12. March 2011 by Andy.

In light of recent natural disasters or man-made, I wasn’t sure about writing or not this month…with the 8.9 earthquake that hit Japan or the one that hit Christchurch, New Zealand and not to mention the fighting going on in Libya or unrest across the Middle East.

Makes you wonder about the statement; “wars and rumors of wars” or “there will be famines and earthquakes in various places”?

Speaking of war, I finally finished my King Tiger tank project called; “The Road to St Vith”.  This diorama portrays an SdKfz 182 Königstiger tank assigned 2/Kompanie, Schwere Panzer Abteilung 506; (Heavy Tank Battalion 506 or s.Pz.Abt.506) supporting the Grenadier-Regiment 294 (18.Volks-Grenadier Division) just outside Andler, Belgium.  The sPzAbt 506 were the only Heer (Regular Army) King Tiger unit to be engaged in the Ardennes Offense of December 1944 – Wacht am Rhein.

The King Tiger was straight from Dragon’s 1/35 Kingtiger (Battle of Bulge) kit except I added zimmerit from an after-market kit from Eduard.Yep, there’s sixteen figures;  four came with kit other four from Dragon’s German Combat Unit, Ardennes 1944/45, four from Academy Models WW-II German Infantry ‘44  and the tank figures came from MiniArt Models German Tank Crew Winter ‘43-’45. 

I knew I needed a barbed wire fence, but didn’t want to spend the money on another “kit.” 

So after reading articles on-line, I was able to scratch build the fences.  The following on-line article was the best…

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=107 

The project took about eight months to complete, between hunting, Christmas, and the Honey-Do lists.Hope all is well on each of your fronts and take care…

Until next time,

Andy

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11. February 2011 by Andy.

Yea, it’s been awhile…and every time I try to remember the 11^th, something would always distract me…

For instance, Heather booked a film down in New Orleans with Christian Slater and Christopher Walken called “The Power of Few”.  From what I’ve gathered it has a bunch of vignettes that come together in the end.  Heather plays the role of “the Reserved Women” but gets a name by the end of the film.  http://thepoweroffew.com/  or http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817545/   She’s listed under the full crew and cast… http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817545/fullcredits#cast 

Heather also flew out to LA to cover a charity event and help host.  Then she flew up to St Louis to film her webisode…similar to a TV episode, but made for the internet.  They call it “Trigger”.  She plays a housewife, gets abducted, has amnesia and does all this fights/martial arts but can’t remember why she knows this stuff…stay tuned for its release…

Even though water was scarce this duck season, Jim Melvin and his son and I managed to bag our limits of wood ducks every time we went out!  After 20 minutes of shooting and knocking them down, we would stop and take a head count.  Another time we were out and I nailed two with one shot…and Jim is my witness…he saw the whole thing! 

Then last month we took our sons over to the panhandle of Texas to shoot some geese.  The first day we hunted with a group of five guys to make nine and we shot out limit.  Jake shot a nice speckle-belly that he’s getting mounted.  The next day it was just the four of us.  We would have reached our limit again.  We were about a mile from this watering hole that the geese were roosting on.  Then some knuckleheads decide to hunt ducks on that same watering hole and unloaded their guns.  Needless to say there were thousands of geese lifting off and flying the coup.  Unfortunately we weren’t able to get any.  It was another hour and a half before we shot another goose that made a low pass over us.  So we called it a day.  Clayton bagged a nice speckle-belly that he’s getting mounted.  We were six geese short of our limit, but 14 was still a pretty good haul. 

I’m still working on models…current project is a King Tiger tank during the Battle of the Bugle…more on that when I finish it this month.  Speaking on models, remember that M48 Patton I did a while back?  Well it looks like it may get auctioned off as a fund raiser for the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association.  I’m working with a member so things are just on the drawing board for now… 

Due to family pressure and a group of board gamers, I’ve come out of the Dark Ages and now have a Facebook page…Heather set up the page and I filled in the blanks…I’ve heard there’s a bunch of Andy Blooms, so just look for the skinny 1^st Lt with one of those old gray headsets on…

O’well…until next time…

Andy

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13. July 2010 by Andy.

