Yeomanry Miniatures (1 Viewer)

[yeoman]

Hi John,

It is an interesting idea. To make it commercially viable I would need guaranteed sales of at least six vehicles.

My late Father spent the major part of WW2 working for the NAAFI. He spent a few fun filled weeks at a delightful spot in Norway (Narvik) dodging bombs and bullets. Returned home to organise canteens for the troops coming back from an equally delightful spot named Dunkirk. Was then sent to the Shetland Islands to run a canteen for the Black Watch and thence to Jerusalem via Alexandria where he remained for the rest of the war. So you see I do have an affinity for anything NAAFI.

If there is enough interest in one of these I will make it. Let me know!

Regards,

Brian.

Seeing as how you appear to be on a vehicle kick at the moment Brian, I just thought I might pop a little thought into both yours - and Graham's head.:smile2:

I was chatting the other day about one of these. :rolleyes2:

Apparently, nobody make a TS version any more. Now I know you're both extremely busy, but if you ever get a few minutes to draw breath..............maybe you might think about making one of these - with maybe half a dozen squaddies hanging about with a mug in one hand - and a Naafi doughnut in the other? If you also make a nice Naafi lady leaning out of it ......probably asking for the spoon that someone has nicked back, ...................so much the better!^&cool

I'd have a set like that..... anyone else interested?.................memories!........johnnybach

 

[Louis Badolato]

Hi John,

It is an interesting idea. To make it commercially viable I would need guaranteed sales of at least six vehicles.

My late Father spent the major part of WW2 working for the NAAFI. He spent a few fun filled weeks at a delightful spot in Norway (Narvik) dodging bombs and bullets. Returned home to organise canteens for the troops coming back from an equally delightful spot named Dunkirk. Was then sent to the Shetland Islands to run a canteen for the Black Watch and thence to Jerusalem via Alexandria where he remained for the rest of the war. So you see I do have an affinity for anything NAAFI.

If there is enough interest in one of these I will make it. Let me know!

Regards,

Brian.

I'll buy two (if you can give them different paint jobs - were they all green, or were any in RAF blue?). If John is in for one, you are half way to the six you need.:wink2:

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Brian - well that's a fair enough, positive answer to my thought - so I thank you for it. My own experiences of (a slightly darker green version),the delightful little vehicles - stem from slightly less exotic places than your pop experienced! Mine came from Northern Germany (several times) - and another favourite excursion spot - Cyprus. In dear old Deutschland - we were on exercise - but in the other resort - it was the real-deal - wearing a delightful shade of pale blue berets - and getting our knees brown!

The Naafi Wagon would appear at similar spots - and times - each day, when we would contrive some excuse to be around there - and listen patiently for the manic honking of the vehicle horn, which would announce its arrival. It never ceased to amaze me where on earth the guys would appear from - but there was always a queue formed within seconds of the vehicle stopping - and a cheer would go up as the flap was raised - to reveal (most times) a chirpy little Naffi Lass - with a brew on! {eek3}

Mug in one paw - a jammy doughnut in the other - for five minutes, we were in heaven. It wasn't just the tea and wad I think that was important - it was the knowledge that someone else knew we were out there - and remembered us! I often think back fondly, that it was usually the high-spot of the day for us. And yes - it became a game - for one of our number to "chat-up" the Lass - whilst another quietly "nicked" the sugar spoon, (though we usually gave it back - eventually!). She tried tying it up with string - but we nicked the string as well!

So - how about it - all of you ex-squadies, - like me ( and Louis - who wants two!!!!) - sign up again - this time with our Yeoman for another brew - or two, or - well- as many as you want really. Once you have your own Naafi Wagon to paint ( Mine's a casting please - as usual) - you can get as many brews and wads down your neck as you like! ^&grin

We're half-way there already - just three more for the queue - and the flap will go up ...........Hurrah!!!{sm3}

johnnybach - "Oi! - give the spoon back someone - I want to stir my brew!"^&cool

 

[Martin Tabony]

I Germany we had a "Sally Bash" van that could find a squadron of camed up Chieftains quicker than the Soviets!

martin

 

[johnnybach]

I Germany we had a "Sally Bash" van that could find a squadron of camed up Chieftains quicker than the Soviets!

martin

I was never all that religious Tabs - ours were definitely NAAFI - the Bratties were cooked in diesel!

