These collections each come on a DVD ready for viewing. Here is the link: http://thortrains.net/ads-sales/military-dvds.html
Please note that at this time, we can only ship within the USA. We are currently unable to fill foreign orders.
Friday, March 6, 2015
For the Tank Fans and World War II buffs:
Have we got something for the military history fan
First up is for the guy who likes tanks and armored vehicles. I made every effort to compile together some of the bust tank resources . These include studies of tanks and tank types, armored vehicles, organization of armored forces and making models of them in miniature. These great collections cover everything from the first armored vehicles to the power punchers of the Cold War
Second up is for the fellow who likes the history behind the scenes. I have compiled a load of US World War II intelligence bulletins, special series intelligence reports, after action reports and descriptions of enemy troops and weapons. These were issued as the war was being fought, so you get an up-to-the-moment look at how our forces saw the enemy at that time. There is ample material about our allies and our enemies. The latest on German, Japanese and Italian tactics and technolgoy, plus insight from the British, Russians and other allies. PLUS US Army Combat manuals fromWorld War II. This is precious stuff for the World War II buff.
These collections each come on a DVD ready for viewing. Here is the link: http://thortrains.net/ads-sales/military-dvds.html
Please note that at this time, we can only ship within the USA. We are currently unable to fill foreign orders.
These collections each come on a DVD ready for viewing. Here is the link: http://thortrains.net/ads-sales/military-dvds.html
Please note that at this time, we can only ship within the USA. We are currently unable to fill foreign orders.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Standard Toy Soldier Poses: The Crawly Guy and the Prone Shooter
For centuries, men in combat stood or knelt. It was the only way they could reload, from longbows to muskets. Crawling and prone firing were not part of soldiering in those times. Stealth in combat only came later.
The units of rangers, riflemen and jager in the revolution would take cover by getting low. They may even crawl to remain unseen as they observed an enemy position. However, most fired from the kneeling or standing position. Flintlock rifles do not lend themselves to the prone position.
Crawling and prone shooting became more common in the Civil War, as men sought to use cover. Percussion cap rifles also made it easier, but the best were cartridge-firing rifles like the Sharps carbine.
With the increased firepower of machine guns and bolt-action rifles, crawling and prone firing became necessary for survival. A soldier learned to get down and stay low. The low crawl, high crawl and prone firing position were part of modern soldiering frm the time of the Krag rifle to the M16.
The problem with the crawly guy and prone shooter was when playing with toy soldiers meant actual projectiles. Anything from the tin "shell" from a spring-loaded toy cannon to a hastily-tossed dirt bomb could topple standing and kneeling troops. The effect on the prone and crawling figures was nil. That meant they were excluded from the game or stood up by sticking their feet far enough into the dirt.
Games notwithstanding, those of us who served in the Army or Marine Corps well remember the lesson. Our drill instructors were none too gentle in teaching the necessity to get low. We were taught to crawl and slither on the ground. Our training included plenty of firing from all positions, especially prone. Being belly-to-the-ground may be a hassle for pelting plastic army men, but for the modern soldier it is very good advice.
You can see the actual firing methods taught to armies here: http://www.thortrains.com/getright/shootr1.html
Crawling and prone shooting became more common in the Civil War, as men sought to use cover. Percussion cap rifles also made it easier, but the best were cartridge-firing rifles like the Sharps carbine.
The problem with the crawly guy and prone shooter was when playing with toy soldiers meant actual projectiles. Anything from the tin "shell" from a spring-loaded toy cannon to a hastily-tossed dirt bomb could topple standing and kneeling troops. The effect on the prone and crawling figures was nil. That meant they were excluded from the game or stood up by sticking their feet far enough into the dirt.
You can see the actual firing methods taught to armies here: http://www.thortrains.com/getright/shootr1.html
Where Smaller Means More
Marx’s "scale" trains are actually 1/64,. This is also known as 3/16" scale, which is 1/64 of a foot. The idea of running this scale on O track came from A.C. Gilbert. In the late 1930s, he had the idea of a more scale-size operation by using a smaller train. Today, most of the trains sold as O27 are 1/64 to 1/60 in scale.
After World War II, Gilbert switched to two-rail track with a 7/8" gauge, which he called "S". The gauge was just right for his 1/64 trains. Marx stuck to its 3/16" on O27. In fact, several Lionel O27 cars were also scaled close to 1/64.
The benefit is having a smaller train running on the more popular and cheaper O gauged track. This is ideal for smaller model railroads. We can compare the older O / O27 to S and HO scales. O27 has a 27" diameter curve; classic O is 31". Though it has a 30" diameter, 15" radius curve, HO generally tends to start with 36" diameter / 18" radius. The minimum curve for American Flyer S gauge track is 40" diameter.
A small layout of 3" by 6" can be made with O and O27. You can pack a lot of action there, too. Old doors can even provide a base for an interesting layout if you use O27 or O. They are from 66 to 80 inches long and tend to be 34 to 36 inches wide.
Smaller trains provide more action in smaller spaces. For those working in the O and O27 range, the old Marx "scale" line fits the bill. Other trains that work as O27 are the Industrial Rail O27 freights, the Lionel and Williams 12" streamliner passenger cars and the K-Line plastic streamliners. The K-Line Alco FA is also scaled just right for O27.
For trackside figures in this scale, MTH made a set of unpainted plastic figures in the 3/16" - 1/64 size. Military miniatures in the 28mm and 30mm scales work well, too. A few present-day makers produce military miniatures and various ranges of civilians in 28mm. A side effect of the fantasy-role-playing figures are civilian types from several eras. "Steampunk" types may include a few Victorian / 19th Century types. 20th century range from adventurers to plain folks.
The old Marx buildings, most of which were reissued by K-Line and "K-Line by Lionel" have 1/64 dimensions such as doorways. Plasticville is a sort of middle ground between O and S. Some of the folks supplying the fantasy gamers make structures and other items. Check them out to make sure they are usable with your trains.
Several Lionel accessories are also closer to 1/64 than 1/48.
The benefit is having a smaller train running on the more popular and cheaper O gauged track. This is ideal for smaller model railroads. We can compare the older O / O27 to S and HO scales. O27 has a 27" diameter curve; classic O is 31". Though it has a 30" diameter, 15" radius curve, HO generally tends to start with 36" diameter / 18" radius. The minimum curve for American Flyer S gauge track is 40" diameter.
Smaller trains provide more action in smaller spaces. For those working in the O and O27 range, the old Marx "scale" line fits the bill. Other trains that work as O27 are the Industrial Rail O27 freights, the Lionel and Williams 12" streamliner passenger cars and the K-Line plastic streamliners. The K-Line Alco FA is also scaled just right for O27.
The old Marx buildings, most of which were reissued by K-Line and "K-Line by Lionel" have 1/64 dimensions such as doorways. Plasticville is a sort of middle ground between O and S. Some of the folks supplying the fantasy gamers make structures and other items. Check them out to make sure they are usable with your trains.
Several Lionel accessories are also closer to 1/64 than 1/48.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Standard Toy Soldier Poses: The Kneeling Shooter
Granted that archers and crossbowmen could fire from a kneeling position. However, our kneeling soldier has origins in the days of firearms. The original firelocks were so awkward that they could only be fired from a standing position. One had to stand upright to load, shoulder and fire them. The coming of the flintlock, which was lighter, easier to handle and better balanced, allowed the use of the kneeling pose for firing. In time when armies massed firepower by massing their shooters into dense formations, kneeling made sense. It allowed an additional front rank to fire underneath the muskets of the rank standing behind them. So it was that the kneeling musketeer became part and parcel of armies from the early 1700s.
You can see the actual firing methods taught to armies here: http://www.thortrains.com/getright/shootr1.html
Cargo in, Cargo out!
