Bob,
Looks like a great subject photo. What island was that on? I'm sure you'll get it now.

On the issue of parts... I just recieved a box full of busted plastic! I am kind of angry. Oh well...


-mike

That’s "The Bloody Trail", the real one Italeri based their model decals of the LVT (A) 1 on. The battle is Peleliu, d-day, within 50 yards of the beach, at least 2 waves made shore.
LVT (A) 1's and LVT (A) 4's led the attack, the LVT on the other side is said to be an LVT 2, but I'm not sure. They look exactly the same from what can be seen, but "the Bloody Trail" is firing over the other which might actually support the idea. Another one of those great pictures with very little known about it.
Tonight I'll have to sit down and draw it out to see how it will work out.

You must have received one of those "Handle with Care" shipments. I have some spare items if needed, let me know what you might need. Can't promise anything
Let me know,
Bob

I was about to say Peleliu! I saw that coral and it should have been a dead give away. My grandfather flew air support over the island (on which his two brothers were fighting). That is a crazy photo though. From what my grandfather told me it was a hell of a fight. He said he could remember the men walking along the coral reef getting picked off by machineguns and such. Evidently the tide was screwy and some of the crafts couldnt get over the reef so they dumped the Marines a few hundred yards off shore to be killed.

Kind of off note... I have some of the original maps of the battle. My grandfather had some sticky fingers I should say...


As for that package. Yes it was one of those handle with care deals, but it was my mother's fault. She basically wrapped the box with a brown paper bag and shipped it. Thanks for the offer, but I will manage. With some puddy and a file I will prevail!!!

-Mike

I would love to join. I had a Uncle in the Marines, and My Dad was Army. Both in the Pacific. My Uncle was at Tarawa, and others, Dad was in New Guinea, and Phillipines with the 6th Inf Div. I was a Marine many years later, and traveled to Iwo Jima. I am greatful I never had to go through what they did. I have an LVT I could build, if it isn't too late.

Definately not too late! The campaign starts in December. You can join up until a few days before it ends next year; provided you submit it in time. Welcome aboard!

-Mike C

Well, I've got a ton of obscure IJA stuff sitting around here (and more on the way), so I suppose I'll get a couple of these bad boys together for the campaign... Glad to see a campaign where my area of "expertise" can finally be used.

Welcome! Can you give us any ideas as to where we can get some of your obscure japanese stuff? In case anyone else would be interested in it.
-Mike

Sure! Off the top of my head are good old Hobby Link Japan (search for Fine Molds- they make a lot of Japanese armor), Ost Models (makers of excellent small scale stuff), and Japanese Armor King. A search for any of these names will turn up results.

Unfortunately, a lot of other kits I've picked up at shows or on ebay, so I don't have a definitive paper trail on them...

Mike -

Am I safe to assume that artillery pieces are OK for this campaign?

If so, I am in...for my first campaign.

Dave

Dade- Thanks alot!

David- Arty is welcome. Basically... I would accept an ammo crate that had marking showit it was used in the Pacific. Not really, but to make my point anything is cool.

-Mike

Alrighty, here's what I'm gonna get together:

This is the Type 4 Ho-Ro 150mm SPG. It's a conversion kit for any Type 97 chassis. So now I'm trying to decide which of my Type 97s will donate its chassis- the Tamiya or Fine Molds. Thanks to Bill Miley of Chesapeake Model Designs for the Friul tracks. There's some other bits and bobs to get together here, but this is the main stuff.

If I have enough time, I'll also build this:

But who knows...? It all depends on what commissions I'm buried under in during December- June.

sounds like a great undertaking. looks promising so far. though i am kind of bias toward US stuff... it is great to see people undertaking Japanese models. i really apreciate all of you who have signed up thus far. i look forward to your work!

-Mike

Finally, the campaign I've been waiting for! I'm going to be building a diorama (figures primarily) showing my great uncle in the action that won him his Victoria Cross, Borneo '45. Can't give too much away though cos I'm hoping to do a feature article on it.

Thanks again for organising a campaign rarely seen here on Armorama.

Regards, Chas

Thanks for joining I will definately look forward to seeing your work!

-Mike

Thank you for mentioning the U.S. Army in the Philippines. The Army's role in the Pacific war has tended to be overlooked, with more of the coverage given to the Marine Corps' much smaller contribution. My father, who served with the 32nd Infantry Division in the Philippines, was dismayed by this, and never understood why it was so.

