kitbashing the Emhar A7V

The following are groups of A7V tanks that have similar features in common, as relevant to the Emhar kit. So please don't get the idea that this is some sort of definitive classification, it isn't. Nor were the tanks manuactured in this sequence. Mostly in this article I have used the jargon as used in Ref 1, so readers can cross-reference without getting further confused.

A. Early "Buck Mount" tanks

The characteristic features of these tanks were as follows:

(1) one piece sides made by Rochling;

(2) the "buck" mount for the 57mm gun, in a one piece folded front plate with twin shutters either side;

(3) no external exhaust pipe, just the hole;

(4) 2 piece side flaps over the sprocket and idler;

(5) 3 hinges on these flaps;

(6) the lower corners of these flaps were cut by the crews to reduce fouling. These were trimmed in a curve that ended at right angles to the lower hull line (what I call a 90 degree end);

(7) Type A mg mounts. See Ref 1. This is hardly noticeable on a 1/72 model anyway.

(8) 3 door hinges.

Making tanks 502, 505 Baden I, 506 Mephisto and 507 Cyklop from the Emhar kit:

The Emhar kit has all these features and has decals for all four tanks. For these four tanks make OOB, just leave the exhaust pipes off. At the rear behind the sprocket was a hinged flap. The join line (below the rear tow hook covers) was different for 507.

	Exhaust	Rear flap line	A suitable cam
507 Cyklop	Omit	Straight down	1-204-4*
506 Mephisto	Omit	Down, then slanting inwards	1-204-3
505 Baden I	Omit	Probably as 506	1-204-1
502	Omit	Probably as 506	1-200-5

* Ref.1 p.204 fig.4; etc.

All: decals as supplied.

Later in their lives 502, 505, 507 were refitted with the "Socle" gun mount and external exhaust pipes, which is really opening a can of worms. Their appearance would ultimately be similar to the Rochling Converted Males (see below). 506 had been lost by this time, and remained in original form.

B. The Only Female

Although the intention was to build 4 out of every 5 tanks as females (eight mg, no cannon), the first tank, 501, was the only one so built.

501 Gretchen had the following features:

(1) one piece sides (Rochling) as above;

(2) 1 piece folded front plate with 2 mg, similar to her rear plate;

(3) standard (kit) external exhaust pipe from Feb 1918 onwards;

(4) 2 piece side flaps over the sprocket and idler;

(5) 3 hinges on these flaps;

(6) flaps cut as for the Buck tanks (90 degree);

(7) Type A mg mounts (kit);

(8) rear flap line as 506.

(9) three hinges on the front swinging flap.

(10) three door hinges.

Converting the Emhar kit to make 501 Gretchen:

To make 501 Gretchen as of March-April 1918 from the Emhar kit:

(a) use the supplied kit sides, rear and roof.

(b) use a second rear plate and mgs for the front of the tank, remove the circular escape door and the rear flap hinges from this.

(c) use the supplied exhaust pipes.

(d) rear flap line as 506

(e) add a third centre hinge for the front swinging flap

(f) cam as Ref.1-204-2

It is likely the name Gretchen appeared after the skull was replaced by a cross. If you use Mephisto's skull decal, cover the crossbones.

Later 501 was, like 502, 505, 507, fitted with the "Socle" gun mount, it also received applique around the mg ports. [Ref.1]

C. Krupp Hulls or Multiplates

The characteristic features of these tanks were as follows:

(1) 5 piece hull sides made by Krupp

(2) Socle mount for the 57mm in a 2 piece front plate with twin shutters either side;

(3) standard external exhaust pipe;

(4) 2 piece side flaps over the sprocket and idler as for Bucks except 543;

(5) 2 hinges on these flaps, no centre hinge, however there remained boltholes in the flaps for the centre hinge;

(6) Type B mg mounts, with type C mounts on the right rear station only. (Ref 1)

(7) rear plate flap line vertical (as 507);

(8) two piece rear plate.

Converting the Emhar kit to make tanks 503 Konig Wilhelm, 504 Schnuck, 541, 542 Elfriede, 543 Adalbert:

(a) scribe 4 join lines on each side, at side flap ends and where the horizontal roof starts. Then add lots of rivets!