Building your model railroad is all the more fun when there is a sense of purpose behind it. After all, railroads do not just spring up as "general traffic" operations. Even the big Class 1s started out as short lines with a specific purpose in mind.
Consider is the industries served by your railroad. Then, ponder what must be brought to those industries so they can do their work. Think of fuel, raw materials and other necessary supplies. Then consider what products they are sending out. You will use this information to help choose your rolling stock. For instance, a company hauling paper stock would need boxcars. A meat-packing plant or a creamery would require refrigerated cars.
Fuel is another thought. Most factories have to power their equipment. While some may use the local electrical system for power, others may have steam or gas-powered machinery. There are even companies who might very well have their own little power plant producing their electricity. Your railroad will have to bring them coal or oil.
The same goes for serving residential communities. From the mid 1800s to the early 1950s, many homes were heated with coal. Go into an older home’s basement and you can see where the coal was piled. In the late 1930s, many gradually shifted to oil. Natural gas came by the 1950s. Rural regions might not be hooked up to natural gas lines, so your railroad might bring them heating oil or propane.
Here is where those fun O and S gauge operating accessories come in. Operating milk cars can work with the dairies. Operating cattle cars would supply the meat packers. Barrel loaders could load almost anything shipped in a drum: lubricants, industrial materials, fish, clams, and much more. (The clams and shellfish are usually packed in water with ice). Log dumps can drop their loads at furniture factories. Coal dumpers can supply factories and power plants.
If your railroad serves a town or two, there is more than fuel to consider. Communities need lumber and building supplies. Places where roads, bridges and other things are being built need gravel. Bridge and dock builders must have pilings. Iron structures require ‘I" beams.
Passenger roads have different requirements. Commuter and passenger trains also carried cars for express (less than carload) service and milk runs. Those with a smaller number of passengers might use combines rather than coaches and baggage cars. Also think of seasonal traffic. Resort and vacation spots might have few riders between October and May. From the end of May to the middle of September, they will be filled with vacationers and "day trippers" out for some fun in the sun.
These may seem like fine points, but they are drawn for real life. Certainly, incorporating some of them into your railroad will add to its realism and your enjoyment of it.
***
The needs of businesses and communities changed from one era to the next. You can choose to factor this into your railroad, or not. Some see it as a fine point and others regard it as necessary for scale railroading. A mentioned earlier, coal was a popular fuel from after the middle of the 19th Century until the early 1950s. From the 1930s to the 1990s, oil heat was popular. A railroad strictly set in the 1920s would be hauling coal to its communities. One set for the 1960s would have tank cars for heating oil. Wood-burning locomotives were still running in the 1870s but by the 1880s coal-burners were the order of the day. If your railroad adheres firmly to a specific time, then it pays to make your consists fit the era.
Fuel is another thought. Most factories have to power their equipment. While some may use the local electrical system for power, others may have steam or gas-powered machinery. There are even companies who might very well have their own little power plant producing their electricity. Your railroad will have to bring them coal or oil.
Here is where those fun O and S gauge operating accessories come in. Operating milk cars can work with the dairies. Operating cattle cars would supply the meat packers. Barrel loaders could load almost anything shipped in a drum: lubricants, industrial materials, fish, clams, and much more. (The clams and shellfish are usually packed in water with ice). Log dumps can drop their loads at furniture factories. Coal dumpers can supply factories and power plants.
Passenger roads have different requirements. Commuter and passenger trains also carried cars for express (less than carload) service and milk runs. Those with a smaller number of passengers might use combines rather than coaches and baggage cars. Also think of seasonal traffic. Resort and vacation spots might have few riders between October and May. From the end of May to the middle of September, they will be filled with vacationers and "day trippers" out for some fun in the sun.
These may seem like fine points, but they are drawn for real life. Certainly, incorporating some of them into your railroad will add to its realism and your enjoyment of it.