Wow…I’ve way planning and anticipating to write on the 11^th this month, but I’ve been snowballed by events around here!So a little back-tracking…In May, I took my mom on a journey across southern Utah to visit the National Parks before her hip surgery in June.  But first I had to fly home to accompany mom to Salt Lake City – she doesn’t like flying much anymore let alone making her way through airports. 

First stop was Bryce Canyon NP.  It seemed that God put a divider across the mountain range then poured water down one side eroding away the rock & dirt to create an awesome view of layered rock formations!  We rode along the top of the mountain range looking down into rock formations.  Next we tried to get into Cedar Breaks NP (National Park) but they were closed due to the four feet of snow still on the roads!  So we just headed down to Zion NP.  This time we were in the canyon looking up at the rock formations!  Mom rode the bus around and back to the hotel while I ventured off on different trails to see some of the sites.  I hiked back in on one over a mile in to see this water fall, but alas I ended up finding it within 100 yards of the bus stop!  Yea the hike was nice, but I was on a time schedule to get back with mom.

Anyway, next day we woke to travel over to the Lake Powell Resort.  Yepper, the same lake area we used to fly into while navigating IR-126 into Red Flag…aaaah the days of low level flying in the canyons!  We took a 5 hour cruise to get to Rainbow Bridge NM (National Monument).  The only way to see this natural bridge is by boat, horseback riding, hiking, or 4-wheeling.  I guess you could even parachute in, but you would have to hike out.

Then we headed to Hovenweep NM – protects six prehistoric, Puebloan-era villages spread over a twenty-mile expanse of mesa tops.  It was a god thing we had a Ford Explorer to get back into some of those dwellings.  Then over to Natural Bridges NM to see three incredible rock bridges that were carved out by the wind, rain and river (once upon a time) before calling ti a day.Up early again to visit Canyonlands NP.  The Colorado & Green River plus their tributaries divide the park into four districts: the Needles, the Island in the Sky, the Maze and the rivers themselves.  We were able to see the Needles & the Island in the Sky.  The Maze is only accessible by hiking or horseback.  We called it quits just outside Moab, UT.  That way the next day we could see Arches NP.

If you can remember your John Wayne trivia, the Arches NP should sound familiar.  The Duke and many other Western movies were shot in this area.  What impressed mom and I was that each area had its on geology and was very different from the others!  The beauty was just fabulous along with the weather…it was very accommodating during the whole trip.

Then, June rolled in.  I journey back to Montana to be with mom while she had her left hip replaced.  I stayed for a few weeks to make sure mom could get around and be comfortable being back in her own home.  The surgery went well, but it took a few extra days for mom to recover and be allowed home.  She has therapy folks coming to the house three times a week and she is already making plans for next year…she wants to go to San Francisco to visit a Teddy Bear lady and of course see some more National Parks there in California.Anyway, this has been long, so I save some for next month…until then – fly safe!

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11. March 2010 by Andy.

Well it’s done!  After nine months with a 2two month delay waiting for the half-track model to be release we have the…” Sollum Höhe 208 (Sollum Height 208)”; a German 88mm Flak 36 artillery piece & Sd.kfz.7 8ton half-track assigned to the I.Flak-Regiment 33 (2 Batterie), Deutches Afrika Korps during the North African Campaign around April 1942. 

The Flak 36 was straight from Tamiya’s new 88mm GunFlak36 ‘North African Campaign” except I borrowed the bogies from their original Flak 36/37 kit.  Although the figures came directly from the kit, the radio operator was another kit, except I had to scratch build the antenna based on an image I had from a German WWII Panzers in the Desert reference book. 

The Sd.Kfz.7 8t Half-track Initial Production was Dagon’s new Smart Kit release that hit the street in October 2009!  I had to scratch-built a few items, the bustle rack on the very back to hold the jerry cans and the canvas roof in the stowed position.  Even though Eduard’s 8t tool boxes were designed for the Trumpeter kit, with a slight modification, they worked just fine for Dragon’s.  Eduard’s 8t engine PE kit provided the engine side panels covers.  The rifles, MG34, and MP40 came from Italeri’s Accessories II kit.  Since I needed Luftwaffe license plates for my project, I turned to Peddinghaus-decals to provide them.   Dragon provided five different German Army plates – no Air Force.  Archer dry transfers provided German helmet insignias, uniform patches, DAK palm trees, German tactical symbols, and Sd.Kfz.7 instrument panels and generic lettering.  Verlinden Productions provided ration boxes, wooded barrels, military provisions, stowage cargo & accessories, bottles, crates, and German food supplies.  The Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft Badge is a reproduction from Landser Outfitters based in California.

