I second that, welcome aboard! Glad to have you on the Blue Team!! We need more 'technicals' on the team.

Tread.

Welcome aboard, Jan. OOB is just dandy. My second entry (hopefully) is going to be an Abrams stolen by a street gang in Detroit, built OOB, with the exception of the paint job, hee hee.

Shaun

Oh goody! General Failure's in da house! :-)

TreadHead: LOL! I reckon you're the "Public Relations Officer" of Blue team hehehehe! Whilst me here is the zampolit for the Red team hehehehe

Fine, don't believe the HEAT-N? Very well, once you see mushroom clouds along your side of the front, don't blame me for not telling the truth! Hehehehehehe! #:-) (All this nuke stuff Blue team has got me thinking of doing something for Red team. BTW, can we call it OPFOR, because the word "Red" is also the name of a classmate of mine who I've had an "argument" to say the least one day - so much so that I nearly ripped off his head! hehehehe)

Didn't touch my builds yesterday. Picked up dad from the aeroport last night and quite tired and sleepy after being onboard a Kashin class DDG.

Howdy all,

Thx GIB for taking my comment's in the spirit in which they are intended!! Someone's got to keep you Red scum in your place! #:-)

keenan: Had a suggestion for your 'banger' Abrams......install some hydraulic suspension in the tracks, that why it can 'bounce' down the street in rythym to the tune of some 'rap crap'
I can just picture that scene!!!!


GIB: How's your Black Eagle 'thingie' coming along? (sorry, had to 'raz' you )

Tread.

Keenan;

Your Abrams had best stay away from Northern Michigan...we are ready, willing and MORE than able to destroy you!

Can't wait to see your paint job!

TreadHead: Well... the turret is better now but needs some more work. I have to do a LOT of work on the turret to make it look... nice... to say the least. But hey, I'm having waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much fun with this campaign :-) And, hopefully, if there's time, I'm hoping to address a serious issue for OPFOR (heheheheheheeheheheheeheheheehe MWUAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!)

I'll take pix ASAP with my dad's camera (if I can wrest it from him hehehehehe ) and then upload them so y'all can see what Chiorny Oriol is. :-) I've also finalized the design (again) of the T-2001's turret and will start on that ASAP. The rest are still in a terrible state of disrepair hehehehehe but I hope - HOPE!!!! - to finish all by 31st December.

I see that Animal has finished not one but TWO entries already. We gotta give him a medal o'sorts for finishing early. Damn good job Animal - especially on the Monster-60A2! :-)

Thx for the heads-up GIB on 'animals' new entry, the M60. Have you guys checked out the pics on that? He bolted a 20 mikemike Vulcan turret in place of the TC's hatch!! Apparently he plans on being close to the action!!

GIB: good to hear your all your turret work is beginning to pay off. I also am curious to see your 'Choirny Oriol'.........kinda sounds like a Yugoslavanian breakfast cereal. #:-)

Tread.


Hey guys, was just observing how many pages this thread is starting to become! We better be careful or we'll use up all of Jim's newly acquired site Megs!!!

TreadHead: LOL! #:-)

Yes, have seen Animal's works and I'm mighty impressed. What's more impressive is that he's in his THIRD entry. Goodness...

Oh my, my, my, my!

It is so good to be back home in the T2K Campaign Thread! You guys really don't know how much this means to me - it's keeping me here in 'da House! Really, kidding aside.

First off - Shaun - COOL Banner. That was the first thing I saw when I hit the site this morning. I already commented on Animal Dave's wicked beastie - best thing I've ever seen happen to the "Starship". Jan - the iMac is pretty rugged & I cover my machine when painting though I am an excellent airbrusher. I do not have problems with overspray. The technical problems with my machine are software related. Sometimes PC and Mac versions of software don't always agree - and some functionality is lost for me behind the scenes here - that's all. I just haven't found a good workaround to allow me to do at home what I can do here at work...

While away in Bakersfield, I whittled out my nuclear ordnance for my M948 LARS. I will display one outside the Launcher when the model is done. I also began painting my BMD-1P+ while away too. Wife thought that pretty ridiculous to take along for the hotel room - but I kept production going.

