Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726): “I laugh’st, that I nigh beshat myself.”
Cheers,
M
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I’ve often thought that the different color around the end of tank guns in black and white photos was that the muzzle was covered most of the time and dust would build up leaving the muzzle undusty, or camo would be painted with the cover still on the muzzle. Especially when you see one where it looks like a pretty clear linear demarcation somewhere near the end of the barrel (as in the short barrel on the panzer iv in one of the above pics). But I am not a tanker…
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Some people/crews/units PAINT the muzzle black. A good example is Israeli M51 Shermans.
Ken
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I thought that was to stop the Rabbi sawing off the muzzle brake…
Cheers,
M
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OUCH!!! 
The muzzle on all Merkavas is painted black, probably on late Magachs and Sho’ts too.
Well, as long as you’re discrete about it, we’ll overlook it. 
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Don’t forget “ yore “ as in “Days of “
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Yer outa’ yo damn mind! 
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Grammar-nazi? Scientists-Bad-News
I think in politically correct speak it’s called Grammatical Pedantry Syndrome
“Now there’s evidence they are actually ill, suffering from a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (OCD/ODD). Researchers are calling it Grammatical Pedantry Syndrome, or GPS.”
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The one in particular I’m thinking of suffers from more than just that.
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At least with GPS you always know where you stand! (Drumroll please! I’m here all week folks…) 
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Just as I welcome polite critiques of my models, I welcome polite corrections of my grammar and spelling . In my opinion, learning the correct way to use a language is far better than forever communicating in the manner of an ill educated dullard. Mean spirited corrections and critiques cause me to adapt while also losing respect for the person offering the insult. When such a thing happens, I usually stop all communication with the offender.
With regard to something like muzzle brake carbon, I usually defer to the opinions of people who have the most direct knowledge of the subject or particularly sound reasoning. However, upon occasion, I will intentionally and ruthlessly ignore reality in pursuit of an artistic goal.
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Very good - the pic I mean!
I have to say, perhaps slightly defensively, that grammar is important otherwise there is a danger of a meaning being lost, and that could have implications; we all know how important say, a grid reference is (or the military amongst us would/should); get it wrong and suddenly there’s the product of an MLRS battery on the wrong people (I know that’s numbers but I feel the principle is the same). What may be seen as mindless pedantry to some, is really attention to detail, and isn’t that also a sought after trait of modellers?
If language isn’t accurate, then I suspect a certain sloppiness may creep in (in some areas, one could argue it already has, with cretinous predictive text, and for instance, my local Council’s refusal to countenance apostrophes on road names), and then, where will it all end? Probably, sooner than we think possible, back to Neanderthal grunts and the like. Mind you, on a Friday night in my town, the conversation in the pubs often doesn’t get much higher than that(!)
I hasten to add, I have not been formally educated in the English language, other than an Ordinary Level certificate which the Army ordered me to take; for instance, I couldn’t parse a sentence - I don’t really even know what that means!
My lack of formal grammatical training meant I struggled on my (military) German language course as I had no experience in dealing with complexities such as dative, genitive and the like. The concept was simply beyond me. If you say “Well then, that’s the fault of the Brit education system”, you’d probably be right, aggravated perhaps by my decision to leave school at age fifteen.
I certainly wouldn’t normally attempt to correct anyone’s grammar on here (the spelling of break/brake I admit was an aberration), and as I think I’ve said before, if English is not someone’s first language then they deserve all the understanding they can get.
As for “OCD”, surely if one suffers from such an affliction, should it not read “CDO”?!
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Let’s not forget Timothy Dexter’s “A Pickle for the Knowing Ones”, his 1802 autobiography that was printed with no punctuation! After complaints, he published a second edition that had pages of punctuation marks as an appendix, with instruction for the reader to place them where they thought necessary…
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I was unaware of that one Tom; I am aware of this one but haven’t a copy - yet!
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All in jest.
English (American version) is my only language and I can be terrible with it.
Where I grew up folks took great delight using words like “mater” for tomato 
, “tater” for potato and h’ain’t (hill billy slang) instead of ain’t (slang) for “are not, will not” just to send English teachers ballistic. Deliberately not speaking and not writing in correct English was literally part of the culture.
All good as long in my book as long it isn’t COD.
Cash On Delivery
These are sort of fun as well…
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This here threads been tooken to a hole new level. 
—mike 
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Nut bolts, screws washers
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