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This build is the direct result of the previous one. I had so much fun building Whakoe that I wanted to build something aesthetically similar. After rebuilding this character about 4 times (The legs especially had me struggling quite a bit) I got it to a state that has me satisfied. I don't want to indulge any longer on this MOC, as I have other projects to complete. Hope you like it!
c/n 9683901V
Built 1971.
NATO codename:- Hook
The PZh-2 (also reported as POZh) was a fire fighting variant with a steerable water cannon under the nose.
It is rumoured that this helicopter was one used at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant immediately following the 1986 disaster.
On display at the Central Air Force museum, Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
27th August 2017
Place: Taichung
Although they seem nearly extinct in Taipei/Xinbei, I found quite a few of these in Taichung: the third generation Mitsubishi Minicab (1976-1982), codenamed L100.
Panorama - Omaha Beach - Dog 1 Exit aka "the Vierville Draw" and WN72, Dog Green sector, Vierville-sur-Mer, Normandy
Omaha Beach
Omaha beach is a stretch of beach roughly 5 miles or 8 km. long between Vierville-sur-Mer and Ste Honorine des pertes on the coast of Normandy. It was one of the five designated landing areas for the biggest invasion ever during WWII in the summer of 1944.
Omaha was divided into ten sectors by the Allies; codenamed (from west to east): Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog Green, Dog White, Dog Red, Easy Green, Easy Red, Fox Green and Fox Red.
On june 6, 1944 -D-Day - the initial assault on Omaha was to be made by two Regimental Combat Teams (RCT), supported by two tank battalions, with two battalions of Rangers also attached. The RCT's were part of the veteran 1st Infantry division ("The Big Red One") and the untested 29th div.("Blue and Grey") , a National Guard unit.
The plan was to make frontal assaults at the "draws" (valleys) in the bluffs which dominate the coast in Normandy. Codenamed west to east they were called D-1, D-3, E-1, E-3 and F-1 . These draws could then be used to move inland with reserves and vehicles.
The German defenders were not stupid; they knew the draws were vital and concentrated their limited resources in defending them. To this end and lead by the famous "Desert Fox" Field-Marshall Erwin Rommel they built "Widerstandsneste" with AT guns, mortars, MG's in Tobruk's, trenches and bunkers. These were manned by soldiers of the German 716th and 352nd Infantry Division, a large portion of whom were teenagers, though they were supplemented by veterans who had fought on the Eastern Front . All in all some 1100 German soldiers defended the entire Omaha beach sector.
Preliminary bombardments were almost totally ineffective and when the initial waves landed at low tide they met with fiece opposition of an enemy well dug in and prepared. Most of the floating tanks (Sherman DD type) never made it to the beach due to the rough seas or were taken out by AT guns. Their role to support the infantry following them was reduced to almost zero before the battle even begun.
Casualties were heaviest amongst the troops landing at either end of Omaha. At Fox Green and Easy Red scattered elements of three companies were reduced to half strength by the time they gained the relative safety of the shingle, many of them having crawled the app. 300 yards (270 m) of beach just ahead of the incoming tide. Casualties were especially heavy amongst the first waves of infantry and the "gap assault teams" made by Combat Engineers - at Omaha these were tasked with blasting channels through the beach obstacles.
Situation at Dog Green and Easy Red by mid morning was so bad with nearly all the troops essentially pinned down on the beach gen. Eisenhower seriously considered to abandon the operation; in "First Wave at OMAHA Beach", S.L.A. Marshall, chief U.S. Army combat historian, called it "an epic human tragedy which in the early hours bordered on total disaster."
As the first waves of infantry, tanks and combat engineers landing directly opposite the "draws" were pinned down it was up to forces landing on the flanks of these strongpoints to penetrate the weaker German defences by climbing the bluffs. Doing this they had to overcome minefields and barbed wire as well as machinegun fire from German positions but they did and they were able to attack some key strongpoints from the side and the rear, taking them out by early afternoon.
This happened on several spots at Omaha and essentially saved the day: individual acts of initiative by lower ranked officers and courage like that of First Lieutenant Jimmy Monteith, who led a group of men to take one of the key German widerstandsneste and was killed in action, succeeded where a flawed plan failed. By the end of the day most of the German strongpoints had been taken and the battle was won - albeit at a terrible cost.
Dog-1 exit:
The infamous "Dog-1" exit towards Vierville-sur-mer lies in the Dog Green sector of Omaha which saw some of the heaviest fighting in the morning of june 6, 1944. It was a vital target in the plans of the Allies to secure a beachhead in Normandy on D-day and was heavily fortified by the Germans as a part of their "Atlantic Wall" .
The reason why this particular spot on Omaha Beach was so heavily defended is the famous "Vierville Draw": a road through the bluffs leading directly to the town of Vierville-sur-Mer and then connecting to the Route Nationale. In other words: an ideal spot for a breakout after the landings and of course the Germans realised this too, making the Dog-1 exit a deathtrap for anyone trying to take it.
The Defenses
The Draw was defended by three German "Widerstandsneste" numbered WN 71, WN72 and WN73 and manned by members of the 352nd division, a well equipped and well trained Wehrmacht Infantry division.
