People May Call Us Crazy...but...

[tmanthegreat]

People may call some of us that have our bedrooms or houses filled with XD airplanes, tanks, and the like crazy, but they're way off. I just saw a show on the Travel Channel (aired 9pm PST) called Tycoon Toys: Tanks and it was all about some wealthy people and their collections of armor. I got a kick out of the show, thinking of my XD and FOV armor collection, and thought that those of you that collect those products would too. Anyone else see this?

On the show, some of the collections were small like a guy from Missouri with two fully operable M-5 Stuart tanks and then there was Jacques Littlefield from Portola Valley, California that owns a collection of over 200 armored vehicles, most of which work. He's got everything from WWI, WWII to Cold-War era and recently modern vehicles. Then there were the to guys (sorry, I'm not good with names flashed on the TV) who build and supply tanks for Hollywood productions. They showed their office filled with XD, FOV and other tank "models" that they use for reference. These people collect, restore, and drive their tanks for a variety of reasons - they like the mechanics of the vehicles, it their way of paying hommage to veterans, they like big machines, and so on.

So if a friend, love interest, or parent considers you crazy because you have a bunch of toy tanks on a shelf and airplanes hanging from the ceiling - you could have four acres of building space housing a few hundred of the real things! Gentleman (and ladies), we are not that nuts after all!

Edited: It was the National Geographic Channel!!

[tko211]

I fully know how these guys feel. I have been drooling over the chance to purchase a TBM Avenger. They are very affordable when you consider other warbirds. Just a little less than my mortgage So that shows you what affordable is. To give a comparison I saw a p-51 go for 1.8 million. way way way more than I could ever imagine! Avengers go for about 160 grand!

[mburduck]

Actually, you are crazy! Just save me a room in the nut house, too!

Mike

[mburduck]

A buddy of mine here in Tennessee remembers when he could have bought a real P-51 Mustang for $50,000. He's still kicking himself over that one every time he hears of the current prices.

Mike

[Teamski]

Avengers are going for only $160k??? That sounds aweful cheap when you consider T-28s go for $130k............... Sure looks like a steal to me!

-Ski

[tmanthegreat]

I know that the Canadian Forrest Service still uses TBMs as firebombers! A rather ftting role. But at $160K, that is quite tempting. My dad's a pilot and could use a plane...

[p51]

At the Planes of Fame Museum I've heard people talking about how they remember when Mustangs were sold for $300 - $500. B-17s were $1,500 down to the lowest of $500! Talk about a steal. I could have almost bought a P-51 and B-17 for the price of my Canon Rebel (Digital) or my Laptop.

[KAMIKAZE]

There was a time in the early 1970's when the Swiss goverment gave away most of there Hetzer Tank destroyers to anyone who would pay for the shipping.

Mark