From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol.00 08/07/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Dremel drills 2: Dremel drills 3: Indo-China markings 4: Elusive 1/72nd scale kits 5: Falklands CVR(T)s 6: Staghound AA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: John Harris [ukmilmod@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Dremel drills Have you checked Argos or B&Q? Both stock Dremel (Argos offers the "Dremel Cordless Multi-Tool 7701 Kit for £ 47.50, Littlewoods Index do one (still Dremel) for £44.50). It's quite possible the model numbers are different in the UK. I think any 'jumping' is caused by a poor speed control; most seem to pulse the current, in an effort to maintain power while altering the speed. In my experience, and digging back to written parts of my O Level in Design & Technology, I always feel that these devices tend to run far, far too fast. When attacking plastic the speed just generates so much heat the plastic melts, clogging the bit. My personal favourite drill is a Ryobi cordless which re-charges on a stand and only cost £9.90 at B&Q. The Dremel Helpline is 0645 395 395, which might help with your queries. JH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Bradford Chaucer [bradford.chaucer@snet.net] Subject: Dremel drills You wrote: >I am considering investing in a Dremel drill (to supplement my old and rather clunky Expo) and understand from Steve Zaloga at AMPS this year that the rechargeable battery-powered job (called 'Mini-Mite' in the States?) is a good bet for plastic and resin as it is not so highly-powered that it melts the stuff. I have looked on the Dremel website (www.dremel.com) and the only battery version there is the 'Cordless Multi' code 7701. However, Micro-Mark is showing the Mini-Mite on its site and it seems to be a different device. Can any of you, across the pond or elsewhere, with experience of these devices answer the following: > * At slow speeds, does the motor 'jump' (I assume between magnets) on > its rotation cycle? I am plagued with such problems on my existing drill > and it makes drilling plastic a risky business as the control is less > than it might be. That's called cogging, and generally only occurs when a dc motor has been electronically slowed. To answer your question, no the MiniMite doesn't cog on either speed > * How is the lack of mains power when tackling white metal? I know > regular cordless power drills can struggle with drilling metal compared > to a mains version but this may not be much of a problem considering that > I will only be drilling/cutting brass, aluminium and white metal rather > than steel. No will not be a problem 'til the end of the battery charge period. It will probably pay to keep 2 packs, one on charge while you are using the other. > * Are two speeds (7,500 and 15,000 RPM for the Cordless Mult and 5,000 > and 10,000 for the Mini-Mite) adequate or do you find a continuously > variable speed control necessary? And if so, is there a variable-speed > (battery or mains) Dremel available? There is a 5 step ac powered unit and a continuously variable unit that is quite a bit more expensive - Micromark lists it at over $100. To answer your question, sort of, the 5,000/10,000 is preferable but you may find it too fast in some applications. > * Can it be used on a stand etc.? No the battery units don't work with the other accessories like the drill press or fixed base stands > * As I recollect, the power supply across the pond is different (110v > as against 240v here). Am I likely to experience problems with this if I > purchase one from the US, where the plug on the battery charger will, > presumably, be for 110v operation? If you plug it into 240 it will have a short life and spectacular death!!! However you can use a transformer to step your 240 down to 120 vac. > * Is it possible to buy just the drill? I have vast numbers of tools > for it but the advertisements seem to indicate that they all come with a > boxload of accessories. I think I have seen it available plastic carded as the tool only, but I am not sure. > * I will need to go down to 0.3mm bits (always find that small bits > are less likely to break in a power drill than a hand one) so will I need > several collets to allow me to use my dental burrs (which have c.2mm > shafts) as well? Yes, you can use the collet set, but I understand not the Dremel chuck. However there are chucks mounted on a 2/32 or 1/8 in shaft that work with a collet and allow you to have a chuck. However I wouldn't guarantee the concentricity of this arrangement. I can't recommend it as it would void the warranty, but you may be able to modify the nose of the tool to allow the use of the chuck, which screws on in place of the collet and retention nut. > * Is there a UK supplier who can beat the $32.95 (plus shipping and > whatever the Customs & Excise Dept. chooses to add) from Micro-Mark? Can't help you there You may want to consider another option. MicroMark just began selling a low speed tool which they bill as a screwdriver but which they state also is used as a slow speed drill. It is a Microlux that works with their variable DC supply. Here is the link. http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/82478.html They are running it on sale at $45 but it will require a variable power supply. I am going to look at it myself as the speed is continuously variable from 240 to 2500 rpm. They claim you need their higher power supply, though I suspect that the extra power is more needed for screw driving than drilling. Good luck Regards, Bradford Chaucer bradford.chaucer@snet.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: neal cotham [njcotham@yahoo.com] Subject: Indo-China markings Can anyone enlighten me as to the colours of a French unit marking in Indo-China? It was a five-pointed star with a different coloured border and either a letter 'S' or a number '5' inside. Can anyone provide more details or information? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Grant Parkin [granty_p@hotmail.com] Subject: Elusive 1/72nd scale kits Dear Robert and the thinkers, can anybody confirm the rumour that Heller are re-releasing the rest of their range of 1/72nd kits, namely the AMX 13, etc.. And has anybody heard of a Chinese, (I think), company called Galaxy Toy. They (allegedly) make a 1/72nd scale T80. If this is true, how good is it, who stocks it in the U.K., and what else do they make in small scale? Many thanks in advance for any information received. Grant -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Listmaster Subject: Falklands CVR(T)s I tried this one before but I know we have some more people on the list now than we did then. I am trying to do some research on the nine CVR(T)s sent to the Falklands in 1982 with the Blues and Royals (4 Scorpions, 4 Scimitars and 1 Samson). In particular, I am after photographs, especially of the Scorpion and Scimitar. However, there are not that many in print. I have Tanks Illustrated 12, New Vanguard 13, Men at Arms 133, Air Extra 33, Military Modelling 28/, Mil Mod's "Falklands Memorandum" series and the Marshall Cavendish partwork "The Falklands War" but has anyone any other photos from the conflict? Soldier magazine seems to have mislaid all its shots and I have written to the HCR museum but not had a reply yet. There was also an article in Military in Scale 12/96 but no non-model photos in it. In particular, can anyone explain why the ends of the KERRs were seemingly painted bright blue or covered with blue tape on some vehicles? All assistance gratefully received. Thanks chaps. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Listmaster Subject: Staghound AA I was watching the latest episode of the Thames TV series "The World at War" this week, having taped it, and there was a sequence, apparently in Belgium, of a Staghound AA armoured car driving through a crowd in a town. Only the top of the turret was visible, but it was obvious what it was. Unit unidentified (Guards AD?) but at least it was shown. The data and location are also uncertain, but it was clearly on the continent as the crowd looked a bit too enthusiastic to be British! Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Back issues of Think Tank can be found at: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/thinktank/thinktank.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume