From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0034 08/05/2000 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Shops in London 2: British LVTs at Suez 3: Some thoughts for TT 4: Silver Grey 28 and Caunter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Local MAFVA branch website 2: Tankfest 2000 3: Duxford military vehicle show 2000 4: Bounced transmissions 5: Email worm warning -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@which.net] Subject: Shops in London The Model Shop in Harrow usually has a good stock of 1:72 and 1:76 scale kits. Although a few miles outside of London, it's easy to get to either the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street or the mainline (Chiltern Railways) from Marylebone. I'd agree with Bob about Motor Books and Foyle's for books, but it's also worth regularly looking in the many remainder bookshops in London (and elsewhere); most of them have a military section and there are some good bargains to be had. Bill -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Listmaster Subject: British LVTs at Suez Bill Paul Middleton looked into the vehicles used in Operation Musketeer for an article which he wrote for Tankette some time ago (and which according to both Paul and the indices, has yet to be published!) and tells me that the vehicle you saw was probably an LVT-3. The British had a few (possibly a squadron but probably only a troop) there, as a cobbled together unit under the command of a captain and which carried Royal Marines. The vehicles were unarmoured, which must have been nice for the occupants when the shooting started. In addition, the French turned up with LVT-4s and LVT(A)4s (75mm turret) but the British appear not to have received the LVTP-5. At the latest London MAFVA meeting (while I was playing with toy boats in Massachusetts for the weekend), one of the chaps apparently turned up with a whole bundle of photos of British LVTs at Suez, from the Royal Marine museum (which I think is still at Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth). Thanks to John Baumann for passing this news on. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Baumann Subject: Some thoughts for TT Please find a response to some of the previous Think Tank queries. My apologies to Robert & others here, but better late than never, some observations on past Volumes: No.3: Airfix SA-2: I have one for sale somewhere if anyone requires it. By the way, there is one at Duxford, albeit with a later tractor unit, which I photographed extensively a few years ago. I think it now resides in the American Air Museum there as it is not a runner (tractor or missile ;o)) Robert No.3: FV432 Recovery: I have an issue of 'Armies & Weapons' that shows some partial views of most versions of this AFV. Please see * below. No.4: WWI Russian Colours: Mike Cooper may like to contact Dr Bill Ward of Colchester for his observations. No.5: RAF Colours: Geoff Lacey has forwarded an article to Tankette, part of which has already been published; I don't know whether this contests Mike Cooper's own findings. No.5: If Malcolm Waite needs a copy of Focus No.14 (Canadian Military Pattern part 4) from the June 1977 issue of 'Battle', see * No.6: ONTOS: Now Doug Bauer has all the info he needs, perhaps he would consider writing an article on the beast for us please? I think John means Tankette here, but if you want to do something for TT as well ;-). Robert No.6: There was a series of articles on Eire AFVs years ago in 'An Cosantóir' (probably penned by Denis McCarthy), I believe the only tracked armour were Churchills. I can provide copies, see* below No.6: Dragon Kits, I may be wrong, but I thought Alan Ranger of Bedford used to import Jap kits. No.7: I have often been asked for details on the Ram Kangaroo interior layout, perhaps Robert would kindly forward what he has so we can publish what's known in Tankette. I have nothing other than what I posted, unfortunately. Hardly warrants expansion into an article as there just doesn't seem to be much around. Robert No.7: For the Pierce Arrow Pom Pom, perhaps Bill Scriven would like to try Dr Bill Ward. No.14: Landwasserschlepper plans exist in several forms. More recently Hubert Cance produced a beautiful set for the French Steel-Masters magazine, they may also be purchased separately. Contact Russell Hadler of Barbarossa Books for the French publication. I can provide more if necessary, see* No.16: Crusader gun tractor, I have some plans in either 1/35 or 1/32, put together by a now departed London Group member some years ago. See* No.21: Char Canon 75BS: Hardly any decent photographs of this exist and I would also be interested in obtaining details for Arie Dijkhuis in Holland, who has vowed to draw it for Tankette. I recently sent Arie details for an FT17 conversion kit that was featured in Steel-Masters. I guess the way forward would be buy the kit and cheat, by taking the dims and converting to the relevant scale required. Has anybody done so yet? No.22: Small scale figures: We recently published a piece in Tankette on this subject but, the list of manufacturers was withheld due to lack of space. Our man Peter Newell is the author and he is normally only be too willing to provide more details, sadly Peter suffers from ill health so be prepared to wait. The dealer's list is obtainable via* No.33: Bill Scriven's LVTP5 Suez question should be directed to Paul Middleton, who has written at length on the AFVs of this campaign. The results have yet to be published in Tankette. *As one would expect, this offer is only available to fully paid up MAFVA Members. Between my assistant Peter Bailey & myself, we can probably provide the sources required, although be prepared for a wait. MAFVA members should forward a minimum A5 SAE [UK] and Overseas members at least 2-3 IRCs [i.e. Rest of the World. One IRC buys a 44pence stamp here] which will secure you the relevant material direct from the Information Service. Do not however, expect a written response. NOTE: Due to the Data Protection Act I cannot provide addresses, contact Gary Williams for this. JB Gary's email address is mafvahq@aol.com, by the way. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Cooper, Mike [Mike.Cooper@reading.gov.uk] Subject: Silver Grey 28 and Caunter Dear All Those of you who have been following Mike Starmer's excellent pieces in Tankette and IPMS Mag. on the 1940-41 British "Caunter" desert scheme will be aware of a colour called "Silver Grey". Details are given on the MAFVA website of all colours involved. This was the prescribed medium - or rather intermediate - tone in the scheme. Caunter used a dark tone, an intermediate tone and a light base. Just to set things in context the tones were Dark: Either Slate 34 from BS381c of 1930 OR Khaki Green G3 Medium: Silver Grey 28, but with either Light Battleship Grey (AP507c) or a locally mixed blue grey as alternatives Light: Portland Stone or Light Stone Mike believed that Silver Grey was a light bluish-grey - although the exact tone wasn't certain. He's now found evidence from contemporary accounts and colour cards that it was in fact a light grey green - sort of a dark "Sky" or "Eau-de-nil". The mix for it is 2 parts Humbrol 74+ 1 part Humbrol 78 + 1 part White + 1/8th part black. You then fade as needed. Mike apologises for any confusion caused, but new information has come along. The mix given on the website for Silver Grey will work fine for Light Battleship Grey, so if you've used it (like I have) there is no problem. I've tried the new mix myself and the "look" is very different - pale greyish sand, light grey green and dark grey green. I've now ended up with five vehicles in Caunter, only two of which share the same tones. I'm going to let Frank Gould have this as an amendment to the website Cheers - and thanks to Mike Starmer for his extraordinary diligence and honesty on this!! Mike Cooper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: lloydstaples [lloydstaples@lloydstaples.screaming.net] Subject: Local MAFVA branch website We now have a website for the Hertfordshire branch of the MAFVA, and I'd like to stress that we like to see new members from anywhere in the general area, which includes North London. The site also includes some useful links. The site is nothing too fantastic at present, but my 14 year old son is showing me what to do (Duh!) and it'll gradually develop. Please feel free to visit the site - and come to meetings if you can. http://welcome.to/MAFVA-Herts Chris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Tankfest 2000 Some additional information on the Tank Museum's new event "Tankfest 2000", it's on the 21st May 2000 at the Tank Museum. Admission: Adult £6.90 (Friends of the Tank Museum DO NOT have free admittance, unless they are on the official list of helpers) Child £4.50 OAP £6.00 Family ticket £18.30 (two adults / two children) Attractions: Sele c ted vehicles open for your inspection (tickets £1.00 per vehicle) Armoured vehicle rides (tickets £3.00) Ride in an historic vehicle (limited places, to be auctioned) The MVT are attending, and there will be a number of arena displays and 'scenarios' during the day. The Museum's Panzer III will be making a rare appearance, together with the Museum's Matildas, Churchill, Valentine, Sherman, and Comet. This information is gleaned from the programme distributed to the 'Friends of the Tank Museum'. John Harris john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk UK Military Modelling http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk Thanks John, that saved me typing it all out :o) I am due to be there for the weekend and a couple of days library time the previous week, so hopefully it will be a good bash. I see from the stuff I received last week that veterans of various armoured units will also be present, and their units were identified, so if you are organised in advance and do some preparatory reading, you can work out which of them will be most likely to have served in your particular favourite vehicle or campaign. Just bear in mind that not all of the served in their units throughout the War - I know of one wonderful character in 4CLY who was blown out of his Crusader in the desert and spent the rest of the war in the POW cage, so no point asking him about Villers Bocage! Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Listmaster Subject: Duxford military vehicle show 2000 I was up at Duxford last weekend (30th April) and it was confirmed to me that the show is going ahead. The amount of arena movement may be limited but the berm has been relocated and the building work has been completed. The museum has yet to inspect and compile its snagging list of items to be put right before it accepts the work as finished but that should be within the next few weeks. The DAS vehicle wing will be moving back there shortly afterwards and the chaps to whom I spoke (who had seen the new edifice close up) were pretty impressed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Listmaster Subject: Bounced transmissions I am getting transmissions returned as undelivered for two subscribers, Bruce Burden and someone whose name is unknown to me but whose email address is takopj@singnet.com.sg (the latter have been bouncing for some time). Can anyone assist me with tracing either of the two? Thanks Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Listmaster Subject: Email worm warning Most of you have probably heard of the ‘I Love You’ worm over the last few days. It is for real and there are now four variants of it in circulation - no doubt there will be more. Currently the subject lines of the known variants are: Subject: IL***Y**. Subject: Susitikim shi vakara kavos puodukui... Subject: Fw: Joke IF you receive emails with any of these in the subject line, then delete the whole email immediately and let me know. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES OPEN, SAVE OR DO ANYTHING WITH THE ATTACHMENT. DO NOT forward the email to anyone else "for information". Please also check that you do not receive email with an attachment ending in .VBS as these are very likely to contain the same virus. If you do take the same remedial action. I have no intention of clogging up everyone’s mailboxes with these warnings (particularly as most of them seem to be hoaxes) but my IT Dept sent me most of the above and hopefully they know of what they speak. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume