WWII Campaign in the Pacific
We tried to start these campaigns up before
link
link


And they kind of both fell through the cracks for one reason or another and we would really like to see a Pacific Campaign so here we go again;
By discussion I got nabbed to run it and Calvin (calvin_ng) has opted for the XO position.

Operational overview and rules;
Utilizing references concerning the battles in the Pacific select any of the vehicles, (Land, Air or Sea) used by either the Axis or Allied forces and construct a model concerning the specific use of that vehicle. Separate figures are acceptable, however 1/35 or smaller must be accompanied by a model or placed in a diorama. Dioramas are encouraged but not required (Exception to this is noted earlier). Finished model must be specifically identified by reference and reflect the approximate appearance as it was participating in that Battle. The reference used must be provided (Not the actual document just noted so that we may look it up if written and if by photo where we might view that photo) along with a minimum of 2 photos of the finished model to be awarded the campaign ribbon. The reference can be by written word, movie documentary or photo but must be applicable to the campaign. I would also like to include the requirement of posting in work photos. This way we also will be able to share modeling techniques and help someone who might be having a problem.

There are numerous references available and a good place to start is here;
Hyperwar

The area of interest covers the entire battle in the Pacific area, from New Zealand and Australia, through Indonesia, to India, through China, up to Korea and Manchuria, over to the Aleutian Islands, to the Hawaiian Islands, and back down to New Zealand and includes everything in between.
Research is half the modeling experience and some very interesting information can be found.
The main purpose of this campaign is to dig out the books and do research in the hopes of “producing a high-level of educational value to the build process” I copied that from the campaign page. Questions concerning the reference materials or specifics on the individual models are highly encouraged.

Campaign dates are 7 Dec, when the first strike was made to 15 Aug, VJ Day when the Campaign in the Pacific ended. 9 months should be more than enough time, dioramas are time consuming and extensions for the campaign will not be requested.

All reference work and researching may be started now and all the way through the ending date of the campaign. Model and diorama construction is only allowed between the start and ending dates.

I already have the ribbon and Banner selections ready to go.
Thank you Andrzej Snigorski - endrju007 for the banners. To you Andrzej

Ribbon

The predominant yellow in the background represents the sands of the islands in the Pacific, where many of the major engagements were fought; the blue, white and red pinstripes represent the national colors. The white-red-white stripes are the colors of the empire of Japan and represent the enemy in the Pacific during the Second World War.
Palm Tree represents the successful completion of the Campaign
I just found out we could have only one ribbon for the Campaign.

Banners

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq209/r-kcake/Campaign%20in%20the%20Marianas/Campaign%20in%20the%20Pacific/USBjp.jpg

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq209/r-kcake/Campaign%20in%20the%20Marianas/Campaign%20in%20the%20Pacific/jbJp.jpg

Both designs were created by Andrzej Snigorski - endrju007 and he has developed each so that they may reflect which side of the war you wish to model.

The rule of thumb for campaigns is 10 positives and then you can submit the campaign idea. Thanks for looking and I hope enough people will be interested in joining.
As I keep telling SWMBO I still don’t read minds, please ask if you have a question, even if you just want some ideas or suggestions for a project.
Looking forward to a great campaign,
Calvin and Bob


Don't forget to enlist!

Bob, Nice banners and ribbons. I would be up for the campaign.

Robert

Count me in.

Guys Bob did all this work and use his spare time to write this all up, not me, all the credit should go to him. Hopefully we will get more participants and interests this time.

Has this been extended to Aeroscale, Model Shipwrights and Historicus Forma? There are some new IJN releases coming out, and new 1/32 and 1/24 scale aircraft.

All right off to a great start. Calvin don't be so modest, some of your ideas are in here also.
Robert and Russ nice to see you guys interested. The Banner credit goes to Andrzej, he put up with a lot from me.
So Calvin if we both count that makes 4.
Thanks guys,
Bob

I would be very interested in giving this a shot as well. I have access to PDF copies of the USMC and US Army histories to help with research if needed.

Great to see this one relaunched! I have quite a few projects that would fit this, some Japanese tanks and an Australian Matilda for starters... But unfortunataly I'm afraid I'm pretty booked out the first half of the year, so for the time being this one's a nogo for me, sorry...

Nice Ribbons by the way! And I like the second banner better. My 0.02$...

Cheerio!
Stef

Hello John and Stefan, looks like a one and one.
John I'm sure those PDF's will come in handy if you get a chance could you list the ones you have?
Might help someone make up their mind.
Stefan, it's a long time period maybe something might open up for you, you never know.
Thanks guys,
Bob


Sorry Russ just noticed your question,
This ones just setup for AFV's as it is.
What do you think Calvin, do you want to expand it or just keep it AFV?
I'm pretty open at this point.

Well hmmmmm, im not sure guys, wait i got it! answer this question and thou shalt knoweth thy answer
Were the AFVS the main reason why we won the PTO?
well it would be great if we could include people from all over the network, this might give us more ideas and more eye candy when we finish.

OK then, basically same rules but any type of model is acceptable. Since the parts of the Ribbon are pretty simple same criteria is expected by model and diorama.
Thanks Calvin,
Bob


I edited the first post to reflect the changes

I'm up for it Bob!! Count me in!!

Hello and welcome aboard Ed
Bob

Hello Bob,
If ships are allowed, I was thinking about a Dio of the landing on Tarawa. Maybe a couple of DD's or CA/CL with LC and LVT's in 1/700.
When does it start and end? If long enough I would be able to join the campaign.
Great Idea and Write up.
Cheers,
Bruce

Hey Bruce, great to see that your interested.
Actual build dates are 7 Dec 09 to 15 Aug 10. Ships are allowed and and I have an interest in Tarawa and would like to see how you do on this one.
Let me know if the time frame fits,
Bob

Hello Bob,
The dates work for me. Now I have to order some ships and LC's. Not sure how to make the reef water effects, But I just ordered a Book on Tarawa. It is a pictorial history so that might give me some ideas.
Let me know when to sign up,
Cheers,
Bruce

Great Bruce, Welcome aboard.
Do you need any help in finding info? I have a few items and John sounded like he actually had the PDF for the campaign, maybe even Tarawa.
I can also check to see what I have.
Let us know,
Bob


Just looking through the files I have 7 PDF files, 1 documents, 1 aerial photo and a Map of Tarawa showing the Transport area and line of departure you might be interested in.
A Brief History of the 8th Marines
A Brief History of the 10th Marines
Across the Reef - The Marine Assault of Tarawa
Amphibians came to conquer
Central Pacific Drive Ch 1-4
FM 60-30 Amph loading (1962 but some items apply)
Seizure of Gilberts and Marshalls
Second Marine Division Report on Gilbert Islands Tarawa Operation

I have Tamiya's old M3 Stuart in my stash AFV's tracks for same and an after market turret. I think it is Formations, not sure though for there are no instructions other than a xeroxed copy of drawings on how to assemble. I got it at a garage sale. Does any one have any doc. on a camo scheme for Guadalcanal my copy of Squadrons M3 in action is missing, I know that the M3 took part in that campaign. I am not aware of any other island campaigns that they did take part in.

Robert

Hello All,
@ Bob,
Thanks for the books, I am going to wait for the new book.
It might have the photo's I need.
@ Robert,
I have read that there where M3 Stuart's in the Philippines and 4-5 where captured and used the Burma/India campaign. I can not recall what book it was in. I hope this helps some.
Cheers,
Bruce

Hello Robert,
Tamiya’s Stuart is actually a Stuart Hybrid, which has the squared off rear end. Most of the references I have for Guadalcanal show the M3A1 USMC Stuart with the rounded rear end. A rounded rear end and can be purchased as a conversion or some have tried to scratch build the rear end. I just have to find the reference.

