172Shermans Blog - Latest comments

tom Fiocchi [Visitor] in response to: Have a House

tom Fiocchi [Visitor] — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:28:32 +0000

Hey Doug:
how has your summer been, sir? all settled in I hope? I jsut finished an M4A3 with Somerfield matting on it and it came out pretty swell. I 'm going to take some pictures and hope fully do some step by step shots for an article for the Sherman site. My M36's are almost done too, I did a normal one and a the B2 on the m4a3 chassis. they have been quite fun, but those Extratech kits leave a lot of detail off. I'm almost done Cpl Overby's M18 and got isnpired to do a Super pershing, and just wieghted the front on it and started the extra armor. very interesting. Hope you are well! Tom

tom Fiocchi [Visitor] in response to: Getting Closer to Being Permanently Back On-line

tom Fiocchi [Visitor] — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:37:11 +0000

Hey Doug:
congrats on the house, hope closing went without a hitch....now the big question: What kind of space are you getting for the ole hobby? I'm working out of a dormer in the attic room, actually nice, but pretty tight and rather warm in the summer months. Made it to AMPS but got a $110 speeding ticket cause I was talking to my son instead of paying attention to the signs and a trooper got me. (Also not paying attention earlier, adn had to stop quick adn my box of models hit the floor, breaking off lots of fagile pieces....bummer.) So I really couldnt buy much in all good concience. did get a phot etch bike and buckets, and some alum. barrels. good to meet the guys, and some inspiring builds. just there for saturday and the vendors really broke down kind of early. Museum was interesting, only one true tank, a chieftain outside in the rain, but and M18 and a marder 3 M inside , but every German halftrack, truck, ever made it seemed. Hope you are setting into your new job. I know how stressful that can be!
Tom

Doug [Member] in response to: In Wisconsin

Doug [Member] — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:54:02 +0000

Modeling can wait? MODELING CAN WAIT?!?!?!

Sacrilege!!
:-)

Thanks for the support Florin.
-D

Florin [Visitor] in response to: In Wisconsin

Florin [Visitor] — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Doug, don't feel discouraged. Modeling can wait for a while. Good luck in finding a house!

tom Fiocchi [Visitor] in response to: Won't be Updating 172Shermans.com for a While

tom Fiocchi [Visitor] — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:23:45 +0000

Doug: wow, sounds like a lot of responsibiliy! As to the veil, I bought tool on two separate occasions cause I spaced out that I had bought it before....so I have enough to equip an army group!!! It is pretty cool at Pax River as they are testing all the navy wingy things, got to check out the osprey, and the new F35 VSTOL plus there is a great museum with simulators you can fly agains each other in an actual cockpit. His job is very cool.
Tom

Doug [Member] in response to: Won't be Updating 172Shermans.com for a While

Doug [Member] — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:49:07 +0000

Hey Tom,
The new job is with the US Forest Service. I'll be the Regional Planning and Monitoring Coordinator for Region 9 (20 states - approximately all of the northeastern US from MN eastward).

I always wanted to get a job as a wildlife biologist on a military base. Applied for one once for Camp Pendleton, but didn't land it. Would have been a great confluence of my interests in nature and the military! Oh well.

Wedding veil for chicken wire? What a great idea. Hope your wife is aware of your plans for her dress..... :-)

tom fiocchi [Visitor] in response to: Won't be Updating 172Shermans.com for a While

tom fiocchi [Visitor] — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:22:17 +0000

Sounds cool Doug,
I'm gonna try to make it also but will be in a similair situation, It is a week before tech for one of our shows, so it will sort of depend on how insane I am. Would be cool to meet you in person. hope the move goes well. What is the new job? you were a naturalist down in Florida, right? My Bro in law manages the wildlife and land at PAX River naval Air station in southern MD. It is a pretty cool job. does a lot of trying to keep the wildlife off of runways by natural means. He has put together a pretty cool museum too. last time I was there, I got to see Bald eagles nesting, really awesome.
on the modeling front, the halftracks are going well , but the CMZ drilling unit is way too big so I'm going nuts trying to get it down to size. I cant see how that unit actually rotated in the back of a 251. also started getting that Beutepanzer M4 of dragon's into shape to be a real soviet one. I cant believe the amount of spare parts that come with that kit! they just mixed and matched till they had the correct pieces. it has three turret sprues, too bad they didnt include the tops to all the turrets, cant have everything though, it is tricking out my trumpeter M4A3 though that I'm going to try and put sommerford matting on. I'm hoping that wedding viel tool will be scale enough for chicken wire.
Tom

Doug [Member] in response to: M4 Photoetched Details from Modelltrans

Doug [Member] — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:43:29 +0000

My pleasure. As I mentioned, it's not much use for Dragon Shermans, since they all come with their own etched details. And same for UM. But for Trumpeter, Italeri, and all the many resin Shermans we have available, this set is a must.