From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0035 13/05/2000 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: LVTP-5 in British service 2: 7 R Tanks in the western desert 3: Back issues archive 4: Ram details 5: 7 R Tanks names 6: Building models 7: British Army LVTs/LVTP-5s 8: Tank museum library 9: Crusader hull side plates -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: A reminder about postings 2: Next issue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: nickbalmer [nickbalmer@ukonline.co.uk] Subject: LVTP-5 in British service Hello Bob, You're wrong, LVTP 5 definitely appears in a photo at Middle Wallop in Sand alongside a lot of Buffalos of different types. They are photographed in front of a fort which is probably in England not Egypt, it looks to be a 19th Century Palmerston Fort or slightly later brick built fort, it might be one of the ones around the Solent. They might not have got to Suez, I expect it was a trial vehicle. I expect it wouldn't fit in ourlanding craft. Regards Nick Balmer Er, actually, I've never even seen the photo, so the posting last week was based on Bill's report of what it contained. So you may well be right, although it is nevertheless interesting to learn that we did have at least one LVTP5. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Baumann Subject: 7 R Tanks in the western desert Looking back over my text, my intended response covering the 7th RTR Matilda is absent because I was still checking the references. I don't know what back issue Ian Hanratty's request appeared in but can you add the following comments in your next 'TT' release please. Many thanks John 1) Information on the Western Desert 7th RTR Matilda (& names) may be found in AFV G2 & an issue of the old London Group Newsletter which I can copy if an SAE is supplied. 2) Since Robert furnished my e-mail address in the last issue, would people please note that I cannot afford to be inundated with messages direct to the Company address. I would much prefer it if they either drop me a line at home or simply use Think Tank sheets in the normal manner, where I can pick up minor request and where I can help I will respond accordingly. If you are not therefore a MAFVA member please seriously consider subscribing now, as the Info Service is one of its main benefits. JB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Baumann Subject: Back issues archive Robert May I suggest that we keep up the Web based 'back issue access' feature and add this to every 3rd or 4th new issue (in order to keep the size down), as I found this particularly useful. JB Actually I don't have anything to do with this - I believe Shane Jenkins (on the APMA site) and Frank Gould (on the MAFVA site) post back issues but writing web pages is not something I have tackled yet. I assume that you gents will therefore take due credit for this one. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: nickbalmer [nickbalmer@ukonline.co.uk] Subject: Ram details Try the following for Ram details http://www.mapleleafup.org/vehicles/restorations/restore7.html Also try Wheels & Tracks No 52 which has a stowage diagram, and several good photos. Regards Nick Balmer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: John Baumann Subject: 7 R Tanks names Having now revisited Ian Hanratty's request in Issue No.20 on the 7RTR names, if they haven't already done so, may I suggest that those of his discussion group seeking the information join our Association and deal with me direct. I am not in the business of supplying material to non-members I am afraid. In my personal opinion, a £7 subscription to Tankette isn't asking for the world. JB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Daniel Taylor [d-taylor@dircon.co.uk] Subject: Building models You implied that you finished models on the special announcement. Is this so? Dan Taylor Unfair, sir! I built one in April (OK so it was 1998, but at least it was done!). Anyway, all those years on London MAFVA committee made me forget how to build things. Not that it seems to trouble some of the current crew ;-).. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@which.net] Subject: British Army LVTs/LVTP-5s Thanks for the information about LVTs in Think Tank 34. I was lucky enough to be at the last London MAFVA meeting so was able to look through the photo's that David Payne had obtained from the Royal Marines Museum. None were taken at Suez, but there was a selection of post war photo’s of various vehicles engaged in a what appeared to be a training exercise on the beach close to the old Marine barracks at Eastney in Portsmouth. These included LVTs, DUKWs and even a US LARC (Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo) (being evaluated perhaps?). The LVTs appeared to be LVT-3s, which ties in with the information from Paul Middleton and with my recollection of the LVTs in Suez photo in the Museum of Army Flying. Of more interest, though, were two photos of what was definitely an LVTP-5. It was clear from one of the photos that the vehicle had a post war British Army registration number. My guess is that the British Army (or the Marines) had only one of these vehicles (LVTP-5), which may originally have been purchased for evaluation purposes. Unfortunately I didn't note down the registration number of either the Suez or Eastney LVTP-5s so have absolutely no evidence to support this theory. I don't know how many LVT-3s were lined up in the Suez photo, but I'm fairly certain that there were more than half a dozen, which suggests a squadron rather than a troop. Does anyone know if there are any 1:76 scale kits of the LVTP-5? Bill Scriven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: alan fanning [alan@afanning.fsnet.co.uk] Subject: Tank museum library Last week John Harris mentioned the Library at the Tank Museum, I have never been there, but will be going shortly. It would be useful if someone could give those of us who haven't used this facility some idea of what it's like, can anyone just turn up on the day or do you have to book reading tickets in advance? Is it reference only and do they have copies of technical or workshop manuals for vehicles? I would appreciate it if someone could let us know. A few weeks ago I asked about fine chains but rather stupidly neglected to say how many links per inch I needed; I was actually after 25 links per inch. Thanks to those who already replied. Many thanks. Al. I will be there (assuming you mean Bovington) next week for a couple of days, and from previous experience it is pretty good. The museum has considerable numbers of large cardboard boxes (the size of the large flat ones that supermarkets use for fruit - but not the same boxes!) containing numerous technical manuals, reports, illustrated spare parts lists, wading instructions, lubrication diagrams etc. It is inevitably something of a lottery in that what is available for the vehicle you are researching does vary, but there is plenty of useful stuff there. I believe the museum also has war diaries for all the armoured regiments although I have tended to use the PRO for war diaries as I have mainly been looking at those of other units. There are also details of orders by the War Dept for various vehicles, the six-monthly RAXC reports and a large selection of books, plus no doubt lots of stuff that I have never even thought of looking for. It is reference only but photocopies can be ordered and take under a week usually. Not sure what the cost per copy is now - probably gone up since the new management is adopting something of a "commercial" attitude to us. Finally there are plenty of photographs, from the earliest days of the tank up to the present day. It is advisable to book in advance as there are limited numbers of seats. However, as far as I know, there is no reading ticket as such so no proof of ID is needed as at the PRO. There certainly wasn't when I went last. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Listmaster Subject: Crusader hull side plates Does anyone know whether the bolts which held the outer hull side plates to the brackets between inner and outer plates were countersunk or not? I have all the positions (they are also shown in the rather handy - and cheap - booklet MV-06 in the military vehicle workshop series) but the area is invariably in shadow in photos. Yes, I know that means there is probably no point in including them, but ;-)).. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Listmaster Subject: A reminder about postings Time for a couple of quick reminders about posting - First, please do not just hit the "Reply" icon and send me back the whole of the digest, as I have to wade through it all looking for your words of wisdom. Second, please put something in the subject line or I have to make something up. Thanks Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Listmaster Subject: Next issue Sorry people, I am away next weekend at the Bovington show, so the next issue will be out on Monday night. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume