simonsfotos

I have just published an indepth review and extensive photo gallery of the recent Aldershot Garrison Show on my website. Here's the link: http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk/aldershot-garrison-show-2011.html

I have just published a very indepth review of this year's Tankfest with an extensive photo gallery on my website. Here's the link: http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk/tankfest-2011.html

This is my first time on here for a very long time. All sorts of things have been going on - some good a lot very stressful - to keep me away, but here i am again! To start off with, I have just published my review of Overlord 2011 on my website - http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk This was my first MV event for a long time and was excellent. Some of you may also have noticed that my website disappeared (thanks Fotopic!). Hopefully the new one looks far more professional and is easy to load and use. Comments welcome. Simon

Thanks for the comments on the FAST Museum. I was the editor of their magazine (now ceased due to costs unfortunately) and have seen the museum rise from very humble beginnings -bits rescured from skips as the RAE was demolished - through some very hard times to the success it has now become. One thing about the inside displays is that these are constantly changing as there is only the space to display a minute portion of the actual collection. Pay a visit every few months or so and you will always find something new! The museum website that you have given the link for usually has details of new exhibitions as they come along. The thing with the volunteers is all down to their enthusiasm. Most if not all the guides are ex-RAE and carry a wealth of knowledge in their heads! As the RAE was a VERY secret establishment, for years noone would talk about what went on there. It is only in the last few years, since FAST was founded and through a lot of cajoling that their stories are now being brought into the open. Now they love talking about it! I do know what you mean though as sometimes when I visit museums, I want to make my way around in my own time.

Am doing Duxford on Saturday myself. Forecast so far looks good for the weekend unless the North Sea blows something in!

If you attended this event with your MV then you might like to know that my complete review of the event is now online: http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk/c1891072.html

Thanks for the info Big Al. Call it finger trouble as I did actually know it was a Chinese T59! Oh and oily I know what you mean! The sound of some of them was amazing but I fear there is yet to be a stills camera that can give sound with a still image! Certainly the taste was different especially of the dust that lingered in the throat for ages!

As I've not seen any reports on HMVF on this year's Tankfest, I thought I'd post a link to the review and photos from my website. I know that some on here have some issues with this event, but I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the day despite the indrecible heat. It was a treat to see the Jagdpanther from the SDKFZ Foundation along with several vehicles that I had never seen before. This year's mock battle took the form of a demonstration from the RAC Training Regt showing some of the methods utilised in Afghanistan. Earlier in the day they had also put some of their current vehicles through thier paces in the arena. These included the Panther and Vixen, in addition to Warrior, Trojan and Challenger 2. Other motive displays depicted the development of tanks and armoured vehicles from the Daimler Ferret up to the Challenger 1 and Leopard and also included two new restorations of a Daimler Mk.I armoured car and M3A1 Stuart in North Africa colours. Historic Armour ranged from the Tank Museum's Rolls-Royce Armoured Car, through the Marmon Herrington Mk.IV and Saladin to the M60 and T69. It was also good to see the Centurion, Chieftain and Khalid in action together along with the Challenger 1. It was in this section that one could view rarities like the SU 100, ACRV M1974 and YW701 Armoured Command Vehicle in action. German armour this year, in addition to the Jagdpanther was limited to the Panzer III and Kettenkrad. Following their recent introduction to Tankfest, the Living History displays this year depicted the Russian Front, North Africa, The Red Ball Express, Recon Regiments and US Airborne and judging from the reaction of the crowds gathered around each group, it is a very welcome addition. Anyway, here is the link to the review and photos: http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk/c1868550.html

Thanks to all for a great show. Now got 750 shots to go through from today so it will be a little while before I can get them up on my site. Special thanks to Richard Rixon and Colin Dickler for posing their Jimmys so dramatically on th edge of the dip at the end of the day. It made for some dramatic shots. Just one very quick edit here with more and better to come! This show is so laid back a lot of other organisers can learn a thing or two from the Overlord guys.

The Sidings has been in existence for many years. I well remember the ads for it in the railway monthlies back in the early 90s offering holidays for dedicated railway buffs.