WN72 consisted of two H-667 type casemates on the waterfront directly overlooking the beach with one of them housing a formidable 88 mm. PAK43 gun. It's still there.
Both casemates are guarded from fire from the sea and have gun positions enfilading the beach, their muzzle flashes not visible from the sea. In 1944 these bunkers were protected by barbed wire, minefields and trenches.
The hill behind also had several strongpoints of WN 71 (to the east) and 73 (to the west). With at least nine MG positions , two mortar positions and a light fieldgun on top of the bluffs these defenses were the best the Germans had to offer in the entire Omaha sector. To top it off an anti-tank wall 2 metres high was erected to block any vehicle.
D-Day
When A-Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry of the 29th "Blue & Grey" division landed here (an old Virginia National Guard Unit with a long tradition harking back to Stonewall Jackson's Brigade) it was "H-Hour" on D-Day: june 6, 1944: 06.30 hour. They were coming in exactly on the right spot opposite the draw (a lot of units in other sectors drifted away from their designated areas due to the strong current) in six Royal Navy LCA assault boats. The soldiers could clearly see the German bunkers in the distance and to their horror the beach was untouched by the preliminary bombardments. They had to cross a large stretch of beach -some 250 metres - towards the Vierville draw.
The Germans, untouched by the rocket barrage and other preliminary bombings, waited until the landing craft were all empty and then opened fire with their MG 38's and 42's, their mortars, and their AT-Guns.
It was carnage. A-Company was virtually wiped out within the first minutes of the landing; no one knows exactly what happened with the 30 men in LCA 1015 but all of them were killed, and most of their bodies were found on the beach, commanding officer captain Taylor Fellers among them. In fact all but one officers were killed within the first minutes, as were more then half of the soldiers and NCO's. Those who did survive the initial onslaught could do little more then stay in the water or press them self against the sand hanging on to their lifes. The shingle bank offered a little bit of protection to the happy few who made it that far, but most survivors had to stay in the water, creeping forward with the rising tide.
Incredible acts of heroism were performed by men trying to help their wounded comrades out of the water only to see them cut down by enemy fire or get shot themselfes. A-Company was reduced from an assault company to what was essentially not more then a small rescue party within 15 minutes. Dazed and shellshocked men who did survive the initial onslaught and managed to find relative safety at the shingles bank.
The follow up troops of the second wave didn't fare much better and subsequent waves landed more to the east of this WN where resistance was less heavy.
Among the casualties in A-company were 19 men from Bedford, VA. Bedford’s population in 1944 was about 3,200, and proportionally the Bedford community suffered the nation’s most severe D-Day losses.
Note: Some Ranger units also landed here just to the west of Dog Green on Charlie sector (the right part of the Panorama) and this was the inspiration for the famous first scene of the 1998 movie "Saving Private Ryan".
the Photo:
The panorama shows Dog Green and Charlie sectors and was taken very close to the exact position where the LCA's would have dropped the first wave around 06.30, june 6, 1944. At that time the tide was at it's lowest, here we have a hight tide where the water has almost reached the shore with only a few feet of beach left. (Which would have been the situation around noon on D-day, the tide comes in fast and ferocious here. the GI's had to move forward with the tide rising behind them to avoid drowning!). In the middle is the Draw - clearly visible are the two German bunkers. To the right of the Draw is Charlie sector with the Bluffs climbed by the US Rangers.
An observation post was situated just below the bungalow clearly visible halfway up the hill. MG positions and mortar positions and fieldgun were placed on top of the bluffs over a stretch of some 200 metres.
Click for a direct link to the original large image with more detail .
See my other Omaha beach photo's for more viewpoints, panorama shots and notes on the fighting
Tonemapped using 5x3(handheld) shots made with a Nikon D7000, augustus 2012 and then stitched together using photoshop.
c/n 080010706, l/n 31.
Built 1970.
NATO codename ‘May’
Named “Radij Papkovskij”, this was the first upgraded ‘N’ variant to be delivered and is reported to be operated by the 859th Centre for Combat Application and Crew Training for Naval Aviation (TsBP I PLS MA VMF) Russian Navy, based at Yeysk.
On static display at the Aviation cluster of the ARMY 2017 event.
Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
24th August 2017
"Little Boy" was the codename for the type of atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 by the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Paul W Tibbets, Jr., commander of the 509th Composite Group of the US Army Air Forces. It was the first atomic bomb to be used in warfare.
The Hiroshima bombing was the second artificial nuclear explosion in history, after the Trinity test, and the first detonation using uranium as its fuel; the design was considered so fundamentally sound that it was not tested before delivery. It exploded with an energy of approximately 15 kilotons of TNT, causing significant destruction to the city of Hiroshima.