As for the base work; I used CelluClay for the base along with folk-art paint.  I most have gone through seven different colors before hitting the right combination to give a desert color.  I spread the plaster over wax paper in a cookie sheet.  Once dry, I broke into pieces and stacked to make the wall.  A 50-50 water/glue solution was used to set the wall in place.  Again, once dry I used folk-art paints again to paint it.

As for other news, Jim Melvin & I decrease the duck population around Corpus Christi again.  Both sons could not make it due to one being sick and the other having to work.  We each bagged redheads, buffleheads, and pintails. 

Day 1: we bagged our redheads early in the morning.  I managed to drop two in the first pass and couldn’t hit anything afterwards – had a chance at one or two more birds, but no luck.  Jim got one in the first pass and another later – then he couldn’t hit them either.  So we packed up for the day. 

Day 2: we were out for buffleheads & pintails.  Went to a different area and the blind was out in the middle of no-where!  Water everywhere and the land was only visible on the horizon.  We got our buffleheads early, but mine was a hen.  So Jim holds off shooting until a drop a drake.  I soon drop another, but once more a hen.  Finally after much waiting I finally drop a drake.  Then some pintails circle and it takes a lot of calling to get them to attempt to land.  We each drop one, but mind lands further out from the blind.  The only sad thing is that pintail I knocked down was hurt just enough not to get airborne again.  I must have chased him for miles!  I was in water up to my knees while he was about 50 yards or more away.  Although he couldn’t fly, he sure could swim and paddle his feet he did…I could never gain on him and by the time I turned to see how far I was from the bind, the bind was just a speck on the horizon!

We stayed on our guides property and were fed – and what a feast!  There was no lack of food for each meal!  First night was a Texas BBQ with ribs, sausage, brisket & duck.  Next night, duck gumbo with all the trimming; corn bread, mash potatoes, green beans, etc.  Lunch times always had leftovers which there was plenty of.

O’well I’ve written too much…so see you next month

Chuck here’s some pitures of actually artillery range finders…

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13. February 2010 by Andy.

Ya, I know I’m a bit late…we survived the the BIG storm here is the Bossier City, LA…hope you guys back east are doing well inspite of the snow.

Well Jim Melvin and I went down to the Corpus Christi area to hunt ducks had a blast!  Both our sons couldn’t make it whether being sick or having to work.  We stayed in a cabin on our guide’s property plus food and WOW…the spread was great!  First night; ribs, duck, sausage and brisket – all smoked!  Yepper, a regular Texas size barbeque!   Second night we had duck & sausage gumbo with all the trimmings. 

As for the hunt; first morning; get out early, set the decoys and setup on this island of maingros.   We didn’t have to wait long a large flock of redheads circled the island and tried to drop in on our decoys.  So we light them up, Jim dropped one while I dropped two.  Yep, two shots two ducks.  So afterwards Jim bagged another and we were done…two redheads per person is the limit.

Next morning, they take us to another area to try and get buffleheads or pintails.  We were dropped off at the bind out in the middle of the bay…2 to 3 miles to land on either side of the bind.  The water was only 2-3 feet deep which made it good to walk around, set-p decoys and retrieve ducks.  Well when the ducks started flying, the redheads stayed up high and literally split up and went around our blind!  We never got a shot off on any redheads.  Meanwhile the buffleheads stayed low and actually dropped in on our decoys.  Jim bags a nice drake while I shot a hen.  Since we were after buffleheads, Jim held off shooting until a bagged a drake.  So the next one in I shot turned out to be another hen…Kevin, our taxidermist, kept calling me the hen killer!  About another hour or so, I finally bagged a drake bufflehead.

Then some pintails circled and were trying to land on our decoys.  After so long moments, calling on our duck calls, they dropped in close enough to shoot.  All three of us down one.  But the one I shot was not hurt bad enough, because when I start to get him he starts paddling away.  I must have chased him for miles but never gained any ground on him…sad but he managed to live another day.

Anyway here’s some pic from the hunt…next year it’s a goose hunt!

