justin

Hi, I know this is way, way off topic, but I know Eduardo and maybe others here hav an interest in 1/35 AFV's. I just had a good look at the Pauls Model Art/ Minichamps 1/35 Panther tank, and boy, is it nice. People familiar with Minichamps will know that the standards set by this company are very, very high and this Panther lives up to those standards. The only big thing I didn't like on the one I have been looking at was omission of the zimmerit anti magnetic paste, but other than this the finish, detail and finish were outstanding, linked tracks, accurate camo and unit markings, the works. Not cheap, the guy in my local shop has 65GBP on it, but it is superb. Anybody out there into this branch of modelling should check it out.

Justin

egonzinc

Justin,I saw the model "surfing" over the weekend and gasped at first sight!
Just knowing PMA/Minichamps from their great cars produced make me look twice.
The model looks VERY nice but I had several objections to what I saw(only the pictures):
I was distracted by the bright silver track. Would have preferred an "anodized" or however you call a darkened metal finish. Then a little drybrushing with some steel would have produced incredible results. of course if these can be removed and painted...it could be dealt with easy enough.
Second the camo used. Would have liked an "ambush" scheme or some other more usual combo. The tank looks too light. The side skirts camo seems to be an attempt at an ambush scheme but not a good one.
Finally, of course the lack of Zimmerit makes not representative of a late WWII tank. I guess there might have been some Panthers without the paste but not many. In other cases like for example the King Tiger with non-Porsche turret (I forget the name right now was it Henschel?) would HAVE to have zimmerit as the ALL did!(At least to the best of my recollection).
If anyone out there is looking for WWII armour to display with toy soldiers or onits own take a look at King and Country range og miniatures.
Their vehicles are "rough" but you cannot beat the combination of "look" and cost. They look like built Tamiya models but are made in some sort of resin. Painted and weathered the tracks are part of the piece. of course this is NOT diecast and is as far from those old Solido pieces I used to see in my youth, but nice models they are.
I have seen StugIII, TigerI , Panthers, Stuart, Shermans, T-34, Cromwell, Sdkf 231(eight wheel recon vehicle), kubelwagen and schwinwagen.
In most cases(if not all) the german offerings come in regular and "winter" camo.
These King and country vehicles are nice but their figures are OUTSTANDING!
Tradewinds Direct is a direct from Hong Kong online retailer which is excellent, FANTASTIC communications and service. They also have other items available and recently added another great line of figures(Frontlines). This is the site:
https://intershop.chevalier.net/cgi-...ect.storefront

King and country alkso used to have some VERY EXPENIVE warbird collection, made of wood. I never got any of them. I think they might have de emphasized that range for now.

Justin, I have always wondered if there is a similar forum to this one but for AFV/Military Miniature/Toy Soldier enthusiasts!

But in this area of DAC, ANYTHING GOES!!! jajaja
Here there ARE NO OT's!!!!
E

justin

Hi Ed, I think you must have a wicked sense of humour introducing me to such a site!!!!! Some of those figures look irresistible! There is a 88mm gun with crew and scenic base which just looks so nice..... I have a few of their figures I bought while I was out in HK a while ago, but never realised just how extensive their range was. Thanks for the link, I'll be going back to it again

I agree with many of your comments about the Panther especially the Zimmerit. Maybe there were Panther's without it, but it is not typical and does not look right. I think you are right about the Henschel turret Royal Tiger never entering service without aimerit, there's a nice tank!

Thanks again for the link!

Justin

egonzinc

Justin,
That site includes Frontline miniatures, nice figures also. Its just incredible the quality of miniatures(I can't call them Toy Soldiers) coming out of China.
Take a look at King and Country D-Day figures. Recent sets DD24 and 25 are US pAras and are fantastic! With the HBO series "Band of Brothers" (BOB) on now these I could not resist.
Each figure is Sooo nice! They are NOT inexpensive but the detail is incredible! I would be hard pressed to paint them myself and IF I painted them I would nOT sell them so cheap!!
Now that I think of it their tanks don't have zimmerit...
The 88mm sets are FANTASTIC! Its like seeing the Tamiya set made well. I have both sets and they look great. Both sets are priced the same but in one set the oficer and "range finder" figure are part of the set and on the other they are separate.
They have a Wittmann set to go with the Tiger I piece!
Sorry!
Put those airplane models away!
Here comes the ARMOUR!!!
jajaja!
Eduardo

justin

Maybe we should stage a coup and turn DAC into diecast militaria!! I wonder what the reaction would be if people logged on to find a message saying posts about aeroplanes are no longer acceptable in the new order...

