RecyMech

Whilst over at Muckleburgh the other day I also measured up & photographed their BAT (which they claim is an L6 Wombat, but it is`nt, its an L1 BAT with all the shield still fitted)...for comparison with the two L4 Mobats I photograhed & measured at Evesham. But anyway....what I'm asking if anyone can enlighten me please.....the L1 BAT with the shield has two handwheels,.. elevation & traverse obviously. On the later L4 BAT though there is only 1 handwheel, for elevation only;- Q. How is the traverse 'controlled' on the L4 & later versions?....is it just a shove of the shoulder & a case of giving the target the right amount of 'lead' if its moving ? Q. Also I see no provision for any king of spotting/ranging weapon on the L1 BAT. Did it rely on a separate weapon alongside to gain the range of the target ? Many thanks for any light shed on it. Howard @ KFS

Cheers Tony...question answered on the attachment of the table :thumbsup: You're certainly right about all the various mods & changes....the more pictures I collect the more differences I can see. I have a few shots of a very recent 105 with all the ballistic computer trickery boxes fitted, taken on a TA show stand 2010...& yet that one is set up & displayed on its turntable. I assume with the longer barrel version then it could no longer be towed with the barrel reversed & pointing toward the tractor ? I was informed at Mucklburgh RA gave up doing that anyway due to having to remove a wheel to bring the gun into action. Like most military kit.......complex history! Cheers.......H

Thanks Tony....got that much ok, I can visualise that all taking place.... but is the gun actually free standing on the table & not 'fixed' or 'chained to it' any way while in action ? And, is there a reason why some are seen with the table & others without......even on U tube clips of guns in action. Just trying to understand it all fully before I pass the info to my pattern maker. Cheers.........H

Evening all, Well I made contact with the Muckleburgh collection & got in on Sunday for a good photo shoot & a measure up. I just have a couple of questions regarding the 105 Light Gun, if anyone can offer any advice I'd be eternally grateful. I'm seeing them with & without the large circular base plate (pardon my ignorance if it has a tech term), the Muckleburgh gun does not have one so I'm reliant on pictures from t'interweb for any info.....which are not too clear Was this just a 'loose item' once detached from the trails or was the gun 'mounted' onto the plate in some way. Presumably the plate is dropped on the deck & the gun rolled back onto it ?....but is the gun then 'attached' to the plate in some way, or free standing on it ? Is there a particular reason why some have them & some don't ?....a mod of some sort perhaps ? Cheers.....H

http://www.kitformservices.com/standard.html Greetings all. Just a heads up on the imminent relase of the TQ-201 Ordnance BL 5.5" gun kit & the TQ-205 Ammunition Box Set. Both on sale from 25th July & pictures of both new kits now available towards the bottom of the above linked page. Feel free to view, hope you like the gun, all comments more than welcome. Best regards......Howard @ KFS

Hi again, Can anyone put me in touch with Shaun Hindle please...? I have a pattern maker standing by with an empty production slot waiting to start the 105 patterns. Ideally I'd like to get one measured up before Monday if at all possible. Cheers fellas. Howard @ KFS

Cracking Rob, !!!! many thanks........I did`nt realise the Muckleburg Collection was actually as close as it is, just around the bend from me in fact ....never been there & never looked it up. But I will now.........looks like a good day out Had a look for the Battlefront Museum, found the web page, but I see its moving house.......but again I did`nt realise it was East of England located. Shall have to watch that & make contact asap. Superb info, question answered in a flash!. Many many thanks:thanx::tup:: Howard @ KFS

Af'noon gents. Could anyone suggest or offer me the chance to photograph & measure a 105 Light Gun please? Anyone have a complete one in private hands that I could photograph to death? ...or even suggest where there might be a good gate guard? The more complete example the better of course. I'm in the Boston Lincs area, so while I am prepared to travel, the closest one would obviously be most attractive. Any suggestions chaps? This is advance research for one of the next 1/24th models. The 5.5" howitzer is just about to be released in the next month, but meanwhile the 1 ton LR masters have been finished & is next for release. The 105 Light Gun is to accompany that model. Any help much appreciated. Cheers......Howard @ KFS

One sunny day I was in the Martian wrecker between Hohne & Fallingbostel & passed a range head where the Bundeswehr were firing the Jagdepanzer 90. So, ever armed with my trusty Kodak Instamatic I stopped a while to take pictures. Oh my what a kerfuffel that caused....I was sprung by 4 hairy Bundes-squaddies & marched over to their officer who demanded the film out of my camera.:blush: Me being a mighty Lance Corporal promptly told him where to go....which led to an exchange of army number, name & unit. I retained the camera & film though (having called his bluff)...but it did lead to a short interview with the Provo Coy in Hohne. Seems he did report me after all. (No fine, no pack drill) Regarding the UK flogging off British kit for cash......possibly better that, than blowing it to bits on the ranges. Two reasons, 1) we get asmall something back for the taxpayers outlay, 2) we get to see it perform later on when two third world countries take it out of each other.:cool2: Surely it would be a lot cheaper to actually build hard targets in a basic 'tank shape' from cheapo steel plate, maybe concrete filled rather than use potentially saleable kit ? Just a thought. H

Tee hee...takes me back a bit. :-D One of my jobs twice a year was to take hulks from the graveyard at 3 alpha on Hohne ranges out on to the ranges & postion them as directed by the German range staff. Mainly M48s & M47s & I see there are still a few hanging around by the look of it. There were also a number of Staghound & Boarhound a 3A......plus......a Churchill flail, still with its chains !! That one we later took to the Swingfire range:cry: sorry about that chaps. I bet the Conqs are no more than dust nowadays ? The M47s & M48s I towed out with a Cent ARV though were not long out of service & were largley complete. Now it seems the poor old Cent ARVs are targets.:cry: (Still looking for 03ZR59 & if anyone spots it, its mine & I want it back) Can anyone clue me in on target '31' ?....I dont have a clue what that is. Cheers for the pics, nice one. H

Paul, Dunno if you've still got any final bits & loose ends to add on....but I just want to say a big thanks for doing this & what a memory jogger it has been right through. (a bit like where were you when Elvis died) It certainly made me re-live all the emotions of the time.....I don't think I missed one single news report, on TV or radio, for the entire time the operation was on, & this brought it all back. I personally think the armed forces learned a lot from the conflict at the time....but with the scrapping of Harrier, no more V bomber to fall back on, the farce with the carriers, cuts left right & centre, I fear it would be even more difficult if we had to do it all again. It would still all be down to the poor bloody infantry....assuming we could find the ships & aircraft to get them there of course. Thanks. H

Hi Peter, Just spoken to Phil Plumb at ACOC who confirms there will be two Mobat & at least one recoiless at Evesham. Looks like a full on tape measure day. Having said that...if it all goes pear shaped for any reason I'll drop you a line & take you up on the kind offer of measuring up yours by arrangement. Many thanks....might bump into you at Evesham in any case. Best regs. H

"Peru sends 10 mirage jets to Argentina to replenish losses" Hmmmm I never knew that. Anyone know if they actually used them ?:argh: H

Peter, What a cracking duo !! :wow:Champ looks damn tidy in picture.:kiss: Would you possibly be taking Champ & Mobat to the Champ Camp at Evesham on the 24th June ??? I'm trying to get there myself weather & work load permitting.....& the reason I ask is because it might be an ideal chance (with your permission) to photograph & measure it to death for a 1/24th model release to go with the Champ kit I do.:cool2: Best regs......Howard @ KFS