(b) scribe a line dividing the front and rear plates in two, add rivets.

(c) Scratchbuild a socle mount. This comprises principally of a vertical cylinder (8mm diam styrene tube), containing a protruding narrow horizontal circular segment (6mm) that elevates with the gun,

(d) for 543 only convert the side idler and sprocket flaps into one piece by blending the two surfaces and removing the joining rivets.

(e) use the kit exhaust

(f) applique armour for 504 [ref.1].

 

	Sprocket/Idler flaps	Flap trim	Cab applique	Cam
503 Faust / Konig Wilhelm / Heiland	2 piece (as per kit)	90 degree (as per kit)	No	1-204-5
504 Schnuck	2 piece (as per kit)	Rough cut	Yes	1-203-3, 1-205-4
541	2 piece (as per kit)	90 degree (kit)	No	1-201-6, 1-203-4b
542 Elfriede	2 piece (as per kit)	RF: mising LF: uncut RR: uncut LR: rough cut	No	1-201-3, 1-203-4b
543 Bulle / Adalbert	1 piece	45 degree	No	1-203-6a, 1-209-1

D. Rochling Converted Males

The characteristic features of these tanks were as follows:

(1) one piece sides made by Rochling;

(2) Socle mount for the 57mm in a one piece folded front plate with twin shutters either side;

(3) standard external exhaust pipe;

(4) 1 piece side flaps over the sprocket and idler except 561;

(5) 2 hinges on these flaps, no evidence of centre hinge;

(6) Type D mg mounts. See Ref 1.

(7) rear plate flap line vertical (as 507);

(8) one piece folded rear plate.

Converting the Emhar kit to make 526 Alter Fritz, 527 Lotti, 528 Hagen, 529 Nixe II, 561 Nixe, and 563 Wotan:

(a) hull sides as supplied,

(b) scratchbuild a socle mount, as described above.

(c) use the supplied exhaust.

(d) For 526, 527, 528, 529, 563 (not 561) convert the side idler and sprocket flaps into one piece by blending the two surfaces and removing the joining rivets.

(e) remove the centre hinge from the side idler and sprocket flaps, and remove the centre door hinge.

(f) you can mess around with the mg shields for 527, 528, 529 and 563, it is hardly noticeable.

(g) applique armour for 528, 529 and 563 [Ref.1, p.92]

(h) trim the idler and sprocket side flaps as below.

 

 

	Sprocket/ Idler flaps	Flap trim	Exhaust	Cab applique	Cam	Other
526 Alter Fritz	1 piece	90 degree	Standard (kit)	No	1-201-1,3	Front swinging flap missing. Omit if desired.
527 Lotti	1 piece	90 degree	Standard	No	1-201-2,4
528 Hagen	1 piece	45 degree	Ends horizontal	Yes	1-205-1
529 Nixe II	1 piece	S shaped, 0 degree ends	Almost straight	Yes	1-205-2
561 Nixe	2 piece (kit)	Rough cut	Standard	No	1-203-2
563 Wotan	1 piece	45 degree	Standard	Yes	1-205-3

E. True Males

This group had the following features:

(1) one piece sides made by Rochling;

(2) Socle mount for the 57mm in a one piece folded (except 562) front plate with small pistol port left of gun (that's driver's left);

(3) standard external exhaust pipe;

(4) 1 piece side flaps over the sprocket and idler;

(5) 2 hinges on these flaps, no centre holes;

(7) Type D mg mounts. See Ref 1.

(8) two door hinges.

Converting the Emhar kit to make 525 Siegfried, 560, 562 Herkules, and (probably) 564:

(a) scratchbuild a Socle mount as above.

(b) remove the two front shutters either side of the gun and blank off. Replace with a pistol port on the left

(c) standard exhaust

(d) convert the sprocket/idler flaps into one piece as above

(e) remove the centre hinge

(f) scribe the rear flap line vertical as 507.

	Front plate	Cab applique	Flap trim	Cam
525 Siegfried	1 piece bent	Yes	Rough cut	1-203-4a
560	1 piece bent	No	90 degree (kit)	1-205-5
562 Herkules	2 piece joined	Yes	90 degree	1-201-6b, 1-207-4, 1-205-1
564	1 piece bent	No	?	?

