I brought these guys to the March SSCC Meeting in Cincinnati. These troops are my Vietnam era 11th CAV unit. I created them to go with my M-113 and M-151 Mutts. The two fellows on the left are my M-113 Commander and Driver. Right now they are Cavalry Troops in need of a ride. When I first got my Monkey Rabbit M-113 it came with two broken road wheel supports. Monkey Rabbit was quick to furnish me with new pieces to replace the broken ones, but in the meantime I had repaired the broken pieces (well, at least I thought I had). When I moved back in July, I noticed that they seemed to have broken again with the strain of the move. I set the vehicle on the work bench and didn't give it too much thought. Then a couple of weeks ago when I was rearranging some stuff in the basement, I found that all but two of the road wheel supports had broken. I guess the stress of having a road wheel on each side out of commission undermined the other supports over time. Well... it's the only explanation I can come up with since it hadn't been handled since the move. Anyway, I have a massive repair job to do before my M-113 will ever see the light of day. In the meantime, here are the troops that will eventually be attached to that vehicle and the M-151s.
The Vietnam era tanker helmets are bashed on vintage style JOE pilot helmets, the patches were all created on the computer and printed on fabric paper. Looking forward to warmer weather so I can work out in the garage on the M-113 (it takes up a lot of room).
Okay, now back to my other passion - TRAINS. I have continued to lay cork roadbed and pretty much had it finished by the end of the weekend. I ready to start laying track and wiring. Well... truthfully, I'm not really looking forward to the wiring part as I am not particularly experienced in that area.
The town of Deer Creek keeps evolving (pretty much every time I go in the basement). I've already made changes since I took these pictures. The bar and the little general store are no longer in this location. I've found something I like better. That little general store may be converted into a station before it's all said and done.
This is the start of the wharf at Misty Bay. You can see that there is a wood walkway from the wharf to the little railway station. Passengers can transfer from steamer to railway at this end of the line.
There will be a structure on the end of the pier - a bar for thirsty passengers and fishermen. It will be called PHIL'S BAR when it is completed.
And that's it for this update. Thanks for looking - PM