Atomic Annie

The Atomic Cannon was towed by two similar tractors.

This one was the rear end vehicle.

Having a driver and the ability to steer from both ends made the vehicle able to negotiate the narrow roads of European cities.

Front tractor.  The tower in the background is a replica of one used to explode the "Gadget."

These monster guns were shipped to Korea, Europe, and stationed here in the USA.

An interesting vehicle, made obsolete when nuclear projectiles got small enough for 8 inch guns.

Atomic Museum

The Atomic Museum had a load of cool things in their gift shop.  I love the neon light!

This is a Jeep from the Atomic Energy Commission.

Very similar to the Roco M38 Jeep.

I think it's an M38A1 with full windshield.

A great museum and a good gift shop, I got a tee shirt and a few other little things.

Atomic Cannon

US Army Atomic Cannon was designed to sit on this pedestal.

The gun could drive into position, set up, and fire in only a few minutes.

The could fire conventional and nuclear rounds.

Rammer to help load the giant shells.

In looking at period photographs, it almost seems as if no two of these were marked exactly the same.

But they generally feature lots of big white stars.

One of my favorite vehicles, I have it in the Ideal Toys version in about 60mm and a conversion I did in HO 1/87 scale.

Honest John

Here are a few close ups on that Honest John rocket.

The twin hydraulic lift arms are the main difference from the first series launcher.

These rockets stayed in service for decades.

I figure some Dollar Store crane or ladder truck will likely donate the lift arms to update a Roco Honest John.

The rocket fins also seem smaller, but I need to check that out before I cut down any Roco rockets!

Rockets, Missiles and The Bomb

This is the most complete Atomic Annie I have ever seen, and it's at least the third one.  One at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and one at Yuma.

A second, outdoor atomic bomb matched up with the B29.

Honest John Rocket system.

This one is different from the Roco, the Roco has the older launch system on it.

All the exhibits are in great shape.

Anti-missile missile.

Atomic War

MRS Bunkermeister inspects The Gadget, the first atomic bomb to be exploded.  It was hauled up a tower and blown up, so it did not have to be aerodynamic like the actual bombs.

Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier.

This little bomb was the US Army Davy Crockett atomic munition, launched from a Jeep!

A small Honest John Missile launcher trailer.

I may have to cobble one of these together!

Atomic Cannon projectile.  Probably inert.

Nuclear Museum

In New Mexico, we stopped at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.

It was awesome!

MRS Bunkermeister checking out the atomic bomb inventory.

I would have guessed the first atomic bombs were olive drab, apparently note!

Maybe if we just wheel it out on the cart, no one will question us....

One of the civilian cars used in the atomic bomb project, pressed into military service.

Williams

Later, in Williams, Arizona, we found another, small outdoor train museum.

The box car showed the markings of most of the railroads that served this area.

The tank car had US Army markings, always good for a wargame.

Most of these big pieces of machinery have casting marks on them, and they often tell a story to those who can interpret them.  

MPC Ring hand troops visit the Army tanker.

Williams PD has an old cruiser parked near the edge of town to deter speeders.

Train

That train is in Kingman, Arizona.

It's a nice little town and we could have spent a lot more time there, they have several museums and places of interest.

This locomotive and caboose were just off the freeway.

A few MPC ring hand figures took the trip with me, along with a couple Lido figures.

It is amazing just how large this locomotive is, the Space Shuttle of it's time in complexity.