Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Genre/Period Discussion => 20th Century => Topic started by: Heedless Horseman on 13 February 2017, 12:21:22 AM

Title: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 13 February 2017, 12:21:22 AM
Out of the murky pond of memory bubbled...an episode of, (I think!), Blue Peter...when they built a horde of WW1 tanks...(advancing across a great scenic terrain!)...from, (possibly), tab packets and matchboxes...and they were WOW!...to a smallish kid! Even tried it myself...though WW2 tanks were easier...just cellotape a matchbox turret on top of the fag packet, stick in a match for a gun and Go!
Any other sad souls remember this? lol.   ;)
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Techno on 13 February 2017, 06:54:45 AM
Sadly, no.....But I can remember making a trundling 'thingy' out of a cotton reel, a short rubber band and a couple of matchsticks, though !  ;D ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Steve J on 13 February 2017, 07:04:04 AM
Yep, remember the cotton reel tanks, but where the idea came from, God only knows!
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: fsn on 13 February 2017, 07:59:20 AM
Empty fag packet and a matchbox! Tanks, and my favourite - spaceships. Match missiles flying all over the place.

Wouldn't be allowed now - or you'd be able to buy sanitised versions in Toys R Us.
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Orcs on 17 March 2017, 11:00:41 PM
Quote from: Techno on 13 February 2017, 06:54:45 AM
Sadly, no.....But I can remember making a trundling 'thingy' out of a cotton reel, a short rubber band and a couple of matchsticks, though !  ;D ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil

and a button.  You then cut notches in the rim of the cotton reel to give it more grip.  This was only achievable whitha wooden cotton reel.  these were getting harder to find when I was doing this , being replaced with plastic.
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Fenton on 17 March 2017, 11:07:43 PM
I have memories of Jack Hargreaves or Fred Dineage on HOW making these
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Westmarcher on 17 March 2017, 11:58:29 PM
Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 13 February 2017, 12:21:22 AM
Out of the murky pond of memory bubbled...an episode of, (I think!), Blue Peter...when they built a horde of WW1 tanks...(advancing across a great scenic terrain!)...from, (possibly), tab packets and matchboxes...and they were WOW!...to a smallish kid! Even tried it myself...though WW2 tanks were easier...just cellotape a matchbox turret on top of the fag packet, stick in a match for a gun and Go!
Any other sad souls remember this? lol.   ;)

Yep! Definitely Blue Peter.*  :)

* maybe.
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Ithoriel on 18 March 2017, 12:59:44 AM
Quote from: Orcs on 17 March 2017, 11:00:41 PM
and a button.  You then cut notches in the rim of the cotton reel to give it more grip.  This was only achievable whitha wooden cotton reel.  these were getting harder to find when I was doing this , being replaced with plastic.

Darning needle, candle, match, plastic cotton reel = notched wheel tank thingy and ear bashing from my Mum :-)
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Steeleye on 18 March 2017, 04:11:55 AM
Yep, I remember the WW1 tanks. Can't remember how they were made though.

I also remember them explaining the Armoured/Tank corps flag and motto; Through the Mud and the Blood to the Green Fields Beyond.
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 18 March 2017, 07:08:37 AM
http://welovebluepeter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/blue-peter-book-number-5.html

It's in here, made by Peter
Title: Re: Blue Peter Tanks!
Post by: FierceKitty on 18 March 2017, 07:24:02 AM
Quote from: Techno on 13 February 2017, 06:54:45 AM
Sadly, no.....But I can remember making a trundling 'thingy' out of a cotton reel, a short rubber band and a couple of matchsticks, though !  ;D ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil

We used to bang a couple of little nails into the edge of the cylinder; that way, they could climb over obstacles too.