I'd been aware of Armortek for years before I finally entered the asylum
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
And then, back in March, Adrian Harris told me that one had come up for sale on the Gumtree website, and kindly allowed me first bite of the cherry. It was actually one I'd seen before, and expressed interest in, but a deal couldn't be agreed and it went elsewhere. And now it had popped up again. So a phone call was made, a deal was agreed ...... and then the long lockdown wait started until I was allowed to go and collect it, which finally happened on 29 March.
Details. It's No. 20, complete with certificate, all the instruction books, Futaba 7C Tx, battery charger, a box of bits like track links etc., a few books and even a couple of dollies. I'm the 4th owner, but I don't think there are many miles on the clock. The build is tidy, straight out of the box, painted green but with no identity. The batteries were the original 2 x 12v lead acids, and were very tired - good enough to load and unload from the Range Rover, and a circuit around the garden, but that was about it.
And, as a picture paints a thousand words, here she is as she was in 2014, but largely unchanged today:
So, another project ! Not a huge one, as she's (all tanks are female, aren't they ? Even some of the WW1 Males had female names
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
1. Swap out the old batteries for a shiny new 24v LiFePo4 - already done !
2. (The Big One) Retro it down from a Mark 5/2 to a Mark 3, as used in Korea and West Germany in the early 1950's. I'm still trawling through the books* for the fine details, but the key feature is the main gun, which was a 20-pdr Type A. More on that in a future post.
3. An identity. This is the easy one. C Squadron, 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars, which fought at the Battle of the Imjin (Solma-Ri), 23-25 April 1951. Their role at that battle was both fascinating and crucial, and well worth studying as an excellent example of sheer bravery and excellent armoured tactics. Again, more details in due course.
4. A complete paint job. I've always believed that post-WW2 British tanks were Deep Bronze Green - full stop. I think tanks look great in shiny dark green, although I know others disagree with me ! But history can be a cruel and unrelenting mistress
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
I'd like to get it into a state where I can bring it to Tankfest, along with my Quad, limber and 25-pdr, to establish 'Korea Corner'
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
One final thing. I put a little * next to 'books' to remind me to say a special thanks to Kevin Hunter, who sent me his spare copy of the WPP book and refused to take payment for it. Kevin - if you ever make it to the mainland, there's at least a Bovvy Breakfast in it for you
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Best wishes, and stay well,
Chris