Also check out the website…one of my wood duck pictures was published on the Delta Waterfowl site…

http://www.deltawaterfowl.org/pix/index.php#id=february2010&num=3

 Unitl Next time,

Andy

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17. December 2009 by Andy.

then so can I…Merry Christmas everyone!

Reed:  Glad to hear things are going well with GH training.  Yea I remember Lokoweed too, a bit too cocky in my books!  And thanks for the words about how we learned, trained and fought…as for your telescope; if you have haven’t gotten it patented, licensed, or whatever the legal term is, you better.  I’d hate to see all the work you and Chris did get stolen or “pirated” without any proper recognition or royalties.   Be careful…

As for the Blooms; Heather made another film over in Monroe, “Flag of my Father” or “Flag of Our Father” or something like that.  It’s not a follow on to Clint Eastwood’s “Flag of our Fathers” which was about the flag rising on Iwo Jima during WWII.  This one is about a Vietnam Vet and his kids when they’re all grown up.  Anyway, Heather plays the wife of John Schneider (one of the sons) and William Devane, from “Knot’s Landing”, is the dad.  Yes, I did say John Schneider who played Bo Duke from the “Dukes of Hazzards” TV show.   Yep, she had a blast filming on this set too…

As you saw, I did make the Fine Scale Model publication’s on-line Reader’s Gallery with my Tet Offensive diorama.  Although it took a long time to build, I had fun with it.  I finished the M1A1 with markings from the 2^nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3^rd Battalion, 69^th Armored Regiment, 1^st Brigade, 3^rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) while serving in Iraq in April 2003.  Wow that was a mouthful and I thought the Air Force was bad on listing units!  The Army takes the cake and then some!  Anyway, I added the Bedouin and camel for a bit of color.  I have the gunner trained on him with the 7.62 mm M240 machine gun just in case he decides to take a pot shot at the crew.  I didn’t realized it until I photographed it, but the camel has a mean look to its face.  As for the German 88, it’s on still on hold.  The half-track came in but I’m dreading the build…over 800 parts!!!!

Been duck hunting with Jim Melvin and his son, bagged a few ducks and got poison ivy which I’m still battling since 14 November!  We’re planning on taking a trip down to Corpus Christi for another duck hunt there next month.

O’well…until next time…

Merry Christmas!

Andy

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11. November 2009 by Andy.

It’s been a pleasure serving with you folks!  For us, freedom just isn’t a word but holds so much and is so dear that any attempts to do so would not do it any justice.  True, we haven’t made the ultimate sacrifice, but so many others before us have. 

My dad was stationed in Germany during the 70s and I was able to take the troop train into Berlin as part of Boy Scout outing.  We even stood on the platform overlooking Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall…side note.  Anyway we traveled at night and were told not to wave at any guards.  So after our weekend stay we’re heading back to West Germany and there was this guard standing on the East German side.  Well the tension was so great you could have cut it with a knife, so I decided to wave.  The guard made an ever so slight a nod in recognition of my “hello”.   The word Freedom took on a whole new meaning for a kid of 18. 

I found this scrolled on our jet when we were getting ready for a mission during Desert Storm; “Freedom for those who fought for it has a special meaning the protected will never know”.

I hope you had a chance to reflect on today’s importance and if someone hasn’t said it to you, thanks for serving our country!

Until next time, fly safe!

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12. October 2009 by Andy.

Sorry for being a bit late…the 11 Oct was a bit rough; my daughter 23 was laid up in the hospital this weekend.  It started Saturday morning, got her to the emergency room by 5pm, and ran several tests to rule out kidney stones and appendicitis.  But it was her gall bladder that was the culprit – inflamed & infected.   So by 2am Sunday she was admitted to have an operation around 10am Sunday to remove it.  She doing well and should be released today.

