Listen up maggots!

By way of introduction...my excuses for playing with toys

As a pre-teen in the '70s my prized possessions where a small collection of military toys, Diecast scale models by Corgi, Dinky, Britains. I particularly remember a royal blue Dinky F-4 Phantom with a spring loaded bomb on the underside, given by my father as a pick me up prior to an extended stay in Birmingham Children's hospital. Other favourites included a Centurian tank on a low loader - the tank could fire matchsticks from the turret, Tiger tank, SU100, Zero and Thunderbolt fighters. These toys would keep me out of mischief for hours and would go everywhere with me.

The love of military aircraft was enriched by my grandfather, an RAF veteran of hot and cold wars would take me to airshows and exhibitions at every opportunity, I suspect as much for his own pleasure as mine. IWM Southwark, RAF Duxford, RAF Hendon where frequent hangouts as was the tank museum at Bovington, just a few miles from home. By age ten I could recognise the silhouette of any WWII aircraft with the same accuracy of anyone of my age who had endured the blitz and studied the recognition charts.

My father, who is initially responsible for my interest in model tanks, is an avid collector
(For avid, read obsessive) of the very same models. His collection fills display cabinets, a spare bedroom, a garage and a lock up. It is has grown to the point that he has to start making some space for new arrivals and I have the fantastic task of assisting with the clearout. So, eBay, prepare for battle!