Little Boy was developed by Lieutenant Commander Francis Birch's group of Captain William S Parsons's Ordnance (O) Division at the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II. Parsons flew on the Hiroshima mission as weaponeer. The Little Boy was a development of the unsuccessful Thin Man nuclear bomb. Like Thin Man, it was a gun-type fission weapon, but derived its explosive power from the nuclear fission of U-235. This was accomplished by shooting a hollowed-out block of enriched uranium onto a solid cylinder of the same material by means of a charge of nitrocellulose propellant powder (blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2011/11/08/the-mysterious-design-...). It contained 64 kg of enriched uranium, of which less than a kilogram underwent nuclear fission (so in technical terms could be considered quite inefficient!). Its components were fabricated at three different plants so that no one would have a copy of the complete design.
After the war ended, it was not expected that the Little Boy design would ever again be required, and many plans and diagrams were destroyed, but by mid-1946 the Hanford Site plutonium-production reactors were suffering technical problems, so six Little Boy assemblies were produced at Sandia Base. The Navy Bureau of Ordnance built another 25 Little Boy assemblies in 1947 for use by the Lockheed P2V Neptune nuclear strike aircraft (which could be launched from, but not land on, the Midway-class aircraft carriers). All the Little Boy units were withdrawn from service by the end of January 1951.
The above casing, one of six still surviving, has been loaned by the US government to the Imperial War Museum in London, where it is seen at the entrance to their Peace and Security exhibit.
c/n 38400165589.
NATO codename ‘Foxhound’
On static display at the Aviation cluster of the ARMY 2017 event.
Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
23rd August 2017
Funkmeßstellung 2. Ordnung, Codename "Panther":
32. mittl. Flugm.-Leit-Kompanie IV./LN-Rgt 231
Ausstattung:
2x Würzburg-Riese
1x Freya
Codename Nimbel
First Product under our new Flag, the Para Version of the famous AR-94, lovely called "Nimbel". The Stock is foldable to the left.
c/n 5343503.
Built 1965.
NATO codename:- Cub
Last flown in 1996. Stored at Kirzhach until 2015 when it was moved to the new ‘Cold War’ area of ‘Victory Park’ for permanent display.
Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Poklonnaya Hill, Moscow, Russia.
26th August 2017
c/n 2960718121
NATO codename:- Fulcrum-C
Previously part of the adjacent Zhukovski Engineering Academy but now on display at the Central Air Force museum, Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
27th August 2017
c/n 48-3.
NATO codename:- Freestyle
On display at the Vadim Zadorozhny Technical Museum, Arkhangelskoye, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
26th August 2017
OK, this is complicated!
This VSTOL type was designed as replacement for the Yak-38 Forger. It's military designation was the Yak-41M, however, for political and security reasons the aircraft was referred to as the Yak-141 in press releases for the 12 class World records which they set.
Three aircraft were built, the first (48-1) remained as a static test airframe while 48-2 (coded 75 white) and 48-3 (coded 77 white) were flight test aircraft.
In 1991 Lockheed-Martin got involved in the project and as they only knew the type as the '141' then that's how it has been known since then. At that time, both complete aircraft were recoded '141 white'.
In September 1991, this aircraft (48-3) suffered a landing accident on the carrier 'Admiral Gorshkov' and was damaged by the resulting fire.
Stored, it was later statically rebuilt for display in Yakolev's own museum.
When the second aircraft (48-2) stopped flying, it was also preserved. Initially it was at Khodynka but it later moving to Monino, where it remains. Throughout preservation, 48-2 has remained coded '141 white', a code accurate for both airframes.
For some unexplained reason, 48-3, which was originally '77 white' was repainted as '75 white', a code only ever worn by 48-2. Detail differences between the two, particularly in the tail area, confirm that this is, in fact, 48-3, although painted to represent 48-2, which, remember, is preserved at Monino as '141 white'.
Clear? I did say it was complicated!!
Codename=Peter
View on Google Maps in 3D -
www.google.com/maps/place/Feuerleitturm+Augarten/@48.2246...
Flak towers (German: Flaktürme) were eight complexes of large, above-ground, anti-aircraft gun blockhouse towers constructed by Nazi Germany in the cities of Berlin , Hamburg , and Vienna from 1940 onwards. Other cities that used flak towers included Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Smaller single-purpose flak towers were built at key outlying German strongpoints, such as at Angers in France, Helgoland in Germany and Trondheim, Norway.
The towers were used by the Luftwaffe to defend against Allied air raids against these cities during World War II. They also served as air-raid shelters for tens of thousands of local civilians.
Mulberry was the codename for all the various different structures that would create the artificial harbours. These were the "Gooseberries" which metamorphosed into fully fledged harbours. There were two harbours, Mulberry "A" and Mulberry "B". The "Mulberry" harbours consisted of a floating outer breakwater called "Bombardons", a static breakwater consisting of "Corncobs" and reinforced concrete caissons called "Phoenix", floating piers or roadways codenamed "Whales" and ""Beetles" and pier heads codenamed "Spuds". These harbours were both of a similar size to Dover harbour. In the planning of Operation Neptune the term Mulberry "B" was defined as, "An artificial harbour to be built in England and towed to the British beaches at Arromanches."
Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy, France
Marzan Empire
Classification: Melee
Armaments:
(2) SW-MACHETE (Kurosawa recolor)
Pilot: Codename: GHOST
The latest version of the Kurosawa series, the Sword Kai is a stripped down version of the Hyper Kai that goes back to the roots of the design with a much increased mobility rating.
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After numerous successful campaigns against Marzan supply lines, a tired Empire decided to give in and parley with the mysterious pilot of the QU-KRSW, codename: "GHOST".
While many of the Marzan Aristocracy and upper military echelon questioned dealing with a war pirate, numerous deals and a heavy offering of food, money, war supplies, and of course, Quorus was supplied in exchange for GHOST un-officially working as an independent agent for the Marzan Empire, freely doing as he pleases as long as he does not interfere with Marzan business.
His previous reFrame, the QU-KRSW, has been retrofitted with a new design, machine improvements across the board, as well as a huge upgrade to its weapons loadout.
As a safeguard, Marzan engineers were tasked to install a remote detonator inside the Quorus core power chamber to prevent GHOST from crossing them although it's highly likely that's been long diffused by the pirate legend himself.
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More info, WIP details, and other LEGO mechs over at my blog: messymaru.com/
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reFrame Version 3.0 frame (instructions) now available
For those interested in LEGO mech building, I also have an eBook from 2015 called Mech Wars 2015 Instructional Primer. It contains some things I wrote about basic mech building, a bit about my Mech Warsuniverse, and all my early models from 2014-2015. If you’re looking for a resource that could help you start or even improve your mech building skills, you might find this eBook useful.
Utah Beach - Normandy, France.
Utah beach is the codename for the westernmost of the 5 Allied landing zones during D-day. It is the only beach on the Cotentin peninsula and closest to the vital harbour city of Cherbourg. Together with Omaha beach it is the sector where the American forces were disembarked. The amphibious assault, primarily by the US 4th Infantry Division and 70th Tank Battalion, was supported by airborne landings of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division. These Airborne troops were dropped on the Cotentin penisula.
In stark contrast with Omaha beach where the landing turned into a near disaster with most of the troops pinned down for hours with heavy losses in both men and material the landings at Utah went relatively smooth. This does not mean the GI's came ashore unopposed: some 200 casualties were suffered by the 4th division.
One of the factors that contributed to this success was that the preliminary bombing of the target areas here was accurate and the German forces - in contrast with what happened at Omaha beach - were in disarray at H-hour, 06:30, when the first wave of 20 landing craft approached the beach. The GI's of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry landed on Uncle Red and Tare Green sectors. What they didn't know initially was that pushed to the south by strong currents they landed some 1.8 kilometres south of their designated landing spot!
Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was the first high ranking officer that landed and , not discouraged by the dviation, he decided to "start the war from right here". He ordered further landings to be re-routed. As it was this was a good decision because the Americans landed on a relative weak spot in the German defenses. Only one "Widerstandsnest" (WN5) opposed them and it was severely affected by the preliminary bombardments. It took the GI's about an hour to clear the defenses. Today the remains of this German widestandsnest can still be seen and are partly incorporated into the Utah beach museum. Well worth a visit.
After the succesful landings the real difficulties started because of the inundated areas behind the beach and the increasing German resistance which lead to weeks of fighting on the Cotentin peninsula.
On the Photo:
Uncle Red sector - view towards the north.
Tonemapped using three (handheld) shots made with a Fuji X-T3 and Fujinon 16mm f/1.4 lens, september 2019.
A set of photo's with notes of Utah Beach and the Cotentin peninsula with the Airborne sectors.
Here's the complete set of photo's made on Pointe du Hoc over the past years
My Omaha beach photo's with several viewpoints, panorama shots and notes on the fighting
These are my photo's and notes of the British and Canadian sectors: Gold, Juno and Sword.
My LEGO Iron Man Hulkbuster MOC has been brought straight out of 2015's biggest blockbuster 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron.' The Hulkbuster is fan-favourite from Stark's hall of armour.
The Mark XLIV Armour (codenamed Veronica, also known as the Hulkbuster) is Tony Stark's forty-fourth Iron Man suit. The suit was designed to match the incredible strength of the Hulk should he ever need to be taken out, being powered by over eleven Arc Reactors in order to grant the strength required for such a task. It's a modular suit this is operated from within while being linked to the Mark XLIII Armour. Using an independent propulsion system, each limb can fly to the user and automatically assemble into being composed of individual parts, the XLIV is still able to sustain extreme damage from the Hulk, unlike the XLII.
Iron Man strides forward to grapple with the green-skinned Avenger, leg pistons cranking and his right arm stretching out to make contact. While the resemblance to the classic Iron Man armour is readily apparent (especially in the dark red and pearl gold colour scheme), the Hulkbuster takes it to a whole new level with a towering frame, thick armour plating. The Iron Man Hulkbuster stands nearly over twice the size of the Hulk bigfig to tower over his allies and enemies alike. Stark's latest and greatest battle suit lumbers across a brick-like display base, punishing the ground with it's terrible weight. I believe the Hulkbuster is one of the most impressive display pieces I've ever designed.
