Ralph A

Hello all, A friend is attempting some figures for a 1/35 scale model Jagdpanther: "...is there any uniform expert who could point me to some good references for SPG crew uniforms? I know most of them were Field Grey, but I saw a few light grey, some almost black like tanker uniforms, also some camo pants, etc. And as usual, I have no idea what's the correct one..." He's very talented. Check him out if you like, amazing stuff. Go to Patreon.com and search for Night Shift. 976 patrons can't be wrong... Thanks guys.

Thank you.

Hello folks, thanks for looking. Can anyone identify this yellow insignia, seen here on a model of a SOMUA? Thanks.

Shigeru and Hiroshi touring a little on leave. 1/48 (oh my eyes!) scale Kurogane Type 95 car.

Also unintentionally, the soldier on the far right (how appropriate) is a dead ringer for my brother-in-law. He takes his vacations in South Africa, and specializes in environmental law. No, not that sort. He helps companies find loopholes in environmental laws.

Diorama made from pegboard, paper. Waiting for yesterday's snow to melt so I can access my "quarry" for sand, bits of rock There's a lot of low grade iron ore in this area. Another teaser for historians: what effect did this geological fact have to do with a major US Civil War battle fought in Virginia in 1864? (Hint: Catharine Furnace.) Models, figurines coming along. Still a lot of detail to add. Heavy, dark stuff first, then dry brush in soft details. The devil is in those. Driver ended up looking a lot like his supreme leader. Must be a fan.

I certainly will. Thank you for the interest. Since it is snowing here, I'll share this just-completed 1/48 scale effort calling to mind another snowy winter, in less happy circumstances! Students of history should be able to name the unit down to battalion-level, place and approximate historical date. By the way, I am working on the Western Desert diorama; the kubelwagen is coming along: Now back to the novels. The fun never stops. In parting, here is how I make ammo belts (or for that matter, cables):

Here is a project I completed in December. USAAF Far East Air Force B25-C (mod.) Mitchell, Philippines. December 23rd. 1941: an emergency airstrip somewhere near Lubao, on Bataan Peninsula. Helping hold open the bridges at Calumpit near San Fernando, as Wainwright's troops flee from Manila and the pursuing Japanese Army. I haven't put together a model in 45 years. Although a little shaky now (not to mention the worsening eyesight), it's comforting to see I haven't lost all my skills. Everything is hand painted. All but the models and figurines is scratch built. These are an exercise in creativity. I am completing a particularly complex novel,and I like to have somewhere to blow off excess creative energy. I find that one project feeds off the other! Thanks for looking.

This sweet little "kubel" will join the diorama, once completed. The downed signpost has received some attention. Rust still needs some work. etc. Never satisfied.

Sd.kfz. 222. 1/35. ... It will join with these models, once the diorama platform is finished. "Signpost down! Some doubt as to direction." Some details.

Maybe they are silver hallmarks.

Who is this? "Hofjuwelier Pliers"? I'm stumped. Thanks.

No one ever did. I got it from one of our fellow Contemptible's of high regard, who lamented that it had no award document. Now, another is enjoying it, who is building a nice collection of NC bars. It's been shown many times on this forum.

Here are some hints for eager collectors, some things of which to be aware. Here is how this piece was presented on the dealer's site. Here is the actual piece, and what I learned. Most of this damage, almost invisible to the naked eye, was reported on the COA. I used harsh light and some difficult camera angles to show everything. Point is, this is what you want to see on something so old, and well worn. The fact is that if you had one of these exceptional things, you wore it... some of these gents probably never took them off. This one was worn from 1917 t0 1935 and had been kept well by the recipient, dinged up here and there, repaired as needed. Watch for this sort of thing. Be wary of minty examples.

Oh, thank you. I hoped one of those would turn up one day.