I've been spending the last few days in Dorset and Somerset ... specifically Bovington Tank Museum and Yeovilton Fleet Air Arm Museum. There was a lot of countryside to drive over, but I was worth it to see some of the sights.

The big surprise was that the tank museum had tanks other than Centurions. Perhaps there's a Centurion museum I've missed. Since the museum opened at 10:00, I arrived promptly at 9:58 and looked pathetically through the windows until they let me in. As the first in the museum, and all the lights not being on, I was slightly unnerved to have to face the WWI trench experience on my own.  Spooky enough until one of the mannequins spoke to me and I considered retiring for clean underwear.


Then into the main halls. It's like a parking lot for tankers. A9, A10, A13, Matilda I, Matilda II, Valentine, Churchill, etc, etc. Some fine oddities like the Preying Mantis and the Centurion Mk I with the Polsten gun in the turret.

I'm currently working through my photos, but here are a few tasters.




Nirvana for track heads!

I assume the cammoed Cent with the era is Swedish ?

IanS

It is indeed.

Pretty pictures



The Tank Museum 

I haven't been there since the first wargames show they held, back in '97 or such-like. 

I'll have to get back there, sometime. I might even take a look at Monkey World, when I do, since its so close.

Quote from: RoyWilliamson on 19 March 2016, 03:03:53 PM
I might even take a look at Monkey World, when I do, since its so close.

That's no way to talk about the army camp!

Was there in September as part of "Warfare through the ages". I fair messed myself being amongst all that tanky goodness..... 

Last time I was down that way I went to Monkey World.

Quote from: Leman on 19 March 2016, 06:58:37 PM
Last time I was down that way I went to Monkey World.

Don't feed the REME!

Corse the Gooners is all over the place.

IanS

I'm off to the tank museum in the summer for Tank Fest...

All the fun of the museum plus lots of added tanks in the display area all moving, including the Tiger.

I contemplated the Tankfest then realised that it would probably draw large crowds and possibly even children and decided against.

And I bet you thought there might be some more life-size mannequins......... Primed to make you jump , when they talked to you ! 
Cheers - Phil

Quote from: DanJ on 30 March 2016, 03:38:57 PM
I'm off to the tank museum in the summer for Tank Fest...

All the fun of the museum plus lots of added tanks in the display area all moving, including the Tiger.

Yeah, I want to hit up that "Tiger Weekend" but I've the rotten feeling it's the same weekend we're doing an event

QuoteI contemplated the Tankfest then realised that it would probably draw large crowds and possibly even children and decided against.

I went three years ago and paid extra to be in a nice area away from the hoi polio and their kids, unfortunately those tickets had sold out and my mate was so desperate to go he insisted that rubbing shoulders with the unwashed would be OK;  I wait to be convinced, but it will be awesome.  The Tiger is particularly impressive, when I last went they ran a late model Valentine just afterwards and the comparison was frightening.

Quote from: DanJ on 04 April 2016, 11:22:21 AM
I went three years ago and paid extra to be in a nice area away from the hoi polio and their kids, unfortunately those tickets had sold out and my mate was so desperate to go he insisted that rubbing shoulders with the unwashed would be OK;  I wait to be convinced, but it will be awesome.  The Tiger is particularly impressive, when I last went they ran a late model Valentine just afterwards and the comparison was frightening.

...unless you're deliberately doing it to us.