Panther tank and 88mm Flak gun removed from a home in Germany!

[Stand By]

So I had a Panther tank in my bedroom once. And an 88mm Flak gun too. But they were just 1/35 scale models by Tamiya.
The German Army have just raided this bloke's house and pulled out the real things from his basement!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...d-hidden-in-basement-of-villa-in-Germany.html

 

[Big J]

So I had a Panther tank in my bedroom once. And an 88mm Flak gun too. But they were just 1/35 scale models by Tamiya.
The German Army have just raided this bloke's house and pulled out the real things from his basement!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...d-hidden-in-basement-of-villa-in-Germany.html

Whoah! That's a bit trippy! How big is this guy's basement?

That Panther is worth millions- there are so few left. There's a serial on Youtube about some guy who spent millions tracking down a Panther that was recorded as sunk in a Russian swamp. He found this rusted, bombed out hull, and restored the whole thing to running condition, because there are so few available to buy (many parts had to be fabricated from scratch).

This guy in your story Stand By, he made a really sound financial investment! (but is likely a nutter, since it was hidden in the basement and all).

 

[Stand By]

Like everything with the government, they either tax it or take it!
Sounds like he didn't have his papers in order …!

 

[Big J]

Like everything with the government, they either tax it or take it!
Sounds like he didn't have his papers in order …!

'Your papers are not in order!' lollollol

 

[p51]

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Even in Europe, it's legal to own these things if the weapons are deactivated.
there simply has to be more to the story than this...

 

[Stearmen]

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Even in Europe, it's legal to own these things if the weapons are deactivated.
there simply has to be more to the story than this...

That's what I am thinking!

 

[Stand By]

'Your papers are not in order!' lollollol

I'm glad you picked up on that one, Big J. Ze accents are hard to do on here!

 

[Big J]

I'm glad you picked up on that one, Big J. Ze accents are hard to do on here!

Yeah, but now I'm thinking of Inspector Cluseau;
'Do you 'ave a lesance for that monkey?'

 

[Stearmen]

My Little Tank

Maybe it was more like this! [video=youtube;LsGoAhifAw4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsGoAhifAw4[/video]

 

[Stand By]

Ha!Ha!Ha! Classic.
Haven't seen that in years. Such a subtly clever and witty script … thanks for the smile there, Stearmen.

 

[Edward]

Crazy story. If he's not some random, neo-nutter and the tank is legally held, hopefully he can get some money out of it!

I'd love a tank. Keep the firing mechanism, but designed to shoot out foam, like a giant splurge gun....

 

[filfoster]

Was the owner married? I am envious of having a spouse that would allow a collection like that!

 

[Big J]

Like I mentioned earlier, there are so few Panthers remaining that collectors pay millions to get total rust buckets back into running order;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYq0jaaEu48&list=PL6DA49C8E089251C4

This guys basement Panther looked to be in extraordinarily good condition compared to what people are prepared to restore, and surely represents a significant financial investment.
I would be extremely suspicious of the authorities taking away a multi-million dollar investment.

 

[filfoster]

Surely Germany is plagued with lawyers like we are, some of whom might help the owner out.

 

[Stearmen]

Crazy story. If he's not some random, neo-nutter and the tank is legally held, hopefully he can get some money out of it!

I'd love a tank. Keep the firing mechanism, but designed to shoot out foam, like a giant splurge gun....

Over here, you can have a fully operational cannon in your tank, you just can't shoot explosive rounds, solid only! I want one! [video=youtube;mPkMn158Fwo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPkMn158Fwo[/video]

 

[filfoster]

Over here, you can have a fully operational cannon in your tank, you just can't shoot explosive rounds, solid only! I want one! [video=youtube;mPkMn158Fwo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPkMn158Fwo[/video]

Years ago, we had a colorful character here who owned a half track with a .50 cal and a Sherman tank. He parked it in his driveway (good ad for his cement contractor, no doubt) and pointed the main armament across the street at his neighbor's home. No ammo, but the neighbor was a good friend of mine, who didn't share this guy's enthusiasm for WW2 ordnance. The guy ended up in the state pen because, well, he had other issues.