Little bit late with this one but gradually catching up with things. This year's Popham May event was another cracker on a sunny (mainly apart from the lunchtime hail!) but damned cold day. Here are just two or three photos of the military vehicles present and a few of the flyers as I know there are aviation enthusiasts on here as well. (Hope they are no oversize but I am sure someone will let me know if they are!) There are links to the full reviews which are on my site. Military Vehicles - http://http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk/c1848837.html Volvo Sugga Daimler Ferret Mk 2/4 Schwimmwagen Constructor Flyers - http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk/c1848836.html Hiller UH-12C (ex LAPD) Hughes 369E Lancair Percival Proctor

Tow have been painted up in these colours. One is the actual display aircraft and the other is the spare. They are from 1 FTS at Linton On Ouse. These days the RAF has gone back to representing older squadrons within each of the FTS's. 1 FTS has among its number, nos. 92 Sqn and 66 Sqn. 'QJ-F' is the former and represents Flt. Lt. Brian Kingcombe's aircraft and the other 'LZ-R' represents Flt. Lt. Bobby Oxpring's machine. Both pilots were Battle Of Britain aces. A fitting and apprpriate way for the modern RAF to pay tribute in this 70th anniversary. Photographer Geoffrey Lee has done an air to air shot with the two aircraft in company with the BBMF's Spitfire IIa and there are some stunning result from the shoot starting to appear. Both Tucano's and the Spitfire (among many others) will be appearing at the RAFA Shoreham on Sea Air Show in August (there are other air shows as well but then I am biased!)

Many many (plus a few more many's!) I remember staying in a converted railway carriage down on Hayling Island sea front for a family holiday as a child. I think they've all gone now. I also remember reading and seeing some photos of some others that used to be used for the same purpose down at Penzance.

I'll be there for one day though not sure which yet. No MV but fully armed with cameras!

Thanks for that Jack.

Yes, that's the one billed as the Special Preview Issue. I can't work out is there's another between that one and the one with the Dutch Leopard on the cover.

I just wanted to say thanks. The back issue arrived today and I was very surprised to also receive the Preview Issue as a bonus! Many thanks. Just one question. Exactly how many issues have been published? I now have the Preview, Vol.1 No.2 and Vol.1 No. 3. Was there a Vol.1 No.1 or is that the Preview Issue?

I'm afraid I don't know what Tony does for a job. He has put a lot of care into the restoration of the Bronco. First time I saw it was at the RAF Odiham Families Day last year. The colours that it now wears are genuine to the aircraft from when it was in service with the German forces. At that time it was actually a target tug I believe. As mentioned before, it was housed at Duxford for some years before Tony got it back into the air and it was then repainted about 18 months ago. There is a second Bronco in the country and that is still at Duxford in the hands of Aircraft Restoration Company. There were plans to restore it to flight, but they are so busy these days that it's now a long way down the list I believe. Many people who have seen Tony's aircraft have said how good it would be to see it actually do some displays but there are so many rules pertaining to going down that route that at the moment the only way to see it airborne is on arrival and departure at the few shows that he attends. Great pity but the problem also is getting bookings. Show organisers tend to go with 'crowd pullers'. Enthusiats would love to see it, but it's Joe Public that brings in the money to the shows. If organisers relied purely on enthusiasts, then we wouldn't have any shows! It's all about getting the balance right but that's a whole new topic and the same with MV shows as well as air shows I suspect.

The Bronco is owned by Tony De Bruyn. It was indeed based at Duxford for a while but Tony now bases it at Weston On The Green.

I'm still waiting for the back issue that I ordered with my subscription for some reason. I received the current issue almost immediately and really enjoyed it, but nothing heard about the other copy despite an email to Pathfinder. I did check the amount I paid and it was definitely a full sub plus a back issue. Not having a go, just wondering what's happened.

Looks like a radio controlled model to me

What's wrong with taking a unique running vehicle out of use to save further deterioration whilst raising funds for a full restoration to running order? Surely that is better than running it into the ground resulting it never being seen run again. As the only running version in the world, I can quite see why the Tank Museum have taken this option. You never knw, if the funds become available in a short period of time, then the Tiger will be back in action again within a couple of years or so. After all, in the preserved aviation world, aircraft are often taken out of service for a while for a deep strip down and service - often back to component parts and then restored to fly once more. I know of one particular Spitfire, the world's only flying PR.XI, which has gone through that this winter and once back in thhe air for this summer, will actually be more original than ever.

That's certainly the exact position that was stated on the board that was in front of it when I took the photo hence the reason I gave it the Austin designation. All the vehicles owned by the Collection have explanation boards but obviously I can't put all the detail in the captions to the photos.

I think that the Tea Wagon was not actually owned by the museum along with some of those that I photographed that were outside. The reason for this guess is that I noticed the wagon and some others up for sale in CMV some months ago. Me being me though, if it's there the camera gets pointed at it!

Reference Arborfield and Bordon particularly as regards the Museum and Vehicle Collection, I'm afraid I don't know. Once I've finished updating the Arborfield photos and let them know that they are done, I'll get in contact and try and find out what the future holds. It would be a real shame to see the museum have to move as they have put so much work into how it looks now and as for the vehicle collection, well you can see from the photos what a fascinating collection it is. To see that dispersed would be a tragedy.