Fields of Battle Suggestions (2 Viewers)

[PolarBear]

I noticed that Andy mentioned at the New York Symposium the possibility of expanding subjects under the heading of Fields of Battle. I would like to suggest the following:

1. Women in WWII:

The upcoming release of the Napoleonic Cantiniere made me think that outside of the Russian Traffic Controller and the NKVD officer in the Fall of Berlin Series the contribution of women to WWII has been overlooked. Many of us collectors are WWII or postwar babies who had mothers, aunts or family friends who served in WWII. One of my former colleagues at Syracuse University was a WWII US Marine Corps Women's Reserve flying instructor who taught pilots on the Link Trainer at Cherry Point, NC during the war. The Osprey Men-at-War series includes Women ar War 1939-1945 which would be a great place to start for inspiration since it has all the major national participants and branches of service. Women also appear throughout other volumes in the series. I immediately thought of John Gambale when I saw a tropical German Red Cross nurse in the Elite Series volume Afrikakorps 1941-1943. Since Andy has been doing some great medical sets, how about a few nurses? And how about some WAAFS, WACS, WRNS, WAVES, ATS Girls etc for us to add to our dioramas. Since Andy indicates that the runs are smaller for FOB this might be a good place to add this category.

2. Other Branches of Service in WWII:

One of my favorite figures is the British Naval officer at Dunkirk (FOB005). The Navy in WWII would make another great topic for FOB. I know that Osprey has volumes on American, Japanese, German, and British naval forces that could again provide examples. I believe Andy did pilot figures long ago and it would be nice to see some of those again. I am sure K&C could give Frontline some competition in this area. With the announcement of the forthcoming warbirds these would be timely. Those of us WWII aviation buffs who cannot afford the planes would be thrilled to buy the figures.

3. African Americans in WWII

The Battle of the Bulge is a favorite K&C series for many of us. How about some figures from the Red Ball Express that helped get those much needed supplies to embattled American forces. Also what about the"Black Panthers" of Patton's 761st Tank Battalion?

Looking forward to what you think about these suggestions and hopefully hearing Andy's input.

Randy

 

[jazzeum]

Andy is traveling for a little while so I'm not sure he'll respond anytime soon.

Regarding the women in WW II idea, this idea was posed to Andy a couple of years ago at the 2005 Symposium and he was lukewarm about it. Of course, that's two years ago and since we're going to get the Napoleonic Cantiniere, who knows?

 

[Louis Badolato]

Randy,

I certainly agree with all of your points, and have made some of them myself with Andy, but with a lukewarm response at best. Andy produces what he believes will sell, and what he is most interested in. He did make a red ball express driver for his more recent Deuce and a half truck as well as a Tuskeegee Airman for Del Prado, and he did make a WWII British female air controller for Del Prado, so he has addressed some of your suggestions on a limited basis.

 

[damian]

I think some African American soldiers would be a good idea.

 

[Pierre]

Suggestions one and two are great ones.

Pierre.

 

[red devil]

How about 1 of those little Czech 38 tonners the Germans had in their army at that time? There is a really great photo of one of these from Rommels 'Gost' Division racing down a tree lined road in France. I reckon that would be a sweet little vehicle for the collection.
Red

 

[Capitolron]

How about some French Resistance Women ? HOho Haha Hehe

 

[vandilay]

or some escaping pow,s .The down side of that is they would probably
just look like civillians . Steve mcqueen trying to jump the fence in the great escape has
got too be one of the best scenes in a ww 2 flick.

 

[binder001]

The truck driver for DD40 is black (if I remember correctly). I do agree that it would be interesting to have a model of an M4A3 from the 761st Tank Battalion (or the 784th Tank Bn - but they entered combat much later than the 761st and aren't as well known).

Gary

 

[Eazy]

For Fields of Battle i'd suggest Crete. Fallschirmjagers, drop cannisters,Commonwealth troops. Could be cool.

 

[Wraith]

For Fields of Battle i'd suggest Crete. Fallschirmjagers, drop cannisters,Commonwealth troops. Could be cool.

FJs? Hmmm...Interesting idea.
It might just catch on.
Simon

 

[Combat]

I would like to see Wake Island or an Eastern Front related FOB w/emphasis on the axis auxiliary troops - Finns, romanians etc. On the naval side, how about the Japanese mini-subs from Pearl Harbor? They are small enough to avoid the u-boat size issues.

 

[Pierre]

How about some French Resistance Women ? HOho Haha Hehe

Like Cécile (picture one) and her sister Jeanne (picture two).

Those two charming ladies are the heroines of two french bandes dessinées (let's say that a bande dessinée can be assimilated to a hardcover comic book, but it is more than that...) by Jean-Pierre Gibrat (texts and drawnings).