This Hulkbuster MOC started when the initial pictures of the 'LEGO Marvel, Super Heroes - The Hulkbuster Smash' set were released. I understand that LEGO has to make their sets study and have plenty of play features to keep the kids entertained but as a movie accurate model it wasn't quite right: too simple and bulky. From then on I set myself a task to build a definitive Hulkbuster using the printed dome that is included.
My first goal was to get it in scale with the Hulk bigfig however when I approached the end of the design process I realised that it was slightly shorter than the LEGO Hulkbuster. After having a look at a few other LEGO Hulkbuster MOC's I realised that when using the printed dome piece at the scale of the Hulk would make the final model look chibi and not realistic; therefore I stuck with my outcome.
The inspiration for the presentation of the final model came from Kotobukiya's model statues of the Hulkbuster and the Hulk based on 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' movie. I was originally going to just use the Hulkbuster since the Hulk bigfig is way too small and has very limited movement. I guess putting it in context and pairing it up with the Hulk bigfig creates a fierce battle scene!
Credit and a big thank you goes to Hot Toys for providing extensive views and details of their movie accurate model of the Hulkbuster which made possible to get it movie accurate as I could.
Adeel
NATO codename "Fishpot". The Russian Su-9 was a two-person attack mecha (one pilot and one navigator), utilising an antigrav (антигравитационный) engine which allowed the vehicle to hover a few inches above the regolith. These craft were thus restricted to the relatively flat terrain of the lunar maria. Owing to their compact design, the Fishpots could be aligned in a row to form a defensive wall against the American forces.
1944AD, 6th June, Normandy France Allied invade Nazi-occupied France The invasion was Codenamed Operation Neptune though is better known as D-Day. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history.
In 1943 planning began for the operation. Leading up to the invasion the Allies conducted an Operation codenamed Bodyguard, which was a substantial military deception with the aim to mislead the Germans concerning the real date and location of the main Allied landings. Meanwhile, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was placed in command by Adolf Hitler of German forces and of developing fortifications along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an Allied invasion.
Leading up to the landing extensive aerial and naval bombardment took place. Shortly afterwards 24,000 British, Canadian and US airborne troops landed. From 06:30 Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France. At the end of the first day, the Allies failed to achieve any of their goals. The operation, however, did gain a foothold allow the Allies to gradually expanded allied controlled territory over the coming months. German casualties on D-Day have been estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men. Allied casualties were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.
At the start of World War II my mother was 2 years old. At the time of D Day, now being 7, she was more aware of what was happening at home and abroad. Her father was serving in Italy, whilst back at home town in Torquay she helped feed American troops who were later to take part in the D-Day landings. At a young age, she remembers feeling a little daunted by the American troops, not surprising for a young girl. What happened to those troops she passed briefly is unknown. Today we remember those who died to make the future we now live.
Omaha Beach - Exit E3 aka "Colleville Draw" - Normandy, France.
Omaha Beach
Omaha beach is a stretch of beach roughly 5 miles or 8 km. long between Vierville-sur-Mer and Ste Honorine des pertes on the coast of Normandy. It was one of the five designated landing areas for the biggest invasion ever during WWII in the summer of 1944.
Omaha was divided into ten sectors by the Allies; codenamed (from west to east): Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog Green, Dog White, Dog Red, Easy Green, Easy Red, Fox Green and Fox Red.
On june 6, 1944 -D-Day - the initial assault on Omaha was to be made by two Regimental Combat Teams (RCT), supported by two tank battalions, with two battalions of Rangers also attached. The RCT's were part of the veteran 1st Infantry division ("The Big Red One") and the untested 29th div. ("Blue and Grey") , a National Guard unit.
The plan was to make frontal assaults at the "draws" (valleys) in the bluffs which dominate the coast in Normandy. Codenamed west to east they were called D-1, D-3, E-1, E-3 and F-1 . These draws could then be used to move inland with reserves and vehicles.
The German defenders were not stupid; they knew the draws were vital and concentrated their limited resources in defending them. To this end and lead by the famous "Desert Fox" Field-Marshall Erwin Rommel they built "Widerstandsneste" with AT guns, mortars, MG's in Tobruk's, trenches and bunkers. These were manned by soldiers of the German 716th and 352nd Infantry Division, a large portion of whom were teenagers, though they were supplemented by veterans who had fought on the Eastern Front . All in all some 1100 German soldiers defended the entire Omaha beach sector.
Preliminary bombardments were almost totally ineffective and when the initial waves landed at low tide they met with fiece opposition of an enemy well dug in and prepared. Most of the floating tanks (Sherman DD type) never made it to the beach due to the rough seas or were taken out by AT guns. Their role to support the infantry following them was reduced to almost zero before the battle even started.
Casualties were heaviest amongst the troops landing at either end of Omaha. At Fox Green and Easy Red scattered elements of three companies were reduced to half strength by the time they gained the relative safety of the shingle bank, many of them having crawled the app. 300 yards (270 m) of beach just ahead of the incoming tide. Casualties were especially heavy amongst the first waves of infantry and the "gap assault teams" - Combat Engineers - at Omaha these were tasked with blasting channels through the beach obstacles.