***
The needs of businesses and communities changed from one era to the next. You can choose to factor this into your railroad, or not. Some see it as a fine point and others regard it as necessary for scale railroading. A mentioned earlier, coal was a popular fuel from after the middle of the 19th Century until the early 1950s. From the 1930s to the 1990s, oil heat was popular. A railroad strictly set in the 1920s would be hauling coal to its communities. One set for the 1960s would have tank cars for heating oil. Wood-burning locomotives were still running in the 1870s but by the 1880s coal-burners were the order of the day. If your railroad adheres firmly to a specific time, then it pays to make your consists fit the era.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Standard Toy Soldier Poses: The Standing Shooter
The Standing Shooter
One of the most common toy soldiers is the Standing Shooter. Be he a rifleman or musketeer, he points his weapon forward and stands steadily, aiming at the enemy. If we discount archers as vestiges of an earlier age, we get a line of standing shooters from the Revolution to the present. The standing shooter is a staple of every good set of combat-posed army men.
Standing to shoot was a common thing when the first firearms made their debut. The early arquebusiers actually rested their weapons on stake to fire. As the way to mass firepower was to mass the musketeers, the standard pose for shooting was a standing position. One rank of troops knelt beneath the muskets of standing men. Officers could position men so that more than one rank could fire standing.
Leave it to the armies to each invent their own "correct" way to stand and shoot. They had a proper way to place their legs and hold the weapon and a correct sequence for firing. As the firearms evolved from arquebuses to flintlocks to percussion rifles to modern long arms, the right way changed. Of course, our toy soldiers do not always reflect this.
In modern warm, the only right way to stand and shoot is from a foxhole or behind cover. The correct way to shoot is to get as low as possible and find cover. That has in no way diminished the place of the standing shooter in a set of toy soldiers. He is in bags and boxed sets, plastic and metal and composition.
To this day, all soldiers are taught how to stand and shoot. And to kneel and shoot and lie down and shoot. Little changes are made from generation to generation. Mine was taught to hold our shooting arm straight, elbow pointing out. These days, they tell them to keep the elbow in.
And more than a few toy soldiers have their poses adapted so as to make it cheaper to make the molds. Realism got sacrificed to save a few dollars. This was done mostly by British and European companies, not American.
You can see the actual firing methods taught to armies here: http://www.thortrains.com/getright/shootr1.html
One of the most common toy soldiers is the Standing Shooter. Be he a rifleman or musketeer, he points his weapon forward and stands steadily, aiming at the enemy. If we discount archers as vestiges of an earlier age, we get a line of standing shooters from the Revolution to the present. The standing shooter is a staple of every good set of combat-posed army men.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Hidden Worlds
Behind the facade of our everyday world are hidden byways that make modern living possible. I had written of the seasonal workers in the Catskill resorts. They were part of the "behind the scenes" operations that enabled the resorts to run. Here are some more:
The Jersey Shore has its own hidden world that the summer visitors never see. The seasonal businesses rely on making their money between the end of May and the beginning of September. Memorial Day and Labor Day are the end caps on the traditional Summer Season at the Shore. The few who trickle in early or linger a little while afterward are too small in number to make a notable difference.
The off-season lifestyle was very different a few decades ago. Areas of the Shore have become more residential. As late as the 80s, many of those properties had been summer rental bungalows. Back then, there were many fewer year-round residents at the Shore and fewer all-season businesses. For year-round residents, there were hardware stores, several of which were also general stores. There might be a bakery in town and a shop selling newspapesr and coffee. Schools were relatively small and some were shared by several communities. Where there had been throngs in Summer, one saw empty places.
The pavilions on the boardwalk would all be boarded up until May. So were many of the restaurants and the businesses on the street that ran alongside the beach. Shops that peddled everything from deep-fried snack food to plastic beach toys were padlocked, their windows covered with plywood. Most of the hotels and motels were also closed for the season.