Those 88's are wonderful, like you I immediately thought about the Tamiya set, I am soooooo tempted by the winter set. Can I ask how they pack the models please? The fact that you shop there is a good enough recommendation, I'm just curious as those will be heavy models, and you know how the Post Office treats packages..... I think I may do some shopping there The painting looks superb, it's amazing the way China has developed into the centre of the scale model world so quickly, but when you look at the quality and value of the models they produce it's easy to see why.

I've never understood why so many model companies do not include zimmerit, I mean they wouldn't not include the turret.... This was a very distinctive and obvious visual feature of most German AFV's in the second half of the war, so it should really be included with kits. I bult an Academy Minicraft Tiger 1 which was superb, full interior detail, engine, linked tracks, the works but no zimmerit. Now I know Tiger 1's did see service without zimmerit, but in such an incredibly detailed kit it would have been nice to have the option on the late version.

Another thing that I can't understand is scale, you know, like why can't everybody sit down an agree a scale rather than so many that are almost the same but different, like;
1/16,1/18,1/20
1/32,1/35
1/43,1/45,1/48,1/50
1/72,1/76,1/80,1/87
Life would be so much simpler if they could replace all the above with 4 standard scales like 1/16, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72
The actual one they decide in each size category wouldn't be important if they could agree a standard. Just my rant for the day!

Take care,

Justin

egonzinc

A DAC Takeover being planned in a seldom visited section!!!
THIS IS OUR SECTION!!! jajaja!

The scale thing in Toy Soldiers, Miniatures becomes a whole other subject!
Here you also get the "mm" sizing which is subject to artist interpretation.
You have 54mm miniatures and Touy Soldiers that are 1/4 inch taller than other so described!
I can tell you ahead of time that the King and Country Figures are on the "big end" of 54mm or actually more like 1/32.
The vehicles look like Tamiya kits but are a big bigger.
The packing is FANTASTIC.
The 88mm comes as follows. The base has the base legs cast in the base, and the gun from where it pivots upwards is metal.
The figures come individually wrapped in silk paper and I have never had a problem.
You are in the UK it might make sense to order from the UK.
I'll send you the contact info tonight. I did order from the UK the King and Country items for many years and their service is great also. its the same people but working out of UK. The prices should be net the same for you. They send updates and colorful flyers with new releases that are HARD to resist.
There are some figures that are discontinued from year to year as they produce new stuff in huge quantities every year.
The first range that caught my attention is the Arnhem british Para range. These figures are in short supply and might be discontinued. They are very nice and part of my current permanent display. They also have two groups of Highland infantry, Black Watch in kilts and another(don't remember which) in trews. They are FANTASTIC. I love Pipe bands and these are outstanding and each figure is a gem.
When I used to buy from the UK they would have a "club" thing and you would get a discount and a figure at year end free depending how much you bought.
The China produced figures are taking over the market. The British(UK) traditional Toy Soldiers cannot compete with the SPEED of production. I have numerous sets of Bands and figures ordered over FOUR YEARS ago and now I can't even get a response from the retailer I placed the order with!
Patience takes on a new dimension.
Incrediblky this company made Ceremonial Scots Guard figures after my insistence! Previously they only made the Guard figures oin No2 Dress! It took a couple of guys(me and my brother in law!) from Puerto Rico to get them to do Scots Guards figures INCREDIBLE!
I have many things pending but consider myself lucky in what I have!
Who knows if I'll get the rest...time will tell!
One of the principalk modern TS mafg is Trophy of Wales and they have similar problems with filling orders...

I'll post here tonight the info of the King and Country UK contact although they don't have a site like tradewinds. You have to check post rates and see what happens.
Tradewinds in HK once in a while makes a special $15 or $25 post offer and that is when I fill my wish list!
Kind of like jumping on Bader when he makes a sale!! jajajaja!
More later
E

justin

Nice to see this is developing into the alternative forum for us miltary model fans!!!! I look forward to that addressn the UK. My K&C models are a set of pilots and some Royal Hong Kong Police, I bought them in a bar in Kowloon of all places, not sure why a bar would sell model soldiers..... Those Arnhem sets were great, the British airborne forces in WW2 had quite a modern looking uniform, especially compared to the rather antiquated style of regular amy units. The packing sounds excellent. I must admit, those pilots being 1/32 is useful as I used them with a kit of a 1/32 Spitfire and Bf109. I never can keep up with British figure companies as they are quite volatile, new companies appear and old ones seem to go, its hard to keep track. I could spend a fortune on that web site, oh dear.... must resist, must resist.....