The two stories (two volumes each) are both chef-d'oeuvres.

The action in Le Sursis (volume one and volume two - quite simple) puts the emphasis on the résistance and the collaboration in a small village of France while the action in Le Vol du Corbeau (volume one and volume two -still simple) takes place in Paris (occupée of course) and is about the impossible (???) love between Jeanne and...

The drawning are a delight for the eyes and the texts are easy to understand for someone who has a little basis in french and a good dictionary.... but the efforts worth the trouble.

Now, enough talking: here are my suggestions, as models, for the résistance girls after, of course, the acquisition of the rights from the author and, probably, the editor (I know that it will never happen; I just want to share with you a monument of the bande dessinée française. Maybe it will tempt someone and, as a bonus, you get two pictures showing the excellent work of Gibrat )

Pierre.

 

[nmrocks]

OH LA LA!! very nice Pierre!
I suggest once again, The Polish Campaign, Polish Cavalry and Tankette's as suggested earlier, Czech 38t's and Panzerjager I german armour. (BF-109e and Stuka's always popular!)
Ray

 

[Capitolron]

That was sooooooooooooooooooo nice my furry french friend - MEOOOOOOOW !

 

[Louis Badolato]

Pierre,

In English we refer to this type of book as a graphic novel. This particular artist seems very talented, and his choice of subject matter is superb (by that I mean the girls, as well as the resitance in WWII). I wish I could read French!

 

[Capitolron]

Pierre,

In English we refer to this type of book as a graphic novel. This particular artist seems very talented, and his choice of subject matter is superb (by that I mean the girls, as well as the resitance in WWII). I wish I could read French!

Louis - losen up ! - Come on - give us a MEOOOOOOW!

 

[Pierre]

Pierre,

In English we refer to this type of book as a graphic novel. This particular artist seems very talented, and his choice of subject matter is superb (by that I mean the girls, as well as the resitance in WWII). I wish I could read French!

Louis-

Thanks for the translation bande dessinée/graphic novel. I really appreciate.

If you want to learn more about Jean-Pierre Gibrat (who is one of the most talented artist actually but, by his own confession, very slow - 2 years per album) see: www.http://volensursis.free.fr/ The site is in french but very easy to understand (and there is a lot of drawnings of Cécile and Jeanne ).

I think that a french graphic novel of that quality, with the action taking place in an era that interest you, may be a good start to practise (or even learn) your french.

Hey, I saw my first real English probably at eleven years old

When I was young, we were living in a suburbia one hundred percent french. I was knowing that English people existed but where??? When I was listening Bugs Bunny, the only characters that I was able to understand were the Road Runner and the Coyote .

The Révolution tranquille (Quiet revolution) started in June 1960 with the election of the Parti Libéral and the accession as prime minister of Jean Lesage and ended in 1966. The following year, (1967, the year of Sgt. Pepper's, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Montery Festival, 400 000 men in Vietnam, the beginning of the hippie movement and the contestations against of the establisment, the drugs, free sex and a wind of liberty that never blowned on a generation and that will never happen again) was the year when all the province of Quebec opened to the world with the Exposition universelle de Montréal. Fifty millions people visited the Expo 67 from April 28 to October 27. I was eleven years old and I remember as clearly as yesterday my first visit there. I can even recall the smells of the place. It was a wonderful and magical summer. It was also my first contacts with other cultures (civilisations). At that time, no cable and no internet (we had our first colour TV in 1966).

Finally, I was unable to have a conversation in english when I began my studies at the university but I was able to read and understand, let's say, fifty percent of the words of a text. And the books, especially in criminal and commercial laws, were generally in english (doctrine and case laws). Wow! What a galley!

And when I started to practice, I had (and still have) to plea in english. My accent is horrible

All that to say that is never too late to learn another language and the amelioration comes with the practice.

Hey, look at me. I think that I now get along well in my posts (a little bit of self-congratulation never hurts somebody ).

Wow, never thought that this post would be that long when I started it. Hope I did not bothered you.

Amitiés,
Pierre.

 

[Pierre]

OH LA LA!! very nice Pierre!

...

Ray

I agree with you, Ray. The drawning of Paris, with the view on the roofs, is very well done. Very nice... Oups!... Are you talking about Jeanne?

Seriously, those two graphic novels are incontrovertible works.

Pierre.

 

[Capitolron]

Louis-


I was eleven years old and I remember as clearly as yesterday my first visit there. I can even recall the smells of the place. It was a wonderful and magical summer. It was also my first contacts with other cultures (civilisations). At that time, no cable and no internet (we had our first colour TV in 1966).

Amitiés,
Pierre.

Pierre:

I can bet we knew what you smelled during that magical summer....... ...........little green leaves my friend..
Oui, Oui, Oui -