Runyan99 Posted May 24, 2004 Author Share Posted May 24, 2004 Yes, I'm pleased to report that Tank fest was a total success. I guess I had never seen a moving tank before in person before Sunday, but I got to see a bunch. All tanks did fine. Only the PzIII broke down at the very end of the day, but that hardly counts. I saw them all going round the track but the T-34, which I'm sorry I missed. Those of us that were there saw the first moving Tiger tank in some 60 years. Like seeing a living dinosaur, in a way. Worth the trip, I think. Simon, you wouldn't want a sound mod of that Tiger. I'm afraid to say it misfired, and sounded a bit sick. Worth nothing that the German tanks, which are petrol based, don't make a great rumbling noise. The maybach on the Tiger was more of a whining noise really, not a diesel rumble. Also, the German tanks are pretty quiet at idle. The PzIII parked some 50 meters away from us at one point, and was very difficult to hear with the engine idling. Finally, I noticed that none of the WW2 era tanks made much creaky tread noise as they moved around. Nearly all of the sound was from the engine, and the treads were silent. It was only the modern tanks which made loud tread noises. Modders take note. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoofyStance Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 Sounds like the Tank Fest was an awesome spectacle - the pics posted were great too (thanks, FK!). Was the Mk III missing some armor from around the gun mantle? And did the muffler covers on the rear of the Tiger have hole damage in them? Made me wonder if the current Tiger driver had backed into something One day a few years ago, I drove along the edge of the Ft. Sill artillery firing range in southwestern Oklahoma, USA, on a quiet two-lane road when I was stopped by flag-waving MP's who had parked a pair of Humvees across both lanes, some 50 yards apart. They were looking to one side of the road, but I couldn't see what they were looking at because of a low ridge blocking my LOS. Suddenly, there was a cloud of dust rising from behind the ridge, and a platoon of four Abrams MBTs came into view, traveling in column. They crossed the road going about 25-30 mph, crashed down on the other side, and disappeared down a shallow ravine. After a minute, the MP's mounted up and drove their Humvees, albeit more slowly, after the tanks, and I continued on my way. No idea why the tanks were at an artillery school / firing range - perhaps for a joint exercise - but it was a great sight! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 flamingdoublepost [ May 24, 2004, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: flamingknives ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 Any damage on the tiger is original battle damage. It has been restored to immediately post-captured state. Yes there are holes in the exhaust covers, but AIUI, the exhausts themselves are undamaged. Joe Ekins was also present. (Firefly gunner credited with 3 Tigers, including Wittman's) On the way down the previous day, there was actually about 6 Saxon APCs travelling down the motorway in the opposite direction. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
British Tommy Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 The gates to Bovington opened at 10:00 and I got there at 10:20 and found the car parks half full then with all the best spots around the arena already taken! To rub salt into the wound, I had forgotten my camera BUT, luckily I did have my digital video camera and managed to capture most of the armour on that Thanks to Flamingknifes I now have some pics of the event. Did get the Tiger on film but it wasn't easy holding the camera above peoples heads. Like the others, I was surprised that the Tiger didn't have a deep roar coming from the engine.I think it is quieter than a Sherman and even the PZ III was quiet on the move! Didn't get chance to meet up with anyone as I had my future son-in-law tagging along with me and it was his first trip to Bovington and he wanted to look around the museum. Will be going again next year.....but this time by myself! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldmeter Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Originally posted by British Tommy: I was surprised that the Tiger didn't have a deep roar coming from the engine.I think it is quieter than a Sherman and even the PZ III was quiet on the move! BT, One of the things we were talking about at the track was how quiet the MK III was. It Stopped maybe 25 metres away from us on the track and when it was sat there with the engine idle you had to really struggle to hear the engine. You can imagine that if it were behind a hedgerow and you drove passed with your sherman roaring away you would definitely not hear it. Mark 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
British Tommy Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 My apologies to Flamingknives.In my last post I spelt his name wrong! Looking at his photos, I wasn't too far away from where he was standing in the arena 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Myself, Andreas, Runyan 99, coldmeter and a non-forum friend of mine. We met up at 12.30 and were still able to bag a spot by the fence where we didn't get smothered in dust. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Other Means Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 what is this "non-forum friend" of which you speak? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoofyStance Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 And does this "non-forum friend" know her AFV's? I can see it now, a Pzkw IIID rolling past, and this "non-forum friend" remarking on the tank's main armament: "It's so ... small." No wonder the Panthers and Tigers get all the attention. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 The non-forum friend is a bloke I've known since I was three. He was most confused by "whose grass mod is that?" and "Pissed off so it growls and shows it's teeth" I don't know where one would get the impression that I'd be suicidal enough to take a female friend to Bovington. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonm Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Did you find out what the “big black tank“ was (is there a plaque or something)? I’d guess it was a Vickers export vehicle that the Indians built as the “Vijayanta”. That would explain the Soviet style ERA. But all the “Vijayanta” I’ve seen have only had 6 roadwheels. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 No, there's no plaque. AFAICT, it's a product of DERA for testing new armour types. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonm Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Originally posted by flamingknives: I don't know where one would get the impression that I'd be suicidal enough to take a female friend to Bovington. Good Call. However, the attitude does seem to change if they are allowed to drive one rather than passively watch. My wife went berserk when I managed to get her an hours “stick time” moving cross country. We almost had to disassemble the vehicle around her because there was no way she was going to get out voluntarily. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rleete Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Originally posted by flamingknives: I don't know where one would get the impression that I'd be suicidal enough to take a female friend to Bovington. [/QB]I don't see why not. My wife really enjoyed Bovington, except for the part where I decided for both of us to skip lunch. And I'm not sure about the suicidal part, but you are definitely a couple of sips short of a full pint! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Love the pictures! Will there be further additions to the site from other attendees? Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Yes, but life is still not letting me deal with it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holien Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 I could post some photo's of the weekend but they would be sherds of Slipware and 1800 clay pipes dug up from the back yard. Looks like I missed a good weekend down there and wished the blody Tiger had been fixed on my previous visit. Good photo's flamingknives and Andreas sort your life out! I wish I could sort mine out I have not played a CM game since you guys came over. Too many other things keep intruding. H 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 So what did the dig bring up then? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Carr Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Saw some of the pictures on links that were posted. This must have been great fun to go and see. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holien Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Broken pots, Broken bones mainly Cow & Budgie, Broken Glass, Broken clay smoking pipes, Broken plaster. Very Old Rubbish... Some of the nice finds were 1. A small (and I mean small, finger nail size) tea spoon. 2. A small shoe buckle. 3. A small bronze pin. 4. Small wood button & chalk button. 5. Small coin which we can not date as it has lost facial features due to corrosion. We also found the remains of a 19th C path which was hidden under the turf. Also a very old wall and cobble stones which will be explored further later this summer. I will let you know the date as it is bloody hard work and if you want to get involved you are more than welcome. Free Food and Beer in return for labour. H P.s. Still wish I had been able to clone myself and get down to see the Tiger move. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Deal. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Although I just remembered that the free drink will just about make up for the excellent WineCape wines I left at your place. I am regretting that, you know. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holien Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Maybe we can get Justin to come and teach us to do it properly? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 He'll just lounge about in a deckchair with a G&T in his hand, instructing us to claw dirt with our fingernails. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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