Take care,

Justin

egonzinc

Lets just hope that no one blows our cover! jaja!
The K+C site will keep you busy just looking at the figures and different offerings.
Their back drop buildings are excellent too.
They used to have a Roman Arch that is the centerpiece of a big group of Elastolin/Preiser 70mm figures I painted myself.
I loved these figures in the 60's and then in my "mature" years I found a store in london that would provide me the unpainted plastic figures for me to paint as I liked! The arch is one of those triple(like COnstantine archin Rome) and the figures look great marching in front of it. I would customize some of the figures but generally just varied the painting. Made some white/black Praetorian guards and some other colorful legion groups.
I ended up painting about 200 of these figures...where did I find the time??? And I wonder where my eyesight went?
SPEAKING of AFV my brother in law built this kit, I thin k it is Tamiya of a 1/16 TigerI that is INCREDIBLE! It makes sounds as if the motor is reving up. It shoots its cannon and recoils and the whole tank recoils back and down too! You hear the sound of the gun and the machine gun rattles on command. of course the tank moves about and as you rev it up the motor noise increases. There is more technology on that tank that in the first nuclear subs!! jajaja! I resisted that one as it is a big project and I still have a TigerII (Porsche) unbuilt from God knows when! Want to build it someday and display it next to my PzII...kind of the long and short of it exhibition!
More tonight
E

justin

That Tiger sounds awesome!! Those 1/16 Tamiya's are beautiful, expensive but nice I never made any as I just couldn't bring myself to buy any (the Porsche Tiger was 200GBP here), although the Porsche turret Royal Tiger was staring at me from a shop shelf begging me to buy it for weeks before some brave fellow bought it saving me from temptation. Those Roman figures sound neat, I started with Airfix plastic soldiers and developed from there, with a sideline in railways and a parrallel hobby of model aircraft, I also don't know how I found time. My house is like a toy shop, with trains, aeroplanes, military figures d veichles, my friends think I have the mind of a 5 year old. Good to see security here is working, we may have to fight off an invasion from the 1/400 forum one of these days! Take care,

Justin

egonzinc

Hearing your words, I feel much better.
I feel saner(more sane) with every post!
E

egonzinc

Justin,
Here is the link to K+C UK
I always ordered from them through regular mail.
This is site is improved a little, but the Tradewinds site has a bigger amount of the range.
Look in the site the Winter Panther...nice, had not seen this one before.
Interestingly the Panther shown in the UK site as NEW paimt I though would have been the ambush site, but the one pictures seems to me to be the old paint.
I'll also include the link to a magazine calles Toy Soldier Magazine.
If you want to really punish yourself, pick one up!

K+C UK
http://www.kingandcountry.co.uk/

TSM check the other links, particularly interesting is Conte Figures. They use movies as base for figure ranges.
Spartacus, The War Lord, D-Day(not up to their normal level).

http://www.kingandcountry.co.uk/

And the links in this site are in:

http://www.toy-soldier.com/adlinks.asp

Note the Counter attack by Britains in which they decided to go with "Chinese" figures also.
They had released some GREAT sets based on Don Troiani Civil War prints. The creative people that produced these figures at Britains that brought them back to life about four years ago, then jumped ship and formed Conte miniatures...
Amazing stuff!!!
In our diecast worls it would be like if one of the GJ principals formed his own company to compete with GJ.....
.....AS THE WORLD TURNS!!!

Eduardo

justin

Hi Ed, thanks for the links, I'll take a good look through them and no doubt bankrupt myself as I look through the ranges on offer I thought the new Britains, that is the premium range you mention of about 4 years ago had some nice figures, but I never realised the principles had already jumped ship, British toy companies are so slippery. I have a very wide interest in military figures, obviously WW2, but also WW1, British colonial, Napoleonic, Medieval, English civil war and modern British. The bulk ae WW2 as I like the AFV's of that era and there is so much choice, whereas things like the British army of the Victorian era are only modelled by these cottage industry British companies, quality tends to be high, but so is price and they can be hard to obtain.
About sanity, I long ago realised that the rest of the world is slightly mad

Justin

egonzinc

If you like medieval the Conte War Lord range will tempt you!