In other news, Heather finished filming this weekend – and WOW does she have some stories to tell!  I told her she needs to write everything done, because they’re too many and too rich!  Things like an extra asking if he could sneeze when the director called “action” but was politely told “no” so he coughed instead.  When they said “cut”, Heather pipes up; “I’ve been upstaged by an extra” and everyone laughs because Heather is the one who should be coughing because it’s her character – in fact Heather dies in this film.  The director gave Heather great praise for bring her “A” game every time.  So much that she was given an actors dream – to improv (ad-libbing) a scene with her young (about 6-8) son to establish a relationship with him because there was nothing in the script.  The script did establish relationships with all her other “family” members before she dies, but not with the young son.  So without anything to go on or guidance/direction, she pulls it off to the point that when they finally call “cut”, there in not a dry eye in the place!  I wish I could tell you what the dialogue was because it would choke up anyone, I mean I’m getting choked up just thinking/writing about it – but because of movie confidentialities, I cannot – not until it’s released – sorry.  O’ and her death scene, when they finally finished filming, the director said she literally “died” on camera!  She dies from what we’ve gathered is tuberculoses.  She evens got to cough up blood as part of her sickness leading to her death – kind of what Val Kilmer does in “Tombstone” as Doc Holiday.

My son is heading off to St Louis later this month to record a demo-CD so his manager can “shop” it around in the music industry.  In the meantime he waits tables at a high-end restaurant that opened last month – good food!

Still working for Rockwell, but there is a great temptation to go over to Global Strike Command – they are throwing a lot of money around and sucking up all former B-52 crewdogs.  I had to put my German 88mm Flak gun, somewhere in North Africa 1941-43, on hold for the moment.  I needed the half-track that towed it but it’s still in production from Dragon/DML – it was supposed to be out last month but for some reason it was delayed until this month – we’ll see.  So I began work on an Army M1A1 used in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

O’ BTW…I like the BoB Blogging…not much into Facebook yet.  Glad to hear about Chuck & oldest daughter!  And let me know when you do get published, I’d be first in line to buy your book(s)!

Until next time, fly safe!

Andy

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11. August 2009 by Andy.

Wow, I cannot believe I’m first this month!

Big news…Heather finally landed a principle role in a film by Campus Crusade for Christ and is set in Israel around the time of Jesus – although it will be film near Sibley, LA.  About 45 minutes from here.  When Jack Black was making his movie – ‘Year One’ – they built a huge set/town with all the works in Sibley.  So she’ll only have to travel a short distance to film set.  I cannot tell much about it due to signed agreements between them and her.  But anyway, we’re all excited about it!Other than that not much to say…except  my modeling project is complete!

‘Tet ’68 – the Battle for Hue’ – the 1st Marine Division, 1st Tank Battalion, Alpha Company M48 supporting Bravo/1/5 (1st Battalion, 5th Marines). 

The Men:  Verlinden Productions provided the kneeling sniper and Figure Conversion Parts US Vietnam kit.  The sniper rifle came from Tamiya’s US Infantry Weapons Set.  The eight figures in the main platoon were combined from two kits of DML Dragon; #3305 Marines Tet Offensive and #3307 US Marines Khe Sanh 1968.  One figure was modified to carry the M79 grenade launcher instead of the M60 machine gun while another was modified to hold a binocular as the spotter.  The Tank Commander was from Tamiya’s US Armored Troops and I had to add a headset/microphone to his helmet.  

The Diorama:  I used CelluClay for the base, painted Pactra’s rust to simulate the red dirt of Southeast Asia.  I also added some Model Railroad ballast.   The building came from Verlinden Productions, the Vietnam/Middle East Ruin as well as the palm tree, some ferns, and wrought iron gate. Additional palm plants came from Kamizukuri paper plant kit A-9.  Build-a-Rama.com provided the BRICK RUBBLE.  A piece of fabric trim was used for a rug at the entrance of the ruined building.    Some of the other “jungle plants” came from the doll house industry.Anyway the project took about four  months – painting figures is not one of my strong points…in fact I hate painting faces – but I’m still trying to improve on them.

Next up, a German 88mm Flak gun turned into an anti-tank gun somewhere in North Africa 1941-43 assigned to the famous Rommel’s Afrika Korps.

Cheers,

Andy

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11. July 2009 by Andy.

Wow, I’m actually writing on the 11^th!