Well done all. Damn good shows though all of them eh?, & I'd happily watch em all again...& again. I think Fulton McKay nicked the Beady Eye thing....& if you think about it, sort of put himself across as a bit of a BSM Williams too. Sgt Snudges victim for the eyeball was usually 'Bootsie' played by Alphie Bass.....a similar character to Gunner Sugden. Anyone remember Sgt Bilko ? (& his motor pool...based on our LAD MT Section) Hogans Heros ? (the little German guard "I know nossink") Rowan & Martins Laugh In...the German hiding behind the tall grass...."Verrrrry interestink, but verrrry stupid" Happy days ! H

While walking the dogs the other day....mind & memory drifted back to old TV series with military connections. A test for some oldies here (members that is) I know the answers....just wondered if anyone else here is as ancient as me.... Who said & name the series........"I got my beady eye on you" ? Who said & name the series........"Up to here in muck & bullets" ? Who said & name the series........"Fag for the Corporal" ? Who said & name the series........"Lovely boy"... & ..."I will not have gossip in my jungle" ? Discuss H

"Reagan asks Thatcher not to inflict too serious a defeat on the Argentines" Amusing in so many ways.:-D:-D I wonder if that line was made public?...it would have done wonders for Argentine morale. "Dear Pedro, Have asked Margaret not to have her boys kick the crap out of you too badly. British soldiers have agreed only to shoot Argentines gently" Yours sincerely, Ron." Good job they did`nt make the Paras & Marines angry...it could have turned nasty otherwise. H

Long winter evenings !.......thats about right NOS, takes about 4 months to pre-read the instructions:nut:. Took me nearly that long to write them anyway...or so it felt ! Enjoy, & remember to send pics for the website....(about next April ? ) Best regs......H

10 Argentine aircraft are shot down 7 Argentine aircraft are shot down Some small payback at least ! H

I'm still in daily Paul. Keep it going. cheers. H

Hi Ian, Taking orders now, no problem. First 25 kits are all boxed just waiting for the instructions to come back from the printers. Just give me a call anytime you want. Cheers..........H

Evening all.....for those with a bent toward the bigger scales...... The KFS 1/24th AEC Matador kit is nearly ready now after some last minute changes to the body roof & etchwork. Should be on the shelf next Friday I think. In the mean time though, there are fresh photographs of the production kit layout & the first test build in the Military Range section on http://www.kitformservices.com. The test build has got the tail lights & indicators fitted that are supplied for the post war & civilian uses....I know they should'nt be there in wartime guise but they were fitted simply to complete the photos for the instructions.:blush: Not cheap I know, but its big kit, turning out a BIG model with a LOT of parts & detail.:nut: 5.5" gun for it is not far off now either. Best regs all........H

Memory is a funny thing, but I'm pretty sure cloth banded berets were in as early as 1972 when I joined. I don't recall me ever having been issued with a leather banded one, although I have seen them obviously. H

Yes some nice snippets I agree. The only one I'd query is the "puttees from 75 onwards". I started in 72 & was issued with puttees not anklets, even then. Never saw anyone wearing anklets from then on. I thought they had dropped out about 1970 except for the ACF who still had BDs at the time ? As an aside, I recall reading in 'Soldier'...must be about 74/75...about the new replacement for No2 dress uniform that was being trialled & never happened. I recall there was a picture of the proposed new kit & it looked very much like the gear the Bundeswher were wearing at the time, grey jacket & green trousers if memory serves. Anyone else remember that ? Howard

3.30pm: French President, François Mitterrand, talks to his doctor; “ I had a difference of opinion to settle with the Iron Lady. What an impossible woman, that Thatcher! With her four nuclear submarines on mission in the southern Atlantic, she threatens to launch the atomic weapon against Argentina — unless I supply her with the secret codes that render deaf and blind the missiles we have sold to the Argentinians. Margaret has given me very precise instructions on the telephone …. I have been forced to yield. She has them now, the codes. If our customers find out that the French wreck the weapons they sell, it’s not going to reflect well on our exports.“ Oh I do love that last insertion.......that works for me on SO many levels. I can just hear Maggie talking down to the frogs.. "YOU WILL" etc etc :cool2::cool2::cool2::cool2: H