Situation at Dog Green and Easy Red by mid morning was so bad with nearly all the troops essentially pinned down on the beach gen. Eisenhower seriously considered to abandon the operation; in "First Wave at OMAHA Beach", S.L.A. Marshall, chief U.S. Army combat historian, called it "an epic human tragedy which in the early hours bordered on total disaster."
As the first waves of infantry, tanks and combat engineers landing directly opposite the "draws" were pinned down it was up to forces landing on the flanks of these strongpoints to penetrate the weaker German defences by climbing the bluffs. Doing this they had to overcome minefields and barbed wire as well as machinegun fire from German positions but they did and they were able to attack some key strongpoints from the side and the rear, taking them out by early afternoon.
This happened on several spots at Omaha and essentially saved the day: individual acts of initiative by lower ranked officers and courage like that of First Lieutenant Jimmy Monteith, who led a group of men to take one of the key German widerstandsneste and was killed in action, succeeded where a flawed plan failed. By the end of the day most of the German strongpoints had been taken and the battle was won - albeit at a terrible cost.
On the photo
Standing on Easy Red sector looking towards the high ground and Widerstandsnest 62. Exit E3 aka The Colleville draw is clearly visible. Note the big distance the men of the 1st inf. division had to cover before they would reach the shingle bank when the tide was low between 06:30 and 07:30.
15 (handheld) shots were used for this tonemapped panoramaphoto using a Fuji X-T3 , september 2019
A set of photo's with notes of Utah Beach and the Cotentin peninsula with the Airborne sectors.">
Here's the complete set of photo's made on Pointe du Hoc over the past years
My Omaha beach photo's with several viewpoints, panorama shots and notes on the fighting
These are my photo's and notes of the British and Canadian sectors: Gold, Juno and Sword.
c/n 64830.
Built 1983.
NATO codename ‘Crusty’.
Withdrawn from use at Kubinka since at least 2006. Now rumoured to be moving to the museum at nearby Patriot Park, however it currently remains stored on the Southside of Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
24th August 2017
Alexi Viktor [Codename] "Kritz"
=- Day 286 -=
Camera shot - 2,893
Date - July/28/ 2025
Location - St. Petersberg, Russia
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As I walked around town as I usually do I noticed A crack in the gate. I Walked closer to inspect it noticing this bright glowing object. As I put my face up against the crack inspecting the source of the light i noticed what it was.... "The Sun”.... I have only heard stories about it. How it gleamed upon us all one day back before the war that is. Ever since then we haven’t seen it because they say it’s much safer to stay within the walls of Russia due to the fact that the outside world is corrupt with poisons and men seeking power and will do anything it takes to get it! I walk away then come back the next day and there is an old man sitting next to the fountain about ten feet away. He says “come here child for I must give you something..." I walk over and he hands me a book. On the cover of this book it says "Beyond the war" the man says "I saw you looking through the door yesterday and wanted to give you this. One day when you understand the meaning of the world beyond these walls you will be able to escape!" I say thank you and return to my home and read.....
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*Tell me what you guys think and if you want more C@C is welcome*
*If I added you Its becasue I thought you would like it*
~Drew
Marzan Empire
Classification: Melee
Armaments:
(2) SW-MACHETE (Kurosawa recolor)
Pilot: Codename: GHOST
The latest version of the Kurosawa series, the Sword Kai is a stripped down version of the Hyper Kai that goes back to the roots of the design with a much increased mobility rating.
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After numerous successful campaigns against Marzan supply lines, a tired Empire decided to give in and parley with the mysterious pilot of the QU-KRSW, codename: "GHOST".
While many of the Marzan Aristocracy and upper military echelon questioned dealing with a war pirate, numerous deals and a heavy offering of food, money, war supplies, and of course, Quorus was supplied in exchange for GHOST un-officially working as an independent agent for the Marzan Empire, freely doing as he pleases as long as he does not interfere with Marzan business.
His previous reFrame, the QU-KRSW, has been retrofitted with a new design, machine improvements across the board, as well as a huge upgrade to its weapons loadout.
As a safeguard, Marzan engineers were tasked to install a remote detonator inside the Quorus core power chamber to prevent GHOST from crossing them although it's highly likely that's been long diffused by the pirate legend himself.
---
More info, WIP details, and other LEGO mechs over at my blog: messymaru.com/
Follow me at other social media sites:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MessyWorksLEGO
Twitter: twitter.com/Messymaru
Instagram: www.instagram.com/messymaru/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/messymaru
---
reFrame Version 3.0 frame (instructions) now available
For those interested in LEGO mech building, I also have an eBook from 2015 called Mech Wars 2015 Instructional Primer. It contains some things I wrote about basic mech building, a bit about my Mech Warsuniverse, and all my early models from 2014-2015. If you’re looking for a resource that could help you start or even improve your mech building skills, you might find this eBook useful.
c/n 4160664506112.
NATO codename ‘Fullback’
This aircraft is named ‘Oleg Peshkov’, after the Russian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel killed when his Su-24 was shot down over Syria in November 2015.
