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Armor/AFV: Modern Armor
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Information Search: M24 Operation Ripper
Damraska
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Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 - 09:23 PM UTC
Last month I picked up Armor in Korea by Jim Mesko. On page 40 there is a color plate of an M24 wearing a dragon face on the bow, belonging to 79th Tank Battalion, March 1951, Operation Ripper. A small picture of a tank in this scheme appears on page 54.

Does anyone know where I could find more pictures of this M24, or similar M24s?

I have an unfinished Italeri M24 (WWII version) with early pattern Friul tracks very slowly approaching completion. Is there anything I should look out for to complete it as an Operation Ripper M24?

All help appreciated.

-Doug
Frenchy
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Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 - 10:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

A small picture of a tank in this scheme appears on page 54.


Is it this one ? :

I have Jim Mesko's book at home but I'm at work now so I can't be sure

Frenchy
Damraska
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Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 04:30 AM UTC
That's the one! Awesome!

-Doug
Frenchy
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Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 05:13 AM UTC
I may be wrong but I believe this picture is the one that inspired Don Greer's color plate...

Frenchy
Dangeroo
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Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 07:27 PM UTC
I know there's one other pic from the front, but the scheme is quite faded already. I think it was in Zalogas Concord book about armor in Korea. I'll check my library this weekend.

Here's my take on the subject, I know the tracks aren't correct but the original build was done some 8 or so years ago (and only just recently added to a dio):



Cheerio!
Damraska
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Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 09:14 PM UTC
Hi Stefan,

Thank you for the information and posting a picture of your excellent model. That is exactly what I want to do with my M24.

Now I am off to find a new copy of Tank Warfare in Korea by Zaloga.

-Doug
Frenchy
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Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 10:02 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Now I am off to find a new copy of Tank Warfare in Korea by Zaloga.


Doug
The picture in Steven J. Zaloga's book is the same as the one in Jim Mesko's book. The caption says that "Since most crews climbed aboard their tanks on the front armor plates, these heads were soon worn off and few crews had either the time or paint to redo them."
Zaloga's book also includes a front view color drawing of a 79th Tank Battalion M24 that differs from Don Greer's color plate (2 different tanks I presume ).

HTH
Frenchy
Dangeroo
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Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 10:11 PM UTC
Doug

You don't have to buy it just for the one pic... I can scan it and drop you a mail (wont post it for copyright reasons though...).

Cheers!
Damraska
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Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 10:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

The picture in Steven J. Zaloga's book is the same as the one in Jim Mesko's book. The caption says that "Since most crews climbed aboard their tanks on the front armor plates, these heads were soon worn off and few crews had either the time or paint to redo them."


Thank you very much, Frenchy. I will look elsewhere for more pictures.

-Doug
Dangeroo
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Posted: Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 12:01 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The picture in Steven J. Zaloga's book is the same as the one in Jim Mesko's book. The caption says that "Since most crews climbed aboard their tanks on the front armor plates, these heads were soon worn off and few crews had either the time or paint to redo them."
Zaloga's book also includes a front view color drawing of a 79th Tank Battalion M24 that differs from Don Greer's color plate (2 different tanks I presume ).


You're right, Frenchy, it is the same pic, sorry about that. The caption is different though, it states the tank to be of 79th Tank Bn., 25 ID and the pic is dated 29 March 1951.

Doug, I've scanned the color drawing and will mail it to you ASAP.

Cheerio!
Damraska
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Posted: Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 04:33 PM UTC
Hi Stefan,

Thank you very much. That was over and above the call of duty and I sincerely appreciate all the help.

My email is ipmsdamraska(at)sbcglobal.net

I am getting jazzed about my M24 project again. I love interesting camouflage schemes, especially when I have some latitude in the interpretation.

-Doug
Dangeroo
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Posted: Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 02:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text


My email is ipmsdamraska(at)sbcglobal.net



No Problem Doug, glad if I could help. You should have gotten the mail by now?

Cheers!
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