I'm in on this one...not 100% sure what with yet, definitely something around the Marines, and after visiting the Marine Corps Museum last December (not to mention being a "guest" at Camp LeJeune) I'm leaning toward something to do with the 2nd Marines on Betio. Also, the Marines have pdf copies of their campaign histories from World War II available on-line, they're on the same idea as the Army's 'Green Books.

Welcome and thanks for the info!

I am glad to see everyone is puting alot of personal stories into this one. My family's service is what prompted me to start this one up so it is nice to see others think the same way!

-Mike

I have a Fine Molds Type 94.I have an M4A2,with wood planking.
I can scratchbuild an M32B2 or B3..This is my push to build a dio of the type 94 being placed on the rear deck of the Marine's M4A2 on Kwajalien.

Sounds like a great idea. Good luck!

-Mike

Wow! I cannot wait to get this campaign started. There are so many cool builds here. It will be a joy to participate and watch everyones builds.

Counting the days now

That's pretty cool. No, I havn't made up my mind yet. To tell you the truth, I find the idea of reproducing all that jungle foilage a little daunting! But at least I have some of Dad's old photos from the war as source material.

I spent a couple of hours last night going through the IWM site for picture references. Was really fascinating stuff once I'd got past all the pictures of bloody planes and ships...LOL. I hadn't realised quite how much discretion was allowed in the Far East. There was pics of some blokes with US Thompson pouches, no webbing and just bandoliers wrapped round their waist, rolled up trousers, patrols wearing berets, slouch hats and helmets. I'm really looking forward to getting started on this one!
I found a really interesting article on here about jungle fauna and how to reproduce it so I have visions of me scrubbing about the woods to get tree roots when I take the dog out and going into florists for dried flowers...LOL.
I thought I had some Japs in the loft (model ones of course ) but all I could find that may be of use was some aquarium plants from a dio that never happened. Still they'll hopefully come in useful.
I was going to go for Kohima but having looked at pics it resembles the Somme as there's nothing left standing so I think I'm going to go for a fairly generic firefight just so I can try to do vegetation. Having said that the idea of doing jungle scenery is a bit daunting!!!

Karl- That does sound a bit daunting. I am scared of the water effects at the present moment! I am planning a beach landing so... there needs to be some water. Not too much foliage. Well we shall see how the ball rolls on this one!

-Mike

Mike, I know exactly what you mean. I'm going to have a pretty fetid stream in mine so I need to work out how to do swampy water. I've never done water before.
I've got a mental pic of what I want now and am collecting stuff for it. Bidding for stuff on e bay, doing swaps and looking for suitable plant life. I've finished my black and white research...lol...just waiting for my Xmas books now so I can get colours right.
I think I'm going to go for two fighting patrols making contact at short range going into hand to hand fighting for dramatic effect seeing as the Japs were keen on bayonet fighting et al. I've been going through the Airfix multipose figs I've already got and after reading the Japs on bikes in Manchuria article on here I've realised I can convert the Germans to Japs with a bit of work. Well quite a bit of work but it adds to the fun.
Are we allowed to start experimenting with creating plants before the start date? I was just thinking that with it being a jungle full of plants it may help to get the plant techniques before we start building? Just a thought as mines entirely jungle and I've never tried it before. Figures, no probs. Plants...

Hey Mike...just joined up...have been working on a Iwo diorama with a 5th Tank Bn flame tank and Jarheads assaulting a cave complex...using a lot of aftermarket and scratchbuilt stuff to do the tank....

The jellied gas jet and flame will be the tough part...

I've found good Tamiya and DML IJA soldiers...the Tamiya has been reissued and has three soldiers and an officer...you even get a knee mortar!!!

Looking forward to my first campaign.

Semper Fi,

Pat
0311
F/2/8 (83-85)

Hey guys,

Karl- By all means experiment away! It's almost winter so I go gather your needs while there is still time! hhahaha

Pat- Welcome aboard! There is a feature that just came out on producing flames for tanks. Check it out. It should still be on the homepage. Have some fun with this one!

-Mike

I have a feature article on how to make Jungle Palms which might come in handy. It's still on the homepage.


Chas

I read that one too. Thanks Chas!
To make everything easier...

Flame Jungle Plants

-Mike

I think one of th tankettes would be fun, something a bit off beat.

