http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/product.php/14517/668/british_paratroopers_wwii_kit1 Master box Ltd, have brought out some good kits - this one of UK paras in Op MARKET GARDEN is no exception apart from the artwork on the box is a little ' geographically challenged'
It is a little known fact that due to shortages of wireless equipment, they sent in Signals linemen to set up a telephone network. Unfortunately, many of them were ex-Post Office Telephones and brought much civilian pattern gear with them. Furthermore, one of the concerns in occupied Holland was lack of postal communications so a letter box was standard equipment !
It is a little known fact that due to shortages of wireless equipment, they sent in Signals linemen to set up a telephone network. Unfortunately, many of them were ex-Post Office Telephones and brought much civilian pattern gear with them. Furthermore, one of the concerns in occupied Holland was lack of postal communications so a letter box was standard equipment ! yeah, but Im sure they didnt drop Red GPO phone boxes by containers during Op MARKET GARDEN
Have read the comments and giggling all the time although I am not the british I catched up the joke EDIT: wow, 900th post, loooook uuuuuup, I'm coming Paul, looks like they stopped some dutch hunter in forests of holland and its obvious that the forest is already filled with all standard WW2 british comminication equipment
It is a little known fact that due to shortages of wireless equipment, they sent in Signals linemen to set up a telephone network. Unfortunately, many of them were ex-Post Office Telephones and brought much civilian pattern gear with them. Furthermore, one of the concerns in occupied Holland was lack of postal communications so a letter box was standard equipment ! Tommy-rot! Anyone can see that this illustration depicts the liberation of the world famous Dutch Public Telephone & Post box collection, as pictured in the 'After the Battle' publication 'Boxes & bren-Guns'. The chap with the rabbits is quite plainly Colonel Lord 'Guffy' Henderson, who despite many fine military achievements was obsessed with game shooting, and always, somewhat eccentrically, wore the garb of a Tyrolean hunter whenever on active service. In this vignette he is clearly annoyed that his men have damaged a particularly rare Chinese 'Type 7' box that he was hoping to take home for his wife; Lady Henderson being a noted collector and personally responsible for discovering 14 unknown types of box during her younger travels in Eastern climes. Either that, or they're training in the Cotswolds...
Second from left is most dangerous item in WW2, an Officer with a map. I expect he's also thinking, "If I now point with my left hand, I'll look just like the officer in the Airfix 1/32nd scale British Paras set." I think the civie is saying, " A phone box? ah, nearest one is two miles that way!"
yeah, but Im sure they didnt drop Red GPO phone boxes by containers during Op MARKET GARDEN Now that would've kept Jerry's head down I don't believe that the shooter is an Englishman and he's certainly not a gentleman. Only Johnny Foreigner caries a shotgun on a sling (If it's not a shotgun, he's using an elephant gun on rabbit which wouldn't leave much over for the pot !) I half wonderd if it was a training exercise in England designed to help spot fifth columnists - note the feldgrau trousers. Maybe the correct caption is "Excuse me sir, we've missed our flight to Eindhoven - Can you tell us the way to Croydon Aerodrome ?"
I think the postbox is a George 5th Lampbox style. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamp_box George V LB206- Believed to be cast until about 1927, the original GR Lamp box had a crown above a small GR cipher. LB207-LB210 - The crown was removed and a larger GR cipher was used. While the box is 1/2 inch wider the aperture remains the same at 4 3/4 inches by 1 inch. Subtle differences in the makers name, cipher and door length distinguish between the different types. LB211 GvR 1935 Pattern -In response to criticism of the narrow aperture of the original Lamp box a larger model was cast with the aperture enlarged to 5 1/2 inches by 1 inch. This type of Lamp box was in use from 1935 to 1949 when it was replaced with the modern 1940's pattern. Here we go.... http://www.cvphm.org/GeorgeVPt2.html These four boxes are all by different foundries from this long reign. The rounded top leads to this type being know has "Hovis" boxes, after the famous loaves of bread. The boxes in this selection are: LB206 A.Handyside with long door & small crown LB210W T Allen - short door LB209/2 Derby Castings - short door LB207 A.Handyside with no crown & long door We also have an LB208, W T Allen long door which is shown on the previous page. The extreme right-hand box is still attached to the "hoops" which secured these boxes to telegraph poles.
Officer: "Have you by any chance seen our platoon mascot old chap?" Civvy: "Nope, what is it?" Officer: "Our lovely fluffy bunny, goes by the name of Lucky". Civvy: "No, not at all". Officer: "Well what's that hanging off of your arse then?"
Great stuff guys! I frequent a few modelling forums and one of the suggestions for the box art was that the Paratroopers were on a training excercise in england, hence the civilian with shotgun and the phone box and mail box....though somebody may have got geographically muddled when drawing the box art hehe
Great stuff guys! I frequent a few modelling forums and one of the suggestions for the box art was that the Paratroopers were on a training excercise in england, hence the civilian with shotgun and the phone box and mail box That was my first thought on seeing the picture. Why the manufacturer thought it illustrated Holland is, actually, typical of the 'Let's not study the situation, this picture will do' mentality which causes gentlefolk like us countless headaches. Steve W.
But don't forget there is a red phone box in Oosterbeek since about 1984 I think, it was donated by the Arnhem Veterans Club......perhaps they are re-enactors?????
But don't forget there is a red phone box in Oosterbeek since about 1984 I think, it was donated by the Arnhem Veterans Club......perhaps they are re-enactors????? Three reenactors and not one fat bloke ? Not possible :p
Indeed Rich, oosterbeek was full of fat paras en old paras, which glasses, it keeps getting funnier every year. And if you had a shot gun in 1944, you were probably a members of the Landwacht, also called Jan Hagel dutch traitors who worked with the Germans and called Jan Hagel ,because they carried shotguns, HAGEL stand for pellet cartridge for the shot gun
It is a little known fact that due to shortages of wireless equipment, they sent in Signals linemen to set up a telephone network. Unfortunately, many of them were ex-Post Office Telephones and brought much civilian pattern gear with them. Furthermore, one of the concerns in occupied Holland was lack of postal communications so a letter box was standard equipment ! Watch it lol
What's the problem? They are modeling British paratroopers of the period of the battle of Arhnem, the picture obviously depicts a scene shortly before the battle while 1st Airborne Division were still training/rehearsing for the battle itself. Hence the Telephone box, post box and British farmer out hunting for rabbits to supplement the ration. Quite easy really.