BC312

Went to the Capel show today, Great sho, lots to see, great setting catched up with old friends bit like a mini War and Peace show in its early days. Now the War and Peace is no longer, more will flock to this show with more vehicles re enactors and stalls, it gets bigger every year.

I am after a new track link pad for a 432, can you buy these individually and the best pace who sells them.

Some times it pays to take the individual to court the owner of the company as they hide behind the company. I took a company to court years ago and they changed the name by removing and changing the Ltd from the company registered name which cost me a extra bailiff fee, some of these rip off merchant's can be quite devious. I hope everyone gets their money back and move on the a new show creating another W&P size show that every one who contributes gets appreciated for their time and efforts. If these cowboys decided to resurrect the W&P show in the future tell then to stick it, as this will be a warning to others who may try and take the piss of all of us for mugs

I checked out this track link on a visit to the tank museum with their A13 cruiser and Covenanter. The track i have is Covenanter but slightly different to each other with holes opposite to the track pin and two holes either side the track. I assume this was some form of drainage where the hollow track filled with water and dirt. The A13 cruiser is a two piece arrangement. All tracks have dates on them. My links cleaned up well with electrolysis, after i boiled the track to turn any last remaining rust into a black oxide and added a bit of phosphate solution and finished of with waxol to seal. Looking at the cleaned track it seems it was gas cut to remove it as the method of securing the pin was difficult to remove one fixed in place.

Sorry i didn't catch on, i see it now.

The Victory show is very good, they certainly look after you.

What and go through this fiasco again, i think not, most people i know are looking a more reliable show, W&P has had its day. Once bitten twice shy.

Just been putting the track link under electrolysis and is cleaning up really well. I also found another picture of the common type track link found on Covenanters and A13 Mk2 this picture shows the ribbed part as oposted to the two holes between the cleats or grousers.

I have two track links from a Centurion tank which were in a state and have been in the electrolysis tank for cleaning. The red oxide link is dated 1955 and has extra holes in the grouser bar which you normally see in photos in books and on the web, the other link doesn't have the extra holes and has no markings or date. Just wondering if this link is early or late or comes from another type tank. Not sure if other tanks used the same type link as the Centurion like the Comet or Conqueror or maybe Black Prince?

I manage to get my hands on a Covenanter track link which i have been after for a while, plenty more where that came from. Part of the deal i made i had two bits of armour thrown in the package, said to be from a Ram tank found on a PIAT range which i can confirm. But looking closer it may be from a Covenanter. The larger heaver lump looks like its from the from louvre of early design see on page 97 in P.M. Knights book about the Covenanter. you can still see where the PIAT has left pock marks in the armour. The screw holes are about 4.5 inches apart width and 10.5 inches length ways and it weighs a ton, still has red oxide paint on the base. The other bent 1/4 inch plate looks like it may come from the rear engine deck of a Covenanter just behind the turret the welded hinge in stainless is typical of welding on armour, the square side from the hinge measures 14.5 inches and about 16 inches were its broken off, i assume near where the other hinge would have been, this also has PIAT damage plus original paint. Can anyone confirm.

I managed to do a swap for the track link and some other bits of armour apparently from a Ram tank from an old PIAT range site, the track link from somewhere else. As you can see in the photo showing the base of the link there are two holes between the grousers, normally in A13 Mk2 cruiser tanks and Covenanters there are ribs that fill this gap most probably for strength, just wondering if anyone has seen this two hole type track link. is it early or later for any type of particular tank.

I think you are hanging onto a dream that has past gone, the business world is hard faced as they come, money is money, sentiment in most cases doesn't take a looking one bit. Remember there is trouble ahead in the economy people with money put it where its going to double their return and they like easy money, a lot don't want to put anything in, just take. The world of hard business takes no prisoners or shows sentiment. . A new show will emerge, different location, different organisers everyone will follow the crowd, simple.

Although there is a lot of sentiment and good memories with the show its time to move on find another venue that will appreciate our hobby. Its up to everyone to find another show and make it as big and popular as Beltring, an easier location, more accommodating especially with our foreign guests. This year will be a fact finding mission for all to visit other shows to see where the replacement will be. The time slot when W&P was held will be interesting as other shows held their events around it, no good organising a show when everyone was attending W&P a week before and a week after. At the end of the day, its follow the crowd, i hear from shooting the breeze and talking scuttlebutt with others that the Victory show is the new venue to go to, family run, entrance fee includes an airshow as well, with WW2 only aircraft and they look after re enactors etc. Stalls are small but that could get bigger.

A count of 132 different stall holders, depends what stall holders they are. In the last few years there was an increase of tut stalls selling general public crap like toys, games, balloons, stuff you see at a local market, not military stalls, that are on the decline.

Been talking to a mate who went to the recent Stoneleigh show, high prices on deacts £14,000 for a .30cal water cooled MG. Stall wise not that impressive with high prices on a lot of things, not like the usual shows they have, may be a reflection on what will be at the W&P show. I was also told by the grapevine that the re-enactors have to pay for the battle display out of their own pocket about £4,000. Gun hire, blanks and pyro. Hardly encouraging to book there.

I know a couple of re enactors are going to confront them for taking the Michael, you have to pay them to display your valuable gear to make their show, lots of people looking at better venues who appreciate you just being there. Going to be an expensive disappointment getting into the gates to find half the show it used to be.

I don't know why people cling onto a show that has gone past its sell by date. Its had its time, people went there because of the overseas traders great vehicles and reenactment displays and battles, now the organisers are arrogant and taking the urine, putting up cost making money out of us at our expense. Most people in the re-enacting world who also own vehicles are looking for better venues where you are appreciated and there are some good ones like the Victory show, Capel, Overlord, Tilford etc, we are moving on, times are changing, the W and P show was great while it lasted but they killed it off.

A show run by enthusiasts would make all the difference compared to a hard faced company all out for profits, especially if they want to recover loses from Covid.

Have you seen a Laser blaster, much better than the sand method, you dont even need a cabinet, bit expensive but this is the future.

As a member of the reenacting community they are now charging £20 fee for each reenactor to reenact at the show. So you have to pay them the privilege to lug your collection and vehicle to the show plus petrol at now inflated cost. Makes you wonder how much the Second Battle group and other large groups have to fork out per group with Vehicles as well. Look like most will be skipping this show seeking shows where they are appreciated to make their show. Victory show for me.

Anyone seen this released video on Youtube today by Mark Felton. Anyone here know about it or made enquiries to save it.

Just wondered if anyone actually had a chance to look at the tank before it was scrapped to give their opinion on the condition. It looks obvious that its a basket case. Wondered if its been scrapped or just sitting in the yard, sometimes scrap merchants put such things aside and deal with later.

Funny how they can find a Spitfire on a beach after 70 years in salt and sand , rust, powdered aluminum you name it and a few years later its as if it left the factory flying..

A while back researching the A13 Mk2 tank, i noticed that there were only two remaining in the world, one at Bovington tank museum and one in a poor state at the Dunkirk museum. Apparently the Dunkirk A13 was scrapped after years of neglect. Not sure what the full story was scrapping such a rare tank, does anyone know why or has someone rescued it. I also wonder if what happened to the A13s captured after the fall of France by the Germans bought into service and used most probably on the Russian front, did any survive

Be nice if you had any photos. Also worth saving.