Correction
M3A1 had a turret basket while the M3 didn't and the rear deck of the M3A1 was curved while the m3 was flat. The key to distinguishing that this is a late M3 are the sponson machine guns. The M3A1 did not have sponson machine guns in any of its iterations


If you want to just do an OOB on this I have the photos for the references of the Stuarts that are provided on the decals sheet.
The other choices for that Stuart can be;
Indian armored regiments with Stuarts in Burma 7th Light Cavalry.
Australia Stuart’s in New Guinea
And what looks like the right Stuart that is a Marine 3rd Tank Battalion on Emirau Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.
Maybe a couple of others, I’m sure someone might know.
If you want to get the conversion let me know, I know of one or two places that carry it.

Bruce what is the name of the book you're looking for?
And I also might be interested in that idea on campaigns, anything to increase participation.

Thanks guys,
Bob

Howdy Y'all:

I'm in. Sounds like a great campaign and I dig those ribbons. What a great idea! I'm not sure what I'm going to build yet but I have a lot choices.

Y'all take care now,
Don "Lakota"

Hello Don and welcome aboard
Any questions or if you need some suggestions please ask.
Bob

I am willing to give this one a go. I have a lot on my plate next year but I have a model in the stash that I think I can squeeze in. I'll build the USS Samuel B Roberts from the Battle off Samar.

Hello David and welcome aboard.
Don't know a whole lot about the Navy side so here's hoping you give us some background info on your build.
Bob

:-H

Hello Bob:
I just sent off for Osprey's Modelling the M3 Stuart. It has a small section on the pacific, if you are able could you share the information that you mentioned regarding the M3A1 on Guadalcanal? The after market (resin) turret that I have is round with no cupola, maybe the book I ordered and the information that you have will help me to finish this kit correctly.


Robert

Hello Bob:
I also found this profile, if it is legit I will use the scheme for the campaign.

http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Allies/1-USA/01-LightTanks/M3-M5Stuart/M3A1-Stuart.htm


Robert

Robert,
I'll email you what I have later this weekend, about 48meg so I'll have to try and zip it first into 2-3 meg files.
I added a couple of scale drawings also.

The drawing you mentioned is a Bougainville Stuart with the rounded rear end so the drawing is not quite correct. But with the squared off rear end it is the Guadalcanal version you want to do. I had to correct my earlier comment above. Slight difference between the M3 and M3A1, M3A1 had a turret basket while the M3 didn't and the rear deck of the M3A1 was curved while the m3 was flat. The key to distinguishing that this is a late M3 are the sponson machine guns. The M3A1 did not have sponson machine guns in any of its iterations

Bougainville M3A1

All clear as a bell now isn't it?
Sorry for the confusion,
Bob


And just to add to the confusion; looking through my photos I found a couple of Stuarts with no sponson mg's but with the squared off rear end on Guadalcanal. Very hard to tell for sure. They did have both M3 and M3A1 there along with M2A4's.
I'm definitely no expert but it looks like the ones with the copula on the turret are the M2A4's, the ones with both mg's on the sides are M3's and the ones with the rounded plates where the mg's should go are either modified M3's or the M3A1's.

Bob it looks like I will have to scratch a rounded rear deck to make the version in the profile that I mentioned above. Thanks for the help.

P.S. I noticed your Frank Frazzeta print in your photos, he was my favorite back in the early 70's when in the Navy. I would read Conan in my spare time.



Robert

I received a semi-built Tamiya M3 with a resin 75mm conversion. which I stripped back into it's basic components.
Given the timeframe of this campaign, I could drop in to make it look like this;


But I will not start working on it untill late winter/early spring, but that still gives me 4 months till the campaign's end... so....
Where do enlist?

Hello Ron:
It is not a campaign yet, but you make eleven so now Bob can submit this to the powers that be to make it so.

Robert