From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol.007 09/10/1999 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Dragon kits wanted 2: Sending Pictures 3: IDEAS ON PHOTOS 4: Firefly 1c North West Europe 5: Sherman 1Bs 6: Army Open Days 7: Borden Firefly 8: NEW QUESTIONS 9: Warrior MAOV 10: Pierce Arrow Pom Pom 11: British AFV interiors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Dragon kits wanted I can't promise anything, but 'Plastic Past Times' in Dorset often have hard to find kits, I'm afraid I don't have an address or phone number, I usually catch them at shows. Regards John Good point - they tend to turn up at the IPMS Nats later this month so I will look there. Thanks. Rob -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Sending Pictures Perhaps we could solve this problem by setting a 'self-policed' limit of Xkb for attached pictures, it should be sufficient especially .jpg files are used. It explain, if you save .jpg files with a 'quality' of say 75% the photos are quite usable, yet the size reduces compared with saving at 85% for example. The example I've attached is a modest 40kb, saved at 50%. Any further comments? John Harris And it looks pretty good, of the GTMU. Horrible vehicle to work inside though - those Russians must be small…. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: IAN HANRATTY [IAN@hanra.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: IDEAS ON PHOTOS. This sounds like an interesting idea, however I suspect that it would rely on Rob to organize it, what with the time it takes to produce THINK TANK I feel it would be unfair to ask him to do any more. Instead how about everyone adding a foot note to their postings advising anyone interested in additional info or photos they may have available, they could then contact that person direct for a copy of them. This may also save a problem with copyright material, having an effect on the THINK TANK. If anyone is interested in the poor photo of the SHERMAN 11C mentioned in the last couple of postings them please contact me direct on ian@hanra.freeserve.co.uk and I will happily supply them direct. As a side issue I am looking for photos of any BRITISH ARMY SHERMANS. in combat. during WW11. Cheers IAN HANRATTY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: IAN HANRATTY [IAN@hanra.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Firefly 1c North West Europe On page three of the old VANGUARD No.9 BRITISH GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION 1941 -45, by JOHN SANDARS, there is a photo of three SHERMANS; one is a Mk.V with the CULIN cutter, in the center is a 1c FIREFLY, with a Vc in the foreground. The photo is credited to the IWM. I realize that this one photo may not be the proof you are looking for but at least it indicates that at least one of them served with the GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION. Cheers IAN HANRATTY. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: IAN HANRATTY [IAN@hanra.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Sherman 1Bs I am unsure if the SCOTS GREYS were still in ITALY at the time you are talking about, however their REGIMENTAL MUSEUM in EDINBURGH CASTLE may still hold REGIMENTAL RECORDS. During research up at the CASTLE concerning the Regiment's action during the GULF war, I was told that they retained a copy of all their records dealing with the Regiment including the Second World War when they were ordered to return their war diaries to the War Office after the Second World War. They may be accessible via the SCOTS AT WAR site. I will try and find out what if any info they have tomorrow, when the castle is open. Yes please on the offer of the doc file on the BRITISH TANK COLOURS. CHEERS IAN HANRATTY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: IAN HANRATTY [IAN@hanra.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Army Open Days HI JOHN Your best bet may be the local army recruiting office, as they may have to co ordinate with the regiments to supply recruiting teams for such displays. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: IAN HANRATTY [IAN@hanra.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Borden Firefly Many thanks Paul, that seems to set things in there proper perspective. The only Shermans converted into FIREFLIES were the MK1, MK1 HYBRID, and the MKV, or am I missing something? cheers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: IAN HANRATTY [IAN@hanra.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: NEW QUESTIONS 1, Is anyone attending the MINIATURE ARMOUR GLASGOW, and GLASGOW IPMS SHOW next weekend in the NAUTICAL COLLEGE, in GLASGOW on the 9th OCT 1991. If so I will be on the LOTHIANS MODELLERS CLUB STAND. Pop by for a chat. 2 As above I will be at the IPMS UK nationals in TELFORD, later on this month; anyone interested in meeting at the show and maybe having a pint or three. 3, Does anyone have any info on the RAM KANGAROO interior, as I have the 1/76th scale MILICAST KIT, but I am unsure as to the interior. Also any details of the units that used them. Also I would appreciate anything on the CHURCHILL KANGAROO. 4, A couple of years ago I started to try and list all the British Military, FV Nos, AND REGISTRATION NUMBERS FOR ALL VEHICLES used by the armed forces. I have recently lent this info to some one and regret that they have moved so it looks like I will have to start all over again, can anyone help me. with any info on this subject? Many thanks in advance. IAN HANRATTY. I have stowage diagrams for the interior of the Ram Kangaroo and they show nothing much other than what you would expect if you were to gut a Ram gun tank. No seats in the back, just the driveline cover and the sponsons. Probably explains why the troops are usually photographed standing up. The RAC six-monthly returns for 31/12/44 show 214 on the strength of 79AD and according to Futter's 'The Funnies', the users were 1 Cdn Armoured Carrier Regt (formed 09/44) and 49 Armoured Carrier Regt (ex-49 R Tanks of 1 Tank Bde,). The former carried the AoS number 157 on an RAC flash (with white 'Army' i.e. below bar until 12/44) and the latter 158, also on an RAC flash. They were first used on the attack on Le Havre and last to carry some of 7 AD into Hamburg on 03/05/45. Incidentally, Futter claims that bench seats were fitted but I would be interested to hear if anyone can prove it one way or another. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@which.net] Subject: Warrior MAOV Operation Granby by Bob Morrison (Concord) includes two pages of pictures of light stone painted Warriors "waiting to be shipped to Saudi". At least three of these (including 37 KG 38) are fitted with the distinctive cowl forward of the exhaust vent which I believe is unique to MAOV and battery command variants of the MCV. If this is the case (can anyone confirm?) then it seems likely that the MAOV or BCV (or both) were available in the Gulf. Bill Scriven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@which.net] Subject: Pierce Arrow Pom Pom On a separate subject, does anyone know what colour the Pierce Arrow Pom Pom trucks used by the Royal Marine Artillery during WWI would have been painted? Bill Scriven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Listmaster Subject: British AFV interiors I asked this one before the list got up and running, but does anyone have solid information on the colours used inside British-built AFVs during WW2? I have seen wartime vehicles which have been painted both white and aluminium inside, but my suspicion is that the aluminium is a post-war addition and that white is probably the one. I am building (among many other things) a Crusader AA Mk.III and hope to get it finished for the IPMS Nats in a fortnight so anything that would help it along would be handy. Also, has anyone measured the intercom boxes (into which the crew's headsets plug) which were fitted to the crew positions of British vehicles fitted with the No. 19 set of the same period? Alternatively, can you point me to a drawing which shows them? Thanks Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume