More Russian rolling stock coming down the pike, this time from MiniArt! Interestingly the announcement also includes the information that this car maybe built to either 5 foot gauge or 4'-8.5" ! How 'bout dat!



Link to announcement:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/273850

Not out yet... They released other kits first... sadly

H, Mike and EVERYONE ELSE! I'm back after a lengthy "cooling-off period", (How long can one hold a grudge?), and a steady battle with some serious, major health-issues. Modelling has had to take a back seat to everything else that's been going on with me as far as my health goes, but I hope to get back into the "swing of things" sometime in the next year.

I see that nothing has changed as far as WWII German subject-matter is concerned; new Tigers, Panthers, obscure "Paper-Panzers", pointing SS Officers and MG-42 teams seem to come out on a nearly weekly basis, so I'm not even going to continue in this vein. The GOOD NEWS is that we're seeing a few new 1/35 WWII US/Allied kits on the market recently- These are namely, the new M3A1 Stuart and the M3A1 Scout Car from TAMIYA, with an honorable mention for the new Vietnam War-era M551, and a couple of "modern-day" M551s from another manufacturer, (I forget who), to boot! Guess who's going to buy VOYAGER PE/Resin upgrades for these guys? Nearly countless modern vehicles, both armored and soft-skinned will be keeping us busy, (and POORER), over 2019...

I chose to re-start my correspondence on Armorama, because (1) this site has entertained me over the last couple of months during an arduous convalescence, and (2), I see that this particular blog is STILL active after a period of OVER TWO YEARS! I felt that I had to make at least ONE comment, or add my "two cents" to the rather mild uproar that one of my comments from two years ago helped to create. So, ladies and gentlemen, after two years have gone by, THERE IS STILL NO WWII US Army S-160 2-8-0 Steam Locomotive on the market today. Why is this?

Answer: See my comment above, regarding WWII German subject matter...

No apologies; you WWII German fans know that there is a lot of truth in what I just wrote!

I'm also a bit disappointed that the original subject of this blog has taken a back seat, and has morphed into a discussion of WWII GERMAN Freight Cars. Oh, an honorable mention goes to a tangential subject, it being a VERY short discussion of the WWII US Army's COE "Jimmy" that was adapted to ply he rails of the UK, Europe and a few other locations...

OK, I'll stop harping... Comments, anyone..?

Dennis welcome back . . . .

And I have to ask . . . .

Exactly what have the Doctors been prescribing for You?. . . .

because I want some!

p.s. Don't fail to mention the new M728 from AFV Club!

Dennis,
The last 3 pages contain like 1 or 2 posts of German rail cars... that’s like nothing. As such I do not understand your concerns regarding this blog. It handled Russian cars, steam locomotive discussions and a fair bit of US locomotive demand.
This thread has it all, which is good, as US locomotives alone would not be enough to keep it busy... also the reason why you don’t see them on the market yet, I guess. Demand seems to be low, otherwise there would be way more talking about it.
/Stef

Hi, Mike! Ready for my list of meds? I'm on the following:

Humalog (insulin- sliding scale, units vary- 4 to 5 x daily)
Lantus (insulin- 25 units @ bedtime)
Lasix
Plavix
Isosorbide
Protonix
Hydralazine
Toprol
81 mg Aspirin
Flomax
Proscar
Lipitor
Gabapentin
Tylenol

I had to have 1 Angioplasty along with 2 bypasses, all in my left leg last April, and I suffered a heart-attack while I was on the operating table. I had to stay in 2 different rehabs because of these, and by the 17th of June, I had filled up with 38 lbs of edema, (fluid), which required more hospitalization. While there, I was scheduled for a triple bypass in my heart, which I had on the 6th of August. My veins are so slippery that they couldn't give me my I-Vs, so that required a Center Line in the right side of my neck. While at the hospital, I contracted a MRSA-virus, and I had to have a similar procedure to the Center Line in my right arm, so that two different and very potent I-V-administered anti-biotics. These anti-biotics were so strong that I lost nearly all of my appetite, and had almost constant diarrhea for about a month- This required another stay at a rehab. I had to inject another very potent anti-biotic when I got home for 40 days. By that time, I had become well enough to have that triple-bypass in my heart which I mentioned earlier. Nearly 2 weeks in the hospital AGAIN, and then back to one of the rehabs for further recuperation. In the meantime, I'm getting to heal up a very painful diabetic ulcer in the ball of my left foot, I'm dealing with acute diabetic neuropathy in my hands and left foot, along with phantom pains in the stump of my right leg, PLUS residual diabetic neuropathy in the stump. My right leg was amputated 5 inches below the knee in January, 2010, and I STILL suffer pain in that area. On top of all this, I've got kidney-function problems, which luckily, have been stabilized, so I don't need dialysis at this point. Naturally, all of this has caused my to have financial problems. I won't go into that. My medical insurances are a real drain on my wallet, so that puts a real crimp in my life, models included...

That is an awful list and the story is sad to read. My brother, a cardiologist at a major hospital in Ger, is shocked by the amount of drugs they are prescribing. The longest meds list I‘ve ever seen and my dad had battled 5 years of cancer (in 7 organs) and an organ transplant before he passed away. I hope that the meds will be reducedsoon and all will get better.🍀
All the best to you!
/Stef

Hi, Stef-

Here we go again, after my absence of two years on this site... My object was to point out that a lot of WWII US/Allied subject matter has been ignored in favor of WWII German stuff. Exactly how many Panthers, Tigers and "Paper-Panzers" do we need, anyway? The same goes for the ENDLESS (Messerschmitt) Bf.109s, especially in 1/48 scale, which is basically the model aircraft world that I usually find myself in, as far as my personal modelling efforts and preferences are concerned...

Mostly though, and I'm repeating myself AGAIN, the subject that this blog opened with was the lack of ANY 1/35 WWII US Army Steam Locomotives on the market today, with special emphasis being paid to the S-160 Class 2-8-0...

I should know better than to point out that when the discussion opens and concerns a particular WWII US/ALLIED SUBJECT, the conversation will inevitably turn into something else, usually WWII German equipment. So for the most part, the majority of you guys, (and the model manufacturers), don't seem to be the least bit interested in US/Allied subject matter. OK, I get it...

Life is too short and too precious for me to dwell on this, so I'm dropping the subject...

PS- You'll notice the happy little emoji, above?

You don’t need to repeat yourself, no need for that as there is enough stuff to read already. If you can’t live with the answers and the obvious fact that the industry is doing what is profitable due to demand, then so be it. Reducing this thread to US steam locos would have killed it a long time ago, it just got a bit broader thanks to mikes non-parochial views and broader interests. The demand for rail stuff is only just starting to get bigger, so a few years down the road... who knows. Some early ww1 locomotives (US, FRA, GER....) and stuff might emerge.
Take care.

GRUESS GOTT Stef, und Froehliche Weinachten!

I'm not sure of how to create "umlauts", and I'm a little bit rusty with my writing in German. My Mom was German, (von Schwenningen). Her Uncles all served in Das Heere und die Luftwaffe during WWII. My Dad was Ukrainian, but he lived in the Western part, Lviv. Consequently, he served in the Polish Horse Artillery, and was in charge of a Battery of Howitzers. Naturally, he was captured by German Heer Troops and then handed over to the SS. I don't need to go into detail about that...

Thank You Very Much for your well wishes! I'm making a lot of progress with my health-issues, but it's been a long, hard continuous battle; I'll never be 100%. But... Life goes on...

Hey,
Schwenningen is close to my home town, haha though Schwenningen itself is quite ugly😂. Umlaute are annoying, you should be happy that you don’t have “sharfs” and Umlaute!

Hi, Stef- It's not about not being able to live with the answers to my comments- Believe me, the answers to my comments on this site are the LAST things that keep me awake at night!

THE only thing that bothers me a little bit are the somewhat derisive rebuttals that I get when I open my mouth. No sooner do I leave my comment, and someone HAS to put me in my place, rather than seeing my point. I'm not asking for agreement; I'm only asking to be heard...

To put it simply, I would much rather see certain 1/48 aircraft come from the model manufacturers than a 1/35 US Steam Locomotive- Those, I collect and scratch-build in HO scale, in brass and multi-media... In addition, I also collect and build 1/24-1/25 Classic Era Automobiles, (1920-1949), and I also work with Figurines, 1/35-120mm scales, so my interests are by no means confined to one genre. I'm also an avid reader...

Well, maybe Schwenningen is ugly now, but in family photos that have survived, it doesn't look too bad. I can CERTAINLY think of uglier places than what my Mom's home town looked like in the late 1920s and 1930s- I have no idea of what Schwenningen looks like- I've never been to Deutschland, and I certainly can't afford the trip, now...

I mentioned my interests in 1/48 aircraft, earlier. I've just received the new 1/48 TAMIYA Spitfire Mk.I as a Christmas gift from a Friend who lives in Melun, France. This kit is EXQUISITE!!!

The area around it is beautiful. I went to Uni there for a while😂. The city is not nice, but but the surroundings are. The area is beautiful in general. Always also a matter as what one is comparing it to...^^, but the neighboring city of Villingen is more beautiful 😊

The "meds" remark because you seem amazingly positive and "up" for the ordeal you have just been through!

Congratulations, Welcome and Merry Christmas

Hi, Stef! OK, that explains it- My Mom's family didn't live IN Schwenningen but near it- I guess that's why it didn't look so bad to me...

Thank You Mike, and a Merry Christmas to you and your Family, as well...

Anyone with even a minor interest in German railroad cars and proper underbody detailing needs to check out this thread published by Robert Jan (Speedy J):

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/262280

The thread is a sleeper (no railroad pun intended) as the title "This one was on my list" gives no indication of the topic one will find upon opening the thread.

I only just happened to find this one today even after it being started over a year ago. Unfortunately I am not sure how much good it would have done me as I went way wrong on my build of the Plattformwagon some 2-3 years ago.

p.s. Also it was posted under the "Armor" section rather than under "Railroading".

The title on the above thread has now been changed to:

"Loading SSys Schwerlastwagens"

Latest book from "Pen & Sword Publishing"

Allied Railways of the Western Front
- - Narrow Gauge in the Somme Sector

For all you fans of Railroading from the Great War this looks impressive!




https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/273307

On a similar subject - French narrow gauge (60 cm) railroad in WW1 - you can download a free 50-page booklet from the ECPAD (French Defense audiovisual agency) :

http://archives.ecpad.fr/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/les-petits-trains-de-la-grande-guerre.pdf

H.P.

Very Sweet!

I like the use of the 2 horsepower locomotive and also the photographer using the tiny flatcar as a camera dolly!