Hello. It's been a long time since I last posted on this board.

First, a short history...

Last year (or so), an online group build similar to Armorama's campaign was launched at IPMS-Philippines Bert Anido discussion board. The focus: thunder run. The goal: to build the tanks used in the thunder runs and, if possible, build a diorama.

The rules are simple: build a DML M1A1AIM kit (only this kit exclusive of all others) to a specific thunder run tank of TF1-64, 3-15 or 4-64. Needless to say, we also got some Echelon decals.

To ensure accuracy, a lot of research and asking questions were involved. We were fortunate to have Bob Burik and Mark Godsman providing valuable technical assistance.

Fast forward today, IPMS-Philippines Nationals, November 2008. After much work and sleepless nights, the thunder run group managed to build the diorama. Whilst it is not perfect and suffers from several issues and is really incomplete, it nonetheless was deployed to the Nationals where it was well received.

Here are some pix of the 5 April 2003 Thunder Run diorama:






























(I dunno why there's a Humvee there. I reckon the owner of that Humvee wanted to pose it there for a picture since there's a photo contest included int the exhibit. A later photo will show that it is no longer there.)


The GAZ-66 was originally planned for the diorama. But then the builder, under time constraints, decided to exchange it with one of his built ZIL flatbed trucks. Then one day, he left the truck at his office in a box. The janitor who saw the box threw it away. Builder comes back to his office, looks for truck, and realizes it's no more. So he rushed the GAZ-66.


Tree at the background belongs to another diorama beside the TR.





We tried to follow the proper order of the tanks as close to reality as possible. A66 (which took the video and the fourth tank in the column) did not make it and remains unfinished to this day. A11 and A12 were late comers (my bad) and were finished by a fellow TR team builder. The figures were also late in arrival. A13 will get a 1/35 SSG Booker later when I go to the mall.

The diorama is 16 feet long, 4 feet wide, in 4x4 panels. The sand is coloured grout (ochre colour), the asphalt road is 100-grade sandpaper. The guard rails are aluminum (like that used in paper plates and cakes) and the I-beams are styrene.

The diorama shows TF1-64's lead elements after making its U-turn, while the rest of the task force is still on the other lane going to the U-turn.

Literature is included in the dio for the benefit of the viewers. Literature includes credits, what the diorama is, a short featurette on Baghdad Bob and SSG Booker, and two Google Earth images of the area.

More pix to come. I admit it has its faults and inaccuracies, but at least it more-or-less captured the spirit of the thunder run. Hope you like it.

EDITED to remove broken links.

Yes i like it, it's a very cool idea! Some good photos in there to and i am sure a lot of fun to build it together.

Claude

Tomas, really nice. I especially like the 4th photo down. Very cool. The dio really does capture the spirit. Looking forward to more photos w/ the figures, etc.

Bob

Huge undertaking! I think it turned out great!

Cheers,
Charles

Impressive job ! Congrats ! G.

On behalf of the Thunder Run Project team, thank you.

Giving credit where credit is due:

Builders -

Me (Built A11, A12, A13, finished only A13; finished assembly of Tony's BMP-1; built the Bradley; did the ground work and base)
Marlon Verdan (Built and finished the M113 ambulance and A32 All About Da Bones; made the trees)
Joseph Carunungan (Built and finished A22 American Airlines Flight 11; painted and finished A11, A12 and the Bradley for me; painted and finished the BMP-1 as well as added the flames; helped in the ground work and base)
Aaron Ronquillo (Built and finished HQ65 Rogue Warrior; made the I-beam, helped in the ground work and base)
Daryl Irwin Ayo (Built and finished C23 Carnitore)
Vitaliano Nanagas (Built and finished United Airlines Flight 175)
Carlos Nino Fernandez III (Built and finished American Airlines Flight 77)
Mike Suarez (Built and finished the GAZ-66 truck; lent his ZU-23-2 for the abandoned AA gun)

Contributors -

Alex Amarra (decals and Woodland Scenics products)
Marny Veneracion (decals)
Oliver Sia (stowage)
Dr. Thedore Tan (stowage)
Dr. Cesar Martinez (heads and arms)
Tony Engelsen (BMP-1 kit)
Alan Ferrer (Extra BRE)

Technical Advisors -

Robert Burik
Mark Godsman
Rocky Davis (load plans)
Randy Custudio (on the M1A1AIM and the DML kit)
Brian F. (load plans, 3ID info)
Nicolas C. Motos, Jr.
Mel Silvestre
Timoteo Maceren

Honorary Builders / Assistants -

Ella Marie Prejoles (helped paint the base frame)
Elvie Prejoles (helped in placing the grass)
Glynsil Culanag (helped in placing the grass)
Lito Prejoles (heavy lift assistance)

Sources:

“Thunder Run: The Armored Strike into Baghdad” by David Zucchino
“Thunder Run: US 3rd Infantry’s Drive to Baghdad ” by Robert Burik and Sgt. Eric Olson (US Army)
“Heavy Metal: A Tank Company’s Battle to Baghdad” by Capt. Jason Conroy and Ron Martz
“The Watch on the Rhine – The Official Publication of the Society of the Third Infantry Division, United States Army” Vol. 89, No. 1, August 2007

http://picasaweb.google.com/andy.adyns (for pictures)
http://www.angelfire.com/ga4/2ndplatoon/index.html (for pictures)
http://web.archive.org/web/20040208042404/http://www.oif.mysoldiers.net/ (for pictures)

