Model Building - A Middle-Aged Kid

For the past few months, I’ve been on a big First World War kick. While I can credit the Gothic horror miniature game “Trench Crusade” with that initial spark, it certainly didn’t end there. After completing a handful of game miniatures, I ventured away from the (still very compelling) fictional game aesthetic. I was looking online at images of trench systems and the differences between those used early vs. later in the war, and why they changed as the conflict wore on.

It led me down a rabbit hole that branched into a couple of different directions. I began studying the US involvement (1917-18) in World War One (also known as “The Great War,” “War to End All Wars”, and “WWI”). I read several of the resource books I have collected over the years. My main area of interest has always been the Second World War. As it turns out, I have a surprising amount of previously unexplored material on the prequel.

J.H. Johnson’s Stalemate! – a deep dive into the bloodiest part of the conflict

From the Europa Militarfia series – in my opinion, the best full color uniform resource available

Maurice Rickards excellent collection of historic posters, displaying the major combatants’ approach to war propaganda (now out of print)

In addition to finding an excuse to read every piece of material I own on The Great War, I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube content as well. Many feature quality, historical information, while a handful are rife with inaccurate data and even misleading, altered or entirely AI-falsified photos. It also brought to my attention how many of the Facebook stories passed around about, “This day in military history,” are absolute fiction. Learning how to sort through the nonsense has been an interesting part of the study.

ICM’s 1/35 scale US Soldiers in Gas Masks

Although the ICM kit depicts a British machine gun, a version of the Vickers was used by the US forces – they had not yet developed their own

I also started building a few figure kits representing various combatants. They are pretty straightforward, construction-wise. I also gave in to temptation and bought a more detailed kit – a WWI tank model. While I’ve built tanks before, I haven’t taken on significantly more complex ones, for example, kits that employ individual linked tracks or photo etched brass details. This kit also has a detailed interior – another stretch out of my comfort zone. I’m hoping this endeavor is a step towards a new level of skill.

Growing up, I heard that my paternal great uncle Frans was drafted into WWI. My grandfather was a few years younger; and as a result, his number did not come up. Frans was exposed to poisonous gas (likely mustard gas at that point in the conflict) and had breathing difficulties for the rest of his life. I found several pieces of documentation in my search: his original draft registration, some US census records, and a photo of his military headstone at the Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery. The first online photo I found was blurry, making it difficult to see some of the details. However, with a little more searching, I learned that he served as a private in the 139^th Field Artillery. I also found an old, colorized postcard of the unit from that era.

WWI era Brodie helmet. Although designed by the British, it was the style most US troops used in The Great War (from my collection of memorabilia)

The last few months have been a pretty cool experience. In fact, it’s been a 3-pronged journey. First: a study of the fascinating political climate of the turn of the century and resultant conflict that shaped the next hundred-plus years. Second: an opportunity to take my modeling skills in an unexpected direction – pushing my comfort zone and challenging myself to grow. And finally: a peek into the lives of ancestors who are becoming more than vague names and dates on yellowed paper in cardboard boxes. They were, in fact, real people who were born, lived entire lives, and died. They no longer need to stay forgotten. And all this discovery out of a single project – that’s pretty cool.

-Toph

P.S. – Drop me a note about your own forays into the past. I truly enjoy the emails I get, from old friends as well as new ones.

Until next time – cheers!

Happy (would be) birthday to the late, great Ed “Big Daddy” Roth.

He was interested in cars and motorcycles as a teen, and began working on custom fiberglass body modifications shortly after leaving the Air Force.

He dove headfirst into the hot-rod culture. He made cartoon character illustrations for handmade t-shirts that he airbrushed at car shows. His wacky illustrations and hot-rod designs helped spark the iconic Kustom Kulture of the late 50’s through the early 70’s. Ed was one of several illustrators who were regularly featured in CARtoons Magazine.

Among his most well-known characters are Rat Fink and Mr. Gasser. They were usually depicted driving souped-up cars or surfing (another 60s sub-culture that resonated with his odd brand of humor.)

That epitome of class, the noble Rat Fink

Although not necessarily created by Ed Roth, several toys and model kits took “inspiration” from his style.

Aurora Models used their hugely successful monster kits to mash up with crazy car models (such as “Frankenstein’s Flivver “ and “Mummy’s Chariot.”) Louis Marx Toys created a line of “Nutty Mad” toys that featured goofy Roth-esque characters, as well as Hawk Models series of “Weird Ohs.”

My personal memory of Roth’s creativity is limited to a handful of hand-me-downs from older cousins and neighbors. I came across several of those toys when going through our parents’ house. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to build some of those Hawk model kits that were re-released in 2005.

Big Daddy would have been 93 today.

-Toph

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