F. Oddballs and Variants

(a) 500 - the prototype.

Chassis 500 was used for trials fitted with a wooden mock-up body (female). This should be similar dimensionally to the other A7V and similar in layout to 501. An easy conversion (no rivets). No weapons were mounted, open ports were in the same locations. There were no exhaust pipes.

(b) Gelandewagen.

Tracked load carriers using the same chassis as the A7V.

Use parts 7, 8, and 9 for a starting point. (This gives you an unused rear plate needed for 501.) Conversion requires front and rear decks, engine housing which had radiators front and rear, and louvered sides. The tedious work is upstairs, the drivers' seats and controls (which also might come in handy for any A7V tank if you want the cab open).

(c) Recovery vehicle

Project only - never built. Construction as above for Gelandewagen above, with the addition of the crane. There are

plans in Ref 1 p.40. The crane can be built from styrene angles and rods.

(d) Twin 77mm gun carrier

Project only - never built. Basically a Gelandewagen with extended front and rear decks, and two pedestal-mounted Krupp 77mm guns.

(e) "54" or Hedi

A one-off, used in Berlin and Leipzig during 1919 by the Freikorps. A chassis, probably from a gelandewagen, was underneath a custom built armoured hull. It was armed with 4 MG08 in corner barbettes. It is reasonable to assume the dimensions and angles of the body was the same as proper A7V tanks, although it is definitely not a converted A7V. See Ref.1 and Peter Kempf's conversion article www.freeserers.landships.co.uk/ Ref.1 shows Tank 54 with its 14 man crew in front. It is safe to assume that like the wartime A7Vs it had a commander and driver, 2 mechanics, 8 more to operate the 4 machine guns, and my guess is that the other two would be observers, stationed at the pair of windows in the front and rear. They would be useful to guide the driver in certian circumstances. Remember the driver was not in a position to see anything ~8m immediately in front of the tank, and these two crewmen probably saved more than one Berlin corner shop. 54 had 4 doors, similar to the 2 on normal A7V. The reason for the extra doors was that 54/Hedi probably carried extraneous personnel, not part of the "official" 14-man crew, as storm troops. This shows that whoever designed and built 54 was familiar with the use of the A7V during the war, and the operational requirements of 1919.

You can use Emhar's hull floor, track/suspension pieces, and four MG barrels. The rest is DIY. In January 1919 the tank was either feldgrau overall or had no base coat (i.e. bare steel). Across the front was "Panzer-Kraftwagen-Abteilung" and "Regierungs-treue-Truppen" , with "54" in each of the lower corners of the front plate [3]. A small skull-and-crossbones was on the front centre, just below the observation ports. Very large skulls/bones were on the sides, and it is safe to assume one was on the rear as well. Markings were roughly applied. By March 1919 the vehicle was repainted, the color was probably overall feldgrau and tidier markings were in use: smaller and more uniform skulls were on both sides and both ends. The name "Hedi" was on the right front. On the sides above the idler flaps was a white rectangle with the inscription [Ref.1]:

Kokampf No:151 Abt.01

The same unit used several MkIV Females. Emhar’s MkIV Female kit has decals for another Freikorps tank, No.153 Hanni.

(f) Observation/wireless vehicle

Project only - never built. Plans are in Ref 1 p.41. It would look like the female 501, with its 8 mg ports but only 2 (the RF and LR) armed. A "fence" aerial was on the hull roof.

(g) A7V-U

Chassis 524 was used for the A7V-U. The intention was to copy the cross-country mobility of the British tanks. Underneath was the same chassis and running gear as a regular A7V. In Ref 1 are excellent plans by Richard Simmie. The normal A7V bogies are visible below the side plates, so it is possible to use kit parts. The hull is all flat plates (easy) and lots of rivets (not so easy). 524 had 2 socle mounts, as fitted to the later A7V and MkIV Males. The mg mounts from the Emhar kit can also be used.

(h) Trenching machine

Photos in Ref.1, pp. 38-39.

Good luck!