California Man Spends 1,400 Hours Building World War I Tank Replica

A California man channeled his passion for history and metalwork into constructing a replica of a World War I tank.

Kameron Swinney, who lives in Sacramento, grew up as a keen history enthusiast, particularly when it came to learning about the conflicts that shaped the modern world.

“First World War history was taught to me in high school, but it was so brief for an event that pretty much shaped the world we live in today,” Swinney told Newsweek. “There were so many advances in technology on the battlefield, whether it was machine guns, airplanes or tanks.”

Swinney’s fascination with history is less common among schoolkids these days. That fact was highlighted in May 2023 by the National Assessment of Education Progress, which puts together “the nation’s report card” every four years after testing several thousand students on their academic progress. In 2022, 8,000 eighth grade students completed a test in U.S. history.

The results made for concerning reading. On a scale of 1 to 500, the average score for the U.S. history test had dropped five points to 258. This decline continued a trend set in 2014, with the results showing just 13 percent of eighth graders scored at or above a proficient level.

In some ways, Swinney can understand why young people today might not engage in history and past events like World War I the way previous generations did. He said a lack of “human connection” to these events so long ago is a key reason.

“You look at the black and white pictures in the history books, and it just doesn’t seem real that something like that could even happen,” he said.

That’s essentially what motivated him to build his own tank. That and a set of skills developed from a young age.

“When I was 15, my uncle taught me how to weld,” he said. “From there, I did ironwork, building fences and gates, but would also do welding on classic cars.”

Putting together a tank was a rare opportunity to bring together two of his keen interests. He also sought to chronicle the entire journey for people online, posting to Instagram under the username swinneysolidironworks.

“I wanted to demonstrate my skills in metal fabrication, but I wanted to bring something that would get people into history as well,” he said.

From the start, Swinney had his heart set on creating a replication of what is considered the world’s first modern tank, the French Renault FT-17.

“It was arguably the most successful tank of World War I and considered the grandfather of the modern tank, as it was the first with a fully rotating turret and drivetrain in the rear completely separate from the crew. It’s a design layout that all tanks today continue to use,” he said.

Swinney explained that the design holds extra significance because it was “America’s first combat-used tank.”

“General Patton commanded the [American Expeditionary Forces’] 345th Tank Battalion, and with this specific tank model he saw the future in modern warfare,” he said.

Though it all sounds rather romantic on paper, turning the tank into a reality was no easy feat. Swinney estimates he spent “1,200 to 1,400 hours” working on the tank since he started the project in September 2022.

Much of that time was spent drilling “thousands of holes for all the bolts,” locating tractor parts that would work on the tank and maneuvering its heavy steel panels, which measure up to half an inch in thickness. “The tracks alone are about a ton,” he said.

While did not face many setbacks, there were “some stressful times figuring out what hydraulics to use and engine to power it,” given that the tank has a small engine compartment.

Throughout it all, Swinney said, his “passion” for what he was doing was a big motivator that spurred him to keep going. While there is still some interior work to do, a little track adjustment and some wiring, as well as a final paint job, Swinney has been able to take the tank out for its first test drive. He shared the footage to Reddit under the handle u/kswizzle1990.

The video has blown up, receiving over 44,000 upvotes from enthusiastic viewers. Swinney has been delighted by the response and hopes to eventually use the tank as an educational piece at air shows or museums, as well as possibly some reenactments.

For now, though, he hopes those watching the video can reflect on the significance of World War I, which erupted over a century ago, and the many lives lost during it.

“When you look at the tank, it kind of brings it to reality that many young men actually used these things and crossed no man’s land never to be seen again, being lost to mechanical failure or artillery fire and German anti-tank guns,” he said.

“So even though it’s a new tank I made, it has a connection to the past that I hope gets people talking about the lives of the people that sacrificed so much and the events that shaped the world we live in today,” he said. “War should be avoided at all costs and if people had a better understanding of past events then hopefully we won’t be destined to repeat them.”