My tribute to the Marines during the Tet Offense of ’68 is marching along…the “tank” is build and I’m working on the “men”.  The tank is a member of the 1^st Marine Division, 1^st Tank Battalion, Alpha Company that was en route to Hue at the outbreak of the offensive.  I’ve been corresponding with a former Marine M48 tanker who saw action in the Battle for Hue.  It was a pleasure corresponding with him and gaining insight into their operations.  He gave me a few pointers on my M48.  I did take a hit on the name that I stenciled on the 90mm gun barrel; MS JUNE.  I chose June because Heather was a June baby, but the “MS” to quote the old Marine; “did not appear until Gloria Steinem & the sweethearts from N.O.W. had not burned their first bra”.  Other than that he thought the tank was a piece of art and that I did a good job…

My daughter & I took a road trip up to Nashville at the end of June.  She wanted to get away for a few days before school starts in August.  Her husband couldn’t get away, so I used it as an excuse to visit some Civil War National Park sites.  She on the other hand saw some of the Nashville music industry – “Grand Ole Opry”, the “Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum”, “Country Music Wax Museum”, etc.

1^st up was Brice’s Cross Roads National Battlefield Site in the upper northeast corner of Mississippi along with Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center – mainly focused on the battles in and around Corinth, MS.  Brice’s Cross Road was not well laid out or organized as other Civil War National Parks.  Not to mention the temperature was over 100!

Next came the bigger one, Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee.   This battlefield is well laid out and easy to travel & visit the sites.

Then we made our way into Nashville: spent one night in a 5-star hotel a few blocks from the 5^th Grand Ole Opry – the Ryman Auditorium (from 1943-73) and the main street where all the honky-tonks were that the greats all hung out at either before or after their show at the Ryman.  As I mentioned we went to the “Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum” which included a tour of the RCA Studio B where Ellis produced over 200 of his songs and other great legends got their start making the “Nashville” sound.  Then we took the tour of the 6^th Grand Ole Opry which was built in ’73 because the Ryman was getting pretty old and rundown. 

The picture of Kathleen & I is center stage.  The round circle was cut from the Ryman and set in place to “continue the legend” that current members of the Grand Ole Opry would be able to perform on the same stage as the “Legends” did.  The group that owns the Grand Ole Opry recent bought the Ryman and had it restored.  Concerts are still held there today.

On day four, we headed for Stones Creek National Battlefield Park – southeast of Nashville a smaller park like Brice’s Cross Road, but better laid out 7 organized!  Plus by now the weather is a bit cooler which makes visiting this site a pleasure.

Our last day of the trip was visiting Fort Donaldson National Battlefield Park – northwest of Nashville.  This battle would bring to Lincoln’s attention of a general who wasn’t afraid of fighting and could win battles – U.S. Grant.  Side note what does the U.S. stand for?  For most it is Ulysses Simpson, but to the southerners it was Unconditional Surrender.  It was at this battle that he penned the words; “No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.”

As we watched the short videos at the different battlefields, I was and still in awe of the sacrifices made to keep this nation together…the mere fact that men would go line abreast and walk/charge into deadly cannon & musket fire for their beliefs, whether to preserve the union or states’ rights.  It still is humbling to walk those hallow grounds.

O’ BTW…my daughter graduated from LSU-S in education and was hired by the school she student taught.  She’ll be teaching Ancient World History.

Unitl next time…

Fly Safe!

Andy

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13. June 2009 by Andy.

I’ve been meaning to write for the last couple of months, but I’ve been out of town – company business.  So maybe I can get caught up this time.

I thought that once retired time slows down…still waiting! LoL

Still making models – that latest is a 1/48^th scale B-26 Marauder of the 441^st Bomb Squadron, 320^th Bomb Group, 9^th Air Force at Dijon, France in April 1944.  Maybe someone remember the 441^st BS, 320^th BW?  No I’m not taking about the WWII unit but the B-52 unit – Mather – some thought it was the dream base (for me it was Ellsworth! another story).  For others it was the start of our Nav Training.  Anyway, if the model looks a little weathered – it is.  When I was putting on the final finish, it frosted the model.  Heather thought it looked cool, but not for me.  So I finished it off looking a bit more for wear & tear.

I’ve decide to take a break from aircraft and work on some military armor dioramas.  First up is a USMC M48 Patton tank set in the Battle for Hue during the 1968 Tet Offensive.   This will be built in three phases; the tank, the men, and the place.  I have an idea of how I want the scene to look like, but trying to find an image that support your idea is proving tough!

