The second annual field trip to Major Rob's motor pool was a great success today. Eleven adults and three boys arrived from 10:00-2:00. At least 4 Armorama members were among the visitors (excluding myself).

I took everyone out in an M1A1 Abrams tank for a spin and gave some a ride in an M113A3. Neither vehicle placed in the impromptu 1:1 scale model contest.

The paint scheme on the Abrams was improperly applied with too much overspray between colors. Also the rust and weathering on the rear grill was unrealistic. Points were lost because the mud flaps had the camouflage pattern extend onto the rubber surface.

The M113A3 had improper paint chipping and brush strokes on the trim vane. It was also gigged for being an M113A3 when the Tamiya kit box clearly identifies it as an M113A2. Additionally the bumper markings were in the wrong spot and on crooked.

May I be the first to offer to take them both to my house to correct those issues mentioned. It might take a while for me to do, but rest assured that those vehicles would be in good hands parked on my front lawn and on ocasion, tooling around in the neighborhood.

Thanks for a great day Major Rob! Pretty cool up there in the TC hatch tearing up some turf in one of your M1's! Good seeing you and the others as well!

This old and overweight grunt shall always remember today....

Kevin, can I bother you for some photos of the group? Seems like I forgot to get everyone together for a group shot too. 35mph seems a lot faster in 63 tons than in the family car.

I'm sooo jealous! :-) Rob - I hope your future posting is on the Left-Coast!

Great to hear you guys had fun!

Gunnie

I suppose it won't get me any sympathy to say that my 'envy' meter is dead-pegged, now...would it?

What I will say is I am genuinely happy for those lucky few who were invited!
Please share some pics.

Tread.

Yes post pics of the happy occasion. I would love to see the happy expressions on the faces of our lucky Armorama members. It must be nice to have such a large toy box with all those toys to play with. And it has been reported that Rob plays well with others.

Thanks for the great day we had, Major ! Buzzing around in the M1A1 was something else ! My stepson had a blast too ! WOW, what a day

Can't wait to do it all again (?)

Robert

And may I present the man of the day...

The only group shot that I took. I only know of two regular Armorama guys.

Alpenflage on the far left and Dixon66 4th from the left...

I don't suppose our good Major 'G' let anybody fire the big long Gun 'thingie' did he?

Tread.

Here are a few more of the day.








That last one is my ugly mug!

Rob, thanks again for an awesome day

Dave S.

COOL pics Dave ! See if you can get some to Charlie somehow so he can post some up on the Nordland site

That's a great group shot Kevin ! What a great day too, the weather was PERFECTO !

Cheers gents

Alpen

I swear, it was the lady who cut my hair this morning! :-) :-) :-)

Well, no but, I did hear someone shout out... "TARGET!... GOLFCART!... SABOT" but I never did aquire the target... ... Battle Fatigue or the smell and sounds of the M1's turbine ....ya know....

Invite's still open if you make it up here. What other armor modeling site gets you a ride on an Abrams?

Any chance of one more later this summer????????? so i can actually drive the 500 miles?????????? PLEASE

guess I missed a great party....

It was a most wonderful experience!

Thank you Major R.G. :-)

ABSOLUTELY NONE!

You will certainly be missed around these parts come Dec-Jan Maj Rob! One can only hope that your replacement will be briefed on the particular needs of a few of us that have been so spoiled by your generosities over the past couple of years....

A whole-hearted goes out to you Sir!

Oh man, I am a very nice shade of green right now! Seeing the M1 at Aberdeen last Summer was pretty awe inspiring (first time to ever see any tanks in person) getting a ride in one...for me at least that would be close to the ultimate. (only thing better would be taking one out on a firing range) Rob you would be very welcome here in the "Sunny South" for your next posting Glad you guys who went had a great time.

Cheers,
Mike