Red Storm on the Reich GB - Sept. 8, 2008 - May 9, 2009

You bet Jthurston!  Welcome aboard!

I'm planning on getting started some time this month, I'd like to actually finish a GB early or on time for a change.   

Hey can I get in on this?

I've got a bunch of Dragon SdKfz 251's I need to start building. I could build a dio of some Russian troops digigng through a couple of captured 251's.

A possible locale for this scene might be Budapest, which would mean the halftracks were captured from 3rd SS Totenkopf, I believe by a Guards division. Perhaps the Guards arrived in a lend-lease M3 halftrack? This would make it possible to combine US, Russian and German equipment in one dio.

Hmmm...Great idea for a GB! Lots and lots of very cool possibilities!!!

~J

bobbaily wrote:

I have no dilusions of starting on Monday.  Right now, I'm just shooting for finishing by May 2009. Not sure if I mentioned it, but I received my Bison 'Berlin '45' decal set so I will be building a King Tiger that was used in the final days of the battle.

  SHOOT!!!  This GB starts on Monday?!?!?  Like bob, I also know I can't start on Monday even though I've got the kit and everything.  I need to finish a couple of other GBs first before I even start this one.....maybe in January??  Still, I'm going to be keeping a close eye on this one!  Reading Beevor's "Berlin, the Downfall" has got me stoked!!

I have no dilusions of starting on Monday.  Right now, I'm just shooting for finishing by May 2009.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but I received my Bison 'Berlin '45' decal set so I will be building a King Tiger that was used in the final days of the battle.

dupes wrote:

Scott - with the impending start of this GB, I've been reviewing the guidelines...and was a bit confused. I thought this was going to be "Battle of Berlin" only? It's entirely possible I just misunderstood somewhere along the line. Does this mean that eastern front-type vehicles that fall in the appropriate range of dates are eligible as well? I've been rooting around in my stash trying to decide what to build...so many juicy choices. Heh.

Because our GBs were along the same lines, Specter and I talked and decided to combine the the Batte of Berlin and Red Storm on the Reich since Berlin is a part of that.  We're pretty much looking at the late stages of the war on the Eastern Front when the Soviets pushed into Silesia, Pommerania, Czechoslovakia, Austria etc.   

Scott - with the impending start of this GB, I've been reviewing the guidelines...and was a bit confused. I thought this was going to be "Battle of Berlin" only? It's entirely possible I just misunderstood somewhere along the line.

Does this mean that eastern front-type vehicles that fall in the appropriate range of dates are eligible as well? I've been rooting around in my stash trying to decide what to build...so many juicy choices. Heh.

espins1 wrote:

Glamdring wrote: Scott, I'd like to withdraw my plans for the Maus due to a lack of funds for the AM parts I want for it, and replace it with the DML late production Panther Ausf. A Premium kit. Plan is to do it in Totenkopf markings from late 1944, or possibly Wiking, depending on my mood when I reach that stage of the game. Nice!  Looking forward to seeing either one of those.  Which decal sets are you looking at?

Markings for the aforementioned are in the box.  Though I think Echelon makes a set as well, and their color instructions are pretty. 

Glamdring wrote:

Scott, I'd like to withdraw my plans for the Maus due to a lack of funds for the AM parts I want for it, and replace it with the DML late production Panther Ausf. A Premium kit. Plan is to do it in Totenkopf markings from late 1944, or possibly Wiking, depending on my mood when I reach that stage of the game.

Nice!  Looking forward to seeing either one of those. 

Which decal sets are you looking at? 

Scott,

I'd like to withdraw my plans for the Maus due to a lack of funds for the AM parts I want for it, and replace it with the DML late production Panther Ausf. A Premium kit.

Plan is to do it in Totenkopf markings from late 1944, or possibly Wiking, depending on my mood when I reach that stage of the game.

