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Post by jeep on Mar 15, 2009 2:18:55 GMT -5
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Post by jeep on Mar 15, 2009 2:50:55 GMT -5
M2 Bradley Prototype The Ordinance Museum is well aware of the deterioration of the Pieces, especially the German armor that was cut open. There is very little they can do as there is not money to do any restoration work, Very limited indoor storage prevents storage of all but the most at risk pieces so 95% sits out and rusts in the weeds. Some pieces do get at least a coat of paint as soon as they can afford it. My friend, rich beside a Somua S-35 for scale, It is dodge caravan sized This is one of the better German tanks condition wise, Faded and peeling primer has been slathered over it in a attempt to keep the rusty remains from blowing away. Most of the Tanks have the Right hand side of the Hull and Turret Cut open so the interiors are open to the elements. Most of them were full of water. This is what brought Rich and I to the ordinance Museum, I was researching a model of a 1/16 scale King tiger and several 1/35 scale panthers, Sadly the Museums Tiger was lent to a German Museum which was supposed to restore it, they did not, It was then supposed to be returned, it was not, Right now it is in a Museum in England on display while they figure out how to restore it. The Museums Ferdinand and King tiger(s) were hauled to the Patton armour Museum a few years ago and stored. Was the Museum worth the trip, yes, that said it was a pain to get on base, and we left disappointed in the condition of the exibits, I have another roll of film somewhere to upload
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Post by sir veilance on Mar 15, 2009 9:14:07 GMT -5
I visited there too about ten years ago. It is a shame, like you said that so many of the tanks are just rusting away. There are many unique pieces of WW2 history just sitting there open to the elements. I was flabbergasted when I saw how some of the German tanks had been cut open to show the interior, which has increased their deterioration There a some cool aspects of going, if you are in that area. On display is the Anzio Annie railroad gun, as well as all the tanks. There is an indoor museum with a fantastic collection of small arms and on the road in, there is a section of boulevard called, the mile of tanks, which has an example of every American tank ever built, run down the island in the middle of the road. By the way, the Elephant tank from the Museum was just featured on "Tank Overhaul", it was repainted and stabilized, but not really overhauled as in having the interior restored or made drivable. Now that would have been cool seeing and elephant moving around on it's own power
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click
Sergeant
Company G, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Posts: 1,764
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Post by click on Mar 15, 2009 9:25:42 GMT -5
Cool pics, thanks for sharing! Though, in the trench system there is a distinct lack of mud. Click
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Post by jeep on Mar 15, 2009 9:38:21 GMT -5
There was lots of mud and those uncured white oak timbers were H E A V Y We did cheat a little, there is a drain under the duck boards. It has changed a bit since those photos were taken, I'll try to l get some fresh ones posted soon.
No problem, I'm trying to find the disk that has the German armor and field guns on it. Thanks for the heads up on tank over haul. Sir Veilance, is correct the indoor part of the museum is top notch. Right now Carlisle is the new project but even they have slowed down.
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mccallion
Private 1st Class
Official Road Sign Reader (retired)
Posts: 770
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Post by mccallion on Mar 15, 2009 9:50:50 GMT -5
deffentally a lack of mud in the trench system i think that it is very sad to see these rare tanks just rotting away especally the hunting tiger!
mccallion
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Post by jeep on Mar 15, 2009 10:44:45 GMT -5
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Young Blood
Corporal
Dog Co. 504 PIR, 82nd Airborne (SoCal)
Posts: 876
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Post by Young Blood on Mar 18, 2009 0:09:15 GMT -5
..those are some awsome pics.. no panzer tank..??-Eddie
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Post by jeep on Mar 18, 2009 1:28:48 GMT -5
I can't find my copies of most of the tanks on my hard drive, I'll see if I can get get Rich's next time I see him. Honestly, The condition of most of the panzers are really really poor. The image of the panther is a example of the molestation that most of them have gone through. The pieces or armor that were cut out were taken to the range for testing. After the war the half the collection was cut up for scrap by a over zealous LT to feed the Korea Conflict war effort. What remained was stored indoors for a few years until the Vietnam conflict made space a premium. The collection was then moved out into the weather to fill with water and rust for lack of any other facilities. I really wish that some thing was done about it, this is our history disappearing before our eyes. Just think about all the lives that were sacrificed to capture these vehicles in the first place. My feeling is we owe those soldiers better treatment of these treasures. The Museum staff agrees with this but have no budget to do anything more than they already are. Maybe the History channels "save our history" might be able to help but I doubt anything will change.
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Post by Fusilier on Jun 9, 2009 11:15:27 GMT -5
..those are some awsome pics.. no panzer tank..??-Eddie A "Panzer" tank??? Alrighty then... I've been there numerous times,and it's a crime how the German armor is/was so neglected.The Europeans,especially the French of all people take a lot better care of the WW2 armor they have,especially their former enemy's. The German tanks at that museum came here in working order, but were never preserved. Just had layer upon layer of awful primer slathered on there by new recruits! Sad..
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YankeeDiv26
Staff Sgt.
Frustrated Mac Owner
BDM<33
Posts: 2,462
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Post by YankeeDiv26 on Jun 9, 2009 22:06:15 GMT -5
Excellent! The trenches remind me of those at newville PA.
-Tim
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