TankMOD was certainly a record gathering. My provisional count is that the Tank Museum saw one hundred one sixth scale models on the day, which must be first anywhere. We will have to wait to see how Guinness World Records view the numbers, once I've submitted the evidence. In aviation, there is a saying that when the paperwork weights as much as the aircraft, it can fly. How much does one of Mark's King Tigers weigh.......
Meanwhile here are the "rushes" - the photos are a mixture of those taken by Marcin Wisniewski of the Museum, Steve Stuart and some of mine. Very many thanks to Marcin and Steve - your photos will form the basis of the evidence for GWR.
Worthy winners:
Lucky draw:
A well deserved award going in the opposite direction...
The models:
King Tiger Krescent:
Panzer III Place:
Centurion Close:
Half-track House:
Tiger Terrace:
Allies Avenue:
A winner:
The esteemed judiciary at work:
A very special (WWI) photo in the one hundredth year since the tank was born:
Mission Control:
And finally, the finale:
Until the next one - thank you everyone for helping us helpers to make it happen.
I have just been out for a couple of hours and returned to discover that Stephen has again saved me a lot of work and posted lots of fantastic photos. Thank you.
Mark and I are still coming down to earth and trying to catch our breath, however we would now like to properly thank those who have done so much to make this weekend such a success.
I will start with 'all of you who brought your models' after all without these we would not have had an event. It never ceases to amaze us how the bare metal parts we send you, all wrapped in their little bags and white foam are transformed into the superb models that we saw on Saturday. So thank you to you all.
Stephen, you have contributed so much, a few words are not enough. The professionalism and persistence with which you have dealt with all of the administration needed for the Guinness attempt can not be underestimated and quite simply we would not have got off the starting blocks without you. Not only that, you have supported us in so many other areas of the organisation, (including delivering beer for Sunday!) for all of this our sincerest thanks.
Vince, David and Dick, for your time and expertise in judging the competition and for being witnesses to our Guinness attempt. Thank you.
Chris, your help at both ends of the event, was invaluable. A huge help in turning our manufacturing facility into a 'shop and auction house' for Sunday, and then on Saturday, your tank marshaling skills made sure that everyone was where they were needed and there was room for everyone. Thank you.
Steve, I hope you did manage to look up and enjoy the day, in between your diligent logging and photographing all the models for the Guinness attempt. Thank you for this and the disc you left us with lots of photos from the day.
Our friends Ali and James who gave up their weekend and worked like troopers to support us, if by any strange chance you are reading this, then our grateful thanks to you.
Finally to the museum staff, who were all, without exception a delight to work with and provided us with a setting to display the models which simply could not be matched, thank you.
What a sight! 102 was the total in the end. We've a lot of data preparation and paperwork to do for Guinness but however you look at it, this must be a first, worldwide. A real privilege to be part of it.
I'd spent the day preparing the data sheets for each individual model and identified each on the photo, when I realised we had a couple of wagons extra. It took a bit of detective work with the photos from outside the hall which Steve Stuart took to discover that Dennis Jones had indeed worked his magic and we had two extra Armortek models from Frank Harper and we had the scratch built Mark One (Male) from Helen Lawson. Thanks Dennis, we might need the extras. Thanks to Steve too, without your photos, sorting this out would have been a challenge.