Seen on static display at the Aviation cluster of the ARMY 2017 event.
Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
23rd August 2017
A Victorian special operations task force was assigned to ambush an exchange of radioactive material and capture a high value individual (HVI) codename Panther, a Russian arms dealer. Although Team 8 form the task force has setup an ambush to intercept the radioactive material and capture Panther, the arms dealer arrived at the exchange in a BTR armored personnel carrier along with a Russian Spetsnaz unit. A strategic decision was made for Team 8 to stand down, fearing a direct engagement with Russian troops.
Although Panther was allowed to escape, the task force had a "bump plan" to intercept the radioactive material. The Advanced Force Operations teams continued to track the vehicles carrying the radioactive material. As the vehicles entered the Great Desert, Team 7 performed a heliborne interception.
Team 7 successfully intercepted the two vehicles and the two insurgents immediately surrended. The team also captured the radioactive material. Once the team had secured the radioactive material, the entire task force exfil from the area.
Based on the gear, weapons, and movement of the Spetsnaz unit, the task force believed that it was a top tier unit. The fact that Panther was under the close protection of a top tier unit at the exchange, intelligence believed that Panther is not merely a Russian arms dealer but a Russian intelligence agent. Although the TF did not capture Panther at the exchange, it did further the CATF’s understanding of his role. The TF also successfully prevented radioactive material to fall into the hands of the insurgents and prevented their plot in building dirty bombs threatening Victoria and her allies. The mission was deemed a success.
- The End -
Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.
c/n 10MK51405.
NATO codename ‘Flanker-C’
Operated by the 43rd Independent Naval Assault Aviation Regiment (OMShAP) Russian Navy, based at Saki.
Seen taxiing out to display during the ARMY 2017 event held at Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
23rd August 2017
c/n 220001012.
NATO codename:- Flogger-A
Previously coded ’71 blue’
The Mig-23S was the initial production variant of which only 60 were built.
On display at the Central Armed Forces Museum,
Moscow, Russia.
26th August 2017
c/n 64283.
Built 1982.
NATO codename ‘Crusty’.
The UBL is fitted with a Tu-160 nose cone and is used for training.
Reported to be operated by the 1449th AvB based at Tambov.
On static display at the Aviation cluster of the ARMY 2017 event.
Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
24th August 2017
c/n unknown.
NATO codename ‘Clank’.
Operated on ‘Open Skies’ (Otkrytoye nebo) duties by 226th OSAP, Russian Air Force.
Kubinka Airbase, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
23rd August 2017
Marzan Empire
Classification: Melee
Armaments:
(2) SW-MACHETE (Kurosawa recolor)
Pilot: Codename: GHOST
The latest version of the Kurosawa series, the Sword Kai is a stripped down version of the Hyper Kai that goes back to the roots of the design with a much increased mobility rating.
---
After numerous successful campaigns against Marzan supply lines, a tired Empire decided to give in and parley with the mysterious pilot of the QU-KRSW, codename: "GHOST".
While many of the Marzan Aristocracy and upper military echelon questioned dealing with a war pirate, numerous deals and a heavy offering of food, money, war supplies, and of course, Quorus was supplied in exchange for GHOST un-officially working as an independent agent for the Marzan Empire, freely doing as he pleases as long as he does not interfere with Marzan business.
His previous reFrame, the QU-KRSW, has been retrofitted with a new design, machine improvements across the board, as well as a huge upgrade to its weapons loadout.
As a safeguard, Marzan engineers were tasked to install a remote detonator inside the Quorus core power chamber to prevent GHOST from crossing them although it's highly likely that's been long diffused by the pirate legend himself.
---
More info, WIP details, and other LEGO mechs over at my blog: messymaru.com/
Follow me at other social media sites:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MessyWorksLEGO
Twitter: twitter.com/Messymaru
Instagram: www.instagram.com/messymaru/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/messymaru
---
reFrame Version 3.0 frame (instructions) now available
For those interested in LEGO mech building, I also have an eBook from 2015 called Mech Wars 2015 Instructional Primer. It contains some things I wrote about basic mech building, a bit about my Mech Warsuniverse, and all my early models from 2014-2015. If you’re looking for a resource that could help you start or even improve your mech building skills, you might find this eBook useful.
Marzan Empire
Classification: Melee
Armaments:
(2) SW-MACHETE (Kurosawa recolor)
Pilot: Codename: GHOST
The latest version of the Kurosawa series, the Sword Kai is a stripped down version of the Hyper Kai that goes back to the roots of the design with a much increased mobility rating.
---
After numerous successful campaigns against Marzan supply lines, a tired Empire decided to give in and parley with the mysterious pilot of the QU-KRSW, codename: "GHOST".
While many of the Marzan Aristocracy and upper military echelon questioned dealing with a war pirate, numerous deals and a heavy offering of food, money, war supplies, and of course, Quorus was supplied in exchange for GHOST un-officially working as an independent agent for the Marzan Empire, freely doing as he pleases as long as he does not interfere with Marzan business.
His previous reFrame, the QU-KRSW, has been retrofitted with a new design, machine improvements across the board, as well as a huge upgrade to its weapons loadout.
