TheBennyB

Hello Tankers, time to get those battle tanks ready for the first battle weekend of the year at the AAF tank museum! Get your hotel rooms if needed now! Check all functions and make sure all your batts are operating. We've changed the schedule a bit to reflect some new ideas. We'll be running Rolling Thunder ALL weekend. This may be as simple as team death matches with chains of command on Friday to more involved scenario's on Saturday. With more and more new tankers showing up to events we have decided to start from square one again with Rolling Thunder to get people up to speed on teamwork, chain of command, how logistics work, etc. We'll decide as we go how many variables are thrown into a battle. Also we will have a couple designated times during the weekend to run a 30 min or so workshop on IR battling if the interest and number of people are there. As usual we will be inspecting every tank that goes on the battlefield for the following:

Max ON road speed with a +2mph buffer.
Tank takes and gives hits.
Tank dies according to class
IR emitter depth (bulb must be recessed no less than 9mm from tube end to tip of bulb and ID of tube can't be greater than 6mm.)
Tank must have flash in barrel or barrel recoil movement.
No obstructions blocking the IR Sensor (hatches, .50 cal's, etc.)
Stock apple orientation for turreted tanks NOT TFA. TFA IS permitted on fixed structrued tanks.

Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting some new tankers! If you have any questions feel free to post up or PM me. Here are the links to the museum and a hotel if needed. Also a copy of the schedule and the cheat sheet to Rolling Thunder scenario's.

https://www.aaftankmuseum.com/
https://www.choicehotels.com/virgini...va367?brand=CI

1qaz

Great to see the R/C tank battles are starting up again, that must mean that winter is almost over? When will the next "fun run" be? The rolling thunder events make the event way more complicated than I want to deal with, as a new tanker I just enjoy the casual battle scenario.
I hope you get a good turn out and post some photos,
Larry B

TheBennyB

Larry, we're starting new on the Rolling Thunder scenario's. We have decided to scale down variables during the battles for new people to catch up and understand what we are trying to do. For the most part the battles will be just team death match with a chain of command. We're really trying to get the idea of teamwork and platoon organization across to tankers. If that goes well we may start to add more involved components later in the weekend. If your free you guys should come.

GUTS

That would be a blast, wish I could go watch. Someone should take a sweet video for us.

Crius

What he said!

I can't wait to see the videos, Bret.

Dusty Steppes

Hotel reservations made. Hoping real life doesn't get in the way.

skip2a

We will be there around noon on Friday. Colin had his Tiger out and was working on it yesterday. My KT is almost finished and should be good to go by then.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again!

See ya,

Pat

TheBennyB

Under 2 weeks to go tankers! Make sure to get your hotel rooms if needed. Don't miss out on the largest indoor r/c tank battlefield in the world. Even if you don't have an I/R compatible tank come by and check out the battlefield and museum. Great bunch of people that will gladly answer questions and will loan out tanks usually for people to try out.

manchu9inf

Looks like I will be bringing a 3rd, my daughter will be with us my wife has her drill weekend! LOL

da Rock

Are there plenty of outlets for battery charging?

Is there an entry fee?

manchu9inf

there are plenty of outlets and work space for tankers and their gear. there is a fee and its less if you are a member of the museum. i don't remember the prices off the top of my head, but i am sure someone can fill that missing piece in or they might even be on the AAF museum's website. here is a pic of the workbench, electrical outlets are there too.

TheBennyB

I always forget. Usually to exited or getting things through inspection to remember. Ballpark is $12 to enter museum for a day and not participating in tank battles/admittance to workbench areas. $15 a day if your a tank battle participant/workbench access for the day which also includes admittance to the museum exhibits.

TheBennyB

1qaz

Benny B,
Glad to hear you guys had a good turn out. Will the next event, April 21, be another "rolling thunder" type event or a fun run?
Larry B

Dusty Steppes

I had a blast and got to meet a great bunch of people!

manchu9inf

A nice echelon with the Sherman and Panther getting some flank shots!

some intense action!



the Jagdpanzer IV moving up to position!

Sherman looking for targets!

TheBennyB

Maccrage

Nice. I wish I could take time to head out that way. No tankers around here that I'm aware of.

1qaz

Benny B,
I thought that all the AAF events were put on by the same group, I am in need of an education about the different R/C tank clubs! So I am guessing that each of the different clubs has a different format for each of the weekends that the AAF hosts the event, am I correct?
I must apologize for being so "out of the loop" in regards to the different clubs.

Thanks for posting the photos, hopefully next event the wife & I can get our little Sherman out on the field.
Larry

skip2a

Had another great weekend at the AAF in Virginia! It was nice meeting Dusty there and all of the other forum members and ACE guys that were there. My son commandeered my new King Tiger on Saturday; we ended up taking home a new Panther kit, lol.

Looking forward to the next event that we can get to.

See ya,

Skip

TheBennyB

Right now there are 3 different groups hosting events. You don't need to be in a club to host an event, any person can do it. Right now ACE has 2 events, NEAD has 2 events, and HEAT has 2 events. ACE events are the more involved Rolling Thunder type battles with inspections. NEAD and HEAT are more laid back scenario's and not sure how they are running inspections.

skip2a

Some more pictures of the weekend. Took some scenery shots for your folks that can't see the AAF battleground in person.

skip2a

skip2a

1qaz

Thank you for the education Benny B! Also those are some fantastic photo's of the battle field. I am scared that if the wife & I go to another AAF event I will leave with another new tank kit in the car! To me the fun part is building and airbrushing the model, I am looking to add another tank to my arsenal of destruction But which one?
Thanks again for the good info,