TankFest 2019

[Stephen White]

Just a first few from TankFest. Three days of sunshine, tanks and ice creams. Thanks Kian, Monique and the girls. YouToob video to follow, sometime.

and the obligatory group photo:

[Vince Cutajar]

Great photos Stephen.

Vince

[Daniel Scholefield]

Great three days once again, very hot but at least I didn't pass out this year even though I was far from feeling good on the Friday! I appear to have about 700 pics and videos to sort through even before I check the GoPro but sleep will have come first so just one quick edit for now...

[Steen Vøler]

great pictures - looks like you had fun

Look forward to more pictures and videos

[Armortek]

Many thanks to all of you who attend TankFest and helped make it a enjoyable event. Hopefully you all make it home without incident.

Next year we hope they try to "up" the level of entertainment .. that grill fire on Saturday along with the fire engines was just not enough - although it will now apparently be called the Great Fire of Bovington and will be commemorated with an eternal flame !

One of the great things about going to the Tank Museum is that it is a great place to get inspiration for the next kit.
The curious should click below and all will be revealed .....
https://www.armortek.co.uk/wp-content/u ... G_6230.jpg

[Adrian Harris]

Stephen providing a Masterclass on the correct way to apply weathering powders to tarmac:

Adrian

[Stephen White]

Here we go:


The Sunday crowd. Great to catch up with everyone, thanks to Monique, Kian and Chris for providing the opportunity and thanks to Pete Nash for guarding the site, victuallying us and banter.

The Armortek stand. The location wasn't satisfactory, too few visitors came our way but next year, we should be back on the grass near the tank park

Simon's wonderful Tiger II

Now to the real thing:

Well done Dennis, wheelies in a Tiger always work

David Brady's T-34 85

Oh, there were some full size ones too....I've picked out the stars of the show or we'd be here all night.

This was the rarest of rare, a restored Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go light tank. Crew of three, despite the Australian War Memorial insisting the crew was four They found nominal roles in which each crew was listed with four. I know Japanese tank crewmen are probably smaller than occidentals but..... (The fourth crewman was probably a guide who bravely sat on the engine decks and directed operations and was a supernumerary crewman). Note Mitsubishi got their logo onto it, which probably indicates the final destination of this outstanding restoration. A pleasure to see it with the Stuart.

Other tanks were available:

Including this much over-rated toy tank "destroyer", the Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer (about as much use as a chocolate ash-tray, avoid at all costs). This is a case where the name is more impressive than the vehicle. About the only interesting thing about a Hetzer is the Czech 38(T) chassis. It was born of late war desperation and it's a mystery why it's acquired such modern interest and acclaim. You could knock it over with a strong push.

and of course, a delight to see the Saumur Panther, coughing and farting its way around the arena:

What a shame the French decided on a French colour scheme ("my bat, my ball, my game"). Grateful however that the Musee Blinde allowed it to come to TankFest. Next year the Tiger II?

They found someone who knew how to start the Jagdpanther and it ran. It's a great restoration, given that the Weald Foundation started with a range wreck with half of one side and the toe plate missing.

and this is an unsung hero, great to see it alongside the Panzer III Ausf L:

A very rare sight, a Churchill Mk III in working order, such are the highlights of TankFest. Now this would make a great Armortek model, never mind all that panzer stuff:

Or this would make an ever better Armortek model, although this Matilda II struggled in the heat and had to take it easy. (Good job it ran better in the Western Desert in 1941-2 and during the Arras Counter-attack of May 21st 1940)

Speaking of which, another participant in the Arras Counter-attack, the Matilda I. Note the Chinese Eyes of the Fourth Royal Tank Regiment...

which also feature on this Saladin:

Other regiments are available. Finally, the Firefly (I saved that 'til last for the aliteration):

I've got stacks of video and feel overwhelmed with the prospect of editing it but watch this space. A great, hot, sweaty, friendly, exhausting, armoured, scale modelling, over-eating, gem of a weekend. Thanks all.

[Stephen White]

Adrian, when I got to Sandhurst, I was asked if I could ride. When I said no, I was given a broom and told to learn on that. It's the only bit of military training that's been useful in later life.

Kian, the next model looks superb. For Mark Heaps, great to see it painted in your brother's regimental markings.........

[simon_manning]

Thanks Armortek for the chance to attend, a superb weekend, interesting to see all the different aspects of the Tankfest, maximum capacity crowds,
and people come from all over the world to attend, i enjoyed it, Thanks Monique, Chris, Kian, and nice to see all the owners. regards simon manning.

[Daniel Scholefield]

Still sifting through the photos so just one more for now

Regarding the Ha-Go, the tank was made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries so that may explain the logo although it going back to Japan would be logical.

[David Brady]

Hi,

Good pictures Stephen. I had a great day thank you Armortek

Jagdpanther running below.

https://youtu.be/lnfVhWSwpto

https://youtu.be/G60qh-WqyQo


Cheers

[Peter Quambusch]

Hello everybody,

Hope you all made it home safely, as Timo and I did this morning at 9 a.m....

Thanks to everyone for the kind hospitality and the interesting conversations.

Special thanks to Stephen for the endless supply of Super Glue, Monique and the kids for the excellent cake and the tasty ice cream, and last not least to the donor of the "obstacle".

Love to come back next year.

Cheers

[Peter Quambusch]

I wonder why they still come upside down???

[Stephen White]

Blame the Australians.....

[Chris Hall]

And now I'm Really, Really sorry I couldn't make it ......

(Although the furnace that was Saturday must have been a trial).

See you next year,

Chris