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jchinuk

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Posts posted by jchinuk

    Valentine Archer tank destroyer

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    Hi John

     

    Do you know if the Archer was based on new build or redundant Valentines?

     

    Ta

    Martyn

     

    Martyn,

     

    According to the UK tank production figures, the Archers (and Valentine DD tanks) were new production, the Valentine tank production stopped in May 1944 and the production of the Archer started the same month. Production of the Valentine DD lasted a little longer, till August 1944, though only a handful each month.

     

    The wheels on the TM's Archer seem to match those in the kit, which look like the 'late production' Valentines.

     

    Hope this helps.

     

    jch

    Valentine Archer tank destroyer

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    JCH

     

    [not sure if the Archer (which was not the official name) was built on old hulls or were all new builds, I suspect the latter]...new builds with so may redundant hulls available? or were they?

    No idea, sadly there is little published on the Archer

    The Bronco kit uses the MiniArt hull and suspension, and there are reports of an issue with the MiniArt wheels, Accurate Armour do a couple different styles in resin.]...I've heard about the wheels and AA say the Archer had a 'late special dish pattern made especially for the Archer' Maybe an error using MiniArts Valentine hull without changing the wheels?

    I'd be happy to follow AA's research, so you might have a point on the use of the MiniArt wheels

    Whats the story with the .30 cal I thought the secondary wpn was a Bren although I did read somewhere else a BESA?

    I assume it was a local fitment by that unit, perhaps they wanted something heavier than a BESA?

     

    jch

    Valentine Archer tank destroyer

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    Hi John

     

    Do you know if the Archer was based on new build or redundant Valentines? If the latter I've heard that there were several styles/sizes of the bogey wheels you any info on that score? May explain the feeling that the wheels are too small

     

    Pics of the wheels would be good...various types?

     

    You any photos of the engine compartment seeing as I've just found theres no engine in the kit?

     

    Ta

    Martyn

     

    I think the build details of real Archers requires further research :embarrassed:

     

    The problem with the wheels is going to be that currently preserved vehicles are restored (so might any wheels that were to hand during the restoration) or ex-Egyptan (refurbished before export, in the mid fifties).

     

    No photos I'm afraid, perhaps the TM could be asked to open theirs up? (Assuming it has an engine anyway)

     

    jch

    Valentine Archer tank destroyer

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    Hi guys

     

    Thanks for the responce; my interest is a new Archer kit thats come out with full interior, engine etc...wanted to check the accuracy. Barbarossa books do a couple of cheap publications on the interior/exterior of the Valentine (£3 each) so I may get those.

     

    I have this kit, there is no engine, but a transmission, fans and radiators and a complete fighting compartment The interior is quite different to the Valentine, the fighting compartment is open and has to provide space for stowing the ammunition.

     

    I'd like to know what the conversion entailed; simply remove the turret and a chunk of the hull and stick a 17pdr on backwards or more thought involved than that?

     

    The real thing was developed in around nine months, so I'm guessing there was not much more to the process than you suggest, mounting the gun and relocating the driver's seat, which is much higher (and he has a sort of roof!)

     

    Why operated by RA...was that the norm for all SPG's?

     

    Yes, all SPGs were operated by the RA

     

    I've heard that the kits wheels are too small but if the 665 vehicles that were built were on a mix of old chassis was there a potential for a variety of wheel types...anybody got any data on Valentine wheels...sizes...pics etc?

     

    I'm not sure if the Archer (which was not the official name) was built on old hulls or were all new builds, I suspect the latter. The British Army had these in the inventory till the mid-50s, though both Egypt and Jordan has some, the former providing the ones in Israel.

     

    Incidentally, the maker's plate on the vehicles on display in Israel have "Valentine (Carrier)" as the name.

     

    The Bronco kit uses the MiniArt hull and suspension, and there are reports of an issue with the MiniArt wheels, Accurate Armour do a couple different styles in resin.

     

    Hope this helps

     

    jch

    1/87 HO scale military models

    in Military Scale Models

    Posted

    Happy new year all

     

    I have just found a model supplier who has 1/87 HO scale military vehicle models that would look good on any ones railway layout. Kits include Diamond T 980, Rogers trailer, GMC, DUKW, Panzer's and many many more. I am nothing to do with the company selling these kit's but I found them while searching Diamond T on ebay and thought the information might be of interest to some on here.

     

    Here is a link http://shop.ebay.co.uk/mtwcbear/m.html

     

    Regards...Steve.

