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Speedy British tank with a sting in its tail...

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 3:50 pm
by 43rdRecceReg
I came across this YouTube video quite by chance, not having looked at anything armour related recently ( I'm rebuilding a 1970s pro reel-to-reel tape deck currently: a Teac A3440). 'Dark tech' bestows the highest praise upon the British FV 101 'Scorpion', and made me wonder whether it has, or similar recce vehicles still have, a role to play on the modern battlefield. Certainly its speed and manoeuvrability might make it a harder target for a drone to hit... :)..but maybe not. :think: Drones seem to developing a pre-eminent role in land and air warfare..and now at sea too, with the Ukrainian's long-range anti-ship (and anti-bridge) creations.
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Re: Speedy British tank with a sting in its tail...

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:29 pm
by Herr Dr. Professor
"I'm rebuilding a 1970s pro reel-to-reel tape deck currently: a Teac A3440": Great! A friend of mine recently started restoring his 1972 reel-to-reel: a young man at a store asked, "What's that?!" (Oh, on topic: one might call tracks on an AFV "really big reel-to-reel.")

Re: Speedy British tank with a sting in its tail...

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 5:36 pm
by Estnische
So many questions:
How does one restore a reel-to-reel?
Who would maintain a supply of the parts?
What recordings are available for it? (I am imagining a smoke filled room and hearing Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue or Panzerlied)

Re: Speedy British tank with a sting in its tail...

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2023 9:38 am
by 43rdRecceReg
Thanks Doc, and Brett. Well, re: the Teac deck, the main drive belt had turned to black goo, but I sourced a replacement from a tapehead in the US. (There's actually a fanbase for reel-to-reel users: reel-to-reel.com, for those preferring to record with tape rather than a DAW...digital audio workstation). 'Rebuild' involves removing and renovating (greasing in some cases) removable parts, like the pinch roller for instance; checking every connection for solder failures, and for blackened transistors etc. A surprising number of new parts are still available out there, even after half a century. :) I guess it's the same with tanks to some extent, (except this deck has four tracks, Doc, not two). There's an even a sort of breaker's yard though the 'net (including eBay) where whole machines are sold for parts.
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Here's the 1970s patient, lurking behind my (unfinished but functional) Tamiya Tiger 1.
I've actually go it working!.
As for the speedy Scorpion theme, I'm wondering whether the Ukrainians, who seem to make excellent use of reconnaissance teams, might find the current German Wiesel to be a modern alternative....
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(Wiesel = English: weasel). I'me thinking of updating my Taigen Tiger 1 (late Production model) and finally painting the Tamiya Tiger