Geist wrote:

anthony2779 wrote:  Geist wrote: Can I join with Dragons ISU 152?     Erik  You got me wondering Erik,where did you come up with a Dragon ISU-152 ? Is it a recent kit,I couldnt find it anywhere online.Your mentioning it got me to want to add it to my stash.I did see one by Zveda,how is that kit? should I get it or continue to look for the DML kit ?   I managed to find the old Dragon JSU-122/152 (#6047). The box says 1995. I found it at a general store of sorts in a town south of where I live. This store has everything; from parts to fix your washing machine, supplies to build a new fence for your farm and even model kits. Their selection of kits is very strange imo. They have kits from every Dragon evolution(Shangai Dragon, DML and Dragon), Eastren Express, and some other obscure Russian kits. Plus the noraml Tamiya, Revell, Trumpeter etc. The kit itself is different from other Dragon kits I've seen. It looks like they just boxed a '39-'45 Series 122 and a Korean War Series 152 in the same box. It even gave me the instruction booklets for both kits and decals. I'll get some pics up soon so I can better illustrate.   EDIT: Here is a pic of the box and 2 booklets.

Thanks I would like to try that one,Iwill have to keep my eyes open for it on e-bay

anthony2779 wrote:

Geist wrote: Can I join with Dragons ISU 152?     Erik  You got me wondering Erik,where did you come up with a Dragon ISU-152 ? Is it a recent kit,I couldnt find it anywhere online.Your mentioning it got me to want to add it to my stash.I did see one by Zveda,how is that kit? should I get it or continue to look for the DML kit ?

I managed to find the old Dragon JSU-122/152 (#6047). The box says 1995. I found it at a general store of sorts in a town south of where I live. This store has everything; from parts to fix your washing machine, supplies to build a new fence for your farm and even model kits. Their selection of kits is very strange imo. They have kits from every Dragon evolution(Shangai Dragon, DML and Dragon), Eastren Express, and some other obscure Russian kits. Plus the noraml Tamiya, Revell, Trumpeter etc.

The kit itself is different from other Dragon kits I've seen. It looks like they just boxed a '39-'45 Series 122 and a Korean War Series 152 in the same box. It even gave me the instruction booklets for both kits and decals. I'll get some pics up soon so I can better illustrate.

EDIT: Here is a pic of the box and 2 booklets.

 Hello,

 Just finished "The Fall of Berlin 1945", the final chapter was very thought provoking. The entire last half of the book was awesome, I couldn't put it down. The artillery shelling and the bombing of the trapped 9th Army, while attempting a break out. Looking at the calendar, I see what 2 weeks... Putting a new razor in... New bottle of glue.....Going over instructions..... I think I'm ready!

 Best Regards,

Geist wrote:

Can I join with Dragons ISU 152?     Erik

You got me wondering Erik,where did you come up with a Dragon ISU-152 ? Is it a recent kit,I couldnt find it anywhere online.Your mentioning it got me to want to add it to my stash.I did see one by Zveda,how is that kit? should I get it or continue to look for the DML kit ?

WOW what a story and experience that your family has gone though epins.  Mine can't compare. My great grandfather and his brother escaped from Poland before the government caught up with them.  That's all I know.

But on a lighter side my Lion Roar PE set arrived today.  Combined with the resin, barrel, decal set, and the AFV late style tracks, I think I am ready for this build to begin. 

I found a picture of the B-berg tiger and even though the tiger is an early one it had the late stlye tracks on her.  I found two pictures that someone had posted showing the right rear and side shot.

Guess, I'll just have to break out the ferdinand that is laying uncompleted to tide me over till Sept.

Mansteins revenge wrote:

By the way, I'm in with a 35th scale ISU 152.

Welcome aboard! 

stick man wrote:

I was looking in armor and someone (I think Manny's revenge) posted info on the battel and there where ilistrations of the viacals used and there was an SU-100 in it so... I'm in with the DML 1/35 premiam edition! Thanks for posting the info on the batte who ever posted it!

By the way, I'm in with a 35th scale ISU 152.

dupes wrote:

Just go to www.newegg.com - a lot of the time they even have free shipping!

