The alley leading to Pansarmuseet was an ordinary country lane tucked away in a typical Swedish landscape, relatively low, ultra flat, dotted with red and yellow wooden barn houses. "Don't worry, we are on the right path." My companion, Henrik, told me in a sympathetic voice. No visiting address had been given for the tank museum, our final destination, in the middle of an arduous walk after we got off at Varhem, where three Medi???? pagan monarchs from the House of Eric, later Birger Jarl as well, who was the founder of Stockholm, and Count Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie were all buried in the well-marked historical Varnhems klosterkyrka.

Soon I found out why officially only a succinct road de????ion existed for Pansarmuseet - because we were heading for a protected military base, in which the museum currently lay. According to a 1990 law, we were forbidden to outline the environs in verbal terms. No photos either. Once inside the museum, curiously enough, photographing was however permitted, the museum assistant rather readily assured me. As a retired military man, he was obviously delighted to see visitors dropping in. The day before, there had not been even one guest coming.

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Pansarmuseet was founded in 1969 by a special initiative of Rudolf Paleman, Henrik's late grandfather. An admittably young museum, it has steadily grown from a collection of 27 fighting vehicles at its inception to more than 100 nowerdays. Spending one afternoon in this treasure house would be a terrific experience for all lovers of tanks. I surely made a field day of this opportunity to be allowed close access to the tank components for a detailed view. Here every vehicle appeared in good conditions. Had it not been for lack of spare parts, they could have had us take the tanks for a real drive. The helpful guide confirmed my surmise with a yes.

8.5 tons, 2 men. Didn't work properly, the assistant said ruefully. That's quite French. lol. Anyway, to me it's assez artistique. Upon seeing it, I instantly thought about those animated toys in a ... Jan Švankmajer film.

Bad news for the Nazi army then, the tank motor got sabotaged in Norway in the Second World War. The Panzer eventually made its way to Sweden.

Cruiser tank. Old-fashioned, ja; but looks starkly familiar, nej?

So someone painted down his Belle Olga love on this patrolling car amidst the war chaos.

UN bought 15 of this type for its Indian and Irish battalions after the car went popular for missions in Congo.

Sweden sold 13 of this type to Dominican Republic in 1958. It was reported that some of them were on the market for sale in 2004, around $30,000 for each.

Developed by Bofors AB in 1967-71. 42.3 tons, 3 men. Without a turret. Suitable for water operations. The fence is said to be an innovation. Designed with the USSR in mind during the Cold War era.

While I was checking out the big juggernauts, Henrik's attention mostly went to the small plastic tank models neatly lined up along the wall shelves. They were the old pastime work on display of his grandfather. "Impressive. How long did it take your grandpa to get each one done?" I asked him.

"On average, I think couple of weeks were normally needed." He paused a moment before he answered. "I was 8 years old when my grandpa passed away. When I see the tank models now, I can't help visualizing him working on these in his free time. I still have vivid family memories, but what I wished most to connect with after I became an adult person was his inner mind. Something possibly too complicated for an 8-year-old child to adequately understand at that time."

In a country with public sentiments traditionally going strongly anti-war, the points of view of weapons, or for that matter military establishment in general, are diverse and often in conflict. Sometimes it can cause formidable divergence of opinions even within a family. Henrik's father was said to hold an "orthodox" pacifist position, but down to the third generation, there's a notable curiosity from Henrik's part to appreciate more his grandfather's military background for an atavistic reversion. When I thanked him for his guidance as we departed, he responded just with visible contentment.

"You know, it's great for me to pay another visit to this museum. When was the last time I was here? I have to think." Now, for a throwback like him, probably it will be the last time, given the fact that Pansarmuseet is going to move to a new home on the other side of the country and the present location is to close down in the new year.