     

    Minitanks are available in the UK, here http://www.keaygroup.co.uk/mdr/category.php?id_category=138

     

    Postage probably cheaper

     

    jch

    Amphibious tracked vehicle (radio control)

    in Military Scale Models

    Posted

    So this is my question, if my memory is correct, there was an advert on t.v. 70's/80's about a tracked amphibious vehicle i think similar shape to the american aav, but cant be 100% sure. Also cant remember if it was in military colour or not, i do recall that in the advert it was driven in the garden, and i believe in the pool.

    So do any of you remember this, or even had one? And what it was called, been googling to see if i can find it, but nothing as yet. :nut:

     

    Thanks all

    Shaun

     

    Lidi (of all places) had a R/C amphibious wheeled vehicle a few Christmases ago, I think it was branded "Dickie", which is a line of German toys.

     

    It was in "military" colours, though really an explorer vehicle, but it was not based on any real vehicle I can recall. Just missed one on eBay.

     

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BOXED-LARGE-DICKIE-RADIO-CONTROLLED-AMPHIBIOUS-CAR-/290503964617

     

    jch

    New Airfix models for 2011

    in Military Scale Models

    Posted

    Hmm Land Rovers in 1:48 scale! This the bug sucker or airplane scale, so they are making them an add on for a diorama with rotary or fixed wing.

     

    If they were really serious for the tread head or armour / softskin modeller then they would be in 1:35 or even 1:24 scale.

     

    Ho hum

     

    R

     

    I think the LRs are intended to compliment the Merlin chopper in 1/48th, though modern stuff is rare in 1/48th.

     

    jch

    New Airfix models for 2011

    in Military Scale Models

    Posted

    Just heard that Airfix have announced their new models to come out during 2011. For the Land Rover enthusiasts, there is to be a twin pack containing a WMIK and a Snatch, both in 1:48 scale. Also a Cromwell tank in 1:76 scale, with the wading attachments to rear of engine deck.

     

    Just recently released is a twin pack containing a Bedford QLD Cargo and QLT Troop Carrier. Airfix actually used my QL for some of their CAD drawings.

     

    Not built any kits for years now, but waiting for the QL ones to arrive.

     

     

    Some pictures of Airfix's 2011 release list http://www.airfix.com/2011

     

    The QLs and other recent kits are produced in India!

     

    jch

    Borden REME Reserve Collection

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    Spent a few hours there quite a few years back, as a guest of Roger Jones, who was the curator then. Good stuff on show, sadly not open to all. When I was there, there were a few Land Rover "specials", including the Roadless Forestry Commission one with tractor tyres front and back. An excellent interlude while on my way back to the far South West!

     

    I believe the Land Rover "Funnies" were ex-Beverley.

     

    The oddest thing I remember seeing on one of several visits to the collection was a 4x4 Austin Maestro van, it was used as a development 'mule' for the Land Rover Freelander.

     

    jch

    British car insurance

    in Other Chatter

    Posted

    Insurance for young males is phenonamly expensive.The starting quotes are well over a thousand pounds!!

     

    That is usually for the element of personal cover within the insurance, the insurers calculate that once one of a group of friends gain a license they will be the "driver". There is a statistical link between groups of youngsters in cars and risk taking. Even a relatively minor accident can result in three or four claims for injuries, in a major accident the insurers are looking a covering three or four deaths and punitive damages against the driver. One way of reducing insurance costs is a curfew or fitting a 'spy in the cab' gizmo.

     

    jch

    ex-Scorpions' 76mm turrets - WHERE ARE THEY?

    in I may be stupid, but......

    Posted

    I understand because of the usefulness of a RARDEN 30mm equipped turret - and because of the instability of the top-heavy Fox - the Fox turret (with RARDEN 30mm cannon), were put onto the Scorpion chassis, to produce the SABRE.

     

    All the ex-Scorpions' 76mm turrets must be sitting around somewhere, waiting for someone to come up with a good idea of how/where to use/mount them !

     

    QUESTION: Does anyone know where the ex-Scorpions' 76mm turrets are stored?

     

    I visited the depot at Luggershall back in the early 90s and there was a whole field containing the turretless Fox CVR(W) hulls. The turrets had gone to create Sabres. I was told (at the time) that there was a plan to put ex-FV432 GPMG turrets onto the Fox hulls, but aside from a couple of prototypes nothing came of that plan.

     

    I understand that one of the reasons that the 76mm 'Scorpion' turrets were removed was the fumes inside the turret caused by firing the gun, so the turret and gun was effectively useless in service.

     

    jch

    Lost Eastern Block Tanks.....tall story?

    in MV Chatter

    Posted · Edited by jchinuk

    A chap dropped into the simulator room today to have a chat about the Loyd and lend me some books on KO'd Panzers. He had been to Bovington for Tank Fest earlier in the year and was alive with stories. There are a couple which caught my attention, I hadn't heard them before so I thought I'd ask on here.

