ArtistsRifles Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 For those with access to either Cable or Satellite TV - I found an interesting series on today. Program is called "Tank Overhaul" - it's a series of 4 programs and deals with the resoration of WW2 tanks. One I saw today was about the British Comet and the work was being done by the Dave Arnold and the crew of the Isle of Wight tank museum. They reckon within12 years they will have the worlds only running troop of WW2 Comets Programs are on UK TV History at 10:00, 16:00 and 22:00 Tomorrows is on the Panther owned by Jacques Littlefield. The one on the 18th is back to the Isle of Wight for the Sherman. The one on the 19th is about the M18 Hellcat owned by Karl Smith from Utah, USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 I noticed the trailer for that too last night. Must get the DVD ready to record! There have been some great documentaries on UKTV history, particularly the one about Thompson, Churchills bodyguard. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 Well - the first one on the Comet was interesting - a good mix of the vehicle being restored and historical data. The bit where they try to get the mantlet off was funny!! For my personal preference - I didn't care too much for the repeated flash-shots of journeying between story bites and I cound't understand why they were interviewing the German Army about their Leopard 2A's in comparison to a British WW2 vehicle. Other than that - it was pretty good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowtracdave Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Thanks for the heads up , only missed the first few minutes .! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Its on free view as well just watch the one about the panther its on again tonight at 2200hrs Tomorrow its about the sherman at 1000,1600 and 2200hrs. Big Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I just watched the Comet one, is it me or was there more footage of random places, roads and the sky than of actual tank restoration? Also why did they go to Germany to look at some modern tanks? We have the best tanks in the world much closer to home! Overall impression, nice subject matter, shame it was overly Americanised. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowtracdave Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I found the description of Bovingdon as " just south west of London " a little amusing . But then in American terms I suppose it is ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Bovingdon is the airfield where "633 Squadron" & "The War Lover" were filmed, and is actually a little North West of London, near Berkhamstead! BovingTon is the location of the tank museum isn't it? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 17, 2007 Author Share Posted January 17, 2007 I just watched the Comet one, is it me or was there more footage of random places, roads and the sky than of actual tank restoration? Also why did they go to Germany to look at some modern tanks? We have the best tanks in the world much closer to home! Overall impression, nice subject matter, shame it was overly Americanised. Chris Same problems I had with it Chris - great minds do think alike!! :-) :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowtracdave Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Bovingdon is the airfield where "633 Squadron" & "The War Lover" were filmed, and is actually a little North West of London, near Berkhamstead! BovingTon is the location of the tank museum isn't it? Steve Sorry ! My mis spelling ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 17, 2007 Author Share Posted January 17, 2007 Just watched the Panther one. Same dislikes as before - but I think I now understand the obssession with the Leo0ard A2. being an American Program, the Leopard shares many similarities with the US Abrahams - inc. the main gun and Neutral turn system. Would like to have seen more of the vehicles undergoing work and after completion though - assuming the Panther in the USA has been completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 They also play the music too loud so you cannot hear what the man is saying, just a little moan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FV601 (R.I.P.) Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Just goes to show you can restore just about anything if you throw enough money at it. Much prefered the Comet one as at least the lads are doing it off their own back. That said it is still good to see rare machines being brought back to life and on display. Off once again to search for that elusive commanders traverse handle for the Saladin, Watch out Duxford :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Jaques is definately doing the Panther and all of his restorations off his own back! He may be paying his lads to do the work but it his money to throw at it. He is a capable engineer in his own right too. As an aside, the production is Canadian, not American though I agree about the seeming obsession with Leo2..... As to the Panther being one of the first to have a neutral steer, what about Churchill, Centaur, Cromwell etc etc. And it's an Abrams tank, not Abrahams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FV601 (R.I.P.) Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Comment wasn't meant as a gripe Adrian, just an observation is all. I have no doubt as to the abilities of Jaques and quite rightly as you say its his money so he can do what he wishes with it. Sorry if you thought otherwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/lsm/dhmg/little-01.html Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghasp! Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 I thought the comet restoration and the Isle of Wight in general museum was interesting, mostly because it all appears to have been set up on a shoe string budget. I guess it's because I know where they're coming from, having saved for years to do my little project. How about a HMVF roadtrip in the summer down to one of their open days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 John, sorry, was just having a rant..... :oops: You made a fair observation. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FV601 (R.I.P.) Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Not a problem Adrian Thats the headache with the written word, can't get the right expression into it sometimes and so leads to misunderstandings. Catch you later mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 These programmes always come tantalisingly close to giving the more serious viewer something to keep; but they are aimed at a semi-general audience. What I found annoying about the Panther programme as with many documentaries, is the continual backtracking over the story to fill in the gaps in actual events. I am no tank expertm but I would have thought the finale revealing the crew blew the thing up - standard practise - was the bleeding obvious; but it gave the producers some drama. My feelings towards Littlefield and Wheatcroft are just total admiration. They could have collected yet more Ferraris - but chose to be different. If I had the money, I'd be funding the same sort of programme. What I like is they appear to do it without fuss - no Big I Am tosh. Hats off to them. With this programme, the preoccupation with the Leopard and the Abrams (it may be Canadian produced but was aimed for an American audience, surely) was an unnecessary diversion. Shame we could not have seen more of the Saumur Panthers or got someone from the likes of the Tank Museum to add gravitas. But in the end it was grand to see these vehicles being reborn. I hope Mr Wheatcroft will bring his Panther to events when it is complete. But that's another story.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 18, 2007 Author Share Posted January 18, 2007 We're back with the IoW boys tonight for the Sherman - the info on DigGuide sounds interesting as it says the program also discusses whether or not the Sherman was an inherently poor design?? Whatever - gripes about production apart - it's been really nice to see programs being shown that deal with OUR hobby rather than luxury or fast cars. Lets hope the series continues and covers many more vehicles Oh - and apologies Adrian - I was the idiot who mis-spelt the Abrams bit.. :oops: :oops: That'll teach me to try and do two things at once that sound the same!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Co-incidentally, you will see the manipulator frames I made a few years back when I did a Sherman for Mr Littlefield. Dave Arnold borrowed it for his Grizzly restoration. Small world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Adrian, you speak from a specialised position given you have experience of the kind of work shown and dealings with Jacques Littlefield, which must be interesting in itself. I think it is well nigh impossible to get the kind of programming which offers enough for devotees like ourselves (however deep our involvement). Even if we had Tank TV it would end up being flipping boring because the spannerack and rivetcounter moments would dominate and turn a lot of people off. To my mind it would be great to see a really good documentary showing a wheels up restoration. But who would make it and who would show it? Making these things entertaining is a massive challenge. As far as the Panther programme goes it would have been more valuable to have seen the projects completed with footage of the two tanks on the move. However, I agree that regardless of this is was great to see something like this on TV. I'm glad I bought the set top box, now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 18, 2007 Author Share Posted January 18, 2007 Co-incidentally, you will see the manipulator frames I made a few years back when I did a Sherman for Mr Littlefield. Dave Arnold borrowed it for his Grizzly restoration. Small world! Were these the big yellow rollers Adrian??? Nice bit of engineering if so!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Neil, yes they were the ones. I used Sherman wheels as the rollers, worked a treat. Dave was good enough to blast and paint it for me. Snapper, you're so right. If someone had said a couple of years ago that there would be a short series about tank restoration on tv, I would have laughed! :-D The trouble with showing any project start to finish is the timescale, tanks tend to take years to restore, even with a team. My Sherman took from 1991 to 2004 all told. That includes finding parts etc. Mind you, some of the range trips would have made good tv....... :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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