Hi Guys,
Sorry I've been MIA so far in this group build. I have been busy getting a few new kits figured out and added to the website and it's been all consuming. I managed to make it to IPMS Phoenix and had a fun time catching up with some of the Tanks and Things members who stopped by our tables.
I'm glad to see the interest in this group build and can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. I'm going to be mailing the kits out this weekend and we'll all just have to see how long they take to get to everyone.
Regarding an image of the kit...of course that would be very helpful and I also remember there was something somewhere early on. If I were checking the site more often, I might have been astute enough to ask about it.
Anyway, I am attaching an image of the kit and one image of a vignette I made using it and...our Cobblestone Corner kit, surprisingly enough.
The very nice image of the well at St. Marie DuMont indeed shows where my inspiration came from. I didn't want to replicate the actual well exactly, as it is very well known, but I incorporated some features and other details from wells in other locations.
An interesting (at least I think) little scene happened when I was visiting the town some years ago. Very close to the well was a shop that had a lot of artifacts from the beaches and fields and some relics for sale. An older lady was on duty that day and she spoke little english. I've since been told that she has passed away and the shop is closed, though I can't verify that.
In any case, I was taking it all in and trying to make nice with my limited French when a boy about 10 years old came in with his Father. They were familiar to the lady and after some conversation, the boy handed her some money and helped himself to a Panzerfaust that was sitting upright in a sectioned rack with other pieces of ordnance and equipment. It was painted midwar German yellow and was complete with stenciling and instructions on the warhead. It was surely something that had been restored to look clean and functional. The boy was grinning ear to ear and the Dad rolled his eyes a bit and they hurried out of the store with their prize.
I was able to ascertain that the kid had been making payments on the Panzerfaust and I had witnessed the final payment. I thought about myself at that age and how I saved money to buy model kits and how my Dad drove me to the hobby shop even though he had no interest in what I thought was important at the time, of course.
I thought that kid was pretty fortunate to be able to touch and own relics of that terrible time. I assume he was aware and learning the history of the war and I bet he builds models.
Thanks for indulging me. I remember that shop whenever I am talking about the Normandy Well.
Mike
!!!! Awesome ! Exactly & that picture from duMont !!
Thanks, those photos are great inspiration.
