From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0033 29/04/2000 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: LVTP5s in British service? 2: Very fine chains (and hex Plastruct) 3: Trumpter kits 4: Japanese Toy Manufacturers 5: Shops in London 6: New subscriber 7: Tamiya Churchill VII -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Next edition of Think Tank 2: APMA Site re-launch -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@which.net] Subject: LVTP5s in British service? I posted the following on Missing Links for a while, but got no response. Does anyone know the answer? While walking round the Museum of Army Flying in Middle Wallop I came across a photograph of a line up of British army LVT4s in Egypt during the Suez crisis of 1956. Behind them in the centre was what appeared to be an LVTP 5 complete with a British army registration plate. From the way the picture was posed I assume that it was being used as a company HQ or signals vehicle. Would it have been an LVTP5? If it was, how common were they, and what units were they employed with? Bill Scriven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: ChrisSims9@aol.com Subject: Very fine chains (and hex Plastruct) Squires Model and Craft Tools do a variety of brass chains some of which have a black burnish. The smallest are 26 links per inch with 1.2mm diameter links (cost £2.60 a meter) and the largest are 4.5 links per inch with 6mm links (cost £6 per metre). I found their catalogue contains many useful bits and pieces and the mail order service is invariably by return of post. I would highly recommend them for tools and raw materials. Min order is £7.50 and there is no additional postage. Squires Model & Craft Tools 100 London Road BOGNOR REGIS West Sussex PO21 1DD Tel : 01243 842 424 Fax : 01243 842 525 Going back a few weeks I got some hex shaped Plastruct from The Model Shop in Harrow (it's in the model railway part). I got some 4mm diameter in a 1 metre length but they had all sorts of sizes and cross sections when I was last there in January. Hope this is useful Chris Sims -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Trumpter kits Has anyone spotted the Chinese 'Trumpter' range of 1/35th AFV kits in the UK, the range sounds good on paper, the plastic kit 'Great Leap Forward' has brought fruits! Hannants stock their aircraft kits, but don't seem to promise their AFV kits. Regards 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: Japanese Toy Manufacturers I agree with Nick about Bandai, though their major products are toys, they make kits, albeit mostly 'Sci-Fi' Mechas of various kinds. I did read somewhere that only 15% of Tamiya's output was exported, which in some ways is kind of worrying......... I have read (on HobbyLink Japan's site) that the latest Tamiya 'star' kit is an all new Tiger I, including full digital radio control, priced around 91,000 yen, which I make about £450ish Regards. John Harris john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk UK Military Modelling http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Roberto Flores Yoldi [rflores@apdo.com] Subject: Shops in London Dear friends: My name is Roberto Flores Yoldi, and I´m the new -and proud!- member of the MAFVA #7985. I would like to ask you one question, if I don´t disturb you. My brother is working now at London, and I´m trying to get a list of modelling hobby shops, and book shops, related to our hobby. Could this be possible? Thanks in advance and SORRY for my questions, Roberto Flores, http://www.navarra.org/rflores rflores@apdo.com Welcome aboard Roberto. Don't worry about asking questions 'that's why we are all here! Anyway, I will kick off with the ones I know best. Top in my view would be Hannants in Colindale (turn right out of Colindale underground station and it is a few metres along the road. Hannants has a good selection and a website so you can see what is available before turning up (although not all stock will be at the London shop). In central London, there is a branch of Beatties in High Holborn, where it is possible to pick up some bargains as kits are regularly discounted on a strangely inconsistent basis. As to bookshops, the best ones are probably Motor Books in St Martin's Court (off Charing Cross Road) and Foyles (on the other – west – side of Charing Cross Road). No doubt the current London residents can offer some more suggestions. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Ed & Eleta Malewitz [emalewitz@sprynet.com] Subject: New subscriber While I've mostly been building 1/700 warships with the occasional Eduard 1/48 WWI biplane, I've picked up the AFV Club M-10 and M-18 and have been impressed. I don't go for the German armor - after all, they were the bad guys. But the recent releases of US and UK armor is encouraging. Ed Malewitz -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Listmaster Subject: Tamiya Churchill VII Can anybody out there who has purchased the re-released Tamiya Churchill VII (not the original Crocodile variant) tell me the ID letter of the sprue which has the new parts (mainly figures, I think) please? Thanks Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Listmaster Subject: Next edition of Think Tank Due to my presence at the SMMLie Convention next weekend (yes folks, as well as not building AFV models, I don't build ship models :-( ), the next edition will go out on Monday 8th May. I know that some of you will be there, so look forward to seeing you either again or for the first time. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Shane & Lorna Jenkins [sljenkins@tac.com.au] Subject: APMA Site re-launch Hi gang, Well, stage one of the APMA site upgrade is done & online. Check it out at: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/apma.htm Check out the "Australian Modeller" as well ;-). Stage two, will see some more reference pics go up, including some Australian tanks. Also, there is the temporary Think Tank page I've set up with all the back issues of Think Tank at: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/thinktank/thinktank.htm Regards, Shane Jenkins APMA VP http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/apma.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume