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Posted by Ralph Wood on May 10, 2022, 6:17:33, in reply to "Well..."
I just remembered...
Back in the mid 1980s, I knew a WWII dive bomber pilot. He had served on several carriers during the war. A visit to his house showed he had built himself a model collection of the aircraft he flew. Ships/ship models were "not my thing" at that point. I had no collection of books, and there was no internet, but I did know of the Revell 1/720 Intrepid kit. Picked one up, and built it for him. I was not about to attempt the dazzle scheme. I painted it "gray"...don't recall the exact shade.
When I gave it to him, he exclaimed "That's an Essex!" Was good to know the kit at least resembled one enough that he could recognize that. It then displaced a model of a sailing ship on his mantle for several weeks, after which a visit showed it gone, and the sailing ship back. He had given it to his grandson. Best possible fate for it, as far as I am concerned.
So, a bit more back on topic. 
Previous Message
My father served "in armor" in WWII as a radioman. He told me that he had ridden in tanks, but when his unit got to combat, he was in the command halftrack, and that was the vehicle he got his Bronze Star in. He died back when I was 18, but I am "inclined to keep a halftrack" around, somewhere. (I generally avoid armor...not a favorite subject at all.)
As a child of 3 or 4, I clearly recall being given an old Auburn rubber halftrack toy. Later, as a teenager, I picked up a Hotwheels halftrack, which survived multiple moves, ending up in my current place. Some years back, I got an old 1:76 Airfix halftrack, disposed of the Hotwheels number, and proudly built it. There! I finally had a "real" half track.
Except... I then began research. The old Airfix model is a mish-mash of M3 and M5 features, and as the British mainly used them as cargo haulers, not troop carriers, it lacks seating in the rear.
Sigh...
Still, I have grown to love the thing. It is venerable and "nostalgic"...a "toy from my youth" by its era...while still remaining a fitting emblem of my father's service. I call it Chitty-chitty Bang Bang because it has the huge front fenders of an M5 halftrack...almost looks like it could fly.
OT, but you asked... Previous Message
I was just wondering what kits, and why. I've done it three times-
BWN USS Sturgeon as USS Pintado, for my best friend, who was a bubblehead aboard her,
Revell USS Montrose as USS Bosque, for my wife's uncle, who was a radioman aboard Bosque during WW2 and witnessed the surrender ceremonies at Tokyo Bay,
and Arii USS Midway, for my uncle, who served aboard her during Viet Nam (I also served briefly aboard Midway, but after he did).
Sadly, the Midway model was lost during the Camp Wildfire in 2018, which destroyed his home and most of the town of Paradise, where my uncle had retired.
So let's hear YOUR stories!
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