An Old Heller Gneisenau

Great tale of how military knowledge, how to tell it and to whom.   BN CSMs are  not usually kind grandfatherly types to fools or slackers, you obviously are neither one.

Very good work shown, you have a right to be well pleased.  

Thanks for the pics and great story.

You guys asked for more pics? The model is currently displayed in our dining room, downstairs.

I only had  one potential hiccup and it was with the BD CSM. He came up and the conversation went like this:

CSM : What are you doing?

ME : I am building a model of the Geman Battlecruiser Geisenau, Sargent Major.

CSM : Ok, please tell me why you should be able to build models while at my CQ desk.

ME : It helps me stay awake, Sargent Major, and it teaches me military history as well, Sargent Major.

CSM : Ok, and how will putting models together progress your military career.

ME : Sargent Major, it fortifies not only the Army values but also our moral character as well.

CSM : All that from building a model? Tell me what you learned about this model.

ME : Sargent Major, as I have already said this is a 1:400 model of the German Battlecruiser Geisenau from the Second World War. It is the second of two Scharnhost-class Battleships built by the Germans. The Geisenau was crewed by over 1600  sailors and participated in most of its early missions with its sistership the Scharnhost. On the outbreak of war, on its first mission from port, the Geisenau and Scharnhost sailed north around Britain before being picked up on radar by the admiralty. Thinking it was either a U-boat or S-boat they sent a British oceanliner retrofitted with 6 4in guns to investigate. The Captain of the oceanliner was shocked when they spotted the two largest ships in the German navy, at that time the Bismarck-class battleships were either not built or still in construction. The Captain went over the loudspeaker and addressed his crew saying "We have found the Scharnhost and Geisenau. All men to battle stations. We will be firing on both of them, engaging both at the same time. We will be sunk but we will ruin their nice paint." As the Germans hadn't seen the oceanliner yet it can be presumed that the oceanliner could have turned around and ran. But the Captain and his crew showed all aspects we hold dear in our Army Values and that is what I learned from building this model, Sargent Major.

CSM : Did the British mess up the paint job on either ship?

ME : Yes, Sargent Major. The Germans did record that after the battle part of the wooden deck on the bow of the Scharnhost had to be replaced  because it was hit with one shell.

CSM : Continue as you were Specialist, and have anyone that bothers you about the models call me.

haseren4

Duster

They periodically come and see the progress throughout the day during my CQ shifts when I bring the models to work. It has become an inside norm that I will be building one. They even ask me what I will build on a given shift.

Ah yes the "joy of quiet contemplation" during CQ.   Those memory's  haunt  -er - I remember still. 

Glad to hear of the interest in your modeling .  You never know who else will re-join our modeling ranks, following your example. 

Model On!  

Duster

They periodically come and see the progress throughout the day during my CQ shifts when I bring the models to work. It has become an inside norm that I will be building one. They even ask me what I will build on a given shift.

You have to consider that the CQ (Charge of Quarters) shifts are a 24 hour sleepless duty. I literally get to work on my models for 24 hours straight, with small interruptions for meals, with little distraction other than 1SG and CSM walking up on us. In any given month this happens 2-4 days which is why myt model-making seems so fast.

Wow, you build fast.  Even an old retired guy like me takes about four to five months to finish a ship of that size/complexity!

Gotta give us a few more pics at least.

Welcome and Thanks for Serving   

from back in the black boot days ...

 Soldier and Model on!

ps the Whole battalion watched your build?- talk about pressure