US Engineers - American Expeditionary Forces (2 Viewers)

[mestell]

As some of you know from previous posts, JJD WWI set GWUS-02, "2 Engineers in Working Dress, American Expeditionary Forces", was based on photos of my grandfather while in France in 1918, which I provided copies of to John for his research. My grandfather was an Engineer in the AEF from 1917-1919. It was a fun little project which culminated in, what I think is a nice set of figures. Last year, after the Chicago OTSN show, I received a very nice surprise from John. It was an original "artist sketch" of his conceptional idea as to how my "grandfather's" figure should look like, based on photos provided. As you can see, the final production figure is a very close and impressive 3-D version of the original sketch I am very pleased to have this sketch in my collection and I have it framed and displayed next to the figure. This morning I decided to take a photo of the "sketch" and the figure as I have them displayed. Also in the photo is GWUS-01, "Mack Bulldog Truck" and GWUS-07H, "US Version Renault FT w/Hotchkiss 8mm MG". The Bulldog Mack Truck loaded with the FT is also based on a period photograph.

:smile2: Mike

 

[lancer]

Wonderful display, Mike. A very nice tribute to your grandfather's service and memory. -- Al

 

[mestell]

Wonderful display, Mike. A very nice tribute to your grandfather's service and memory. -- Al

Thank you very much Al. I feel extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful collection of my grandfather's WWI memorabilia, which includes a huge amount of photos he took and collected while in France. All too often, these kind of things happen to get misplaced or thrown away over time. I am very lucky that my family preserved these items and passed them down to me for safe keeping.

:smile2: Mike

 

[Fraxinus]

Awesome!!! Can you attach the original photos of your Grandfather so we can fully appreciate the work?

 

[mestell]

Awesome!!! Can you attach the original photos of your Grandfather so we can fully appreciate the work?

Here is the main photo that John ended up using for the development of the US Engineer AEF figures. My grandfather is the one in the middle . . . . . The second period photo is self explanatory . . .
:smile2: Mike

Members of Company F, 17th RR Engineer Bttn, France 1918 - My grandfather is in the middle



Mack Bulldog Truck carrying US version of Renault FT tank w/US Engineers

 

[Terp152]

Great collection and display Mike. Chris

 

[Fraxinus]

Superb!!!

 

[ivanmoe]

Awesome sets, Mike. Seeing them so thoroughly personalized must be a real thrill for you. I see comments from collectors, periodically, in which they discuss the circumstances under which they'd let go of their "stuff." However, something tells me that those sets will be a treasured family possession for generations to come. Congrats on having inspired JJ to bring them to life for you and for the rest of us.

-Moe

 

[mestell]

Awesome sets, Mike. Seeing them so thoroughly personalized must be a real thrill for you. I see comments from collectors, periodically, in which they discuss the circumstances under which they'd let go of their "stuff." However, something tells me that those sets will be a treasured family possession for generations to come. Congrats on having inspired JJ to bring them to life for you and for the rest of us.

-Moe

Thanks Moe . . . . You hit the nail on the head . . . . . I know the Engineer figures are not the "sexiest" looking figures one could have, but knowing the inspiration behind their development really does make them very special to me.
:smile2: Mike

 

[cantinetozzo]

Please Mike can you repost the picture of your grandfather? I just received this beautiful set with the engineers, tank, truck and officer (as a prize for the caption contest)and i'm very curious to look at the picture that gave the inspiration for the set! Thanks!

 

[ivanmoe]

Please Mike can you repost the picture of your grandfather? I just received this beautiful set with the engineers, tank, truck and officer (as a prize for the caption contest)and i'm very curious to look at the picture that gave the inspiration for the set! Thanks!

No doubt, Mike would have reposted the images. However, he contributed to another thread with what I believe are some of the same pics (which are inaccessible directly above because of PB). Here's a link to the thread:


https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com...-my-Grandfather-served-in-the-U-S-Army-in-WWI

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

No doubt, Mike would have reposted the images. However, he contributed to another thread with what I believe are some of the same pics (which are inaccessible directly above because of PB). Here's a link to the thread:


https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com...-my-Grandfather-served-in-the-U-S-Army-in-WWI

-Moe

It occurs to me that I should have put a on the above comment, as I wouldn't want member cantinetozzo to sense the spirit of my suggestion as being brusque and/or overly officious. I am but a humble collector, and my intention was purely to inform. That's all!:wink2:

-Moe

 

[mestell]

Please Mike can you repost the picture of your grandfather? I just received this beautiful set with the engineers, tank, truck and officer (as a prize for the caption contest)and i'm very curious to look at the picture that gave the inspiration for the set! Thanks!

Here they are:

My grandfather is the middle figure in the photo on the lower left corner. Hard to see, but he has a pipe in his mouth. This is the photo John used to create his AEF Engineers. His original pencil conception sketch is also shown along with the finished figure as released. The other photo is the one John used to create the Mack "Bulldog" Truck hauling a US variant of a French Renault Tank . . .

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Here are the original photos John used:

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[ivanmoe]

Mike, I'd forgotten how closely JJ modeled his figures after your pics. Very, Very cool!

-Moe

 

[cantinetozzo]

Here they are:

My grandfather is the middle figure in the photo on the lower left corner. Hard to see, but he has a pipe in his mouth. This is the photo John used to create his AEF Engineers. His original pencil conception sketch is also shown along with the finished figure as released. The other photo is the one John used to create the Mack "Bulldog" Truck hauling a US variant of a French Renault Tank . . .

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View attachment 222061​

Here are the original photos John used:

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Thanks a lot Mike! John is an artist.. thank you again..i'll post soon my figures! It' s great to know they are modeled on real people!

 

[cantinetozzo]

It occurs to me that I should have put a on the above comment, as I wouldn't want member cantinetozzo to sense the spirit of my suggestion as being brusque and/or overly officious. I am but a humble collector, and my intention was purely to inform. That's all!:wink2:

-Moe

Don't worry and thanks for the link. I really appreciate, some way i missed it ..