news Tiger Restoration Update

[The Tank Museum]

 

With under a month to go until Tiger Day, The Tank Museum has confirmed its programme of events for 31st March 2012 and is edging closer to completing its Tiger conservation project.

 

Premium tickets for Tiger Day sold out some time ago, but there is still plenty for regular visitors to see and do on this special day. Normal admission prices will apply and annual ticket holders will be admitted free.

 

 

Tiger Conservation Update:

 

 

A major stumbling block in the conservation project has now been overcome.

In order to meet the objectives of the project, which seeks to return the Tiger to its original specification, The Tank Museum has had to replicate a pair of complex gear boxes to turn the engines cooling fans.

 

Museum Curator David Willey said; "We have had to refer to original wartime drawings sourced from The German Archive at Koblentz. These had to be converted to modern CAD drawings by the Weald Foundation so that the parts could be manufactured. This has been a complex and lengthy process but it has now been completed successfully."

 

The next stage is to reconnect the engine to the tank so that it can be operated for the public on Tiger Day. As ever we remain grateful for the support of the public, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the PRISM Fund for making this project possible.

 

See the video!

 

In this YouTube video, we examine the Fan Drives, explain what they are, what they do, how they work, and how they were made.

[ajmac]

Another excellent video guys. Beautiful fan drives:-)

 

[Joris]

Great stuff!!

[Tony B]

Out of intrest. Is this the Tiger that is supposed to be haunted?

[ajmac]

Out of intrest. Is this the Tiger that is supposed to be haunted?

 

No...... you are getting confused with the Avro Lincoln at Cosford Our teacher made the class listen to a tape recording from the 70's which was recorded in the Lincoln, you could hear creaks and clicks, apparently the ghost operating the controls in the plane... at 10 years old, we were all convinced it had to be a ghost!

[Tony B]

No not confused. There was something in a book, possibly an old AA guide. There was the story of Herman the German who supposedley haunted a tank at Bovington.

AHH there is life in the old brain yet: http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/dorset/hauntings/bovington-tank-museum.html

Edited March 20, 2012 by Tony B

[ajmac]

Most museums have their little fables, I imagine the Tank Museum is rather eerie after the sun goes down and the last person switches off the lights:undecided:

[Tony B]

Most museums have their little fables, I imagine the Tank Museum is rather eerie after the sun goes down and the last person switches off the lights:undecided:

 

Try the Jersey War Tunnels, AKA the Umderground Hospital., Don't even need the lights out. :shocking:Woolwich Arsenal has its fair share of ghosts.

[Bazz]

Whilst serving with JLR RAC at Stanley Barracks, Bovington Camp 72-74, we as part of our guard duty was to patrol round the tank museum. One of the many tales going the rounds was the haunting of this tiger by a dead crewman, allegedly found in the veh when it had been sent to the UK. The name of course was herman the German. We at the time were only young lads of 15-17, and only armed with a pickaxe handle this was scary at times, as all you coukd hear were strange noises coming from within the museum building.:wow:

[The Tank Museum]

The story was that Herman the German was the ghost of a dead German officer who haunted the Tiger I. There were supposed to be a number of people who had seen him looking down at them from the turret or from beside the vehicle. The most likely explanation is that it was all a story put around by George Forty, our Director before last, to discourage the Junior Leaders from coming into the Museum at night and causing mischief.

[Tony B]

Yeah, but nothing sells like a ghost story!