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Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> Miscellaneous -> More Centenary: Villers-Bretonneux Museum report.
Post Info TOPIC: More Centenary: Villers-Bretonneux Museum report.
James H


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More Centenary: Villers-Bretonneux Museum report.
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As the website http://www.museeaustralien.com/en/?Events explains, the museum is undergoing renovation and the exhibits have been moved to what I suspect are much reduced premises. It should be finished by the end of the year - which means it will have missed the centenary. There might be a very good reason, but that does seem rather daft.

Anyway, for your 5 euros you get a long walk between mesh barriers, past builders' machines and material, and admission to the hall. Unfortunately, it's very brightly lit and there's much white paintwork, so there were a lot of reflection problems with the showcases. I did my best.

So here are a couple of shots of the 1/12.5 model of Mephisto, made by two local men, and the best that reflections would allow. Your fee also includes an A4 tri-fold leaflet, black on sort-of-mint-green, that contains a good deal of info about the tank, and three badly underexposed photographs of the model, one of which shows her with the armour removed. Whether that is a separate model I don't know - it might be that there are several but only two are on show because of the restricted room.

There's also a quite decent diorama of the battle, virtually impossible to photograph from above but I managed to get some through the sides. Sample enclosed, more if there is public demand.

There is also a collection of photos and artefacts, including the recently discovered collection of glass plates showing portraits of Australian troops stationed in the village.

Sorry to sound so negative, but I think the place has suffered by being moved into the temporary premises. It's a view that is pretty much reflected on Tripadvisor. One assumes things will be a lot better when the refurb is completed.

* Just noticed the tanks in the dio appear to be Mk V. So what battle is it? Hamel?






-- Edited by James H on Thursday 14th of July 2016 06:48:56 PM

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Morgoth


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I didn't know it exists.

How big is the diorama? Is it in proper scale, when it comes to distance between the tanks?

Shame they are doing that stuff on centenary, not before.

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James H


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It crossed my mind that I should measure the dio, but I forgot. Maybe you can get some idea from the long shots of the museum and the relative close-ups. The scale does seem about right, but I really struggled with the reflections and couldn't get a decent aerial view. You can see how the strip lights are high up and above the showcases. Anyway, here goes with the usable ones from a bad bunch. There might be better views on the Internet. Sorry.

Oops. Sorry, duplicated picture. Pic 4 is the old museum, and pic 5 is the current, temporary one.



-- Edited by James H on Sunday 31st of July 2016 03:58:35 PM

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