Interviews of Thunder Run participants from the Combined Arms Research Library: http://cgsc.cdmhost.com (pointed out by Mark Godsman)
“On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom” by Col. Gregory Fontenot, LTC E.J. Degen, LTC David Tohn (US Army) can be read at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2004/onpoint/

Thunder run video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGQxR1FXta8

www.globalsecurity.org
www.primeportal.net (reference pictures of the M1A1AIM and M2A2 Bradley)

Google Earth for the satellite maps of Iraq and Baghdad
Various news articles downloaded from the Internet

The error on the Bradley's right decal (it should've been 43 with the chevron pointing to the right, not 43 with the chevron pointing to the left). Joseph properly placed the chevron, but I told him it should point to the left, a result of me being confused ahehe....

While it is imperfect and has its flaws, we did finish it enough for it to be presentable to the Nationals.

Congratulations Thunder Run team!

You guys are being too modest. Forget about the small flaws, and focus on what you have achieved instead. Getting so many together and build something this unique, getting help from the other side of the world and pulling off an amazing spectacle for those that witnessed it, plus all the contact and fun Im sure you´ve had .. is what this should be about.
Great job and a perfect example of how this hobby is much more than the extrovert modeller sitting alone in his basement, glueing little bits of plastic.
More pictures please ... would love to see a few overall images to see the real size.
Take a bow!!

Wow! This belongs is a museaum. It's amazing.

Jim

Here are some photos I took. We're still waiting for the better photos.

This was also the first exhibit my mom attended. She was very happy to see the diorama

This is quite an impressive undertaking. To coordinate that many modelers into one project of this size is hard to do and you guys did a great job.
I've seen other projects similar in concept, but none were as well done as this.
Great thread, great project.

Thanks to all who commented and viewed.

Pictures that I took yesterday follows.

Thunder Run specific pictures:

AFVs -

A11 Answer To This







A13 Another Episode





A12 Apocalypse





A22 American Airlines Flight 11





A24 American Airlines Flight 77



A23 United Airlines Flight 175



*aw crap! I didn't take a picture of A32 All About The Bones! Sorry Marlon *


3-15 Bradley



Alpha Company Ambulance



C23 Carnitore



HQ Rogue Warrior



Diorama shots -
























Overhead picture taken from the mall's second floor -



Close-up stitched picture -




Accompanying literature -









*I forgot to take a pic of the credits panel*

Thunder Run Project Build Team -





Thanks all for viewing! Very many thanks to Rob Burik and Mark Godsman for your assistance! The Thunder Run Project is officially OVER.

(will post the "fun" photos later when we played with the diorama hehehehe)

This is really amazing. don't you guys have a fight who wants it?

Lars

AWESOME!! Worthy of a museum display. That is a great project for any club to do.

wow that is incredable just the size of it is mind blowing!

some more close ups would be cool (Y)

well done guys excellent huge scale diorama


cheers

keith

I have to agree. Wether or not it is 100% accurate or not, it has left me in awe, and I am truly speechless. You ALL did such an amazing job, I personally dont think it would be fair for any one person to keep it, and it would be an absolute sin to break it up. In my humble opinion, I think you should donate it to a museum where it can be displayed for EVERYONE to see (not just us miniaturists) as it is truly an incredible achievement. I bet the real participants in Thunder Run would be flattered to know you guys spent so much time and effort tor recreate their experiences. My hats off to all of you

First, this is an outstanding piece of modelling. Thanks to all of you involved. Very nice work all around. Second if anyone who has crewed a tank of the M1 series doesnt feel the absolute raw power of the scene depicted here, there is something wrong. Fastest Gun in the West is an understatement. There is no better negotiating position than from inside an M1.

On behalf of the Thunder Run Project team, thank you all.

The diorama is at my place, where it was built. The other members don't have room or can't accommodate the diorama at their homes, so to my mum's annoyance (hehehehe) it's at my place.

The tanks though have gone to their respective builders/owners.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back, I was toying the idea of donating it to the Third Infantry museum. Problem is how to ship it to them. Second is it must be finished if ever the museum will accept. Biggest problem however is if the quality is good enough for them.

I'll be finishing A13 Another Episode sometime in mid-2009 (by finishing, I mean including the loader, plus the stowage) and then have Bob Burik inspect it. If it passes the quality test, I will donate it to the 3ID museum. A11 and A12 will also be donated once they're done, but A13 will take precedence.

Sorry for the dead links in the earlier posts. They were hosted by another person's photosharing site, so he/they may have moved/deleted it in their accounts. I'll try to track down the links to fix the earlier posts.

Again, on behalf of the TR Project team, thank you all.

Very well done. Incredible display!

Fantastic job, guys. I'm sure, if you contact the museum, they'd be happy to have it. Or, just the tanks, Bradley and M-113.

REAL STORY+REAL MODELLING= MAGIC RESPECT LOLGeraint

I`m in love,words fail me for how breath-takingly BRILLIANT this is.Well done to you guys for one of the best dioramas i`ve seen in ages.
My personal favourite is the guy with the camcorder - that was an inspired idea,as it adds a human touch to the YouTube video i`ve watched at least a dozen times.