And this one, well back of the lines but the recruit eventually ended up in 12th SS Panzer so it applies for this build . . .

Until that happens I'll continue my posts.  This was taken near Sword beach at a training facility.

I'll have some Marauder photos up either late tonite, or tomorrow morning as well. I was able to get them edited and uploaded to photobucket, along with a couple nice shots of a surprise passer by...

Look forward to those pics Ken.

Hi Everyone,

Combat Hamsters????? Okaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy I won't say another word

Anyhow, This is an official nofication of Jug pictures to come later today.

Ken

Gamera

Well  the 'Maus' German supertank is fairly well known, and they designed an even larger one called the 'Ratte'. Less known is the largest of all- the 'Hamster'. Sorry I couldn't find a photo of it.  

I believe it was coincided such a powerful weapon that all information, images and the bare mention of it were destroyed least it full into the hands of anyone evil enough to attempt to build it.

Such as this pair.

Well  the 'Maus' German supertank is fairly well known, and they designed an even larger one called the 'Ratte'. Less known is the largest of all- the 'Hamster'. Sorry I couldn't find a photo of it.  

Oooo, ouch.  

So that's where the term "Ham in a Can" came from!  

Gary

The photos are great, bitbite!  Our country can rest more secure, knowing we have the hamsters defending us.  

Reminds me of "The Rat Patrol."

This was photo was taken shortly before the unit left for England.  Their next destination would be Omaha Beach. 

I can spend my glorious one day off posting pictures of combat hamsters if I want to.  

You have too much time on your hand my friend... And a good group build keeps on going...

I guess the caption didn't make it to the last post.  Here it is just so you know I haven't gone off topic.

"Fascinating photo of hamstergrenadiers near Caen waiting for the signal to spring to the attack.  The equipment of the one on the right is clearly seen. Food pellet pouches, stick grenade stuck in his belt, and water bottle with steel tip and metal ball within."

I like how Bish officially closed this build eleven days ago but it refuses to go away. 

ACHTUNG JADGHAMSTER!!!! 

I told ya... Dang rodents...

Mmmmm, apple brandy. 

Yes, definitely some sort of protective coating. Peculiar to one aircraft manufacturer as far as I know... I am not familiar with any other Martin aircraft of the era. Perhaps it was used on those as well?

Pay no mind to the helmeted hamster... I think that he found Easy Company's hidden supply of Calvados.

LOL @ stik.

I'm guessing maybe some sort of protective coating right off the assembly lines? Who knows. It is a unique look for a WW2 aircraft though.

That's G2 stuff, mister.  Disregard everything stik just told you. 

No you may not have my Marauder!!!! But I am flattered that you would ask. I found the photos on few different websites when I did image searches for "Flak Bait interior" or some similar words in there. But they are on several sites and are of Flak Bait as she sits today in storage awaiting reassembly in the Smithsonian. I can't  say for certain that the inner face of the upper wing skin visible thru the wheel well has that blue coating, but I figured that other area was close enough where it could be reasonably inferred to be thre as well. And I just loved the look of it. It is so unique for a US aircraft.

stik - any idea why they were painted a blue protective coating in the wheel wells?

stik - where are you taking all these pictures from? Are they reference pics or pics from a museum? Curious...

Can I have your B-26 when it's done? ROFL! Seriuosly, I'm really liking what you're doing to it. You put in so much effort into your builds as far as details goes I couldn't do it. Awesome work stik!

Likewise... otherwise this would have been an interior green build...

Thanks for the photos, stik.  I've not seen anything like it before.

Very cool, SP. I too had no idea about this.

Yes, it seems to be peculiar to Matin and especially the B-26 on teh blue protective coating. I have yet to come across it on any other US made WWII aircraft.

Here is some in Flak Bait's radio room behind where one of the radio mounts

and some in the wing

Nice progress, stik.  Great detail you're putting into it.  

Interesting about the blue protective coating.  It's something I've not heard of before.  I wonder if it was something only Martin did?

I've become a vallejo junkie over the past couple of years. I didn't know Testors made acrylic washes, but the Vallejo black and/or sepia washes are great for quick work. Indeed, you can weather a model very well using all water based acrylic products. Check the You Tube flick by Mig Jimenez called " AFV acrylic techniques" - that's about an hour's worth and I learned more from that DVD than any of the others that were put out by Vallejo and AK.

I am getting used to the techniques pushed by Mike Rinaldi and can see the big difference between the way water based paints interact with each other as opposed to solvent based brews like Gunze or Tamiya. He also uses oils more like real paints than as filters. That's nice so I don't have to chuck a bucket of Tamiya bottles and artist oils collected over time. But I'm living with a lot fewer solvent based materials and don't miss them. (I might sing a different tune if I had a place for a spray booth with fan - as it is, I'll be one unfortunate who never uses Alclad no matter how good they are because I can't stand the fumes of lacquers and my wife hates them more.) I certainly admit that you can't beat Tamiya for very thin low PSI air brushing, but ounce you get to them Vallejo, Lifecolor (or even Golden Fluids) are splendid paints. Com.Art has taken over panel lines and most filters. More stuff to buy. I'm sure I've spent more money on supplies than on models. Doing my bit to aid recovery.

Eric