There’s even video of that!
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Well, not quite like that but the sentiment was there - that of an oppressive regime; all those fortifications and sheer effort, just to keep its own people in. Jeez.
PS: I’d forgotten how amusing that film was (up to a point) - I haven’t seen it in years!
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Sorry Jakko, missed this bit; all very redolent of the times.
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Just a post-postscript - I was only 25!
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I picked up one in Berlin as well. Came with some sort of orange and white cover that I removed. I would think after the wall fell they’d be selling them off like bratwurst.
The Big Apple on the Ku’Damm. Or so I’ve heard… 
Like the entirety of East Berlin.
Great idea by the way - somehow I missed it until now. Afraid I can’t help too much - most of what I photographed I either should not have been there or should not have been taking photos at all - Spandau Prison comes to mind. I dare not even show those here.
But this was cool - a “spy” trade, although Anatoliy Scharanskiy refused to call it that:
And some young GI who manged to talk his way right up to the very best spot there was:
The uniforms may help - circa 1985.
A patrol boat:
My buddy and I followed a tour bus through the gate. We very nearly caused an international incident. My horrible Russain only made things worse.
I’ve got more border guards walking and on motorbikes, but I’ll really have to dig to find them.
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I hope @Spaceman Manfred see this thread and shares a story or two as he was there when all this was taking place in his country.
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I’ve got photos of those as well:
They’re on the patrol road I mentioned. Turn right in the same spot and it looked like this:
West Berlin on the right, behind the (remains of the) concrete wall, East Germany on the left behind the trees. And what the wall itself looked like in this area:
The low “wall” at the front is the parapet side of the trench/vehicle trap you can also see in the previous photo, overgrown with bushes that probably weren’t there until the previous October.
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One of my few regrets for my time in West Germany is that I never took the train to West Berlin. Alas, my clearance meant that going there was an unmitigated paperwork pain the buttocks, so I went to Paris twice instead.
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As I’ve said before I miss my Cold War.
Interesting pics; I think the venue (re bath, women etc) was called Mon Cheri; old Berlin hands from the Brit Sector will know I’m sure.
Thank God I wasn’t posted there - my liver wouldn’t have stood it.
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Take note that the NVA/Grenztruppen had a different version of folding stock AK-´.
The gun was named MPI-KMS in East Germany.
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Cheapskate version of diorama:
Make a photo backdrop and position the vehicle and maybe two figures in front of the backdrop.
This will NOT be a diorama but it would still convey the message and the “ambience” of the situation.
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I believe that type of stock was not in use in 1961 but came later - 1964. I have to have some with the stock extended as the Alanger/ICM figures are all configured for the solid stock.
I have attempted to portray this type but realise it is not exact:
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I’m around halfway through the figures required Robin so I think I’ll soldier-on. Thanks though for the suggestion.
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I couldn’t imagine that you would consider giving up now 
I was planting an idea for the future and possibly also for the benefit of others
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Progress a bit slow folks; my sort of production line here:
and at least one nearly completed (weapon sling to be added):
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Excellent work on converting those figures Brian
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Thanks - a bit tedious but I’m getting there perhaps.
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Outstanding Brian!
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Very well done! Some SMRT thinking on your patent pending thing-a-ma-jig.
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