Whadda ya git ?

I got a Blue Ribbon 1/450 bagged 747, Airfix dogfight double Mossie Vs. Me262, and the small scale Polar Lights Lost in Space robot. And lots of non-modeling goodies, so I had a pretty good haul overall.

3/4 of 4/5 of eff all, same as always. Which is fine by me, I hate Christmas and all the commercial crap that goes with it. Bah Humbug.

RobG (The Aussie one)

Been getting into armored trains lately: Recent Trumpeter releases : Panzerjager Triebwagen 51, and Dampflokomotive 86, and some new Dr. Who DVDs. The Triebwagen is listed as a January 2010 release, inside appears to have complete Panzer IV turret interiors but not much else except wheel enclosures, somewhat typical of Trumpeter unevenness. Got the week off and already two other kits in work - so time to do some research on scratchbuilding the rest of the Triebwagen interior.

Val Kraut

...brass, brass, and more brass...Big Ed set for my 1/32 Hasagawa P-47, and brass props for my two 1/72 U-Boats and my 1/72 GATO.

Now it's time to go shopping...

=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Val Kraut

on a side note, always been curious about armored trains. always thought it would be easier to just bomb the track in front or behind it or bomb the side of the track and derail it. No need to deal with the train and its armor at all.

Craig

...heh...reminds me of a trip to the sim...where I REALLY screwed up attacking a train. One thing I did learn - you don't do it head-on...at low level...even if you do manage to somehow avoid crashing...

The dog bought me a Micro-Mark punch and die set......

1) the lead flat car is used to detonate mines placed by sabateurs without damaging the main units

2) Carry repair rails and ties

3) send a single scout car ahead to check the rails ahead of the main train.

4) clear the sides of the track a given distance to keep attackers at a distance - or in open country.

In Europe the topography in many areas make rail (or water) the only effective way of travel. Controlling and maintaining the rail system is essential to mounting and supplying military operations.

The German and Russian railroads were different gauges. German work trains backup up by the armored trains were used to rapidly move one rail on the Russian tracks and thus provide for continued efficient transport forward.

The railroads also provided the means of moving some of the large seige guns to the battlefield.

Although my interest at this point is mainly WW II, armored military trains have a long history including the Boer War, the Russian Revolution and Large Mortors in the American Civil War.

Val Kraut

"

Are there many other kits of such, other than the big 1/35 ones from Trumpeter that come to mind? They are mighty interesting...

"> Are there many other kits of such, other than the big 1/35 ones from

Rufus

I tend to work in 1/35 when it come to armour. There are other WW II Rail items from Trumpeter, Dragon, Revell and Ironside along with some resin specials (big bucks); There's also freight cars specifically for transporting tanks etc.

But there are other scales - in particular 1/72 that I've seen in the Squadron catalog. There's was at least one complete train in Resin which got a really bad review. Hasagawa had a Leopold and Karl Morser.

There also appears to be some units designed for HO or N gauge railroad setups. There's a railroad group in Yahoo. Some of the guys seem to have some extensive HO layouts with the big guns, freights carrying tanks and aircraft, armored trains, hospital trains, V-2 launch trains etc.

Val Kraut

I like the big scales myself, so I've been pretty interested in the big rail guns and engines from Trumpeter...but it's a newly acquired tilt, so I'm not familiar with all that may be out there.

...but you've now given me a thought about putting a V-2 in whole or sections on a flatbed under tarp(s) with one of Trumpeter's switchers...in 1/35...hmmnnn...

Rufus, There was a design for a V-2 train - some photos on the net - much like the plan for railroad mobile minuteman missles. You also need cars to haul the fuel trucks etc. Not sure if they actually used these in to any degree - but the V-2 erected on a flat car and being fueled made for an interesting diorama. Val Kraut

it would be cool to do van braun's truck convoy, too. one truck had the ass end of a v2 hanging out, or so one vet claimed.

I've been toying with an admittedly fantasy Civil War-era armored train. A gondola ahead, with sandbags and a couple of Gatling guns in the lead corners, an American 4-4-0 with tender and armored boxcar with two field guns on turntable to fire on either side of the train and to the read. I've also been thinking of a flatcar with an old AMT Civil War reconnaissance balloon. The train would be in 1:72. I have the train pieces courtesy of ePay, in the form of an Advance "The General" model train, and a set of Civil War-era engineers. All I have to do is get off my dead ass and start building it.

Santa brought a Guillows Dauntless kit Its a whopper!! and the Hawk 75 Sussu over Finland kit in 1/32 that ought to keep me busy

You might consider one on the big mortars on a flatbed - should be some good references. I think we've all been a little bit sold on Civil War rail since Disnney did the Great Locomotive Chase.

"two field guns on turntable to fire on either side of the train and to the rear".

ohhhhh...the SBD has a 30 inch plus wingspan ! Am seriously considering that one to re-enter the balsa world, last building in

1969.. lemme know how it works out!

Craig

Well I got enough HO track to make a 4x4 circle, a turnout, 1 Walther's FA1 & 2 Athearn hopper car kits. I fear that my grandson's fascination with Thomas has re-awakened the 'Beast'. Now I'm considering dragging out the frame to my old layout and re-installing the legs to add to the other table upon which Thomas will rule. I'm thinking of enough room to build a minimalist main with most of the rest of the board hosting a yard for switching/shunting. And here I thought I'd kicked the habit...

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.