From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol.0096 18/11/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Bovington models 2: British M29 colour schemes and markings 3: Panzer Front game 4: Dragon/Revell Kommandowagen 5: Designation F81 6: F81 7: Colour of British WWI artillery 8: RAF markings 9: Spanish Panzer IV -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Why you are reading number 96 now -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Micks [M.Pallas@tesco.net] Subject: Bovington models Hi all, Re the so called 'Dan Dare' models, I currently work with an ex WO who was an instructor at Bovvie for six years (although he was RHA, not RAC) where he taught ballistic theory. He told me that as each course passed through the unit, one of their final tasks was to produce a design and model of what they thought the future 20 to 30 years would bring. These were then forwarded to the Whitehall mandarins if deemed worthy of further investigation. It is therefore conceivable that these could be some of the more esoteric designs that did not make it! Mick Pallas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Listmaster Subject: British M29 colour schemes and markings I recently rediscovered an Azimut kit of an M29 (the one without the front and rear flotation cells) Weasel that I recall picking up at a model show for the princely sum of £5 a few years ago. I have a few photos of them in this configuration in US use, but I have an idea that the British used them during WW2 as well. I know the M29C was used by 79 Armoured Div in Holland (several in Fletcher’s new Concord book) but photos of the M29 version in British service are pretty thin on the ground. So, my question is: Does anyone know which British units used them, and where? What markings did they carry? Were they left in US OD NO.9 or repainted in SCC No.15? Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Jon Barker [jon_barkerm113@hotmail.com] Subject: Panzer Front game I have won a "Panzer Front" Playstation game in the recent "Military In Scale " competition. However, I am unlikely to use it as I do not have a Playstation (or time to use one if I borrowed it). It occurred to me that it would make a good Christmas present as the box is unopened etc.. If anyone is interested I would be willing to sell or swap it - I am currently building as many versions of the M113 family of vehicles as possible so could use anything that was going spare: M106; M548; M730 etc.. I could use any 1/35 models (made, part-made or unmade) as a possible swap. I am :- Jon Barker, Little Smoogro, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RB. Please contact Jon direct if interested. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Chris Lloyd-Staples [Lloydstaples@btopenworld.com] Subject: Dragon/Revell Kommandowagen Can anyone help with comments on the Kommando-wagen railway unit (Revell kit 03034)? I picked up this kit for a mere £3.99 in a shop called The Works (wishing that they had got hold of some REAL tanks to sell!). I am now the proud owner of a kit that I know nothing about, never having planned to make a train.... Does anyone know whether the kit is accurate, or whether any alterations are necessary? Chris Lloyd-Staples -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@mail.which.net] Subject: Designation F81 Alan Fanning asked in Think Tank 97 whether anyone knew what the marking F ' 81 on the rear wing of an RAF Series One Land Rover stands for. It sounds very like the RAF station markings used during and after the Second World War. If I recall correctly the F stood for Fighter while the number referred to the fighter airfield on which the vehicle was based. Similarly, B stood or bomber. If you have an old Airfix refuelling set you'll find similar markings included in the transfers. I believe that other letters were used as well, though what they were and what they stood for I can't remember - but they may be explained in the old Airfix magazine articles on RAF vehicles. If I get a chance I'll see if I can dig them out. Bill Scriven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Richard Lane [richard.1.lane@uk.zurich.com] Subject: F81 Alan Fanning has asked about the marking F 81 on a Land Rover. It almost certainly stands for F (Fighter Command) and 81 (either the RAF Group or Squadron number). Regards, Richard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Bill Scriven [bill.scriven@mail.which.net] Subject: Colour of British WWI artillery Having got to the stage of almost finishing the BK British WWI 8-inch howitzer, I've realised that I'm not sure what colour it should be. Can anyone enlighten me? Bill Scriven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Mick Bell [mick@the-belfry.demon.co.uk] Subject: RAF markings Alan Fanning asked about a marking F'81 [or perhaps F/81] on an RAF Land Rover. My understanding has always been that the letter represented the Command and the number the Group. Hence F/11 would be Fighter Command, 11 Group; B/1 was Bomber Command, 1 Group. These markings are commonly seen in photos and those Command/Group combinations were correct. My theory falls down in that I've never heard of 81 Group. However I don't claim encyclopaedic knowledge; does anyone out there know of an 81 Group within Fighter Command? Or could it have been an independent squadron, directly under the control of Command? Or is my theory completely up the spout? Help. Mick Bell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Stena Dee, Medic [Medic.Sdee@sdlabz.com] Subject: Spanish Panzer IV Hello folks, I'm posting this on behalf of a friend in the 'States' He is looking to trace any information, not necessarily English language sources, that are available on the 20 Panzer IV that were delivered to Spain in Dec. 1943. He has in his possession a listing of the 20 vehicles' serial numbers, this is the original 'Protokoll' German inspection document; a second list he has form a Spanish source again lists the vehicle serial numbers. However these differ from the German source considerably. His thoughts are that is the 'Protokoll' listing is that of vehicles that were destined for Spain, but not delivered, the Spanish listing is of the vehicles that were actually delivered. This order of 20 Panzer IV was part of an order which included 10 StuG III; are there any references to these vehicles other than what appears in the new Osprey book on the StuG III? Are there any references to the 17 Panzer IV that Spain sold to Syria in 1965? Any help is most appreciated. Thanks in advance. Andrew Telford Although there was an article (very hard to read, if I recall correctly, due to the ofdd style of writing employed) on the Syrian ones in Tracklink a few years ago, and I think one in one of the modelling magazines (Mil Mod?) by Bob Fleming more recently, my understanding was that the Syrians got their vehicles from Czechoslovakia, as the stowage bins were of the type seen on post-war Czech vehicles. However, I believe that the tyres had French markings, so that may not all have come from that source. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Listmaster Subject: Why you are reading number 96 now Those of you with your brain cells connected up correctly (I am clearly not among them) may have spotted that the sequence missed out issue 96. This was not due to lack of material but lack of awareness, so this should fill the gap. Back to my padded cell ;-). Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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