From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol.0084 31/07/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: KERR 2: Clive Harman 3: KERR 4: 1/35 scale boats 5: Armour in Denmark 6: Beatties - the next generation and Finnish tank colours 7: Aussie R-35s 8: MAFVA information service 9: 3/4 ton Dodge weapons carrier 10: Captured French Char B2 bis 11: Dremel drill saga continues -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Next edition 2: Tankette indices to Vol.36 No.4 3: Kits for sale 4: Loads of kits for sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Brian Carter [brian.c@netcomuk.co.uk] Subject: KERR Hi Guys I've seen a couple of Scammell Explorers use these ropes very effectively. They are much faster than using the winch. A word of caution, if the recovery vehicle is lighter than the stuck vehicle, it can work like a big elastic band and ping the vehicle back into the casualty at an alarming rate. I have heard a story about a Land Rover being "pinged" into the front of a 4 tonner. Their are a few of these ropes around in the preservation movement and I think we should try to get someone to give demo at one of the shows. Maybe War and Peace next year. Keep up the good work. Brian Carter (The Scammell Pioneer Man!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Harris [ukmilmod@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Clive Harman Without wishing to embarrass Clive, I can vouch for his credentials as an excellent source of Modelpoint and Far Eastern kits. I bought a number of Trumpeter via Clive and they worked out about £12 each, much cheaper than the official imports and frankly round about what they are worth! The Modelpoint barrels are simply amazing, and Clive manages to get them at reasonable prices. Thanks Clive and anyone should not hesitate to use his good offices. John Harris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Harris [ukmilmod@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: KERR Further to the previous posts, I remember seeing a demonstration of the KERR in action at a Bovington Battle Day, in the days they were held at Gallows Hill. As everyone has mentioned, the vehicle being recovered literally 'leapt' out of the mud once the correct (critical?) tension was attained in the tow rope. I think the demo involved a Scorpion and Samson. Unfortunately the current Battle Days are a pale substitute for the Gallows Hill affairs, regular demonstrations included bridging tanks, floating CVR(W) in a tank (the water sort). CETs firing their earth anchors, and simulated mines. All this and a full scale armoured battle! John Harris I recall the value of the mock battle in 1987 when attempting to measure bits of a Chieftain on the static line. The squaddie in charge (he hadn't eaten since 8AM) was doing a fine marketing job for it and managed to persuade all the munchkins climbing over the turret to go off and watch, which gave ma a valuable few minutes' peace! Robert (still hasn't finished the model though ;-) ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: MALCOLM IRESON [ireson@carltons36.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: 1/35 scale boats Does anyone out there know of where I may be able to get a German WWII small boat, small enough to fit on the Famo trailer, for something a bit different. Cheers in advance. Malc. If you mean the Sd.Ah.116, I think Dragon does some pontoon type inflatable affairs that might do the job. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: IAN HANRATTY [ian@hanra.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Armour in Denmark Calling MR ANDY LANG Hi Andy I have read your article in this months TANKETTE and though you may find the following info if use to you. Bill Kirk ,an American, runs a e mail news letter called TANKS. which deals with military vehicles up to 1946. In the section on Denmark there are some photos of the vehicles you mention in the article. I realise you have possibly already got these photos but thought it may be of help to you. The address for the site is :- http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/ I hope this helps Cheers Ian Hanratty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Richard Marks [ros@marks28.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Beatties - the next generation and Finnish tank colours I was in "Beatties" Holborn yesterday (28/7), and I got chatting to one of the staff. It seems that Beatties as was is now dead, and 6 sites have been bought by Model Zone, who have a chain of model shops in the south of England. The store in Holborn is as far north as they go. The shop had a good selection of kits and a lot of stock on the shelves, including ICM tank and aircraft kits, lots of Revell kits etc. etc.. They are having a sale of Matchbox kits (I picked up a Challenger for £1.99). The store will shortly be getting new signs etc. A note to all of you building Finnish tanks. BEWARE! All is not as it seems! I have been exchanging e-mails with one of the IPMS Mallari (IPMS Finland) guys, and also have a reference to the IPMS Mallari web page (unfortunately I don't read Finnish). It seems that what everyone thinks is grey in the three tone camo scheme is in fact a buff colour. I have mixes for all three colours for the three tone from the website, and the colours are not what has been used, the tonal difference gives pretty much what the tones of the black and white photos give. I do not yet have an official Finnish Army reference, but I'm working on it, although I'm inclined to go with the guys in Finland as they can get their hands on the real things easier than we can. Also, there is an anti-tank gun in one of the Finnish army museums that is in original colours, i.e. the same three tone as for tanks, and there ain't no grey on there, only the buff colour! Richard Good job I have exhibited my usual sloth in getting on with my Finnish KV then. And to think it was based on an article in the IPMS Finland magazine! Please post a mix when you have one. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Mike Cooper [coopmik1@hotmail.com] Subject: Aussie R-35s Dear All Has anyone come across any evidence of markings for the Renault R-35s captured by Australian forces in Syria? In fact, with the exception of Italy, Rumania and Jugoslavia (and Germany) does anyone have anything on non-French R-35s? Mike Cooper Reading UK PS. Just taken delivery of the superb 1/76th resin Char 2c from Gramodels - very nicely cast and very nicely details. A quick check shows it matching Mick Bell's drawings and photos pretty well. I bought mine pre-production for £20. Well spent. I can recall seeing only one photo of such a vehicle, in Wise's Military Vehicle Markings Part 2 (Bellona/MAP 1973), but all the markings appear to be French (registration number, roundel, number "8" and (apparently) a heart symbol on the turret. The source is not identified but all came from the IWM or Bovington, and as the caption refers to there being an original description, I would assume the former. The three squaddies on the back look fairly non-Australian however. I see from the first Concord book on Tank Battles of the Middle East Wars (Zaloga) that the Syrians used at least one at Degania kibbutz in 1948 Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: MAFVA information service The MAFVA Information Service exists to help members and promote their interest. For the price of an A5 or A4 size SAE (equivalent IRCs x 4 for overseas members) to my address, I can supply any number of plans but I would ask people to be specific with their request. And no 'Shipping Orders' please! Its preferable for me to handle a 'wants list' of up to a dozen drawings at any one time. On the downside however, I am still getting requests with no SAEs, no return envelopes, no names and even no address at times! Some overseas correspondents genuinely believe I live next door to Gary Williams (who is 1-200 miles away) and Spike who now resides in France. I am not a miracle worker nor a charity and I have no crystal ball to gaze at to obtain these details. May I suggest a little thought is exercised before dropping me a line please. Thank you. Regards, John Baumann Information Service. John's address is inside the front cover of Tankette. BTW, the service is for MAFVA members only. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: 3/4 ton Dodge weapons carrier Plans may be found in the Geoff Lacey series No. A28, John Church No. 109 & 154, an older plan was drawn up by Mick Bell. The Russian Modelist Konstructor dated 5/1989 carried a large-scale version (possibly 1/35). Regards, John Baumann -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: Captured French Char B2 bis Bob quoted that 'Unfortunately the rear and innards of the vehicle are a mystery to me' and this applies to everyone else too, few pictures of this AFV exist. The plan featured in Tankette 14/3 is by John Rue from his Series III/004 and seems to be the only drawing about at present, until maybe Hubert Cance chooses to have a bash at it. Regards, John Baumann -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Listmaster Subject: Dremel drill saga continues I have managed to find a transformer to convert US 110V AC to UK 240V. However, there are two versions available, for up to 30VA and up to 50VA. None of the information I have on the Dremel Mini-Mite tells me what load it needs, so can anyone who has one please advise? Thanks Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Listmaster Subject: Next edition I will be away next weekend attempting to assist with the MAFVA UK Nationals at Duxford, so next week's edition will probably not go out until Tuesday 7th July. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Listmaster Subject: Tankette indices to Vol.36 No.4 The latest update will go out shortly as MS Excel 5 and Lotus 123 formats, according to which version was requested. They incorporate a series of filters to make it easier to run to ground a particular article or drawing. If you would like to be added to the list, please email to rlockie@platosoftware.com and request to be included. Please specify which version you want – the default is the Excel version. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Clive Harman [cliveharman1@yahoo.com] Subject: Kits for sale My enforced tidy up & sort out of my model kits & magazines is going well, I only need someone to give a home to two kits to help me out of the mire. From the initial huge parcel from Hong Kong I only have left:- Trumpeter 1:35 Iraqi Type69 ( Mint all bags still sealed) Trumpeter 1:35 Finnish T-55 w/mineroller ( 1 bag opened to examine new T55 sprue - all sprues still intact) They are £9.00ea. incl postage in UK. Thanks, Clive -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: PSmith6328@aol.com Subject: Loads of kits for sale I have loads of 1/35th AFV kits for sale, mostly Shermans and variants, but lots of other stuff as well. Please e-mail me for a full price list. Regards Phill Smith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Back issues of Think Tank (thanks to Shane Jenkins) can be found at: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/thinktank/thinktank.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume