Seventy years ago today, 19 February 1945 Marines of the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed on the island of Iwo Jima as Operation Detachment was launched. Our campaign is now open and you may begin your projects! Happy building one and all.

Hey John, been down with health crap again but my Masterpiece palm logs came in the other day. Real nice looking and when painted with a wash will fit the bunker well. Have everything ready to go, just need to P/U the local paper and take my start pics. Then have to send them to a friend to post because I can't get this stupid computer or stupid me, to work out right with pics. So by the weekend I'll be ready to assualt Tarawa with my U.S.M.C. troops.Hope every one else has got a start on their choices.

Bob, hope you're feeling better. The 1:1 world sure has a way of impeding progress on our builds. No worries on the local paper, you only have to post an in progress pic (more if you want) and the finished product since previously started models are okay if they're going into a diorama. Save your money and a trip.

Hey John, will get pic's done tomarrow and off to my friend to get posted. Have a lot of nerve damage and tore my rotator cuff again, don't even know how it did it the second time around. Any way, I'm up and running as best as I can. Started the ground contour build up this morning and have to trim side borders tomarrow then figure the bunker. Have to find out what a satchel charge bag looks like and figure if it had enough power to blow a palm log bunker to smitherens or what. Think it would look better if some of the roof logs would collapes or blow outwards. Ah, google can be a pita some times.

Oh, man I feel your pain re. the shoulder. One of my souvenirs from Iraq was a left shoulder joint that essentially doesn't exist along with nerve damage. My doc told me that guys who do fine work like building models, etc. tend to do better in the long term because of the fine motor skills we've developed -- of course then he told me not to go out and spend a fortune on model kits and tell my wife he said I needed to. See, model building can be part of your rehab.

I have a pic of the bag your typical satchel charge came in. IIRC it held 8 1 1/2lb blocks of TNT. I have the dimensions of the blocks and pictures on my thumb drive which I left in my office last week; I'll bring it home when I go to sign my warrant later this morning. I'd say that unless the demolition charge set off a large secondary explosion it's unlikely that they would destroy the bunker. IIRC there was something in the 2nd MARDIV's AAR on Betio about bunkers not being sufficiently subdued by demo alone. However, it is not unreasonable to say that 5" 38 naval gunfire could have caused the kind of destruction you're going for. I think I have some stuff on Japanese bunkers done by a retired Seabee officer if that might help you.

Hey John, I appriciate the help. I might just go for a few roof logs angled out of place then. It's going to be a very busy vignette as it's on a 4x6 inch base. Plan on 6 marines alive and a few bad casulties plus 3 to 4 charging Japonese troops with a few being blown backwards from a Thompson burst. Am looking to the crowded conditions the marines had on the cramped beach as they advance past the 1st bunker. Still kind of in the maybe, kinda, sorta stage. Will see just how much action I can fit in.

Anyone making any progress? I'm needing some air support and some close in 5" rounds are requested. My marines are feeling a bit lonesome on the beach. My bunker is almost done, just need to layer in some sand and another row of logs. Pic's of the progress are being sent to a friend to post as me amd the computer/camera don't see eye to eye on anything.

Hey John, I found one pic of marines with a satchel charge. Looks to be about the same size as the medical bag that comes with Dragons Peleliu set, #6554. Any thoughts on this? bob d.

They are about the same size however they are more rigid because of the demo charges. The medical bag that comes with the old Masterbox paratroops is an almost perfect match, and it definitely looks the part. All you have to add are the ties to the flap. This is what the bag looks like:

Hey John, thanks, looks easier to copy up from this pic because the one I had was a blur from being swung at the bunker. Will have to check M.B. set. I had the one with the 3 paratroopers, one wounded being supported by another but don't recall the bag.

Bob, I think I have an extra bag in the spares box if you need/want it. I bought several sets of the figures when the LHS was cleaning house and parted them out. Yeah, I know sounds kind of Frankensteinish, you never know when you'll need spare body parts though... Anybody else started on their projects yet?

Hey John, I'd appriciate one as I can't find the set you are refering to. I have the paratrooper 3 figure set done up but can't see a medical bag and the other set with the wagon doesn't seem to have one either. I would figure that with that much T.N.T. it would kill every one inside a bunker from the concussion at least. Might not blow up the bunker or even push the logs out of place as they were built pretty solid and the large conecting nails shaped like an U beam could hold them together with all the weight on them too. This dio is on hold today as I have another jungle scene to finish up, getting near the end with it. A bit of painting and a few more leaves and water and it's done. Then back to this one. Got to get my marines moving inland.

Bunker is complete with first base coat of paint on it. Ground contour is done and will add the sand, palm trees and barrels shortly. Anyone else still supporting this campaign? Sub assembly pic's will be up shortly I hope.

Posting these for Bob Davis (aka Dioman13).

Photo#1 The Idea


Photo#2 Masterpiece Palm Logs (24 Pcs. Sm,Med,Lge)


Photo#3 Ground build-up


Photo#4 Bunker log fit


Photo#5 Along front


Photo#6 Back side


Photo#7 Front of complete bunker


Photo#8 Back of complete bunker


(PS) Looking good Bob. Al

Brothers, I am still here! Bob, nice work on the bunker, looks kind of like the one on the box art for the 2nd MARDIV on Tarawa set from Dragon. I figured out why you couldn't find the bag I was talking about in the MB para set BTW... I was passing bad gouge, it was from an MB kit, it's the one from Normandy with the guy dragging a casualty. I'll be standing by for office hours to answer for my transgression, can't even blame it on excessive alcohol intake. If you still want/need the bag let me know where to send it. And, after nearly a month I am also embarrassed to admit that I have made zero progress beyond pulling the kit out of the stash and setting it on the bench.

First off, a very big thank you to Al, AKA Taffy 3. my friend and mentor and aggrivator at times. lol, for getting these pic's up for me. Nobody has the hate/hate, wanna kill my computer by using it to zero in on relationship that I have. Any way, yes John, after looking at pic's of bunkers, the art work by Ron Volstad was picked because it fit the bases that I had purchased for my sets of Pacific dio/vign. Ron's knowlage is always spot on! I will be mix matching figures from different sets of D.M.L. and the old Tamiya Jappanese infantry set. Did I say old, yea, ancient. So progress is going forward and the blood sacrifice was made with a brand new xacto to the thumb. never fails does it. Al has givin me a new lead for some posting of pic's and hopefully I will be able to do this myself very soon. I'd better because I've got 3 kit reviews to do also. At least I now know that my Marines are not alone John. Your kit is on deck awaiting for your turn with a sacrifice,lol. By the way, I belive model shipwrights has invited us dio/figure builders to a Guadal cannal campaign also. Looks to be a busy year for me.

Hey John, found the medical bag you were talking about. Looks as if it will work out real fine. Thanks for the pic's. Now a bit of surgery.

MMMMMMMMMMM surgery...music to Doc's ears. Just be careful not to offer any further blood sacrifices of your own! LOL. I think once Saturday is past I might find time to sit down and lay out my vignette base. SWMBO has provided me with a honey-do list to end honey-do lists because gramma is coming to the family seder (and I'm not even Jewish!!!). Oh well, it will cut down on the spring cleaning I guess.

Found this picture the other day. A jeep being loaded onto a DUKW on Tinian in 1945. Have never attempted a diorama before so it should be a challenge.

Go for it. You know you want to!

Actually any help on how to build the crane would be helpful.

Ah, finally found this part of the campaign. You're off and running and I'm still trying to figure out what to build. Most likely a wingy thingy, but a floaty thingy isn't out of the question yet.

Don't feel bad, I've figured out what to build, but haven't put a drop of glue on anything yet... my Fallujah project has been eating up my time.

And my dio is on hold as I try and finish up 3 more figures for my Guam dio for the AMPS show at the end of the month. Still have to wait for the 1st of the month to P/U some more envirotex and pour my stream and swamp. Kind of cutting it close again. Kind of like the Marines, find it, get it and hit it on the double. And I have to finish 3 reviews too.

I will be using Italeri's 2.5 ton DUKW.