From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0029 01/04/2000 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: 105mm Ammunition Boxes 2: Plastruct Hex rod 3: Tamiya spare parts 4: Bovington Battle Day 5: Toko Kits 6: Beatties 7: Tamiya spare parts 8: Ref. Beatties and Tamiya spare parts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@which.net] Subject: 105mm Ammunition Boxes Does anyone know the dimensions of the boxes used for the various types of ammunition for the modern British 105mm light field? Bill Scriven I actually have several of them in the garage (as one does). At least, I think that's what they are for. They are pressed steel, painted gloss dark brown and are marked in yellow. The one I pulled in was dated 1979 and marked "2 RDS 105mm HOW HE" and "TRAINING L65A3 IN CNRS" but I am not too up to date on the ammunition designations and none of my sources (Gander, Jane's etc.) quotes an L65 round for the 105mm. Anyway, dimensions are 85cm long, 26.3cm wide (plus the hinges/catches and reinforcement ribs) and 15.4cm tall. If you want one, I can probably spare one, as there is no substitute for running a tape measure over one yourself. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Plastruct Hex rod EMA stock this, it's available in 0.5mm, 0.75mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, in 10 piece packs of 250mm long at £1.80 and 2.5mm, 3.2mm in 5 piece packs at 0.90p. There is a minimum order of £10.00 and all prices are plus VAT. John Harris john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk UK Military Modelling http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Tamiya spare parts I have bought a Cromwell sprue from Richard Kohnstam, the wheel set one, it was, from memory, £2.00 and was sent on trust from my first enquiry. The only problem was they only had one set 'in stock'. John Harris john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk UK Military Modelling http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Bovington Battle Day Further to the Duxford report, I understand the Bovington 'Battle Day' has been cancelled, replaced by the 'Tankfest 2000' in May. I also notice that the Tiger I restoration is still due to be completed "next summer", which I take to be Summer 2001, funny that it's always "next summer"................. John Harris john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk UK Military Modelling http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk Hmm yes. Sounds like the Duxford Cromwell restoration, which was "a five-year project" when I moved here in March 1994 ;-)). Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Toko Kits From Hannants, "Toko have ceased kit production though they will continue to make venetian blinds and filing cabinets. The unreleased kits will be released by a new company, Roden. The older kits have finished. The moulds may be sold to another company eventually. The message is if you want Toko then buy it now. Even if they do come back they are unlikely to be so cheap again." John Harris john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk UK Military Modelling http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk What does Toko make? I can't recall ever encountering them before. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Beatties I had noticed a distinct 'running down' of local Beatties, minimum stock in all areas. It strikes me that this alone could lead to the demise of our hobby in the UK, I'm old enough to remember buying (or being bought) my first kits at Woolworths, Beatties was the last High Street shop that stocked much in the way of kits or accessories. Now, I know in the short run, I will be okay mail ordering from Hannants or wherever, but in a few years time the lack of easily obtainable kits mean there will be no more 'new entrants' to the hobby. John Harris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Paul Roberts [proberts@mail.tamcotec.com] Subject: Tamiya spare parts Robert, While I can not speak to the UK scene specifically, it seems likely as here in Canada, the local distributor, Borgfeldt Hobbies, will sell you a sprue from any current kit. I bought 3 of the same M8 sprues you are thinking of for Cdn$15 each (that’s about 6-7 quid). It's actually a very useful sprue containing, not only the 37mm M6, but also the turret ring and the MG Scarff ring as well. I've already used the gun and the turret ring from one sprue on a Staghound I'm putting an interior into. Paul Paul Roberts | Accuracy Scale Tech Distributing | is our Measure of Scale Model Builders | Quality proberts@tamcotec.com Visit our home page http://www.tamcotec.com/proberts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: alan fanning [alan@afanning.fsnet.co.uk] Subject: Ref. Beatties and Tamiya spare parts Regarding your article about Beatties maybe going into liquidation, I don't know if this is the case or not but the prices you mentioned are correct, e.g. M25 Dragon Wagon (Tamiya) for £50.00. Apparently these are selling like hot cakes; I'm led to believe that there are several available at the moment but once they're gone that's it. Some smaller kits are reduced as well, for example the Ford Mutt & trailer was £7.99, is now £4.99. If anyone in the Cambridge area wants a Dragon Wagon, Beatties at Bury St Edmunds are getting one in next week and holding it for me for 7 days. I'm going to Bury the end of next week to pick up something else I ordered and if nobody wants it, it goes on the shelf again. Re: Tamiya spare parts Spare parts for Tamiya kits can be obtained in the UK from Richard Kohnstam Ltd on 01442 241138. This service is for individual parts, not complete sprues, you have to give the kit number, name of the kit, and the individual part numbers. I haven't got any idea of prices though. On the same theme, individual parts can also be ordered for Revell kits by writing to; Revell AG, Department X, Henschelstr 20-30, D-32257 Bunde. Also any individual part from Accurate Armour kits can be ordered direct from them at; Unit 15-16 Kingston Industrial Estate, Port Glasgow, PA14 5DG, Scotland. (I was quoted £15.00 for 3 L7A2 GPMGs, 1 Larkspur Radio, 1 telescopic aerial, 4 aerial mounts and 4 small fire extinguishers). Regards Al -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume