Bovington Tank Museum visit

[Steve J]

With plenty of pics, an account of my recent visit to Bovi:

http://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/bovington-tank-museum-2014.html

Certainly a great day out and with plenty of ideas for stuff, mainly to do with the AVBCW and Blitzkreig .

[Fenton]

Lovely stuff

Always enjoy going there

[Rob]

Particularly good pictures Steve. Excellent stuff. 

I do like Bovington, we normally go every 2 years or so so we are about due.

My favourite tank  Amongst my favourites tanks there is the PzIV. It really is a piece of history; it is a "G" but was not manufactured as a "G", it was made as an "E", if memory serves, and was progressively up armoured and up gunned to the current standards.

Cheers Rob   

[burnaby64]

Fine photos! Went there many years ago when my son was about 8 so didn't have the time to linger and do it justice. Liked the WW1 tanks--my grandfather was a machine-gunner in them--92532 Pte W Allan, Tank Corps.

[Steve J]

Glad you liked the pics chaps, considering they were taken with a simple point and shoot camera. Photography normally is not one of my strong points! Sadly the lighting varied somewhat, especially the entrance to the WWI stuff, which made taking pics a bit of a problem. Also you couldn't really get a good look at a couple of the exhibits.

[paulr]

Stunning - must visit Europe!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great photos!

[Steve J]

It is a great museum, especially with the new layout that is a couple of years old now. The first hall is especially spacious so that you can really get a good all round view of the tanks. The other halls are not bad, but some of the tanks are rather cheek-by-jowl, making it hard to get a good overall view. Minor quibbles to be honest though.

[Techno]

Great photo's, Steve.
Cheers - Phil

[DanJ]

Great photos, Bovingdon is one of the best musems in the country. 

I was lucky enough to get to Tankfest last year, where they have a selection of the running tanks out in the open arena, the highlight for me was the WW1 'Warhorse' reproduction which did a turn.  It was very educational, although I knew that it only moved at about 3-4 mph it's not until you see it actually moving that you realise how slow this is for a vehicle.

[Luddite]

Here, here, Dan.

I was there last year myself and its an absolutely top day out.

Seeing these beasties up close is such an eyeopener.  The rough welds on the T34, the battle damage on the WWI behemoths, the sobbing soldier in the trench...

[Steve J]

If you can, go outside of the big event days as it feels as if you have the museum to yourself. The downside of course is that you don't get to see them running around the track, which must be pretty special. At least Youtube gives you the chance to see them in action so to speak.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Dont forget to wander round the back - found an Iraqi up-armoured T55 in the early 90's doing that.

IanS

[Hertsblue]

The IWM tank museum at Duxford is also good. Especially when they take them out and drive them around the trial ground.

[Sandinista]

This years wargames show may be the last, which would be a shame