Clearing some boxes in the attic today, I found a cache of magazines (not that sort), newspaper colour supplements from the late sixties. One in particular got my attention, the Daily Telegraph of 10 Jan 1969. It features the pictures of the moon taken by Apollo 8. On the back page (where else?) is an advertisement for officers to join the Royal Armoured Corps. The text makes some ambitious claims for the British Army's then new main battle tank, Chieftain.
I must have been impressed because it looks as though I clipped the ad and sent off for the glossy brochure and two years later three Chieftains were on my charge.
Impressionable youth - today I could have sued them under the Trade Descriptions Act for failing to mention that it made you deaf, the L60 multi-fuel engine often blew its cylinder liners and it was covered in diesel and oil. It looked good though. Judging by the plastic model forums, it still has quite a following, particularly as Takom are just about the release three versions in 1/35th.
Ho, hum.
Stephen
