thecommander

Spring has finally sprung so come to the AAF Tank Museum for the Spring Battle Weekend hosed by the NEAD RC tank club.

How long are you going to put off coming? Are you going to wait until it is too late? Get you butt there now and join in the action.

The spring and fall events are normally the largest and best attended each year. You guys who have put it off for years already missed out on the Tank Extravaganza....what a shame you missed it. Car crushing tanks. re-enactors, real tankers from WW II to talk to, live fire of machine guns, mortars and even flame throwers. WOW! You procrastinators really missed out. Alas it is no more. PLEASE don't do it again with the RC tanking. I'll give you a money back guarantee. I will personally reimburse any first-time RC tanker his entrance fee that day who can look me in the eye and tell me he didn't have a great time. What else can I do guys. Pay you to come....pick you up at your house??? I even loan out my tanks to guests who don't have one running and the tank museum will rent you theirs. Hotels are cheap there $40 to $75 and we share rooms too. PM me if you have any questions. Dozens of guys and over 100 RC tanks (many customs plus a bunch for sale and trade) will be fighting it out for 3 days and two nights.

Quit making excuses....Make plans.

Green Amphibian

If you are into tanks, this is the place to come to. The museum is great, and the battles are fun. You never know what you will run across!

Herman

Martellus

2 quick questions

do you have to fill out something to register/what is the cost?

what is the cost for renting tanks/what is availible/how long for?

Green Amphibian

Costs depend on how long you will be there. All 3 days of battling will cost $30 if you are a museum member, and $40 if not. The cost is prorated if you only spend one or two days there. That includes access to the rest of the museum also. If you bring a tank with you there is a form you fill out when you register and pay your fee. I'm not sure of the cost or time limit for the rental Sherman. It is a good battle tank though. Doug should have more information on it.

Herman

dum Bass

Bob,
you know i got a lot on my plate with the move and all but i'll mark the calander. been wanting to get over there for YEARS. won't happen after the move for sure. how much is it to rent a tank or 2? i may or may not want to battle, but i know my girl will, possibly both of them.

we'll see what happens schedule wise. theres a *little* chance we'll make it.
Louie

Panther F

I'll have to talk to my driver (wifey) on this. I got the green light for any upcoming battles there, only she and a friend are going to Florida sometime next month so I will get back with you guys.




I really feel the need...



... the need for seeing you full of holes! LOL






Jeff

Panther F

Oh, and has anyone heard from Tony lately?

He was at the last one I attended.





Jeff

DaveBcool

I'll be there Sat and Sun.

panther commander

So the Battleday is the 16th to 18th? Awesome! I can come now

thecommander

"If you are into tanks, this is the place to come to. The museum is great, and the battles are fun. You never know what you will run across!

Herman"

I still remember your first time there Herman. How many years ago pal? You got any pix? Your old Tiger is now on to its 4 or 5th owner now. Still going strong.


Here Herman Kills my DBU HL KV-I. It is a great action shot from my buddy Steve Sharkey You EBay folks may recognize this photo from my auctions.

And he storms the town.

thecommander

Don't miss it Louie. This is you last chance before moving far, far away.

thecommander

Come on Jeff. It has been a long time pal. You want this trip you need this trip....YOU DESERVE THIS TRIP. You love this stuff. That Sherman needs a good workout.

thecommander

Which Tony Jeff? NC, DE or ????

thecommander

Great Dave. Please get the unusually quiet HEAT guys to chime and post some pix or stories too. Thanks, pal.

thecommander

Super. We will save you a workbench. I'll move a few radios over...LOL.

thecommander

Well from what I can tell the guys are coming from....

Virginia
North Carolina
Tennessee
Delaware
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Georgia
New Jersey
New York
Connecticut/Singapore
Indiana
Florida

Still waiting to hear from ...

Michigan
Kentucky
South Carolina
Ohio
Texas
Arizona

How about the Canadians? I came up to battle with you guys..... and now it is your turn to come down.

Don't miss out guys. It is never going to get any better or easier to come.

But it is always possible that it may disappear in an instant.

Don't forget my money back guaranty. I mean it.

thecommander

The high caliber of people is what makes the AAF Tank Museum so special. Why do you think so many people come from so damned far.

BECAUSE IT IS WORTH THE TRIP....THAT'S WHY.


Come find out what they already know.

EOT

OK Bob now you've heard fom Michigan. I'll be there, not sure about El Warpo-haven't talked to him yet, and I'm really pushing our CO to get his rear---err--- tail end there too.

Jeff, HOLES???? there's no finer sight than a smoking Sherman or Pershing or KV-1 or T34

Now if I can keep a certain person from kicking the little orange tank you'll be able to see it in action, well maybe, it disappears pretty quick on that red clay of the battlefield.

Yes I'm stirring the pot, it's what I do.

Mike EOT

Panther F

Hmmmm. Wife will be in Florida during this period.... BUT I MUST STILL GO!

