Saumur Walkaround 2010
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- Published on Sunday, 13 June 2010 13:46 Administrator
Erwin Heylens is one of our suppliers who runs Unicorn Models. He makes all types of resin accesories for dioramas – quite extraudinary stuff really! Check out his website www.unicornmodels.be
Erwin has gone on a little field trip to the world famous tank museum in Saumur in France just above Paris.here is an little article he wrote about his trip, hope you enjoy!
Saumur, Pays de la Loire, Frankrijk, Whit weekend 2010.
France, wine, cheese, sun,... ok and now what really interest us : the Musée des Blindés at Saumur and its annual model show and exhibition during Whit weekend.
Saumur was, as usual, bathing in the sun and the crowd (some 3000 according to the organisers) was lining up in front of the entrance long before opening hours. The history of the museum has already been described many times so let's just point out some things of interest : the only Königstiger in the world still in running condition, 1 Panther inside, 1 outside for the demonstration in the afternoon and 1 being restored under a small roof outside (this alone makes it quite unique), further more all possible German tanks (except the Pz I), a full hall of French material of both 1st and 2nd World War, plus lots of Allied soft skins and tracked vehicles from before, during and after WW II, one hall covering the Warschau pact material, the modern lot (even including ISAF), the mayor commanders of both World Wars and their transport, ... even a German horse drawn cart in 3 tone camouflage, ... Also unseen in one room side by side : a Ford GPA, a Schwimmwagen and a Trippelwagen (predecessor of the Schwimmwagen). I could go on like this for quite a while but since I took a load of pictures I will be presenting them here as a walkaround in the coming weeks.
One of the highlights of the weekend, together with a unique possibility to visit the “reserves” which are normally closed for the public, is without any doubt the demonstration with authentic vehicles in front of the museum. We saw a B1Bis, Pz II Luchs, Stuart, Sherman, Sd Kfz 250, Panther, T34, ...
Impressive and very appreciated by the visitors and vendors who gladly left their stands to enjoy the smoke and smells. Everyone was having a good time and especially the Belgian vendors went to see the others regularly to have a little chat : Resicast, Art of Modelling, Danny Quintelier, Kristof Pulinckx from Moveleo (who won gold for his Brummbär) and yours truly Erwin from Unicornmodels.
One would almost forget that there was a competition as well that weekend. Contrary to other magazines and sites I will not bother you with long lists of winners but just let you admire some pictures of the models I liked.
The following addresses may come handy if you would like to go Saumur yourself next year
Musée des Blindés, Route de Fontevraud 1043, 49400 Saumur. www.museedesblindes.fr
Office du Tourisme Saumurois, Place de la Bilange, BP 241, 49418 Saumur Cedex
Erwin Heylens