I can also remember a converted one in Dhekalia too. Some guy had one converted into a mobile Fish & Chip shop - which used to crawl around the place during the evenings. We used to call it "The Stop Me and Fry One" van. We all used to leg it over for a bag of chips and a kebab ( adventurous foreign food see) when we heard him honking the horn too.:wink2:jb

 

[yeoman]

I have been doing a bit of research into these NAAFI mobile canteens, just so that if the demand is there I can start fairly quickly, and so far it appears that these vehicles were painted either khaki Green or grey. I haven't found any information as yet on the middle east but I feel they would probably have been either a light khaki or the ubiquitous grey.

Just so you know that I take these suggestions seriously.

Regards,

Brian.

I was never all that religious Tabs - ours were definitely NAAFI - the Bratties were cooked in diesel!

I can also remember a converted one in Dhekalia too. Some guy had one converted into a mobile Fish & Chip shop - which used to crawl around the place during the evenings. We used to call it "The Stop Me and Fry One" van. We all used to leg it over for a bag of chips and a kebab ( adventurous foreign food see) when we heard him honking the horn too.:wink2:jb

 

[Louis Badolato]

I have been doing a bit of research into these NAAFI mobile canteens, just so that if the demand is there I can start fairly quickly, and so far it appears that these vehicles were painted either khaki Green or grey. I haven't found any information as yet on the middle east but I feel they would probably have been either a light khaki or the ubiquitous grey.

Just so you know that I take these suggestions seriously.

Regards,

Brian.

Great, I'll take one green and one grey. John's in for one, that's three. How about you Tom (TDubel), are you in?:smile2:

 

[Lurchio]

Louis/Brian
Put me down for a grey one.
Brian, I'll see you at the June London Show I'm just round the corner.
That makes 4 and counting.
Clive

 

[Louis Badolato]

Tom Dubel will post it himself, but we discussed it on the phone, so he is in for one, we are up to 5.^&cool One to go . . . come on somebody, make this happen!:smile2:

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Seeing as how you appear to be on a vehicle kick at the moment Brian, I just thought I might pop a little thought into both yours - and Graham's head.:smile2:

I was chatting the other day about one of these. :rolleyes2:

Apparently, nobody make a TS version any more. Now I know you're both extremely busy, but if you ever get a few minutes to draw breath..............maybe you might think about making one of these - with maybe half a dozen squaddies hanging about with a mug in one hand - and a Naafi doughnut in the other? If you also make a nice Naafi lady leaning out of it ......probably asking for the spoon that someone has nicked back, ...................so much the better!^&cool

I'd have a set like that..... anyone else interested?.................memories!........johnnybach

Hi Johnny,

Check the Mountford site, Dave has one in the site as a kit or assembled for sale as a regular item of his catalog.

Cheers

Artillery_Crazy

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Artillery Crazy,

The masters have to be made first and with the best will in the world it takes time. Graham only agreed to make masters for Yeomanry Miniatures last month and when he made his last "BIG GUN" for TAW he was working on the masters for nearly six months before he was ready to put it into production. On top of that when the gun is finished and the first one is assembled boxes and packaging have to be aquired before any shipping takes place. This cannot be done before the first gun is assembled as the measurements of the finished article are needed before the order is placed. I'm afraid this process all takes time and money.

In the meantime there is an armoured car and a German staff car in the pipeline and the two inter-war years light tanks and the WW1 model T Ford Crewe Tractor which have all reached the prototype stage prior to going into production. At the same time I am still working on a Boer War Cavalry Maxim Gun with action figures which has taken a lot longer to perfect than originally planned, as the saying goes "The best laid plans of mice and men etc."

Regards

Yeoman.

Hi Brian,

Thanks a bundle for the update. I really did not know that between devising a set and having it on production ready stage would mean 6 months ....... it is really a complex project......Count on me.....
I am super curious to see the Armoured car and German staff car you mentioned are in the pipeline. Do add pics when they come out.
The seated troops in the Crossley are very sharp looking indeed, congrats!
As to the Maxim gun set up, no hurry I know would are preparing the best of the best.......

Cheers

Artillery_Crazy

 

[tdubel]

I am in for a Middle East one. I only like the heat, don't like cold, don't like mud and the darn air force are too snobby......................


Seriously, I am in for one, Louis beat it into me that I had to be in for one..........


All seriousness, will take a Middle East one only if it is the first one off the line..............with certificate............

Ok, I will take 1 - Middle East.

TD

 

[johnnybach]

Hi - to Luiz and Brian. Luiz - if you mean Mountford metal Miniatures - I think you will find that they have sold off much of their former product line to small scale producers - and are now concentrating their efforts on waterline ship models. I tried to obtain some of their former products a few years ago - and after a lot of searching for a casting of a piece, I eventually, found a bloke who owned the production rights of it - and after several e-mails - eventually found that he couldn't supply one. I gave up with that company at that point.

So - Brian - I am still in for my original request of a model to paint for myself from you - unless it proves impossible for you to find the last, ellusive customer! I never doubted for one moment that you were serious about making one - if you could. I have found quite a few photo's of various vehicles, which could be painted in various colours and liveries. In addition to the NAAFI Mobile Canteens (to give it its proper name), they could also be painted as Salvation Army, as Martin suggested - or Womens Voluntary Service (WVS). The latter two might be even more appropriate for someone, perhaps, that was trying to put one of these into a London Blitz diorama - just to take one example. That's the beauty of a casting - you get to choose how it will look! That would look just great in an after-bombing diorama.

I've also dug up a pic of the first one into Germany at the Brandenberg Gate in 1945. Wherever the lads were - you could almost guarantee, there would be a NAFFI wagon close behind - or even as Martin also suggested - waiting for them sometimes!

Any idea yet of which vehicle you're going to use Brian? The Austin K2 looks to be one of the most popular?

I attach a pic of the NAAFI badge - which would look nice painted on the side of my Canteen - unless, of course, Brian could arrange for some waterslide transers to be available - which would be even better????

And lastly - this is almost exactly what I had in mind when I was originally thinking about this project. I think this particular shot, was taken in Korea in the fifties - so precedes my first encounter with the beast, by about ten years. That picture however, could easily be of me - as ten years on, on the dusty plains of Lunenbourg Heath in the summer, that's almost exactly how we were dressed (except we had shorts on!). I remember that self-satisfied smirk of the guy with a mug in his hand - to this day. What an unexpected treat it was - when the wagon turned up - out of the blue. It was a chance for a short break for tea and a wad - a *** (if you were a smoker) and just five minutes to have a chat with your mates - and forget that you were covered in a mixture of sweat and black grime, from "climbing poles and digging 'oles!" - as we used to so quaintly put it! And not a safety helmet in sight - in those days! (I'm not sure whether that's a Sigs stable belt - or just the guys underpants showing!)^&grin

So - do come on in - number six - the water is lovely. jb

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi - to Luiz and Brian. Luiz - if you mean Mountford metal Miniatures - I think you will find that they have sold off much of their former product line to small scale producers - and are now concentrating their efforts on waterline ship models. I tried to obtain some of their former products a few years ago - and after a lot of searching for a casting of a piece, I eventually, found a bloke who owned the production rights of it - and after several e-mails - eventually found that he couldn't supply one. I gave up with that company at that point.

So - Brian - I am still in for my original request of a model to paint for myself from you - unless it proves impossible for you to find the last, ellusive customer! I never doubted for one moment that you were serious about making one - if you could. I have found quite a few photo's of various vehicles, which could be painted in various colours and liveries. In addition to the NAAFI Mobile Canteens (to give it its proper name), they could also be painted as Salvation Army, as Martin suggested - or Womens Voluntary Service (WVS). The latter two might be even more appropriate for someone, perhaps, that was trying to put one of these into a London Blitz diorama - just to take one example. That's the beauty of a casting - you get to choose how it will look! That would look just great in an after-bombing diorama.

I've also dug up a pic of the first one into Germany at the Brandenberg Gate in 1945. Wherever the lads were - you could almost guarantee, there would be a NAFFI wagon close behind - or even as Martin also suggested - waiting for them sometimes!

Any idea yet of which vehicle you're going to use Brian? The Austin K2 looks to be one of the most popular?

I attach a pic of the NAAFI badge - which would look nice painted on the side of my Canteen - unless, of course, Brian could arrange for some waterslide transers to be available - which would be even better????

And lastly - this is almost exactly what I had in mind when I was originally thinking about this project. I think this particular shot, was taken in Korea in the fifties - so precedes my first encounter with the beast, by about ten years. That picture however, could easily be of me - as ten years on, on the dusty plains of Lunenbourg Heath in the summer, that's almost exactly how we were dressed (except we had shorts on!). I remember that self-satisfied smirk of the guy with a mug in his hand - to this day. What an unexpected treat it was - when the wagon turned up - out of the blue. It was a chance for a short break for tea and a wad - a *** (if you were a smoker) and just five minutes to have a chat with your mates - and forget that you were covered in a mixture of sweat and black grime, from "climbing poles and digging 'oles!" - as we used to so quaintly put it! And not a safety helmet in sight - in those days! (I'm not sure whether that's a Sigs stable belt - or just the guys underpants showing!)^&grin

So - do come on in - number six - the water is lovely. jb

Johnny,

I appologize for the not so updated reference......was not aware that Dave Love had given up the whole Military and Vehicles portion of the trade......went to his site and saw the up date....you have more fresh news than me!!! This is what is says for any of us that, like me, did not know of the sad news....."
Mountford Metal Miniatures Ltd
For many years we have been manufacturers of metal and resin cast models. Over the last two years we have sold our Victorian and modern guns and figures ranges to concentrate on the increase in our business brought about by the Waterline ship market that we had commenced development of in 2004. This has been hugely successful for us and we are still growing the business and increasing inventory with at least12 new ship models planned for release in 2012..."
It is a big loss, he had very nice sets, but nothing that Yeomanry and his network - which I understand retains Dave Love in it´s loop cannot fix for us........
Regards
Artillery_Crazy

 

[Buster]

So - do come on in - number six - the water is lovely. jb

I'm in for a NAFFI wagon, jb ..... if you'll have me ..... and the dounts are fresh! :tongue:^&grin

B.

 

[johnnybach]

Hurrah - Buster! - or should we now call you 006!

Hi Luiz again - I find that very often in the TS World, when one door closes - another will often open up. Let's face it - if there is enough demand for a product - someone - somewhere will often step in to take advantage of it.

What I simply can't get my head around though - and never will - is when you know someone has a mould - but despite repeated requests - just won't produce something that many folks are keen on getting their hands on.

Heigh-Ho - that's life - nobody died!^&grin

Right-ho Brian - over to you Sir. Thanks for listening - very much appreciated that at least one producer will listen to his customers - and come up with such a positive response. I will look forward to more information on the project with keen anticipation. Now - what sort of doughnuts will we have - jam - or the less fattening centre variety. Hmmmmmm......Hope it's rasberry jam!

 

[Louis Badolato]

So - do come on in - number six - the water is lovely. jb

I'm in for a NAFFI wagon, jb ..... if you'll have me ..... and the dounts are fresh! :tongue:^&grin

B.

Way to go Buster!:smile2: Well, that's six! Lets do this!^&cool

 

[johnnybach]

Of course - if a seventh were to appear - and make Brian a teeny bit of profit - we COULD then be known, as The Magnificent Seven - and number seven would thereafter be known as 007.

I do hope that I don't get fat - with all of these doughnuts about!

Hang on - there's something outside honking a horn - Is it the NAAFI Wagon? Hurrah! jb

 

[Buster]

Mmmmmmmmm, NAFFI donuts! ^&grin

 

[yeoman]

Hi Johnny,

Well done it appears you've got your wish. I'm afraid I took a little holiday today and went to London to see "Jethro Tull" in concert and before retiring for the night , or should I say the morning I thought I would check the thread to see how things were progressing.

I am now going to put the cat amongst the pidgeons.

Mountford Metal Miniatures made the emergency mobile canteen which was built on a Humber car chasis. I have found examples on a Fordson (English Ford) van chasis and the Austin K2. Which one would you like?.......No, you can't have all three! Whichever one you choose it will be made by Dave Love (Mountford Metal Miniatures) and he was quoting 16 weeks from planning to finished master. I say was because he is currently in the States on hols and won't be back for another week.

Now before he went he let me have some of the assenbled and painted models from his old range which I am selling at the shows at casting prices or cheaper. He also told me that he has found some more which he will let me have when he returns. So if you are still interested in his old stuff and don't mind stripping and repainting let me know what you are interested in. No the mobile canteen is not among the items I have currently got and at the moment I have no idea what else he has found.

Regards,

Brian.

Of course - if a seventh were to appear - and make Brian a teeny bit of profit - we COULD then be known, as The Magnificent Seven - and number seven would thereafter be known as 007.

I do hope that I don't get fat - with all of these doughnuts about!

Hang on - there's something outside honking a horn - Is it the NAAFI Wagon? Hurrah! jb