I use them all the time, great prices and good customer service. 

tigerman wrote:

espins1 wrote: My mother (6 or 7 at the time) and her family lost everything, and I do mean everything, to the Russians in 1945.  They eventually made it out of East Germany in 1946 near the town of Gottingen.  The stories they have told me were very interesting and make me realize how good we all really have it now.  man oh man.... Wow Scott,  I imagine you have some serious stories. Was everyone okay? Did the whole family escape?

From what I remember, I believe my mother's little sister (baby) died during that ordeal.  My mother pretty much didn't have a childhood.  My Opa (Mom's father aka Grandpa) was conscripted into the Volksturm towards the end, and my Uncle Herman served in the 10th SS "Frundsburg" as a radio operator on both the Eastern and Western fronts.  He was a prisoner of war at the time (captured by the British in late 1944/early 1945).    What I wouldn't give to hear all their stories over again, this time recording every word! 

dupes wrote:

Scott, you going to be able to replace that PSU by the time the GB starts?

At the rate I'm going?  I don't like the odds.... LOL  I just need to find some time to go pick one up.  I'm thinking it might be faster just to order one and they only take a few minutes to install. 

Geist wrote:

Can I join with Dragons ISU 152? Erik

You bet!  I'll get you on the roster now.

On another note, I may be a bit slow to respond this month due to work demands and the power supply in my main PC at home crapped out Sunday night and I haven't had a chance to replace it yet.

espins1 wrote:

My mother (6 or 7 at the time) and her family lost everything, and I do mean everything, to the Russians in 1945.  They eventually made it out of East Germany in 1946 near the town of Gottingen.  The stories they have told me were very interesting and make me realize how good we all really have it now.  man oh man....

Wow Scott,  I imagine you have some serious stories. Was everyone okay? Did the whole family escape?

Just a update from me.  My Tiger Model Design parts just arrived today.  Like a kid on Christmas, I tore into the box.  WOW, this is some very nice resin parts.  I order the coupla, frontal armor and correct mallet (#7) for the early tiger.  I am now just waiting for the Lion Roar PE and the start of the GB.  I might have to buy the fall of berlin or one of those books.

Till the start and next time.

Kim

Mobious wrote:

Hello everyone,  I'm half finished with "Battle of Berlin" and I'm amazed at what I would call war crimes were acknowledged as heroic, even as late as 1990. The devestation must have been total in E.Prussia. Anyway I should be finished before the start date and thanks again bufflehead for the recomendation. I thought a dio with the "Rag Tag Circus" would be neat to do, but a little(maybe way) off topic.  Best Regards,

You are obviously referring to the rape and pilage. Yes, it must have been devestating. The tale of the refugees might have been worse than in Russia, that is, all the people fleeing.

I won Stalingrad and look forward to that book.

I just finished "Inside the Bunker", by Jochim Fest. Really interesting accounts of the last days and much of what he wrote were inspiration for the excellent movie "Downfall". If you haven't seen that movie, for gosh sakes do. Bruno Ganz is simply unbelievable as Hitler.

Can I join with Dragons ISU 152?

Erik 

 Hello everyone,

 I'm half finished with "Battle of Berlin" and I'm amazed at what I would call war crimes were acknowledged as heroic, even as late as 1990. The devestation must have been total in E.Prussia. Anyway I should be finished before the start date and thanks again bufflehead for the recomendation. I thought a dio with the "Rag Tag Circus" would be neat to do, but a little(maybe way) off topic.

 Best Regards,

bufflehead wrote:

I was at Barnes & Nobles yesterday and picked up this book!  I'm looking forward to reading it, I didn't realize it was by the same author of Stalingrad which I read a couple of months ago!  Thanks for the recommendatons guys!!

I really enjoyed both of those books and am glad you're liking them too. 

Sorry I haven't been around much the past few weeks.  I'm up to my eyeballs in work and family responsibilities.  Things should be settling down a bit for me now so I hope to be on here at least daily again.