As a safeguard, Marzan engineers were tasked to install a remote detonator inside the Quorus core power chamber to prevent GHOST from crossing them although it's highly likely that's been long diffused by the pirate legend himself.
---
More info, WIP details, and other LEGO mechs over at my blog: messymaru.com/
Follow me at other social media sites:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MessyWorksLEGO
Twitter: twitter.com/Messymaru
Instagram: www.instagram.com/messymaru/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/messymaru
---
reFrame Version 3.0 frame (instructions) now available
For those interested in LEGO mech building, I also have an eBook from 2015 called Mech Wars 2015 Instructional Primer. It contains some things I wrote about basic mech building, a bit about my Mech Warsuniverse, and all my early models from 2014-2015. If you’re looking for a resource that could help you start or even improve your mech building skills, you might find this eBook useful.
c/n 181002702.
NATO codename:- Coot
Standard commercial version built in 1961 and which served only with Aeroflot until flown to Monino for preservation on 12th July 1977.
Central Air Force museum, Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
27th August 2017
c/n 2201201.
NATO codename:- Hind-B
Built in 1972, this early model ‘Hind’ served until June 1984.
On display at the Central Air Force museum, Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
27th August 2017
Although the TF conducted several raids to ascertain the whereabouts of the Russian nuclear scientist (codename Pale Horse) with little result, it remained the allied nations primary object to capture Pale Horse to prevent future attacks. The intelligence task force continued to support intelligence units to acquire information on Pale Horse’s location.
An asset belonging to an intelligence officer from Victoria (codename Grayhawk) indicated that he was aware of the location of Pale Horse. The asset revealed that a Russian was seen being held captive in a market near Jannatabad, an insurgency stronghold.
Due to the heavy insurgent presence in the area, a covert “snatch” mission was planned. Grayhawk hand-picked six men from the combined task force, drawing personnel from Team-7, DEVGRU and Delta Force. The team first staged at a safe house in the region. They changed in local apparels to blend into the environment.
To be continued…
Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.
Ukraine Air Force/Збройні Сили України Ilyushin Il-76MD 76683 "Oleksandr Beliy/Олександр Белий" (NATO Codename "Candid") takes off from RAF Fairford following the 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo.
Rover 75 Connoisser CDT Tourer (R40 PreFacelift) (1998-05) Engine 1991cc M47R S4 Turbo Diesel 114bhp
Production 211,178
Registration Number RE 51 ZMX (Reading)
Designed by Richard Woolley, work on the new model, codenamed R40, progressed with little operational interference from BMW; the styling received an enthusiastic response from the management and both companies believed the classical look would be the ideal direction for Rover The Rover 75 was unveiled to the public at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show, with deliveries commencing in February 1999. Assembly originally took place at Cowley but in 2000, following the sale of the company by BMW to Phoenix Venture Holdings, production was moved to Longbridge in Birmingham, The 75 featured a range of petrol and diesel engines from 1.8- to 2.5-litre sizes, transmission on all models were either the Getrag 283 5-speed manual, or the JATCO 5-speed automatic unit
The Estate version, or Tourer was launched in 2001 running through to 2004 available with a variety of petrol engines and the BMW derived Diesel .The diesel unit was BMW's common rail motor, designated M47R. This unit was a mildly de-tuned BMW 2.0-litre turbodiesel, the same core engine being used at the same time in the parent company's 3 & 5-Series models and later found in the Land Rover Freelander from 2001.
In 2004 the 75 received a major facelift with a revised front fascia with a mesh lower grille, one-piece headlights with halogen projectors, revised front and side indicators and fog lights as well as a larger chrome grille. The rear also featured a revised fascia with a chrome boot handle
Diolch am 75,371,629 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mae pob un yn cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr.
Thanks for 75,371,629 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated.
Shot 14.07.2019 at Walsall Classic Car Show, Walsall Arboretum, Walsall 143-305
The Sukhoi Su-27 heavy air superiority fighter - codenamed 'Flanker' by NATO - was designed during the Cold War as a Soviet counter to potential Western opponents such as the US Air Force's F-15 Eagle. It first flew in 1977. Service entry began during 1985, and when the 'Flanker' started appearing at Western air displays in the hands of Sukhoi test pilots, starting at Paris in 1989, it astounded spectators with its manoeuvrability. In the post-Soviet era, the original Su-27 series has continued to equip the Russian armed forces, and carried on serving with the Ukrainian Air Force as well as other former Soviet states and several export customers. The design has continued to be developed for both Russia and overseas markets, some of the latest derivatives incorporating thrust vectoring. The Ukrainian Su-27s (one P model and one UB model) that are coming to Fairford for RIAT 2018 are on the strength of the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, based at Myrhorod in central Ukraine.
c/n 4201004.
NATO codename:- Badger-G
Previously coded ’53 blue’
One of over 240 Naval Tu-16s which were converted to carry the K-26 missile system, consisting of two underwing KSR-5 missiles.
Although a Soviet Navy aircraft, it is a long term and popular exhibit at the Central Air Force museum, Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
27th August 2017