If I were building the HEMTT gun truck - which is really tugging at my sleeve to do now - I would toss the kit wheels as far as I could throw them - in answer to a previous question. Tread - your "WAR WAGON" already pegs the "Gunniemeter" because you're working on it! It can only get better from this point!

General Failure is in the House too! I'm just itchin' to see what comes our way. Even if a "simple" MUTT - it'll be great!

Sumbo, Sumbo, Sumbo - can't wait to see the counterweight solution...

If we consider this an annual event - which I like - then I think we'd just separate subjects based on their finish dates. Everything finished in 2003 - goes with the 2003 T2K Campaign. For wild projects like Grizzly Bear's started in '03 but might get finished in 2004 because he's working on so many - simply qualifies as an 'early' 2004 T2K Campaign entry. This way, you guys can build all around the calendar having a good time - and we'll group them by annual date. When we come together in '04 - there will already be "kitty's in the box" to inspire the rest.

Also, since "Red Dawn" and the Tom Clancy (excellent) idea can draw upon this concept, something you're working on today might be a natural fit there too - for the modelers staying closer to "real" ordnance subjects.

And lastly - I started working on my third entry last night - heh heh heh...

Gunnie

Ok....Spill the beans........ #:-) #:-) #:-) #:-)

Okay - twist my 1:35th scale ruler!

My entry is for the valiant and courageous Blue Team who were awakened from their innocent slumber by the evil Red scourge!

Let's ask, what to you get when you mate a M60 Hull (with Dozer Blade) and the M12 ADA Laser weapon system???

Gunnie

Uh..........A Big OUCH.........

Howdy Gunnie!!!

Ever so glad to have you back 'in the fold'!!!

[quote]
If I were building the HEMTT gun truck - which is really tugging at my sleeve to do now - I would toss the kit wheels as far as I could throw them - in answer to a previous question. [/qoute]

Well, hmmmmm, let's see...eight (8) huge, oversized wheels, in resin, at how many sheckle's a piece?........times 2!!!...Great idea, I agree, but, OUCH! When you've already spent as much as I have on my War Wagon you have to cut corners somewhere! ;-)

[qoute][/b]Tread - your "WAR WAGON" already pegs the "Gunniemeter" because you're working on it! It can only get better from this point! [/b][/qoute]

Many thanks Gunnie......that makes me relax a wee bit at least.

[qoute]Sumbo, Sumbo, Sumbo - can't wait to see the counterweight solution... [/qoute]

I've already told him Gunnie to just rig a FULL set of arc lites from NASA mounted on the turret rear, that'll kill two birds! Can't ya just see it now, an even dozen 1.5 million candlepower lights rigged in a nice tight rectangle sitting on the turret rear? If the SUMBO's oversized gun round doesn't get 'em, the lights will blind them for life! (or cook the TC when he pokes his head out to look) ;-)

[qoute][/b]........for the modelers staying closer to "real" ordnance subjects.[/b][/qoute]

.......hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Tread.

I'd have to go rutting through my aftermarket stash, but I remember dolling out $16 bucks for a set of HEMTT replacement tires. Considering expense, though, I might reconsider using them. If you take Chris' approach (and animal's displayed result) extending the armor plating further down negates the need to chuck the ugly Italeri wheels. The Italeri kit is expensive enough already.

Gunnie

First, Gunnie, thanks for the comp on the banner. As long as the RMG guys were up for it I thought I could spend 5 minutes photo-shopping something. I may do a better one this weekend. As far as the counterweight goes I am torn again. I have a bunch of weights cut out and ready to file but I was thinking, being a Hoosier, that about three or four 55 gallon drums full of concrete in a rack on the back of the turret would have to weigh at least as much as the "stolen" John Deere weights. The drums full of concrete would have been easier to come by and I think they would offer better protection from small arms fire.

So, that is the Sumbo update.
Don't know yet.

As far as "Detroit Rock City" is concerned, I need aftermarket road wheels. The kind that keep spinning at the intersection while the tank is stopped, LOL...

Seriously, Gunnie, thanks for pulling all of this together. I am, I think everyone is, having a great time. Unlike some of the group builds that are in progress no one here is arguing about anything.

Love it. Thanks.

Shaun

Good points Gunnie! Heck tho', only $16. for a set of AM resin HEMTT wheels?? Not bad, but as you say (and I plan), if I'm hiding the Italeri wheels behind armour plating that takes care of that! Yeah, I know, that's the idea I'm stealing from 'animal' Or at least part of his idea. There will be armoured skirts on all the rear wheel arches, but I have designed something rather unique for the front set of tyre's.
Speaking of idea's......I was planning on saving this as a bit of a surprise, but I've decided to breach the idea now instead so that I can possibly get some input.
I'm talking about my 'rear' HEMTT. My plan is to create a kind of non-nuclear 'first-strike' towed platform that can be either towed into position and left in-place for a period of time, or, towed to a position just outside an occupied city and begin bombardment for a fixed time, then quickly folded up and moved to a new position (to avoid the possibility of the enemy 'zeroing in' ).
Anyway, originally I intended to mount two of the new Trumpeter SA-2 Missles on the truck. But that would only facilitate a maximum of two launchings. I wanted something with a little more Ummphh!, and a little more 'staying' power. And since there has been some talk of tactical nuclear exchange's, and since there has really been NONE of this type of thing presented yet, I have reconsidered and switched to heavy artillery!! And when I say heavy, I mean heavy.
I needed something that would have some real punch, but would also concievably fit on the platform I'm building and be able to function with some believability. Guns like the 'Long Tom' were out, even the long barreled M-107's. So, what I came up with (and this is were you guys can step all over my idea ) is, a set of two 230MM artillery pieces mounted on (let's just say an enlarged and beefed up) the rear 10-Ton HEMTT truck. That's right, I said 230 MM!!
I'm taking them from the Revell of Germany 'Haubitze' SPG kits. I have spent a significant amount of mental time on the math, engineering, architecture, etc. to make the configuration work I believe. BUT, I would like you guys to shoot it down so I can figure out 'go-arounds'

Tell me what you think.

Thx,

Tread.

Here's a link to my first idea!

US Army M39 TACMS/BAT Tactical Missile System

I was considering doing this - with a short barrel (zero-length) launcher. The HEMTT can handle the weight of the Launcher Box as mounted on the MLRS - so - you could fashion a round, barrel-like zero-length launcher for two weapons like this. The size of the TACMS is right too...

Gunnie

Thanks Shaun! I'm having a great time too - this was the right idea at the right time. It's been a long time since I had so much fun modeling - it's like the "early years" all over again...

Gunnie

Howdy Gunnie,

Thx for the quick response. You know what they say about great mind's, right? The MLRS had also crossed my mind originally. But, to be honest, I didn't want to 'burn' a couple of more $35.00 kits! I had the two 'Haubizte's' from a few years ago that I got for $9.99 @. I suppose my Scottish ancestry was popping up.
I do like the idea (and it would be a WHOLE lot easier to kit-bash). And it would probably 'fit-in' a wee bit better huh? Oh, what the hell, I already have one Dragon MLRS kit on the shelf (it's the German Bundeswehr Mars version, but essentially the same thing as the US version), so I'd only have to get one more kit.........................................
Let's see:
1) (1) Italeri M977 HEMTT
2) (1) Italeri M977 HEMTT
3) (1) Italeri Humvee Avenger kit
4) (1) Tamiya M16 Halftrack kit /or
5) (1) Academy M163 Vulcan kit
6) (1) Academy M163 Vulcan kit
7) (1) Dragon German Bundeswehr Mars MLRS kit
8) (1) Dragon US. M39 TACMS/BAT MLRS kit
9) (1) Tamiya Vehicle Stowage (modern) kit
10) (1) Dragon Weapons set (modern) kit
11) (1) 20 # lb box of assorted Plastruct sheet / I-beam / square stock / half-round stock
12) (1) Case of Australian Foster's Lager

....................this list continues to grow........but then of course, so does all the fun!!!!!!!

I've got to think about this......

Tread.

