Very impressive................ very well pulled together and completed.

Mike,

After seeing this in person at tonight’s AMPS meeting, I think this is truly a VERY well thought out and executed diorama! Every component has its place and reason to be there, all substantiated by your research. My comment to you tonight that I thought the Firefly looked like it was "floating" I now believe to be more of an illusion from the photos posted earlier.

An outstanding, historically supported bit of artwork. You should submit an article to a model magazine such as “Military Modelcraft International” or “Scale Military Modeller International”.

Bask is the glory!

Thanks, Tom and Jeff!

Jeff, I think the slight crown on the roadway might add to that illusion. The outside edges of the track are just the barest bit higher above the road surface than the inside edges. It does give the appearance that the end connectors on the outside edges are a bit too high. However, if you look closely under the track, all the spuds on all the links are touching the cobble stones.

At any rate, a good observation on your part! I'd much rather have folks looking closer than not looking hardly at all. You guys all keep me on my toes!

I really enjoyed the meeting tonight. Lots of excellent models there, including that crazy 1/72nd scale M1 Abrams of yours! I am looking forward to seeing more of it as you progress along. It's amazing! It's like a Swiss watch... I think the guys are expecting you to bring in scratch-built engine turbine fan blades or something next month!

Mike

Great job on everything, the figures are awesome.

Hi Mike,

Cracking build. Apologies I though I had commented already. Great execution, good setting and a host of detail to cast the eye on.

1st calss work Sir. You should sumbit this one as a build or photo feature so it doesn't get lost in the threads.

Cheers

Al

Thanks, Gary.

I'm pretty pleased with the way the figures turned out. My father in-law served in the NNSH and the whole thing was based around the idea of finding an historically correct circumstance to bring NNSH figures and a Canadian Firefly together in the same setting.




Very kind of you, Al. No apologies needed, though. I appreciate the sentiments, but you contribute more than your share and then some here.

I freely confess that I don't have the foggiest idea how to go about submitting this as a build or photo feature. But the "powers that be" are welcome let me know if they'd like any of this info in some other format. I'm sure it would be quite doable.

In the mean time, my StuG IV (late) is calling me...

Thanks again for the kind words and "happy modeling"!

Mike

Hi Mike,

I've left a message for Darren to get in touch. It's fairly straight forward. Choose the pics you want to submit, resize them to 800 600 if you can, and sent them and some opening text off to Darren.

Cheers

Al

To all of my Armorama friends, both real-world and “virtual:”

It with a heavy heart and much sadness that I must say to you all that as of today I can no longer, in good conscious, remain a member and active participant here on Armorama or any other KitMaker Net site.

For many years, I have enjoyed my time here on Armorama. I have spent countless hours sharing my own builds and works with you, my friends. Over many hundreds of hours, I have tried to repay the debt I owe to modeling by sharing my techniques and methods while also answering questions. My intent has always been to try to help others to achieve their own modeling goals and to realize their own modeling potential. Through it all, I have tried to remain civil and respectful – To disagree without being disagreeable and to always be tactful. I think that in the main, I was able to do these things.

I have especially enjoyed viewing and commenting on the works that you, my friends, have taken the time to share. It is this interaction and social contact with you that I will miss the most.

Unfortunately, two recent incidents here by one of the official staff members have made Armorama a place where I cannot remain. Many of you may be aware of these two threads started by staff member Kevin Brandt, aka: SgtRam:

Armorama::Armor/AFV::Ode to Rivet Counters

Track_Link::General and Site News::Just Curious

Although I was willing to overlook the first of these threads as a momentary lapse of judgement and civility, when Brandt pursued the targets of his vicious personal attack to another forum, I could no longer rationalize nor passively accept and condone his behaviors and actions.

As an official member of the staff here on Armorama, Brandt holds a position of responsibility and represents both the site and its publisher. His behaviors are no longer the acts of a lone, anonymous internet voice; they become an extension of Armorama and its publisher. It does not matter that he (or anyone else) performs his functions here as a volunteer. As a staff member, he, his actions and his behaviors are inseparable from Armorama.

I sent PMs and emails to some of the staff and the publisher to protest Brandt’s behaviors and to ask that the publisher, Jim Starkweather, aka: staff_jim, take responsibility for Brandt’s actions. Unfortunately, my protests fell on deaf ears.

You may read Starkweather’s open reply here:

Armorama::Site Talk::staff_jim post

We are all judged, to some extent, by the company we keep, and at the time of my protest, it was my intention to simply cease any participation on any threads or topics that Brandt started or posted to. That intention, however, has shown itself to be impractical. I cannot separate the staff member from the site.

The real issue here is one of personal and corporate responsibility and civility. As long as the publisher refuses to take responsibility for his staff members, or as long as Brandt refuses to accept and show remorse for his own actions, Armorama is a site that condones and supports such behaviors.

To remain here, to continue to participate and contribute to this site’s content, is to effectively lend my own support and endorsement to what Brandt did and said. My personal ethic will not allow me to do so.

I suppose the possibility remains that the publisher, Jim Starkweather, and or staff member, Kevin Brandt, will do the right thing. It is possible that one day they might take responsibility for Brandt’s behavior and demonstrate some remorse by publically apologizing to Kurt Laughlin and Christophe Jacquemont for Brandt’s aggressive and viscous personal attacks on them. Accepting responsibility and apologizing would do much to restore this site’s reputation and establish some reasonable boundaries for civil behavior by all.

However, unless and until that day happens, I am afraid that I must bid you, my friends, farewell and…

Happy modeling!

Mike Roof, aka: SdAufKla