This blog is a collection of my research notes from my model building hobby. I am only trying to provide fellow modelers, war gamers and historians interesting photos and details/facts on subjects for models which I had built, currently building or going to build someday. Since I am not a professional author, my posts are not meant to be complete articles and I am not writing a book on the subject. The sources for my posts usually are from various books and internet websites/forums where I had to sort through all the incorrect and misleading information. Also I found a number of non-captioned photos on the internet.
Model building has been my hobby for the past 50+ years and I am an avid reader of military history. My interests are of World War II, Korean War, Indochina, Vietnam, Middle East Wars, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. I like to build armor, aircraft (mostly early jets today) and some Sci-fiction/space subjects in most scales but today I tend to build 1/48 scale most often. When I build a model, I like to know the history behind the subject.
I do have a full time job and have been working with computers for the pass 35+ years. Setting up and maintaining this blog came easy for me. From my experiences, I say “the internet is not forever” because websites are either restructured, have missing files or just disappear completely over time. It also applies to this blog. At this time, I am the sole person posting to this blog. I do not know how long I will be doing it or if someone will take over in the future.
An example of “the internet is not forever”. I search the Youtube website for interesting Films and Videos on the subject. I add links to these Films and Videos to my posts. These links work when I published my posts but months or years later Youtube removes these Films/Videos because the Youtube account who posted them are no longer active. This is why I add a link to the Youtube site instead of embedding the Youtube film/Video in my posts.
This website (blog) is hosted at WordPress.com and its functionality is fixed but I selected the images, color scheme, fonts and added some available features (widgets) to my blog.
My Beginnings:
Since February 2011, I have been “hanging out” on the Track48 forum. Over the years, I posted a number of articles and conversed with many great guys around the world. In April 2018, the forum changed their host service. All my earlier posts are still there but some of the formatting was lost during the migration and some of my earliest posts have some missing images. I still have all the info/materials for my earlier posts and over time I will rework some of them to post on this blog. Creating this blog is my way of “going public” plus I have better control over my posts and I receive more information about the posts. I still “hang out” on the Track48 forum as it is like my local bar (pub).
Mike's Research 
I every time spent my half an hour to read this blog’s articles or reviews daily
along with a mug of coffee.
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I think the admin of this site is in fact working hard in favor of his web site, for the reason that here every stuff is quality based data.
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From a veteran of F 2/3 ACR, this was an interesting read! Thanks.
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Thanks for sharing your passion. Sharing like you do tell a lot about you. Although my interest is not with armor but planes I am willing to learn about them.
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Hello, I’m looking to discover where you found the wonderful pictures of the M50 Sherman tanks. I would like to ask the owner permission to use a couple in a table top wargame book on the Arab / Israeli wars. Ant information would be most helpful. Sincerely, Kenny Noe
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I am hugely impressed by all the work which goes into your Blogs – and I am particularly interested by the Sicily blog. I believe that my father was in Sicily in July 1943 though this is an inference from his letters home to my mother – of course he never said where he was. Would you be prepared to see the letters covering the relevant period and tell me what you think?
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Hi,
I’m interested in knowing where you got the diagram of the Great Eastern Ramp seen here: https://mikesresearchcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/ge-diagram.jpg
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From my notes, I found that diagram on a website on the internet long time ago. When I wrote that post back in May 2018, I tried checking the website I noted and it no longer existed at that time. That is why I always save images from the internet whenever I find them and keep for possible future posts. That is why I say “The internet is not forever!”. I also found a lot photos on the internet that are incorrectly or not captioned.
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Sharing knowledge is always a sign of a good guy, I am a modeller to but I love the diversity on your site, it makes me stepping out of my usual projects, I enjoyed the Guntruck piece so that’s next for me. All the best from Holland!! Cheers Rick
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Why is there not a simple list/index of all the posts/articles here? Makes it very hard to know what is actually available
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Hello, I have found your blog extremely helpful for a research project I’m undertaking on my family history for a documentary. So thank you.
Would I be able to run a few research queries past you? If so I’ll leave my email at the bottom. Thanks so much!