Phase 1 – The Tank – it will be a USMC but what will it look like?  True that is a lot of material out there, but I’m trying to find a picture that represents how my M48 would look like – unit wise.  For example; I was looking at adding a Confederate battle flag to the radio antenna – so far only US Army M48s had that flag, adding the Playboy bunny on the turret - yepper some USMC’s had it but which one and what was the tanks unit number, or what about the searchlight cover – some had the skull & crossbones (only US Army so far) or Ace of Spades (found one that had the Spade but a ‘2’) or the Maltese Cross, etc.  Was that unit in Hue during the battle?  I have several books but not many images, so I had to order more books.

Phase 2 – the Men – I have model figures from DML (Dragoon) that represents the USMC, Viet Cong & the NVA during that time period.  However, I’ll have to modify some of the figures to make the different poises I envision; i.e., making a USMC sniper team hiding in a building, re-modeling the tanks commander to be firing the .50 cal MG, or re-poising the enemy into firing positions.

Phase 3 – The Place – it will be a street fighting scene with the tank moving down it, men hiding behind walls, palm trees, damaged houses & building, debris, etc.

So…the tank is in various stages of assembly, acquiring more reference books and the material to build the diorama; more figure models, add-ons for the tank, and material for the scene.  Stay tune for more updates…

Next month I’ll have some notes on Heather’s acting career & Clayton’s (son #1) singing/musical career…

Andy

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13. March 2009 by Andy.

Wow, I know I missed in February and it seems I’m late this month!O’well…in January, I went hunting with Jim Melvin & his son (Jake) down by Corpus Christi, TX.  The wife asked why we had to go there to hunt.  Why couldn’t we just hunt around here?  A typical wife question…not realizing that it’s the “hunting adventure” and experience that we go for!  Not to mention a different variety of birds to shoot!

After what happened or didn’t happen, we decided to call it the “TEC” weekend – Tail End Charlie!  We went along as non-guided hunt, meaning we paid for all our food & lodging and paid a small fee for the “guide” to take us out in his boat to “dropped off” at the hunting blind ($125 per person).  Now these blinds are first come first serve basis which is okay if you get out there in time.  As “guided hunt”, you paid extra to stay in a spare cabin on his place & get fed ($275 per pseron).

Well, the first day, the “guided hunting” party (five people) is late getting up, late to come by and pick us up, and late getting to the boat launch ramp.  The guide is using a new air boat that was built by his nephew and is on its maiden voyage – no Functional Check Flight or Ops Check Flight.   Since we were late, the guide was going to “drop off” us first (another party of two).  So I put my gear in the boat but they cannot take us all out.  So Jim, his son Jake and I wait – boat breaks down while dropping off the other “drop off” group.  So the nephew takes us to another area, drops us off with some decoys & some Home Depot buckets to sit on.  It’s a good thing I brought a spare gun; otherwise I’d be up a creek without a paddle – in this case a gun!  Then the nephew takes off with the “guided hunt” and does the same. 

After setting things up, we see ducks flying but they drop in on the other blinds and those hunters are shooting ducks or at least making an effort too.  Finally after about 3 hours, ducks begin to drop in on our decoys – we bag six redheads – no, not the two-legged female human type either!  So we finally begin to pack up our gear, wondering why or when the guide would stop by to get us.  Well they forgot us!

As we’re making our way back to the hotel, we learn that the guide plans to take us out around 2pm for another hunt – he felt bad about that morning.  O’ by the way we had to cross over to this island by ferry that morning.  It took about 10 minutes.  Well by 1130, it took over an hour to cross – Saturday morning traffic!

So we go out that night – Jim, Jake, and I are the last group to get dropped off.  We managed to bag one bird.  So far we’re the only group to bag the most birds.  The other “drop off’ group shoots four ducks.  The “guide hunt” shoots none!

Next day, we go to a different area.  Once more, Jim, Jake, and I are the last group to get dropped off.  After fours of sitting in the blind, we managed to shoot three ducks; two redheads and a pintail.  The other “drop off” group shoots one duck; a merganser.  The “guided hunt” shoots one duck; a redhead.  And here’s the kicker, we’re the last group to get pickup!We were able to borrow some decoys and go out one more day – Martin Luther King Holiday weekend.  We end up with two ducks; a pintail and a redhead.

Hence the “TEC” Weekend!  The “drop offs” outperform the “guided hunt” and paid less!  And we had a blast!  Jake is getting one of his redheads mounted as well as I am too.

Anyway…until next time,

Andy

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