Firing Range Wrecks, Tracked Armour, wheeled or otherwise

[tankbarrell]

Give us some examples Kevin.

[Ed Storey]

Here is an image taken in 1981 in the Petawawa Training Area. This Valentine had been used as a PIAT target. At least a decade later this vehicle was 'recovered' by DND, but nothing was ever done with it and I think it was subsequently scrapped or buried due to lack of interest/knowledge.

[Lynn Eades]

What are you angling at Kevin? As a participant in the "free market" are you now objecting to it?
I've yet to see or hear about you giving or selling something cheap for the "general benefit of the hobby" so to speak.
I don't understand the reasoning for your post. Is there something specific that has happened that you object to?

My general opinion is that: I hate everybody else making big profits, but I wish I could.

[kevin powles]

Adrian, I had a guy this week offer me a 6 pdr with cradle, cut off half way up the barrel, he said he got it off a firing range one Christmas Eve. He wanted £10,000 for it.

Lynn, regarding your comment about 'giving or selling something cheap' you don't know me and you live the other side of the world!.

[jack neville]

Kevin,

What if he had offered the gun to you for £500? Would you have bought it? If he is lucky enough to salvage it, by any means, good luck to him. it is a free market. Do you think anyone would pay £10,000?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by kevin powles

Adrian, I had a guy this week offer me a 6 pdr with cradle, cut off half way up the barrel, he said he got it off a firing range one Christmas Eve. He wanted £10,000 for it.

Like Bruce said, did he legally acquire the wreck and does he have proof of ownership?

H.

[shaun]

Is it a real mount or one someone has made and claiming it to be genuine after stamping dates etc on it ?

[kevin powles]

Jack, no I wouldnt of bought it, as it wasn't his to sell at any price.

Shaun, I never saw the item so can't comment whether it was original or not. Your probably referring to items perhaps I have made/had made in the past, in particular to some Centaur tank data plates which I foolishly passed for sale on an Internet site, also other repro parts with misleading title. I have learnt from this and corrected it when pointed out, I can only apologise and won't do it again. But I don't mind you hitting me over the head with it ever other week Shaun. I've put me hands up to it guilty as charged.

Kevin.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I've yet to see or hear about you giving or selling something cheap for the "general benefit of the hobby" so to speak.

Kevin has been more than generous helping me out with hard to find items and, yes, even giving them away or selling them for well below their value.

While off topic, this may speak to another observation in this hobby. There are exchanges between like minded people (giveaways, trades, selling for "what I paid for it years ago") and also sales at outrageous prices to the market at large. I'm guilty of it, the logic being that a rare item I sell at the best possible price rolls revenue right back into an ongoing project. On the other hand a giveaway to a friend collector to help them out not only benefits the hobby but more often than not is returned in kind. I am way more inclined to give something away I know will find its way onto a viable restoration than to a stranger.

Having said that, if one was considering buying a derelict vehicle today with the intent of restoring it, and looked at the prices charged for parts, that might well dissuade the person from thinking about it in the first place. Or looking at it from the other side, if I didn't have the means to source parts at reasonable prices I couldn't afford being in this hobby.

[Robert Bergeron]

Gents, we live in an imperfect world inhabited by imperfect humans
, and i am the " perfect" example. I have made mistakes , some stupid and will continue altought less frequent because of experience. I strive having fun doing this hobby. Sometimes it is not fun because of the different objectives and goals and temperaments. So forgive and forget and move on to the next project is my method. And yes it is frustrating when enterprising individuals sell me stuff at a premium when their cost is nearly nothing especially when it comes from a Gov property range or Base . But then maybe i should of dared to ask myself . i have shot at hard targets on the ranges in Gagetown, Valcartier and Suffield for nearly 28 years now and it never crossed my mind to ask or try karting off with one ! This tread could just of been my Revelation ! thanks Kev . Bob

[Private_collector]

I've been on the receiving end of both poles of the sales spectrum. Some wish to sell junk as gold, some would sell ridiculously cheap, just to help another restorer out. Most of those I deal with now, fall into the latter category. If it's not worth the asking to me, I stays unsold, with the exception of an expensive sidevalve V8 which I took at word of the seller as 'good rebuildable'. On later disassembly, it was rusted solid, and total junk. I'm wiser now. That won't happen again.......I hope.

If it smells like a rat, it will probably bite!

I have a fellow who often sources vehicles and parts, that he offers me at very reasonable prices, even though he knows he COULD ask more, based on my needs. He is not only a source or parts, he is now a good friend and I value any opportunity to interact with him. His character has been proven through many deals with me. Incidentally, if I believe he is asking too little, I insist onmpaying fair price. That way, we can respect eash other!

Range wrecks, never seen any here. Dont think the Defence Force offer anything to private folks here in Australia. Anyone welcome to correct that, if they know to the contrary.

[Luke R]

Tony, check out Wayne Henderson's staghound thread.