Flat Bed

As part of my Batman collection, I figured it would be important to have a vehicle retriever.

The Batmobile crashes a lot and certainly you gotta get it back into the shop.

I got this Hot Wheels flatbed at Target for 94 cents.

The cool part is the bed slides down to fetch the car.

So you can winch it up to the front.

There is also a notch in the back of the flatbed so the car does not roll off.

The truck it large enough to handle a full size Batmobile.  It comes in chrome and purple, and I may just stick a Batman sticker over the Hot Wheels logo and leave it this color.  Or not.

SWAT Armored Car

Matchbox SWAT team vehicle.

When US troops left Iraq the US Army declared many vehicles surplus and some when to state and local governments as required by law.

Local police in the United States have used armored vehicles since at least the early 1930's.

They are useful to rescue hostages, pick up wounded in areas covered by snipers and in helping to control riots.

Six Wheel Truck

Here is a new Matchbox truck.

A big six wheel all terrain vehicle.

The colors are goofy but it has a military feel to it.

I got a couple of them, after stripping and repainting I am sure they will look good.

Canopy has an opening in the back.

Take off the canopy and you have tools and gear on the flatbed.

USA Tanks

In WWI the United States had many civilian companies devise tanks for use by the soldiers.

The Holt Company was one of them and the Caterpillar Company and many others.

 Some like this one were just mock ups and others were actually put into production.

This one was used all over California for recruiting, training and propaganda.

Some of them were gasoline powered or even steam powered.  Over 20 different designs were put forward.  I think some model company should make models of all these in Minitank size so we can play alternate history or science fiction games with them.

P51 Mustang

In WWII American planes sometimes when down in German held territory and had little or no damage.  I am building a P51 Mustang and I am going to do it in German markings.  I got a P51 about 20 years ago for $2 at a kit show.  It was missing a few parts.  Including a set of landing gear.

And the landing gear cover over the other gear.  So into the spares box and out with these blue ones.

It was also missing a horizontal stabilizer, so another one from the spares box.  It was originally a lot bigger but I whittled it down and shaped it to fit the P51.  The panel lines won't match but I can live with that.  Ironically it's from a WWII Stuka kit.  I will just say it was a replacement for the one the flak gunners hit causing the US Army pilot to crash.

The spinner came in three parts but two of them were missing.  So I had to cobble something together with sheet plastic.  Primary work here, I gotta trim it off and file it down.

This is the sheet plastic bit I saved after cutting off the spinner part.  Save everything because one day it will be useful.

Work so far.

Wayne Wanner

My friend Master Modeller Wayne Wanner sent me a few photos of his collection.

These HO scale Roco and Paul Heiser models show his great skill as a model builder, painter and weatherer.  

These WWII US Army vehicles are very well done and they fit together well.  Congratulations WW on another wonderful project completed.

40mm

GI Joe made a twin .40mm gun that was used on all kinds of US Navy ships from just before WWII until the Korean War.

 This is a great toy, you get the gun, two ammunition magazines and one sailor.  The sailor has no shirt and his helmet is white.
 

It makes a great mounting, line up a few of them for a small bit of a battleship or to staff a cargo ship.

It's nicely detailed and gives a good use for you GI Joe action sailor figures.

 I managed to get three on sale, and have considered converting one to a 3 or 5 inch gun mount.

US GI Joe

WWII era US Army vehicles, four jeeps and a White Scout Car.

My medical Jeep is from Soldiers of the World.  I have a pretty good GI Joe medical team.

Rat Patrol style Jeep with .30 caliber machine gun.

Two regular Jeeps, one has broken bumpers, and the other is a Military Police Jeep.

A While Scout Car by 21st Century Toys.  This thing is awesome!

The White Scout Car was used by the US Army even in Western Europe.  Many were withdrawn but many units used them as armored cars in place of the M8 or M20 series; particularly Military Police.

Note the careful details on the dashboard, machine guns and interior.  It's a great vehicle.

Spring Cleaning

I have been cleaning out my storage space and upgrading my storage boxes.

Here is my collection of WWII GI Joe size German Jeep type vehicles.

A gray and camouflage Schwimmwagen by 21st Century Toys.

Dragon Models Kubelwagen.

21st Century Toys Kubelwagen.  I have been storing these in plastic bags but they fell apart.  I am working to upgrade their storage into plastic boxes.

Godzilla

I have always been a big Godzilla fan.

All those giant monster movies, Gorgo, Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Giant Behemoth!

I really liked the new Godzilla movie too.  But I could not find the 43 inch long Godzilla model anywhere.

So I went to the Warner Brothers website and put myself on their waiting list, it was sold out.

And soon, I got an email saying it was back in stock.  I immediately sent them the money to get one.

It's two feet tall and 43 inches long.  

It's huge.

And it's going to be huge on this blog soon too!