WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VINCE ABBOTT?

james leslie · Post by **james leslie** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:38 pm

Hi Folks,

Does anyone know what happened to Vince Abbott? I used to look foreward to logging on and seeing his work, and to find out what new goodie he had to offer for sale.

I haven't seen a post from him in over a year.

Vince, are you still in the hobby? Are you going to be setting the standard by which the new King Tiger should be built?

James Leslie[/b]

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:16 pm

I agree, I miss his talented expertise and brilliant modelling skills. It has been a long time since he's posted here.

Hopefully nothing serious like health issues keeping him away. He is missed.
Bob

Allan Richards · Post by **Allan Richards** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:59 pm

The last time I spoke to Vince he said he was very busy with film work, but even busy work shouldn't prevent one from posting for months. He was also working with Peter Shaw on the diorama photos (Kampf Gp Von Abt) but I don't believe he has been involved in that for months either. My last two e-mails to him didn't get a reply so I can only assume he's not active in the hoby at present. Let hope he's at the open day.

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:10 am

Vince was at Stoneleigh in February but I didn't get much chance to chat to him.

Last time I did speak to him he was heavily engrossed with his Schwimmwagen so maybe full-size engineering has taken over from 1/6th

Adrian.

Vince Abbott · Post by **Vince Abbott** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:54 am

Hi Guys,

Jame's you beat me to it, I've been meaning to post an update, I've been dragged away on various Film and TV Commercials since the end of last year. Films are great but the hours are long and just about everything else gets put on hold. Any spare time I have are spent working on my Schwimmwagen and a large 1/6th scale diorama which is still in the pipeline and I hope to photograph soon. I'm still tinkering with my Armortek Panther and if I had the time the Jagdpanther, Panzer III and the amazing new King Tiger would also be sitting in my workshop. Well done Mark and Gill, Armortek keep going from strength to strength

I have to say my jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw the new King Tiger last weekend on the forum and Mark you said "it could never be done" - He. He. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist getting this beast into production.

I was hoping to have my Schwimmer at War & Peace again this year (but I couldn't resist taking it apart and seeing what makes it tick), we joined the German Schwimmwagen owners club (D.I.S.G e.V.) and attended one of their amazing weekends a couple of months ago, you can see the various club vehicles in action at the following link:

http://www.schwimmwagen.co.uk/page-disg ... -2008.html

I'm tied up with a project for the London Motor Show at the moment so unfortunately the tank parts are on hold for a while, by the look of the new King Tiger kit pretty much everything is supplied straight out of the box which suits me fine

- I better start saving.

Here's one of the projects I got involved with last year, it was a fully Animatronic 8 metre tall walking NFL Footballer (Jason Taylor for those that follow the NFL), I had to design and build the main walking rig and various other features on the character. I still can't believe we managed this from start to finish in 8 weeks from a blank sheet of paper!:

Kinda makes my 1/6th scale Animatronic figures look a little on the small size.

I've recently finished working on the BT Gremlins commercial which was great fun but again demanded very long hours.

Here's the commercial on YouTube:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iA1iQm413 ... re=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PCTlDj0f6 ... re=related

If you're eagle eyed enough you might spot me in the making off video

Hopefully things will settle down and I can get back to building my models, we'll be going to the Armortek Open Day again, if it's anything like last year (and I'm sure it'll be better) it's an event you won't want to miss.

Even our Kampfgruppe von Abt meetings have suffered lately but Peter Shaw is still prolifically buildings some amazing 1/6th scale models, including the newly completed Pegasus Bridge!

We should be at War & Peace on the Thursday and Friday - see you there.

Vince.

Phil Markham · Post by **Phil Markham** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:43 pm

Hi Vince,

Good to hear from you again, I think we were all beginning to think you'd been abducted by Aliens of somthin! But I guess that looking at your recent work on the Gremlins for BT you were!

The NFL player is amazing, can't believe it actually walks as well, great work, you must really love your job.

Can't wait to see how your Panther is coming along.

Regards
Phil

Robert E Morey · Post by **Robert E Morey** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:51 pm

Vince,
You never cease to amaze us! Great stuff! Hope to have you back into the tanks someday, but glad things are going well for you. The schwimmwagon sounds like great fun. I'd love to drive one in a river or lake.
Kind regards,
Bob

Vince Abbott · Post by **Vince Abbott** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:49 pm

Thanks Phil & Bob,

My Panther is sitting there patiently, which is fine as I still haven't sorted out the final colour scheme I'm going for yet, I still think it looks pretty cool in bare metal.

The Schwimmer is great fun, I'm getting it ready for it's first major outing on the River Thames later this Summer - work permitting!

My Tiger used to make the ground shake on my patio, I can't imagine what the King Tiger would do to my back garden, it's got to be mighty impressive. I think if I had one on order I'd make sure someone else answered the door when the poor old UPS guys tries to deliver it

.

I like Lee's idea for an Armortek Owners Club, I ran a car club many years ago so I know it's a lot of work but it would be great if we could pull it off.

Here's a blast from the past, 10 points to anyone remembering who was responsible for this little bit of over zealous driving with their Sherman:

Vince.

Tim Bowman · Post by **Tim Bowman** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:19 pm

Vince,

Nice to have you back on the forum! I'd like to echo all the above comments. Pictures like the one above of the inverted Sherman are exactly what the forums been missing.

Glad you are well and busy.

kind regards

Tim

Bill Lambert · Post by **Bill Lambert** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:15 am

Vincent, Is that you doing the Horizontal Momba with a Gremlin? I see an arm and a torso that look strangely familiar.[/i]

Post by **Armortek** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:45 am

Hello Vince

I find it difficult to believe that anyone could be so careless as to drive a Sherman like that. It certainly would not be the official Armortek recommended way.

Mark

Vince Abbott · Post by **Vince Abbott** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:23 pm

He. He. Now don't go trying that with your King Tiger.

Well done on the release of the new kit Mark, it really does look stunning, glad to hear about your tie-up with the Bovington Museum, definitely a worthy cause

.

Vince.