Thanks Mike...the article is awesome...I tried it and it was VERY convincing...but I need to play around and modify it a bit as it works well for handheld flame throwers, but for the tank, I am working on a clear plastic rod base which gives me a longer flame, since the distance was nearly 100 yards for many of the shots...

BTW - the FineMolds Type 95 is OUTSTANDING...a truly great kit and super PE and detail sets available for the model as well... The Type 95 was the most numerous tank used by the IJA and they also took part in the first Tank vs Tank action in the Pacific... You find them on every island that we fought on.

S/F

Pat

While searching I found these;
Desert Sand (Sand is sand) Check references for the proper sand on your Island

Making small palms

It's a jungle out there Pt 1

Making Palm trees

There is a lot of help to be found here, if all else fails ask, I'm sure someone here knows how to do it or knows where it can be found. Sorry if I doubled up on a couple of comments;

Come on December!

You can visit the AFP museum and national library in Manila for information. But as to battlefield sites - I don't think you'll see much preserved as they've been urbanized or are working farms at present, well even in the past. You still might see markers in the highways though. Visit the city halls or municipalities of the battle sites. You could get lucky and talk to some living survivors/witnesses. The highway where those battles progressed is still more or less the same today.

Or better yet, try contacting the local IPMS club. There's one guy who's very knowledgeable about Japanese stuff specially concerning the Philippines

Thanks Mondo for your suggestions, I will take some of them on board.

Bob, thanks for the links, but you forgot:

It's a Jungle Out There Part 2 by CK Tang

Which is also a terrific reference. I don't know how to make links, sorry, I'm not a computer nerd.

Chas

Hello Guys,

I could not wait any longer, so opened the box and started my Alligator (LVT -(A) 1) for this groupbuild...
I build the Italeri mold with some scratch features, including the support machine gunners' pit.

Thanks for all links guys. Armorama is a great source for any modeler. I went and bought the rest of the kits I needed this weekend. Kind of got side tracked by Call of Duty 4...

-Mike

It would be nice to see some Aussie modellers come out of the woodwork and join up in this campaign. It's a great chance to show the yanks our stuff and the contribution we made to the War in the East.

On the rare occasion that our military history is explored by the media, most of the attention is given to the Kokoda campaign. Although it was a decisive turning point and an extremely important part of our history, campaigns like Bougainville, Malaya and Borneo are often far overlooked. I've spoken to a few veterans who say their service, often located in far worse conditions, don't get nearly enough recognition compared to the blokes of Kokoda.

So come on Ozzies, honour our veterans and give them the recognition they deserve.

BTW, Manila itself was a battlefield. Was damaged worse than Warsaw was. You can survey the present Manila (City Hall vicinity) and compare with period photos of the battle. You could also visit the old Spanish Fort Santiago. It was used by the Japanese as a garrison, prison and torture chamber.

Chas, I know what you mean about the "forgotten war". I'm doing a Burma dio for this one. Got a box of Japs through today and am itching to start but I need a couple more boxes for a banzai attack. This is going to be a big one again.

Some really great stories concerning this, I was actually thinking of this one but I couldn't pass up the chance for making The Bloody Trail.

"BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. 1 JULY 1945. A MATILDA TANK OF 5 TROOP, 1 ARMOURED REGIMENT, UNDER COMMAND OF SERGEANT E G TERREY (USING MICROPHONE) PUSHING A COCONUT PALM OUT OF THE WAY AS THEY MOVE OFF YELLOW BEACH SOON AFTER THE OBOE 2 OPERATION LANDING. THE TANK IS TO SUPPORT MEMBERS OF D COMPANY, 2/19 INFANTRY BATTALION. "

Thought for sure I'd see beachbum here,
And also now that I'm a computer nerd Chas, how about mentioning it to my boss maybe I can get a raise. Speaking of which, how about a banner?

Come on Dec,
Bob

I am an armor newbie, not very good but want to join the fun
Been building some Rufes (Zeros on floats) for an IJN/IJA aircraft build somewhere else, decided to piggy back and try my hand at some Japanese armor that is sitting in my stash: Tamiya 1:35s Type 97 and/or Type 1. Basic OOB builds Im not that good, but may try some "base" with jungle vegetation, the dios ideas floating in here are VERY impressive and inspiring... Cheers, Jim