Anyone swinging through Indiana? I'd hate to have to drive all by myself, maybe look for some flights in? Then I'd have to rent a car and borrow a tank (I'm sure they would not like my tank as a carry-on!) LOL but never done that before.

Can it be a carry on luggage?





Jeff

DaveBcool

Will try, but it's hard to get much of a response out of them lately.

cleong

I really gotta learn how to catch the muzzle flashes of those tanks firing.

dum Bass

I know it Bob, problem is, our tickets are now solidified for the 26th departure from Chicago. With the acceptation of 2 brothers, all my family are in the Chicago/Northern IN area so we're figuring on going up the 20th or 21st. AWFUL lot to try to squeeze into the week before leaving. My tamiya has already been packed and sent. So all I have to bring would be my halftrack. I'd dearly like to make it, photos/video if nothing else of EVERYTHING.

Not saying we won't make it but no way I can say yes we will.
Louie

TheBennyB

Wish I could be there! Everyone have fun and be careful on your travels. Like Bob has said, the AAF museum battlefield is one of a kind and if yoiu haven't been try to get to it!!

thecommander

Come on down Jeff. Here are some helpful travel hints guys:

I flew down from NYC for the first year. Once it got more that two tanks I need to drive. It is only 525 miles each way and takes 8 hours. Don't saw WOW yet.... Mike, Dennis & Steve. (Michigan & Florida x2) drive farther than I do. Flights w/ car rental and hotel (I stayed in Greensboro) was about $400 back then thru Cheaptickets.com. I should have stayed in Danville but we didn't have these forums and help back then. Fly into Greensboro Triad. Car rental is at the small and very friendly airport. Many guys come thru G-boro and might be willing to pick you up too. It is 55 miles, under 1 hours drive north to Danville. Nice drive too(FYI...Gas in Danville was $2.99 last trip...Cheapest in the USA). The tank can go in your carry-on. Carry some print-outs for the event to show them where you are going. I have down this many times to GSO & Texas airports w/o an issue. They will want to see it and swipe it. Just use a carry on that has NEVER carried any ammo or gunpowder. If you can check it thru in non carry on/checked luggage. Just keep the batteries out of the tank & radio. It will be examined so keep everything easy to open. If you carry the tank (easy to do) just remove all the batteries. They show up real good on the X-rays. Ship down you Radio, Batteries & Charger to Karen ahead of time. Tomas Sandoval from Texas Armored and I, plus others have done this before. Just call her first to confirm she is still willing to do so. Others are coming form your are of the country (read the thread) so PM them.

I try to "Car Pool" when I can since it cut travel costs quite a bit. You don't have to share a hotel room but the drive is much better when you have company and if seems to go faster too. Another option is the train. Danville is a train hub since the civil war and I costs less than flights and baggage/weight is less of an issue. I would be willing to pick you up at the station. Call me for details. A car is really not a necessity since we travel is packs like wolves to the hotel, meals and such. I know you will want your own Jeff. I usually stay Sunday night now that I am retired. I make stops on the way home in DC, APG Ordnance Mus. (now gone), Army Mus. at Carlisle PA, Gettysburgh and other sights. I will post more on side trips. Some groups have pondered renting a passenger van to come down en mass.

Put some feeler out for travel buddies guys. I came down a few years back with Texchap (Rich from costal DelMarva VA) and the 5 hour trip seemed to go in a flash.

Please just remember that this museum like so many others is finding it very hard to offer all they do and keep the doors open. Come NOW before this goes the way of Aberdeen & the Jacque Littlefield collection/museum.

It could happen tomorrow WITHOUT WARNING!

STOP SAYING "MAYBE NEXT YEAR" ... there may not be a next year.

Anyone else with travel info or hints please chime in. We need your input too. Thanks, Bob

thecommander

My buddy Jimmy Kuhn was the first to capture some of those cool muzzle flash shots. We have been lucky and gotten more over the years. Steve Sharkey (AKA video expert) is the master and he shared his secret. He takes "Screen grabs" from his HD video. He had captured some spectacular shots and is very talented.

Steve started young. Here is a tank pic of his from when he was a kid. He was 1/35 back then.



Jimmy is just an overgrown kid.... Here are his super shots.

Even I got lucky one day with my HL DBU KV1 The LED was easy compared to the super fast & bright Tamiya strobe.


God I hope Steve comes this Spring... I will call him today. I know Dennis is coming from Florida. Steve got one supper pic of Brett's Tiger and I swear the flash looks like the real thing. Shoot some video Leong and find that magic frame. Experiment at home. I love using such pix on my EBay auctions. http://www.ebay.com/sch/thecommander...p2047675.l2562 Many guys ask how it is done. Thanks Jimmy & Steve. You guys opened up a new world to us. It is the ultimate action shot.



FYI Guys....I always try and get some photo time at the AAF Tank Museums battlefield. Steve has even volunteered to take "Glamor shots" of my tanks on the field. He has a great eye and I bribe him by buying lunch. Danny Lo is also a great photographer like you Leong and he has some very realistic tank shots & video form Danville. Search YouTube too.