Snapper

Greetings, I mentioned in a separate thread that a chap I know is working with the Libyan government to GPS map stuff in the desert and snap it. Wait for his book. Every time I see him I remind him he's a lucky baa-lamb. Have fun on the Friendly Forum, MB

Blimey, I've actually been to Idaho. It was 1981 and I was young with no spare tyre and I had good knees. Times change. The Plymouth Caravelle had no air conditioning. I'm still recovering.... Welcome to the Pleasure Dome. MB

Welcome Jan, Catweazle is a much loved fixture on HMVF, a bit like an old Jack Russell, but with better table manners. Even though I'm younger than him, I fully agree with his old fashioned manners; which are offered to anyone of any gender, except one or two established forum members...:-D All new members have to do a stint of cleaning in the clubhouse, a tradition that goes back as far as, er.., the club house. We like it that way and the Holy Grail at the end is a key to the biscuit stash. Custard Creams excepted, which are only for Mods called Snapper. Hopefully you'll find lots of useful info and enjoy some of the utter tosh we generate in the name of fun and friendship. We are planning a full HMVF area at Beltring for 2009. Bring your own high spirits. MB

It looks exactly like the HMVF club house. Don't remember having gum trees in the car park. My son James used to have an Australian teacher at his primary school, a Vietnam veteran, who taught the kids a nice song about gum trees and stuff. I am digressing. Which is the point in a way, because in my view, the hotel fits in with us. A piece of real history...even if they aren't actually gum trees and there is nothing wheeled in view - I wouldn't have a bloody clue. Lambs off - I prefer beef. Ta. I'd love to have a pint in the place one of these years..... M

Like a tw4t I opted to buy a metal plate at Beltring. The guy had hundreds of plastic types. My mitsake. I'm in no rush. It's just a bit of fun. Sorting a new motor comes first. I'm told there's a dealer called SLR Bits or something similar. Ta M

Greetings from the Grassy Knoll, I bought a film prop SLR at Beltring. It needs tidying up a bit. I think it would have been made for Bloody Sunday or something earlier and would have been carried by someone a little more in the background. It feels right and looks well, but it has no butt plate (I bought one, but I think it needs the later plastic type, not the metal older ones, to fit better. It has no sights at all, but clearly had one which has been removed. I'm wondering if it is feasible to get a sight for it (or make one) and whether any other bits would enhance the look. Detail is basic/non-existent, but with some careful painting and a bit of metalwork it could look really cool. We've already sussed the bayonet lug has been set a little to far back to accept the sharp pointy thing. Not fussed about that, but I'd like to make the whole package look sweeter. Suggestions/advice please........ mb

Yep, I've got Sabres and Heliops (plus fan club) - but for some reason, my home internet hates me posting snaps on HMVF and often grinds to a halt. My work system is fine, but I don't have the snaps to hand. I'll try again tonight etc. Mark, the night shots of your WLF worked really well and there are plenty more of other HMVFers to post. Then I'll start on general snaps....if things ever work. I hate it when things don't work properly. MB

They do WW1 and WW2 in history and some go on field trips to France and Flanders. The usual effect is good, but there will always be some from the shallow end who are less impressed. I've taken my kids to Normandy twice, the Somme twice and for lots of trips round Flanders and beyond. They get bored with too many cemeteries, but enjoy walks and getting out and about. I'm happy to resort to thoroughly trite cheese in describing cemeteries as being like books, with every grave a page. An awful use of the english language, but not far off correct in real terms. My apologies. As a point of interest, New Zealand graves do not have inscriptions because the NZ government objected to the cost payable by families, so ordered that it would be devisive to allow those who could pay to benefit over those who could not. MB

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Let's see what happens this time...

Truck Challenge...NOPE IT DON'T WANNA WORK TONITE....i'LL REVERT TO PLAN B

Truck challenge...minus the snaps because the web is going slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww trying again...