The Britain figures in the Troiani range are outsyanding. I love the Troiani prints so it was a natural for me. Prticularly the "Clear the Way" scene of Union troops attacking on Marye's Heights in Fredericksburg. My favorites, with the overcoated troops attacking are great.

In case anyone in the US or Canada reads this, Maitland Toy Soldier Shoppe in Canada has very good prices and great service in many of the figures we have mentioned, as dos the Toy Soldier Gallery in New York City.

Eduardo

justin

Hi Ed, I've just spent a couple of hours surfing those links, there are just so many great models! The winter Panther in the K&C range looks great, nice as we started this thread talking about Panthers The set of 3 German paratroopers with a tripod mounted MG42 was another stand out set for me. I never realised Britain's had such a wide range, I guess I'm showing my ignorance again... I can seewhy you like those American civil war sets, they look wonderful! I saw the most expensive military model I've ever bought too, it is a Britain's set of Rourke's Drift, full diorama. I saw it in Hamley's in London one day and just had to have it, I fell in love at first site. I never thought I'd pay so much for a set of toy soldiers..... My first expensive tosoldier was from a chap called Charles Stadden, I don't know if he's still in business or not. About 15 years ago I saw this marine of 3 Commando Brigade, Falkland Islands 1982, scale about 1/16, it was beautiful, I had to buy it even though it was several times more expensive than anything I had before then, and even today it's the pride of my colction. Thanks for the great links,

Justin

egonzinc

Justin,
C,Stadden figures are WONDERFUL!
His figures are 90mm or roughly 1/24 scale.
For many years he would sell his finely sculpted figures as kits and as painted figures. Usually the painted figures wuere on a metal base paintes gloss black with a "scroll" in the base where it said what the figure was.
Then many years after that they stopped selling kits(unpainted, unbuilt figures) and only went with the painted figures. I remember seeing a Chess set made by him with French Napoleonic on one side and Russian troops on the other that were incredible!
The horse piece were cavalry, the bishop a personality marshal and the rooks were artillery pieces or something like that.
I know the Britains Roarks Drift piece you mention.
Very nice!
I went with Trophy for my display and there are so many Zulus still attacking that the ooucome might be different this time around!!
Zulu War is one of those periods that if you make toy soldiers it seems that you HAVE TO HAVE THEM!
I try not to duplicate items but in some areas it is tough.
In my Crimean displays I went with Frontlines...tke a look at those Charge of the Light Brigade figures!! wow!
There is so much stuff out there that its scary!
The advantage of these China made figures and models is availability!
It usually is available quickly. In some cases they then become unavailable but they let you know what is not being made. Sometimes they re-issue items with improved details.
Take a look at Friontlines Napoleonic Cavalry! EACH piece is a masterpiece!
Frontline also has some VERY nice sets of chaging iConfederate infantry. They make three sets of six figures each, making 18 DIFFERENT figures. Its great as it gives the correct feel of an army with MANY uniform variations!
Recently they came out with the same concept with Conf cavalry but I don't think the CSa had so many cavalry troops in their ranks for real! jaja!
The Britains "Chinese Revolution" pieces including the Troiani based scenes are very nice. Off hand I remember two scenes, the "Clear the Way" scene and a "Lone Star" scene representing Confederates fighting through a cornfield(First Bull Run/Manassas). I have these two as part of my displays and at a later date I was able to get lines of planted corn, modeled in metal and nicely painted, to complete the scene! You should have seen the face of the store owner when after browsing his store for a long time, I asked for 8 strips of grown corn!! jajaja!
I have been in Hamleys a couple of times over the last 10 years and one of the times they had a LOT of Trophy figures, but in my follow up trip they had very little, outside the "Commercial Britains" which is the typical set for kids with plastic and metal figures of Guards, Beefeaters etc etc.
If you are in London and want to see a couple of nice stores you must go to
1) "Tradition" in theMayfair area I think it is. They make a lot of classic Toy soldier sets and also have an EXTENSIVE range of painted miniature type figures. They sell these painted or in kit form. There is a range of 110mm figures that includes WWII tyoes that are EXCELLENT. My favorite is a Panzer Trooper in a relaxed pose. There is also some Napoleonic figuresin this range, I think the sculptor of these 110mm(1/16) was a guy last name Cameron... Tradition has various ranges sculpted by different artists, one of which was the before mentioned Stadden
2) Next to the Guards Museum, whichin turn is next to the Wellington Barracks, youhave the Guards Museum Toy Soldier store or shop.... The great thing about this place is that the figures you see you can buy! So availability is immediate. They have lots of Trophy and they also have the Stadden figures mentioned and LOTS of other stuff in huge displays.
They are closed one day during the week so you have to check to make sure they are opened. They also sell through mail...
A perfect day for me in London is going to the Guards Museum, then to the shop, then watch the Guard troops get ready, in the parade ground in front of the Wellington Barracks, for the Changing of the Guard... I have yet to watch the Change itself as I always stay around the ellington area. Once while walking to the shop after seeing the museum we were surprised by a troop of Blues and Royals riding down the street... WOW! BEAUTIFUL!!
There is also another very nice shop called Under Two Flags, don't remember where it was but I remember walking past the US Embassy to get there...
Talking about all this makes me want to go to London again soon...
E