     

    Breakup of the USSR a Tiger 1 on a plinth in a City (none specific) got lost and no one has seen it since. Where did it end up?

     

    Building a new road in Ukraine a drained marsh gave up two Panthers in perfect condition.

     

    To my mind both of these are tosh, but does anyone have any info?

     

    Oh yea and the 3rd piece of Info was that the Sdkfz JagPanther cost £3Million to restore and that is was possibly going to be 'on loan' to the Tank Museum in the near future.

     

    There are Cold War tales of the Soviets holding stocks of restored Panthers and Tigers in warehouses ready to use as reserves in the face of a NATO assault. On the basis that some of these would have emerged in the aftermath of the break-up of the old USSR, I suspect these were tall tales. On a more practical level, with the numbers of T-34/T-55s readily available, I can't really see it as a practical plan anyway and would a Tiger or Panther be any more reliable with a Red Star on the side?

     

    There are occasional finds in Eastern Europe, perhaps most notably the FW-190 (a winged thing) which was "found" in the location were it made a forced landing in 1944 and has been restored to flying condition and is due to take to the air any time now.

     

    Tanks have been dragged from marshes and rivers, though in some cases the wrecks have been known for years, it's just that permissions to extract and access is now possible.

     

    This site (which I think is a metal detectorist's site) seems to have details of some of these recoveries, http://www.detektorweb.cz/index.4me?s=show&lang=1&i=28369&mm=2&xb=2&vd=1&PHPSSIDWx=c86fb576e29e85158bbe7762113896f1

     

    jch

    Military Vehicle terminology etc

    in I may be stupid, but......

    Posted · Edited by jchinuk

    Not wishing to appear totally behind the door (maybe ajar) is there a section that gives meanings (or Glossary of terms) for certain items in MV parlance as in SWB being short wheel base etc ? as in what does 'tilt' mean on the likes of cckw trucks ? or should I run for the hills now ???:embarrassed:

     

    Tilt is strictly not a "military" term, it's the canvas cover over the load bed of a truck (not specifically CCKW trucks). It's also used in civilian trucks, though it's an uncommon feature these days (in the UK anyway).

     

    The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that tilt is an Anglo-Saxon word for a canvas (or other coarse type cloth) covering, tent or awning. Later in the middle ages it extended to covers for small boats and later still covers for farm wagons. Similar to a tarpaulin.

     

    jch

    Museum of Army Transport, Beverley

    in Battlefields, museums, monuments and memorials.

    Posted

    What actually happaned to all the vehicles, did they get sold off into private hands? There were some real crackers by the look of it but I don't seem to have seen many if any of them since.

     

    The majority were part of the National Army Museum collection, apparently there are plans for an NAM North (at Catterick I think) which will provide a home for these. Some vehicles and railway items are at Locomotion.

     

    Crusader Tank 'Ajax' Locomotion Museum, Shildon

     

    More of the railway items, for example Kitchener's coach, are at Chatham Dockyard, under the RE Museum's care. The narrow gauge exhibits were moved to a railway in Lincolnshire (I think). Some of the vehicle exhibits are at the REME reserve collection at Borden (not open to the public) and some vehicles are at Bovington (notably the Churchill Mk.II and Rhino).

     

    jch

    Accurate Armour Models

    in Military Scale Models

    Posted

    At the best part of £100 for their FV432 model kit, its not cheap and I don't want to buy one only to find when its built it ends up looking like the cheap plastic model kits you used to do as a kid.

     

    Has anyone got any experience/opinions of their models?

     

    Cheers,

    James

     

    Accurate Armour make excellent kits, but as it says on the box, they are intended for experienced modellers. It's a little unfair to dismiss plastic models as "cheap", a decent Sherman kit (in 1/35th scale) will cost something like £45 - £50 these days.

     

    If you are considering having one built, remember that a professional modeller should be charging something like £50 / hour and we are talking 20+ hours to built one of these kits.

     

    jch

    AEC Militant MK 3 Gallery

    in Transporters & Wreckers (All Nations)

    Posted

    I was driving along the A127 near Dunton yesterday and there appears to be a AEC Militant FV11008 Cargo Truck for sale. It's parked on a field near the London bound side of the A127 near the Dunton junction, the place seems to sell old plane & machinery. The truck is still in green/black and has a HIAB crane.

     

    I did not stop and I could not see a price, but bearing in mind it was some distance away and I was driving it looked in reasonable condition.

     

    jch

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