I discovered BNA Model World recently. Nice model webstore where I ordered a MaxxPro Bronco Models but shipping costs from Australia are very expensive.
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Maybe a decade or so later a base commander pointed out to a friend of mine a certain female senior NCO, saying (in slightly awestruck tones) āI donāt know how she does it, but I think sheās had every woman in the campā¦ā
M
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Perhaps to your destination, but shipping from Oz is less expensive than from getting stuff through the US border and into Canada
Customs fees, duty, processing charges. These added $150 to my last order from Wanamaker.
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yeah, BNA is my go to here in Oz. Theres a limited number of hobby stores. weāre lucky enough to have a few in Brisbane, which carry a good range, but for more obscure stuff, BNA is pretty well stocked
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I kind of thought BNA was more widespread. Iāve used them a long time for a variety of my modeling needs - primarily aftermarket items. Iāve found shipping to the US to be quite fair and have never had an order cancelled due to stock issues. Granted, small vs. large packages. And they are really, really responsive to queries.
Mike
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The only reason us lot used to frequent that heaving throng was to try and poach some of the more attractive pre-converts (curious then) away from their, how shall I phrase thisā¦ā¦.āstronger-minded and more demonstrativeā partners in waiting
The odd success, but there was often a black eye or a split lip in the group next morning.
End of my thread drift!
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Hah! That reminds meā¦and with that phrase most Armorama members will close down their computers. The female Warrant Officersā and Sergeantsā Mess in the garrison at Rheindahlen, BAOR, was referred by us - never to their faces - as āThe Dragonsā Messā. Visiting there as a young, callow Sergeant back in 1980, was not for the faint-hearted, and besides, one normally had to be invited. As it happened, after a dinner night in our own Mess, clad in our finery and looking irresistible (or so we thought) we, led by an inspiring young Warrant Officer, gate-crashed the Dragonsā Mess, and attempted to impress all. Replete with a seething mixture of beer, wine, port, and probably some gin, we thought we were going great guns in wooing the more ahem, normal Mess members.
Suddenly, their RSM - a fearsome biddy who had seen service in Aden for starters, appeared and demanded to know what the hell was going on in her Mess. Such was our confusion, and letās face it, abject terror, despite the alcohol, we fled via the windows, apart from one hapless individual who was later found asleep in the toilets.
Not my finest hour.
PS: I forgot to mention; the ācaptiveā Sergeant, a great mate of mine, had his Mess Kit removed, his genitalia blackened with boot polish, and was left to come to on the Saturday morning, to make his way back to our own Mess. This meant transiting a German public road in his boxers.
On the Monday morning, he had to present himself to the WRAC RSM, and ask, āPlease can I have my Mess Kit back Maāam?ā
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Much disruption in the hobby lobby/truck plant atm. Itās all been moved to another room downstairs in preparation for some renovations after a flood.
Anyway, got the mudflaps and fenders on, spare wheel made from the MMF tire and Trumpy rim, like all the road wheels. Spare dry fitted for now until I get the *davit in place and the locking plate fabbed. After mirrors and odds and ends itāll be on to weathering the beast. Trailer and load pending.
*Not sure if the davit sits āinā the square tube base on the rear platform when not in use, or is lashed to the side or back of it. Any clues?
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The M916 is looking great. Excellent job on it so far. I need to get started on my M915A3 soon. Iām contemplating making it armored or not.
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Great story I love hearing of the past exploits as now this would be some kind of hazing and all personnel involved would be facing some sort of judicial punishment. I miss the old days when things were fun.
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Thanks Gino, I recently discovered the Trumpy frame is slightly too short. The frame siderail isnāt any deeper top to bottom than the M915 frame but was made in a heavier-guage steel. I then compared it to the MMF frame and realized the absence of built-in gussets for the winch deck as well as a few spots where features on the ā5 were left off the ā6 and vice versa. (Weirdly enough the MMF supplied frame was intended for the M917 that I got same time as the ā6)
Anyway too late to do anything about the dimensions, not that it worries me. Good luck with your next build. I do like that armoured cab!
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Absolutely Michael, btw any memory from your time behind the wheel of where the spare wheelās davit sits when itās not in use?
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The problem it the M916 I drove was the Freightliner version, so the spare was under the winch decking on the driver side. and most of our trucks did not carry the spares, due to the fact that if the truck took a hit and started on fire then the spare just turned into a fuel source. I spent 99% of the time in the M984 and MRV and we would carry the spares there with us.
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Understood. Was the tire left off only because of its proximity to the fuel tank? Iām wondering now at the accuracy of leaving my spare on the o/s bracket, think it looks great - but accurate?
Anyway I appreciate your knowledge on this truck.
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I would leave the spare mounted. In previous conflicts, esp. ODS, IEDs were not a problem, and the spare would likely not be removed.
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I second this, in garrison the spares were there but I canāt for the life of me remember all the details. I only test drove the 916s after maintenance when we were not deployed due to the fact they belonged to the engineers and no to the maintenance team.
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Are you going to do the OEF/OIF armored version of tan painted armor over the NATO tri camo?
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Possibly. I like the look of it. I have all the parts for the basic truck already. I just need to decide on the extra armor and how to do it. Most likely I will and will scratch it in sheet styrene as I canāt find it anywhere to 3D print and I am not good enough at CAD yet to make them.
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That should be an acceptable route most of the ad on armor was pretty straight forward in shaped nothing crazy.
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As a child, that place was out of bounds.
Rumour had it people disappeared around them blocks.
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