justin

Hi Ed, I think you know London better than I do!! I live about 500Km North of London and very rarely go there other than passing through LHR or LGW. Last year, some Japanese friends visited me for a holiday and we spent a week in London just doing the tourist thing, I really enjoyed it but it was the most expensive holiday I've had in years!! I kind of feel ripped off having a week in London when I can go to the other side of the world for the same price! My company office used to be in the city, so whenever I had to go for a meeting I'd grab a couple of hours shopping, but now it is in Copenagen so I almost never visit London I'll remember those addresses though for future reference! If you are in London at the time of trooping the colour, they have a full dress rehearsal the week before which in some ways is better than the real thing, it's worth seeing!

Your Rourke's Drift soundgood too! Nice to find another fan of that era! I fell in love with the Victorian colonial army after seeing the film "Zulu" when I was about 5, ever since then I always keep an eye open for toy soldiers of that era. I haven't seen Stadden figures for a while as they used to be sold by a local jeweller in my city but he stopped a few years ago, that's why I didn't know if they were still with us. The figure I bought was fully painted, the disruptive pattern is superb. I seem to find models in odd places, Stadden in a small jewellry shop, K&C in a HK bar, and I once found a brass train store in the back of a pharmacy of all places! If he's still in business I will look him up, as there were a couple of other figures in his range, but unfortunately when they were sold in my city they were way beyond my budget, I bought one and loved it but could not build a collection My city is the headquarters of the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment (KORBR), they have their regimental museum in Carlisle castle, and as well as some very nice exhibits the shop sometimes has very nice figures of soldiers of the regiment. One very nice one was a KORBR soldier at Arnhem (one of their battalions was in the 1st. Airlanding Brigade at Arnhem) which I never bought and have regretted it ever since, I think they were custom finished from resin (Verlinden?) kits, beautifully done. Those Crimean figures sound great, but I think if I had to choose I'd go with the American civil war sets, I have a small library of the life and campaigns of "Stonewall" Jackson and Bobby Lee, two of histories greatest generals I think.

About Hamley's, they are not such a good shop, and their prices are crazily expensive, but when shopping in London with my wife or family friends it's a place on Regents Street I can take refuge in while they look atome dress or perfume They used to sell Western aircraft, but their prices were higher than any other prices for Western I've ever seen. However when I saw that Rourke's Drift set, I just couldn't resist.... That's why we have credit cards!!

Take care,

Justin

Ralph

Great thread, guys!
Also check out this comprehensive site:
http://wmhocker.com/resource.htm

I have a collection of the Durbar range made by Marlborough Military Models. I have stopped collecting but still have them on display in a glass cabinet.

justin

Hi Ralph, nice to see another military model fan!! There are enough links there to sink the metaphorical battleship! Take care,

Justin

egonzinc

Hey Ralph welcome to the MM/TS forum!
Hocker makes very nice toy soldiers in the classic toy soldier style.
I only have one of their sets a British Crimean Band...very nice!

On LOndon, expensive is their motto!
In the hobby shops I would tell my wife that the prices if they were in $'s would be slightly expensive but in Pounds it was ridiculous prices...
I would love to go to the Trooping of the Colours ceremony but know how hard it is to get tickets, but the dress rehearsal sounds great!
How about that I have talked to Ralph a lot(he visited Puerto Rico earlier this year!) and we NEVER talked about Toy Soliers!

