I just finished build Fighting 48th's superb Crab Flail kit. I did it as a Mk. I of the Flail platoon, 2nd Armored Division, seconded to the 747th Tank Battalion for operations near St. Lo in mid-July 1944, the first US use of the Crab Flail. I was very impressed with the kit in all respects- the master, the casting, the PE, the customer service and the instructions. More please!!

The figure is from the excellent Dartmoor series, and the base is from Verlinden. I will be doing an article for Military Modelling covering this project in more detail along with historical material.

if you build it, they will come..... Steve as usual has done your fine work proud, and one hopes this article will kick some shekels your way. A beautiful build of an excellent kit.

Hello Steve.

Just plain and simply WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will it be an article in Military Modelling? If it is, I can't wait to check it out!

Thank you.

JohnO

I don't know about you guys, but when that little spark of enthusiasm in my head kicks off a project, I have the finished model, already done, painted, decalled, on a base, virtually, in my imagination. From then on it is a battle with the forces of chaos and entropy, to make that virtual model appear in reality. Mostly, it always falls short, sometimes by a long way. But if I can get close enough, I can usually smile and move on, job, almost, done.

One of the huge rewards of seeing my kits actually assembled is the knowledge that someone else has had a similar vision, and added their efforts and skills and time, and hopefully got that little thrill of pulling that imaginary concept together. One of the rewards of the hobby. But I'm willing to bet most modellers will look at their final projects and think, Oh, that could be better, or whoops, I forgot that joint, or I could have made a more realistic doodah, something that just falls short of the dream. Hopefully this spurs us on to the next project even better than the last!

And then there is Mr Zaloga!! Steve, this is just an AWESOME build! I can't tell you how big a kick it was to see these pics. I don't want to sound all gushy, but that IS the model of my imagination. I look forward of course to seeing your article in Military Modelling, but thanks indeed for sharing these pictures. It really did make my day!

Tim

www.fighting48th.com

Praise from Caesar, indeed!

Tim, I've known Steve a long time....he wouldn't say it, if it wasn't true. I think your descriptions of what drives you is very similar to why we all build models.
In looking at the parts to build my flail.....I try to imagine how this goes to that....what to do about this part here, etc. I can't tell you how important it is to see the finished project. To see it done by Steve is a true treat, indeed!! I can't wait to see the MM issue with it in it. Unfortunately, MM is almost impossible to get over here. If you want to buy multiple issues of that one....I'll certainly buy one from you!!
Congrats to you for a well engineered and cast kit....and to Steve for a great build.......Thank you, Gentlemen!!!
Dave

That is a great build Steve - thanks for sharing it with us here! Tim really has been creating some amazing products, and looking at your completed model makes me think that this one is definitely his best yet

Konrad

That is simply amazing, Steve. Everything from the bits of grass and leaves in the flail to that wonderful cobblestone base - not to mention the fab paint job on the Crab - just screams to me to pick up that issue for the in-depth article!

Ken