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Issue 41/4 - Preview |
Aug 7, 2006 |
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The latest issue of Tankette has been rushed out to the membership, my copy arriving direct from the hand of 'El Presidente' Gary Williams when he visited the Cambridge branch.
As usual Neil (Wharton, the editor) has packed the magazine with a wide variety of subjects. On the cover are photos of the Chieftan Marksman AA tank and a Landrover at Duxford, alongside photos of two of the amazing (and large) M113 collection of Jon Barker.
Page two carries the usual Association information, and also the editorial in which Neil discusses the recent MAFVA Nationals at Duxford, modellers BBQ and recent kit releases.
Having only recently acquired the Osprey Vanguard on the Cromwell (104), I was astounded to find an errata sheet by the authors, David Fletcher & Dick Harley, taking up half of page three!
Dick also contributes the next article on the Famo F3 SdKfz 9/1 half-track with 6 tonne crane. This supports the excellent 1/76th scale drawing of the vehicle by Geoff Lacey. Equally important to my mind are the modelling suggestions in a variety of scales and other sources of information that Dick includes to help plan a modelling project.
A listing of available back issues is also included here, and you are reminded that you should make sure you have all the issues you are likely to need, as many are rapidly selling out. Contact Gary Williams as he does occasionally obtain 'extinct' issues.
Our Valentine expert John Pearson points out an error in a previous Tankette and supplies both a wonderful period photo & some interesting facts on the DD Valentine.
The editor provides two photos of a civilian owned FV432 fitted with a CVR 30mm turret offering 'Tank Battles' at £48 per head. Obviously Leicestershire is a bit dangerous these days…
Mick Bell fills Page 7 with a 1/76th scale plan of the Automitrailleuse de Combat Modele 1935 Renault Type ACG1. Mick has included both the 25mm & 47mm armed turret variations, and a hull outline to aid scratchbuilders. The variety of French Army AFV's used in the 1940 era are fascinating, and there are quite a few kits of these available in resin and in both large and small scale. With the recent release of the Char B from Tamiya perhaps a few more will appear in kit form.
The centre spread for this issue is the highly topical Italian AS42 Sahariana recce vehicle. Topical as a kit has been announced by Italeri (who else?) to follow their AB41 armoured car kit. The plan is in 1/35th scale, is in five views and comes from the hand of Hubert Cance.
Page 10 shows a few of the many M113 models from the collection of Jon Barker.
Nick Perry has sent in the results of more research into British wartime AFV's, this time he is able to publish information on the issue of Valentine Bridgelayers, and also Churchill Bridgelayers. This was a sideline to his original work looking into Crusader AA tanks. Larry Taylor has sent in two photographs of his grandfather Fred who worked on AFV production as an inspector. The photos show him with a Crusader AA.
Next we have a 1/76th scale plan by John Church of the Bedford OXA 30cwt armoured lorry. This is one of the extemporised designs that were produced to replace vehicles lost in France. A page of reviews follows covering Accurate armour mines, Milicast GMC 'Deuce and a half' conversion sets and the 'King Tiger in detail' books Vols 1 & 2.
Neil then gives us two pages of photos of models from the 2006 Nationals in June, quite a wide selection. The back cover features the Brazilian Engesa EE-T4 OGUM in 1/35th scale by Mike Potter. Not a vehicle I recall seeing before, perhaps we'll see a scratchbuilt one now?
Tankette is available to members of the Miniature AFV Association who receive six issues per year. Subscription to MAFVA is currently £7.00 in the UK but is due to rise soon due to postage costs.
Paul Middleton 02/08/06
For information about the Miniature AFV Association and Tankette visit http://www.mafva.org.
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