The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment (KORBR) was very prominent in the Arnhem/Market Garden campaig.
I actually have the insignia(repro) of the regiment to place on a tunic to represent the uniform of a member of the regiment.
The figure you mention sounds great. I have unbuilt a figure of one British Para carrying a fellow wounded Para on his shoulders and its a Verlinden 1/16 figure. Its based on an illustration in one of those Osprey Men At Arms books.

E

justin

Seems like our new forum is growing!!

You're right about London prices, actually it's not just London but all British prices. For most things a British price in pounds will be pretty similar to the American price, but of course as 1GBP is approx. 1.45USD it means they are almost 50% higher.... For some reason 1/400 & 1/500 planes really are criminal in the UK, but that's another story!

I'm glad to know there is a small piece of the KORBR in Puerto Rico!! I'm always amazed at our small world, as it seems where ever we go there is always some reminder of home. The KORBR lost a lot of good men in Arnhem, they fought in every campaign of the war, their most prominent force was attached to the 14th. army in Burma. In time of war the British regiment is a nucleus and a processing unit, so they will expand to 4,5,6.....10 or more battalions, and with different roles as required. Now the KORBR is an armoured infantry regiment equipped with the Warrior MICV. All their troops are recruited from my County of Cumbria or a small part of Northern Lancashire. The British regiment system has manydetractors and people who say it is just too traditional, but it does generate incredible loyalty and esprit de corps from it's men.

We're getting even more OT now! I'm still surfing those links, thanks again Ed and Ralph,

Justin

egonzinc

Speaking of OT of course I'm into uniforms also!
remember once going to Sears with my wife to buy a sewing machine. The attendant thought the machine was for my wife and my wife kept telling her I was the one buying! The attendant would say" JAJAJAJA Yes of course he is!"
Oh well! I needed a sewing machine to get the patches insignias, cuff titles on some rero uniforms as the real stuff(what is real after all!) is just prohibitive in price...
Now If I have to get something done I place the insignia with pins and my wife takes them to the cleaners that have sewing service available with much better results.
My favorite uniforms...British Guards Drum Corp Tunics!!! WOW!
Only have a couple of them but all that laceing is great!
I hope some day to "dress a manequin" as a British Guard even if it is not a Drum Corps figure as the Bearskin is special and eventhough I would be the only one to know the difference it would have to be RIGHT!
My medication is NOT working! jaja

I'll try to take a picture of the Border Regt tunic whenever I get it done...right now I'm working on other "stuff"...
E

PS What attracts me to the British Regiments is the different traditions, and of course the history that has taken place during their existence.... love that publication "REGIMENTS"...

justin

I never realised what a huge hobby militaria is until I visited a shop (looking for models) that specialised in militaria such as uniforms, I almost had a heart attack when I saw the prices...... I think shop assistants always have a problem understanding why men want to buy certain things, have you noticed a woman can buy mens clothes but if a man goes shopping for his partners gift the assistants look at you like a nut case? Or maybe that's just me I hope you can post that pic, I'd seriously be interested. The British regiments take their history VERY seriously, my home city Cathedral has the regimental chapel of the KORBR and it's amazing to look at all the battle standards and flags in the chapel, it's the story of the British army. The regiment is the soldiers home, as in the army you don't really join the army, you join a regiment and that is your home even if you move on to a specialised branch later. I hope you can make that Guards uniform, those uniforms looked great but I felt sorry for the guys wearing them, as can you imagine keeping them in tip top condition? Nightmare!!! My own interest is in front line stuff, although I don't collect uniforms I'm interested in it as a hobby with regards reading and models. Take care!

Justin

PS Ed, if you're in England for a while, you should visit Cumbria, it's home of the Lake District which is beautiful, and Carlisle Castle would be interesting for you. The KORBR museum in the castle is small but has some wonderful exhibits like the regiment silver, old uniforms and captured battle standards etc. When my Japanese friends visited we went there, and it turns out a captured Japanese flag was from their village, now what are the chances of that happening? The regimental chapel in Carlisle cathedral is very small, but the display of their flags is worth seeing too. Of course it's nothing compared to the big museums in the UK but it's still nice

egonzinc

Sounds great Justin, I have to get there some day!
I tell you that the only thing that holds me back to go and explore England is the left side driving t hing. I would never rent a car there, I'd be killed in a day!
Its a pitty because the language is no problem but getting around would be tough!
Sounds