From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol.0090 25/09/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: RAF SdKfz 222 #2 2: Beaverettes 3: Thank you 4: Ammunition 5: John Sandars 6: Euro Militaire report 7: Pak 40 wanted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: For sale 2: Forthcoming events -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Paul.middleton [paul.middletonmafva@tesco.net] Subject: RAF SdKfz 222 #2 Dear Richard, It must be Murphy's Law working overtime. I've just been moving stuff in the loft and picked up the binder with Tracklink in, but took the opportunity to have a glimpse through (Ian Hanratty has asked me to look out for British Tank names). I had completely forgotten that I'd sent in a piece about the re-use of captured vehicles which was printed in Tracklink No. 20 which included the info about the RAF SdKfz 222 armoured cars. Two German SdKfz 222 four-wheel armoured cars were acquired and operated by No. 2 Armoured Car Company RAF Regiment in the Middle East 1942-43. Some modifications were carried out, such as seven jerricans lashed over the front bumper and held in place by a single canvas strap. Mesh guards were fitted over the headlamps, and the spade was replaced by a GS shovel. The vehicles remained a well weathered sand colour, with RAF roundels painted on the glacis and rear hull plates. One carried the registration RAF415 on the front and rear bumpers. A large amount of kit was stowed on the rear deck. Crew uniform was a mixture of RAF KD and Afrika Korps items. This is the information in full, which is what I would have gleaned from the Airfix Magazine letter. I still cannot remember a photo. I wonder if one of these was the old Bapty-owned vehicle which lived at Duxford before going to the U.S.? Cheers, Paul -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: cdward [cdward@supanet.com] Subject: Beaverettes I have just written a long letter off to Classic Military Vehicles about Beaverettes, a favourite armoured car of mine, in response to a good article. Can anyone help with a couple of points from my memory? Does anyone know the IWM photo of a MkIV Beaverette, without turret, in use in Normandy? What is its number? I think Paul Middleton showed it to me when I was in the Cambridge mob. I have got the number somewhere for safe keeping, but have moved twice since! Also what is the pedigree of the Beaverettes in preservation? Are they all ex-Irish? I know of four. Duxford's is too tall, with odd vision slits, so perhaps was rebuilt from waist up. Cobbaton's has a weld line at the same level that the Irish cut theirs to. There is a Mk.III without turret in Scotland (Myreton Motor Museum, Aberlady). Anyone been there? Also a clearly Irish MkIV in Holland. Are there any more? Does anyone have evidence, documentary or photographic, of their use by the Home Guard, other than a well known IWM shot of a line of 6 with LDV crew? Will Ward -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Rick Bennett [RLB98@msn.com] Subject: Thank you Just wanted to send a thank you to Mike Starmer for all his excellent work on the British colours and also to Mike Cooper. Thank you for sharing and enlightening us on a little covered subject, at least here in the States. Rick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Townsend, Dave [Dave.Townsend@bl.uk] Subject: Ammunition Dear Think Tank, Thank you for your helpful reply, but I have been unable to find Aber or Historex Agents; do you have a phone number for either? Regards Dave Townsend Aber is a Polish manufacturer – there are several UK stockists including (I think) LSA Models (Tel/fax 01273 705420, email lsamodels@mcmail.com, website www.lsamodels.fstnet.co.uk ) and Pol Models but Historex (which also stocks it) is at 01304 206720, fax 01304 204528, email sales@historex-agents.co.uk, website www.historex-agents.co.uk Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: kenneth lee [ken@klee67.fsnet.co.uk] Subject: John Sandars Dear Sir I wish to enrol on your forum. My name is Ken Lee and I am MAFVA member no.2738. Gary Williams put me on to you and he wishes me to send his regards to you Also I am after copies of articles which the late John Sandars wrote in old copies of Tankette. Can you help me? I am collecting everything I can which he wrote. Thanks Ken Lee Hi Ken I will add you to the distribution list for Tankette indices, which includes all those articles I have managed to trace (pretty much everything after Vol.4, but Vols. 1-4 were not that useful anyway from what I have seen of them)by him. There us a filter to select just John's (or anyone else's ) articles, which should help you. I suspect that most are now out of print but as you are a MAFVA member, you may like to try contacting John Baumann with an SAE for any specific material you want. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: John Harris [ukmilmod@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Euro Militaire report Dear all, I've posted some photos I took at Euro Militaire today, http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk/Events/EM2001.html Please let me know of any errors / omissions. Cheers John http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: shanger [shanger@supanet.com] Subject: Pak 40 wanted I should like to enquire whether anyone has a Matchbox PaK 40 that they are willing to sell or trade. I'm not sure if the Matchbox Sdkfz-thingy halftrack & gun kit is still available, but I should prefer not to buy the whole lot as I have a new mortgage to service & expensive wife to support (or should it be the other way around....). I should stress that I'm not after the halftrack, just the gun itself. However, it must be the Matchbox gun, in order to comply with the requirements of a particular modelling competition. Ironically, I have plenty of surplus Fujimi Pak 40s (from the Pzkpfw 1 kit) - enough to defend the Western Wall - and can trade a number of these instead of cash if preferred. If anyone does have a Matchbox PaK 40 that they feel they can spare, I would be grateful to hear from them. Andy Lang -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: price.r.h@talk21.com Subject: For Sale Model Victoria 1/35 Italian M36 Motor Tricycle (resin and photoetch) £19 Chesapeake Model Designs 1/35 Firefly Turret set (resin and decals)£8 Please contact Robert Price: price.r.h@talk21.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Listmaster Subject: Forthcoming events Word reaches me that the Mildenhall Model Show on 30th September has unfortunately been cancelled, doubtless due to security restructions in the area. However, as far as I am aware, the SW Expo at Bovington will take place next weekend. The following weekend is the London MAFVA Open competitions, at St Mary's church hall, Edith Road, West Kensington. Finally, there is the IPMS UK Nationals at Telford, Shropshire on 3-4 November. Unfortunately the second day of this clashes with the Model Showcase show at Letchworth (Hertfordshire) this year but it gives an alternative if you can't swing the longer time away ;-). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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