32 SCALE MILITARY MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
MAFVA
Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicles Association
MAFVA exists to promote and interest in AFV’s
and their associated equipment, and to act as a
non-profit making organisation for the collection
and dissemination of information. We try to answer
queries and seek sources of information for our fast
growing international membership, and to encourage
correspondence between those with similar interests.
The interests within MAVA run from Wold War One
to the present day, although a greater emphasis is
centred on the Second World War. The majority of
members make and/or collect models, and there
are many who only gather information on military
subjects, whilst others work on, or even collect full
sized military vehicles. In addition to this we aim
to provide our members with a quality bi-monthly
magazine ‘Tankette’. Local
branches are being continually
formed both in the UK and
overseas, and are encouraged
to hold meetings, displays and
competitions to enable their
members to get more out of
their hobby, by meeting others
with similar interests and to share
information and expertise.Joining MAFVA
For more information or details on joining
MAFVA please contact the Membership
Secretary: Neil Wharton, MAFVA
85 Alexander Avenue, Earl Shilton,
Leicestershire. LE9 7AH.
[email protected][email protected]
Current subscription rates are:
UK and HM Forces £16
Europe/ Rest of the World (Surface mail) £24
Rest of the World (Airmail) £33
http://www.mafva.orgSAM Publications
MAFVA Members Discount Offer
SAM Publications is delighted to be able to offer
MAFVA members a 10% discount on subscriptions
to Scale Military Modeller International, or
any of our other titles or books, but not including
kits or accessories. To take advantage of this offer
just quote your MAFVA membership number on any
correspondence. For more details email or call us at:
[email protected]
+44 (0) 1234 211245Bedfordshire
Cambridge
Chester
Clacton-on-Sea
Devon
Essex
Lancashire (Bolton)
London
Maryport
Midlands (Leicester)
Northern Home
Counties
North West (Wirral)
Norwich
NottinghamBranches
Rugby
Suffolk
Sussex
Sussex (East)
Wilts
Scotland (Glasgow)
Scotland (Lothian)
South Wales
Australia (A.C.T)
Australia (West)
Canada (Ontario)
France (North West)
France (Paris)
Greece
PortugalI
first started making military
models as a Wargaming
teenager in the mid-1970s.
Mostly the kits were from
Airfix with a few ‘exotic’ kits from the likes of
Nitto and Fujimi. A long career in the Royal
Air Force and an even longer career involving
parenthood meant that my military model
making hobby ceased for almost thirty-years.
However, I returned to the hobby and re-joined
MAFVA. (I had been a member as a teenager
but only for a year.) I did not realise at the time
how MAFVA membership would change my
life. A few years after re-joining MAFVA I had
some articles published in the in-house magazine
‘Tankette’, and shortly after that I became the
magazine editor. I enjoyed my (nearly) five-years
as Tankette Editor and came across some really
knowledgeable people and learnt a lot about
research and realised how little I knew about the
hobby or military vehicles!
When I returned to the hobby, I picked up
again on the small scales of 1:76 and 1:72, but this
time not for Wargaming, so the models could be
better detailed and more finished as they would
not have to withstand the rough handling of the
Wargames table. Attending monthly Cambridge
MAFVA meetings at Duxford I picked up lots
of valuable hints and tips from the excellent and
experienced model makers in the club. I have
had some success in modelling competitions and
have been privileged to have two books on small
scale modelling published.
My focus remained on small scale modelling
as it was reasonably cheap and, in a limited space,
I could put together a convincing diorama.
Although I did look at those that model in 1:35
with envious eyes. There was a level detail inthese larger kits that I knew I could never achieve
in 1:72. Then at one club meeting one of the
team brought in some Tamiya 1:48 armour. I
was hooked! The models were big enough to
have lots of detail and yet three or four models
could be put together on a board that would
accommodate only one 1:35 tank. The perfect
compromise.
The only problem is that there are so few kits
available. Tamiya make a good range and some
of the other mainstream manufacturers have‘dipped a toe’ in the 1:48 pool but strangely,
unlike in the aircraft world, 1:48 armour has yet
to catch on. However, perhaps that will change as
kit manufacturers look to expand their range.
None of this would have happened to me
if I had not been a member of MAFVA. As
an association of friends, being a member of
MAFVA opens all sorts of new opportunities and
challenges. Military modelling is a great hobby
but as a solitary modeller it is easy to get stuck
in a rut. Meeting new like-minded people with
different skills and ideas can stimulate an interest
in this marvellous hobby. As with much of life
the more you put in the more you get out. If you
have ever considered joining MAFVA then why
not give it a go? You never know where it will
take you.MAFVA COLUMN
http://www.mafva.org32 SCALE MILITARY MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
New Horizons
Presented by Tom Cole