I think, for the most part, it was because the Marines dominated the action... or at least the casualty lists. The Army played a valient part in nearly every island campaign, but with the majority of Army units fighting in Europe they were over looked; especially when thousands of Marines were being cut down on islandsa like Iwo, Tarawa, Pelilieu, and Guadalcanal. It is not a question of who sacrificed more... it is the fact that the media seemed to focus almost soley on Marine action. I feel that they all deserve equal recognition. They are all heroes who stood up for what they believed in and put their lives on the line for people they would probobly never meet. My grandfather was an Italian immigrant who was forced to serve in the Pacific because the United States thought he might bomb American troops if he served in Europe. That always cut at him. Our country has the ability to be strikingly supportive or overwhelmingly dismissive in the same sentence. Few recieved their due recognition for their actions. The same thing goes on today... sadly. All I can do is teach my children to respect the men and women who put down their lives in place of ours. I think it is something lost on my generation. Kids like me today are too caught up in tabloid rumors about brittney or Lohan to care about the thousands of people fighting for us. It's nuts.

Rant over. Sorry it was a long day!
-Mike

Hi Mike,
There were 22 full Army divisions serving in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two. The Army's total deaths numbered 318,274, as compared to 24,511 for the Marines. Of course, some of the Army casualties fell in other theatres of the war.
I agree with what you say about people today failing to appreciate the sacrifices made by our military. My teenage daughter attends the local high school and has been taught almost nothing about World War Two in history. She knows her grandfather was a WW2 vet, but that's about it. And as far as the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, well, don't even get me started. I think some of these history teachers care more about coaching sports than they do about teaching history!
Now I'm the one ranting! I'm sorry. Didn't mean to.

Good point guys, but to keep this topic on the campaign track. My subject will be US army in the PI. I have my 120mm scale Type 94 and the figures are signing up from various stores, the scene is in my head and as along as it doesn’t move back into the dark abyss I’ll be ready.

Good deal. This campaign is about paying tribute to the men and women from all sides who fought in the Pacific... and having as much fun as possible doing so!

On the subject of history teachers: the lack of any good ones during my time in school has motivated me to become one after I get out of the corps (unless I become a firefighter like my brother!).

Just have fun with everything and I can't wait to see all these builds!

-Mike

Big change in direction due to the lack of Japs..Initially it was going to be Iwo Jima using DML's Marines but as I can't source any Nips its going to have to be Burma with Airfix Mulitpose Japs. Airfix's USMC figs are totally wrong so I'm going for Commonwealth troops killing Japs, err...I mean fighting Japs. Started having a dig about now for stuff. Mind you I'm back to the research phase now

Hi Guys, I noticed there are a few who are considering the Philippines as a theme for your builds. I'm lucky enough to be going to Manila in December this year so if you need a specific photo or some information I would be happy to try and get it. I'm going to visit some museums and hopefully battlefields, but don't try and make me do anything outrageous!

Chas

Karl- sorry that you have come up short with the figures. I think that there are some available but they are a bit pricey. try http://www.japanesearmorking.com/ . he has some great figures. I am going to place an order soon in fact! DML has a couple japanese kits out there. I think that one is out of production at the moment, but I think it can be found? Also try the company warriors... http://www.rollmodels.net/search/newsrch.php

Chas- Thanks for the offer. I might have you take some pictures of just foliage and the beach if you go there. Thanks again for the offer.

-Mike C

Hi Mike! I'm not too bothered now about going up to 1/32nd as I've been having a look at the multipose figs I've got and I think with a bit of surgery I can create some diferent stuff. I've started my research phase(again! ) but I'm happier working with Commonwealth subjects as I know more about them than USMC stuff. I've amended my amazon wish list as fortunately my family hadn't started buying off it...phew. Hope fully I'll have enough books to get the subject right. I think I'm going to set it around Kohima with a banzai charge so I shall be stockpiling figures like a crazy man to create that chaos... . Now I need to get some good jungle fauna pics and do some experiments as I've never done a jungle dio before. Should be quite a challenge. This will be purely an infantry diorama. While I think about it does anyone have any idea if any manufacturer does the British Mk2 Lifebuoy flamethrower as I'd like to incorporate one in there? Really looking forward to getting started on this one!

Sorry can't help with the flamethrower. Whatever is easiest for you! I'm glad you're doing something you enjoy doing. Good luck!

I wish I was as lucky with the wishlist! My family began ordering a while ago evidently... so my amendments will have to wait for the pay-check!!

-Mike

JP, my Dad was 32nd Inf but during the Berlin Airlift.
If you haven't made up your mind yet on your project how about something with Dirk Vlug, excellent story, and 32nd Inf to boot!
Bob