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REF: Notes:
The five SANTEE take off crashes and rescues were the crews for two TBF-1s each with an Ensign as the pilot.
The three VGS-27 KIAs on November 10 was Ensign Robert O’Neil’s TBF-1 attempting to land on the SUWANNEE after an anti-submarine patrol which overshot. The arresting hook snagged a wire, pitching the Avenger over the side of the ship. On impact with the water, its depth charges exploded killing the 3 man crew.
Hello-I just read this note and would like to add a comment: one of the Officer’s aboard USS Forrest DD-461- which was on plane guard duty and was sent to retrieve/rescue ENS O’Neil’s crew; wrote a news article about this event. He described viewing the plane and crew as floating on the ocean surface awaiting the approach of the destroyer when it’s ordnance suddenly detonated. I have a copy of the news article if you would like to read it. {Published Austin American-Statesman SSS4. November 22nd 1953 “Men Come and They Go, The Sea Watches Them All”. This is a composite story of two naval pilots flying from the USS Suwannee CVE-27 off the coast of Casablanca, North Africa during Operation TORCH. [Mr. Warren combined their experiences into a single plot line]. On November 8th 1942, a three-man TBF Avenger aircrew was rescued by the USS Forrest: they were Lt. George Hollingsworth Wigfall (pilot) and two un-named crew. Several days later on November 10th 1942, another TBF crashed into the ocean. Unfortunately, that time, the aircraft’s depth charges detonated just as the USS Forrest approached for rescue. Lost at sea were Ensign Robert Edward O’Neil (pilot), crewmen AMM3c Jack Carter and AOM3c Walter Stanley Gorka.}
V/r JS
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Hi there,
I found by chance your article about the battle of Saipan and couldn’t help but have a look at the other articles.
I only wanted to tell you that I really appreciated reading your articles. It seems obvious that the researches took you a lot of time and that you were very committed to your work.
Moreover, the numerous photographs are very helpful for those who are building AFV’s models. 😉
Many thanks and greetings from Belgium!
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Are the tanks from the image of Sherman firefly passing through Ecosville Operation Goodwood July 1944 be from the 3rd RTR? How would i go about getting decals to replicate the photo? Anything helps, thanks.
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Rodney –
I do not know what photo you are referring to.
During Operation Goodwood, the 3rd RTR was with the 29h Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Diviision.
Markings:
Formation sign: black bull on yellow square
Arm of Service (Aos): white 52 on red square
If the model kit does not have these markings, there are after market decal sheets (Bison/Star). They can be expensive.
Personally, I do not worry much about the unit markings on most tanks because after I applied my weathering (dust, mud, dirt, etc) they are barely visible. I worry more if the tank has an unique name or storage arrangement.
Mike
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What a great site for factual information.My dad was on the Rhine Crossings with 6th Guards,…. on a Churchill Tank 29th March 45 between Dorsten Gehlen.I interviewed him before he died about this experience and have it on DVD.It’s 80 years this year since this nearly forgotton episode of WW2.I hope others will gather to honour this “Greatest Generation” on the banks of the Rhine in late March this year.
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Mike , i have some details of the Buffalo driver on Op Plunder.
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Hi Mike
I have just read your very interesting blog on German A7V tanks.
I believe that Abteilung 1 and 2 participated in the fighting SW of Reims in the Foret de la Montagne de Reims, Champagne on 15 and 16 July 1918, where they created havoc in the Italian/French defences. I am researching this battle, which my grandfather, with a Scottish regiment fought and was wounded in – the British entered the battle on 20 July. Luckily he did not have to face these monsters, just machine guns and artillery fire as he participated in four attacks!!
Original sources on A7Vs are very hard to come by, but there is clearly quite a lot of information out there about them. May I ask you where you found your information? I am also interested in the photo of A7V 540 (Abteilung 1) which I am sure was in action in this battle on 15 July at la Neuville-aux-Larris and whose commander, Leutnant Vietze is mentioned in the German account – translated The Last German Attack, Reims 1918.
Many thanks,
Chris
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