Althoughhhhhh, the twin artillery pieces would be dramatic!!!!!

Another thing........I'm looking for a 1/35th scale (1/32 would work) radar array. Anyone know where I can get one.........cheap?


Tread.

Actually - heh heh - I was thinking about your dismounted idea and the M48 Chaparral FAADS System. The Chaparral PLS (Palletized Loading System) can be removed from the M730 Guided Missile Equipment Carrier (GMEC) and erected on internally carried legs to allow the Chaparral setup as a point-defense system.

I went searching on the Internet for a photo to show you, but can't find one. I wrote a very long article for my local IPMS Newsletter about 10 years ago on the Chaparral System and the AFV Club kit, with a photo of the dismounted PLS. I might be able to find a copy of that Newsletter Article to rescan the image and post it here for you.

It would be easy to come up with a towed launcher box, with "spider-legs" for quick deployment like the towed Vulcan AA Gun, and make it convincing without getting carried away.

Gunnie

Howdy Gunnie,

I also have the AFV Chaparral M730A1 kit....but I'm not going to bash a $50.00 kit!
What I was trying to accomplish was a platform that could be both towed normally behind my GunTruck and fired upon a target inflicting the maximum amount of damage in the shortest period of time, and then (without 'setting-up' ) quickly start the engine and move on. While at the same time, and with the same platform, have the ability to un-hook the trailed unit and set-up for a lengthier engagement when the situation deemed it advantageous. I've always liked the idea of rockets (easily transported), but don't really think of them as a 'siege' weapon. Although, the rocket system (whether MLRS or Chaparral) is more mobile and fits the platform more easily.
Obviously, towing a set of twin artillery pieces would be much less mobile, it's impact upon the enemies position, whether in the field or in a town would much more significant.

.....I dunno, I'm still trying to figure it out.

Tread.

Hmmm - it sounds like you've got "Atomic Annie" on your mind...

Gunnie

This Campaign just keeps getting better and better!!

I'm already mulling over ideas for T2K 2004! My entry(s) for this one are pretty tame.

The imagineering (sorry to bring Disney into this but it is the right word for this) is amazing! There are a ton of great ideas being worked on! I am impressed and anxious to see what this Campaign will result in.

AND I REALLY want to see this as an annual or ongoing kind of thing!

Gunnie- What was the reference to Tom Clancy? And is there a chance of the Red Dawn Campaign coming soon??

ALSO- good news from my home front...my wife just got a significantly better job today, out of 60+ candidates!! Congrats to her, and well, now I can spend a few more $s on my hobby!

Almost done with the "basic" Black Eagle turret - fixed the dimensions, added the Arena's millimetric radar, installed the smoke poppers, added a CITV, placed the commander's cupola and the gunner's hatch, installed the 152mm gun, started closing up the 3mm gap of the hull, and replaced the engine deck. Phew! Now, if I could persuade dad to lend me his camera, I'd shoot pix of the Black Eagle. Will add the Shtora jammers later. I must start working on the molds for two extra road wheels (I don't want to buy another T-80UD kit) as well as molds for the Arena cassettes and other stuff that needs to be copied en masse. All this work on the Black Eagle means I left my other entries behind - but I WILL try to finish them before the deadline, particularly the DBM, Thunderbolt, and the T-34/105 (the last SHOULD be the easiest as it's practically a finished product - sans counterweight [easy - epoxy putty], ERA [easy - cast copies of a simple styrene sandwich block], add-on hull armor [easy - sheet styrene], optics [easy - sheet styrene], smoke poppers [easy - styrene tubes], and a DShK 14.7mm MG [gotta find and repair the T-62A's gun - relatively easy/moderately difficult].) That said, maybe I'll continue working on the T34/105.

I'm tempted to buy a relatively cheapo T-72 kit I found in the hobby shop recently and do a T-95 but, alas, funding needs to be allocated to more pressing needs.

GOOD NEWS!

I opened a box in my room to find my long lost stash of sheet styrene - so I no longer have any "styrene sheet drought"!

Will really really try to take pix of the Black Eagle's progress. I hope you guys like it.