1/18 German Tiger

@chris It took 3 years from conception and research to cutting the Plexiglas for the dust covers. A few years after I finished, the USSR collapsed and there was a flood of photos, videos an formally classified records that poured out of Russia. I had winged the cockpits and engine details from what grainy photos and descriptions that I had (it was also very early internet... so no help there). Amazingly I had guessed right on all the tiny detailing. Yes, to this day, they still give me a smile. They were stored for 35 years in my old bachelor pad condo and I dreaded the day we would sell it because I made the base too large to get it out the front door or any window. I had to disassemble it last year and transport the components to our house. Almost everything made it intact but I had to lay everything out on kitchen table for minor repairs and replacement. Of course one of our cats waked through it and there went radio wires, pitot tubes and other tiny pain-in -the-butt to repair stuff. They're all safe and secure now and I freshened up all the foliage which had turned brown over the years. I'm glad I don't live near a fault zone. LOL

@rich-sufficool Great story, I'm glad it had a happy ending (despite that doorway and your cat! ).  3 years...whew!  🙄 🙄 😬 😬

Thanks guys, a very informative and enjoyable post. Great learning experience for me.

@larry-kemling It's weird to see the swastika flag draped over the turret top on a late model Tiger. It's only done when you are sure of complete air superiority and at least from '43 on, they never had it. It's like putting a target on your back. That tank is in the '44-'45 camo scheme. The last time large identifying markings were ued was by the Allies in June of '44 for the D Day operation. Aircraft and gliders sported 3 wide white stripes on each wing.

Posted by: @rich-sufficool

@larry-kemling It's weird to see the swastika flag draped over the turret top on a late model Tiger. It's only done when you are sure of complete air superiority and at least from '43 on, they never had it. It's like putting a target on your back. That tank is in the '44-'45 camo scheme. The last time large identifying markings were ued was by the Allies in June of '44 for the D Day operation. Aircraft and gliders sported 3 wide white stripes on each wing.

Rich, do you recall that Twilight Zone  episode where the 1960's university Professor speaks with such eerie certainty about the Civil War that it's as if he lived it?  We find out later, of course, that he did; he was there. 

At some point in your life did people refer to you as Erwin Rommel?   😬 😬 😬 

@chris Funny, it's been decades since I had to immerse myself in that minutia and I'm sure I've forgotten more than I remember. Still, when I watch war movies, the inaccuracies and anachronisms still leap out at me. Like WWll era American Texan training planes dressed up as Japanese Zeros. The Battle of the Bulge movie dressing up Pershing tanks to look like Tigers. Modern war movies with CGI can now offer waves of proper vehicles where I can really appreciate the research and the accuracy of the events portrayed. I'm not really a WWll freak at all. It's just once you need to do the proper research, you never really totally forget it all.