Back to business, then.....Majorca was very nice, 38 degrees some days and never less than 32. Came home to a rainy 16 at Stanstead. Joy. We saw a MUTT in Valldemossa (no snaps, sorry).

this is the last lot for now because I have a flight to catch early tmrw. I'll do the rest of HMVF and then start on general MVs, people and battles when I get back... mean time look out for R Cubed and (I think) G506 sneaking in the background of one of these snaps. MB OUT

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My laptop seems to be running on gas this evening. But I hope I can post some snaps of Beltring HMVF chaps before I close down for a few days. Some of you will appear in the background - so keep a close look out. MB

Was that the US Sherman with cammo a bit like Mickey Mouse?? Shady of 2nd Armoured was telling us that specific cammo was used by a specific US armoured regiment. It looked lovely. My pictures of it are distinctly average in quality...if not worse. M

It's a good talk and he is a top bloke. MB

NEXT YEAR I WANT TO DO THIS DIFFERENTLY. WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE A CHERRY PICKER ANYWAY. I WONDER IF YOU LIKE THE IDEA OF JUST GETTING EVERYONE ON THE BANK AND DOING A BIG GROUP SNAP WITHOUT THE MVS OR BACK UP A COUPLE OF SMALL MOTORS AND THE ENIGMA MACHINE TO THE FENCE AND HAVE SOME ON THE MVS AND AROUND IT AND THE REST OF THE GANG SITTING/STANDING ON THE BANK. THIS YEAR'S PHOTO IS FINE FOR THE GENERAL ASPECT - EVEN WITH THE BACKGROUND CHERRY PICKER - BUT IT IS CRAP FOR IDENTIFYING FACES AND DID NOT TURN OUT HALF AS WELL AS I WANTED...I'M REALLY SORRY. I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE DO IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A MONOPOLY ON IDEAS. I RESPECT THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE BEING SNAPPED - BUT I THINK IT IS A SHAME WHEN PEOPLE GET MISSED OUT - WE COULD MAYBE EVEN DO SNAPS OF US IN SMALLER GROUPS TO POST UP EN BLOC - THESE OFTEN WORK VERY WELL - EVEN THOSE WITH PLANKGOD IN. I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER HAVING AN EVENING BBQ WHICH WE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO (HARDLY A FORTUNE) AND HAVE OUR OWN SHINDIG - ATTEND AT YOUR LEISURE - NO PRESSURE. THE MINI GATHERING AND LEE AND IAN'S CAMP WERE HILARIOUS FUN AND VERY RELAXING AFTER A HARD DAY WORKING (FOR ME AND HARRY). mb

Sorry Mark, but Zoomer only has daughters...James in the red shirt is son of Snap - who calls himself Stryker on HMVF, although in our house he often seems to be known as Goandtidyyourbedroomit'sapigsty or yousodyou'veeatenthelastBakewelltart :-D

Did you have one of Avril's humungus sausage baguette and chips lunches Nigel?????? Great snaps, I wish I was there now,.... MB

I have some sympathy in that restorations and running costs are a huge drain and these days everything is profit related. I don't understand some aspects of it - but I suppose the intention is to stop people making commercial gain out of photographing someone else's work. It's the same if you visit an English Heritage or National Trust property. I've taken photos at some, but usually only the grounds and external views can be used freely. It depends how litigious or plain mean the "owner" is. I've been told that all the snaps I've taken at Beltring (as an example) for the show and CMV do not belong to me. I would contest this, because I've signed no agreements and retain my copyright pursuent to the 1988 Act. To be frank, I don't have any positive feelings towards anyone quibbling over money for snaps of old tanks. This is a generalisation, but it's my view. I always give my snaps to any "punter"/friend/group who would like them for personal or publicity use - but always expect to profit from anything commercial. It probably explains why some people make more money than I do, so don't tell the wife. I might get some Beltring pix posted one of these weeks - there is a hell of a lot of it. MB