Subject: Think Tank Vol.0112 22/02/2002 Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 18:06:53 -0000 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Ribbed tube 2: French Lorraine 38L camouflage 3: Staghounds in New Zealand service 4: Guitar strings 5: Atlantique 1/72nd scale figures... and kits! 6: Vickers Medium Tank 7: Cromwell kits -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bruce Crosby [bruce@dwcrosby.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Ribbed tube The guitar string method gives the correct pattern but not the correct "sit". Why not get the right guitar string, chop a section up then mould and cast it in resin? Then you can bend it to any shape you like, with some judicious use of hot and cold water or a hairdryer. Try Alumilite, available from ED models. Lovely resin for home use, sets quickly and takes detail well. Regards, Bruce Crosby A typically cunning solution, which I will try. Thanks. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Nowfel LEULLIOT [n.leulliot@free.fr] Subject: French Lorraine 38L camouflage You are quite right. In the case of the Lorraine 38Ls, things were quite simple since only one factory built them and all production models were finished in the simplified wartime camouflage of green with dark brown swathes (tonal values were pretty close and the contrast isn't very great on B&W photographs). Late production vehicles may have simply been delivered in green but this is conjectural. The only significant change from this is the prototype which was finished in camouflage pattern of green, ochre and black. Photos of the prototype and production models can be found at : http://france1940.free.fr/armee/apc.html Nowfel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: nickbalmer [nickbalmer@ukonline.co.uk] Subject: Staghounds in New Zealand service Hello Listers, Does anybody know what colours the New Zealand Staghounds in Italy were painted. In Bryan Perrett's book ‘Allied Tanks Italy World War Two’ by Arms & Armour Press., on page 32 there appear two photos of NZ Staghounds, one of which dates from 31 May 1944. Being in black and white and not particularly clearly printed, it is difficult to be sure, but they both look as if they are in the same sand and black (or green?) as the armoured cars delivered to Australia as shown on page 32 of Wheels and Tracks No 32 on page 32. The cars in Wheels and Tracks have the USA registration, and a bold two-tone camouflage. Paul Handel’s website Anzac Steel has an article on Australian World War Two colours which clearly show the same two-tone camouflaged car charging down a tree in Australia. Were the New Zealand Staghounds from the same batch? The New Zealand Division in Italy had an unusual composition with two infantry and one tank brigade. The Staghounds were part of the Divisional Cavalry Regiment. In Jeff Plowman’s and Malcolm Thomas’s book ‘4th New Zealand Brigade in Italy’, on page 43 there is a picture of a Staghound on 22 September 1944. I have read some years ago that due to a shortage of infantry in the Division, the Divisional Cavalry was broken up to reform as Infantry. Is this correct? And at what date? Did the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry have scout cars and support troops as the British and Canadian Recce Regiments did, or where they mounted purely in Staghounds. Is there a site on the internet in New Zealand similar to the fantastic Australian War Memorial photo library? Regards Nick Balmer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Doug Bauer [thebauers3@cox.net] Subject: Guitar strings Robert, Re: ‘springy’ guitar strings.... try heating them to red-hot then air cool to anneal them. They'll lose their ‘memory’ and be easily bendable and will stay that way. Regards, Doug Bauer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Grant Parkin [granty_p@hotmail.com] Subject: Atlantique 1/72nd scale figures... and kits! Hello Robert and the 'thinkers', Whilst wasting time doing a bit of surfing the other night, I came across a French/Belgian small scale website, (Dario Modellisme, if memory serves), that had a list of most/all 1/72-1/76 scale manufacturers. As I was checking out Atlantique, I found that there were listed about 20 kits of tanks and vehicles, including such rarities as an Ontos anti-tank vehicle, and a V200 armoured car. Can anyone out there in 'small scale land' confirm, or deny, the existence of these kits? And whilst I trying to jog a few brain cells, did Heller ever make a 'hard polythene' kit of the French VAB APC? And does anyone have any info about a Chinese company called Lee? They make about 10 (or so) small scale armour kits. Many thanks in advance, Grant. I seem to recall seeing some Chinese kits, advertised as being 1/72 or so, of various modern AFVs a few years ago. The ones I recall were the Challenger and Merkava but there may have been a Leopard 2 as well. They were, as far as I could tell, scaled down copies (how unusual) of 1/35 kits, namely Tamiya’s Challenger and Academy’s Merkava. What gave the origins of the latter away was the fact that the pattern maker had evidently worked from the plastic parts of the Academy kit and reproduced them fairly well. Unfortunately, he had missed the fact that Academy’s Merkava has separate rubber-type tyres, so the kit wheels are designed to accommodate these. Unfortunately the small scale copy did not incorporate any separate tyres, making the wheels look very odd indeed. The English instructions (possibly from Japanese via Chinese) were a masterpiece of the translator’s art, reminiscent of the ‘General Ron Mel and his ‘middle class personnel carrier’ from Nitto many years ago. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Andrew.Duff@lowebroadway.com Subject: Vickers Medium Tank Hi all, Many moons ago, when the world was young, Tankette ran an article on the Vickers Medium, the mainstay of the RTR between the wars. Does anyone have a copy of this that they could photostat, email, whatever? Many thanks in anticipation. Andrew Duff (new member) Hi Andrew It was in Vol.7 No.6, but there was no text. I also see that the same draughtsman (Ken Musgrave) had plans in Military Modelling of the Mk.I (Jan 1987), Mk.II (Jan 1983) and Mk.III (Feb 1986). These were probably to a larger scale (my records show the Mk.II plan to be in 1/32), which may be more useful given the quality of printing in the days of Tankette Vol.7. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: John Clarke [j.clarke@clear.net.nz] Subject: Cromwell kits Hi all This last week I have tried to e-mail Cromwell models at:- cromwell.models@virgin.net cromwell@xs4all.nl Both these e-mail addresses I picked up from their web page. I have not received any replies. My question is “are Cromwell Models still in business & if they are does anyone have a current e-mail address?” Thank you for your help in advance. John Clarke As far as I am aware, Cromwell is still in business, and will doubtless be at Trucks & Tracks this weekend, so I will check. I see from the latest Mil Mod that the telephone and fax numbers have changed, so it may be that the opportunity has been taken to upgrade the email facilities as well. All being well, I should be able to report back next issue. 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