For the few motels that were open, there was a way to make a few dollars in the off season. To ensure folks would attend in person, ballgames were not broadcast within 25 miles of there they were being played. You could not see them on TV. The trick was to go outside that area to see the games. Small groups of men would head for the Shore, rent a room for the day and watch the ballgame on TV. Depending on where the motel was, it could work both ways. The innkeepers could expect to get both the Philadelphia and New York fans. That meant a little income for basketball, football and Spring-season baseball. Smart motel managers worked out a discount for the room, and so ensured repeat clientele for the off-season ballgames.
**
Ever wonder why you do not see many maintenance men or delivery people in big city buildings? Many buildings have a hidden set of elevators, corridors and entrances used by service personnel and delivery men. Many do not permit these people to use the main entrance or the elevators used by visitors, staff and employees. This allows the people who work and do business to pass unimpeded by delivery folks, and vice versa
The hidden corridors are usually painted an industrial green or grey. The lower four feet of the walls are covered in thick plywood, so as to absorb the bumps and scrapes of delivery carts. Plain doors give egress to doors or outside corridors where deliveries are actually made. They are placed and painted in such a way that they are ignored by folks passing by outside.
Most places with freight elevators had entrances in back. Yes, there were alleys behind the buildings, parallel to the streets, from which the freight elevators were accessible. The alleys were also where they placed their dumpsters. Most folks passed by them without giving them a glance.
Some buildings had a ramp into which one could drive a truck right up to a loading dock. Rockefeller Center took this a step further. There were two long freight elevators that could easily hold a 40-foot trailer. A truck would drive right on to the elevator and drive off onto one of two basement levels with several loading platforms. From there, one could unload and take a smaller freight elevator to the necessary floor. There was an easy solution to help people find a location, too. Rockefeller Center employed a small army of young men in sharp brown uniforms who would take you right to the place
The World Trade Center’s basement entailed a drive down a long causeway ramp to get to one of the basements. It was big, but Rockefeller Center was easier.
Loading docks in New York were only open for a limited time. Most opened between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning and closed between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. Very few were open until 6:00 or later. Calling ahead that you might be late worked in a few buildings, but not many. To get a full day’s work of deliveries, an outfit would have to have their truck on the road by 7:30 and hit their first stop between 8:00 and 8:30.
Aside from a look at something few ever notice, you might get some ideas here for your trackside scenery.
**********
One fellow thought being boss was making the rules and doing as he pleased. He usually showed up as his warehouse between 9:00 and 11:30, which meant his trucks got out anywhere from 10:00 to Noon. The man thought he could make up the time by working later. However, as most loading docks closed when they did, he was getting a mere four hours work done instead of a full day. Being the kind of person he was, he took it out on his employees. Suffice to say that within two weeks, he always had different workers. The man did not learn a simple fact about being boss. The boss does not make rules to suit his whims. The boss sees that the existing conditions are met so as to succeed and prosper. In other words, the rules are made by the job’s demands and conditions. In New York City, that means getting your trucks on the road by 7:30 at the latest.
The Jersey Shore has its own hidden world that the summer visitors never see. The seasonal businesses rely on making their money between the end of May and the beginning of September. Memorial Day and Labor Day are the end caps on the traditional Summer Season at the Shore. The few who trickle in early or linger a little while afterward are too small in number to make a notable difference.
The off-season lifestyle was very different a few decades ago. Areas of the Shore have become more residential. As late as the 80s, many of those properties had been summer rental bungalows. Back then, there were many fewer year-round residents at the Shore and fewer all-season businesses. For year-round residents, there were hardware stores, several of which were also general stores. There might be a bakery in town and a shop selling newspapesr and coffee. Schools were relatively small and some were shared by several communities. Where there had been throngs in Summer, one saw empty places.
The pavilions on the boardwalk would all be boarded up until May. So were many of the restaurants and the businesses on the street that ran alongside the beach. Shops that peddled everything from deep-fried snack food to plastic beach toys were padlocked, their windows covered with plywood. Most of the hotels and motels were also closed for the season.
For the few motels that were open, there was a way to make a few dollars in the off season. To ensure folks would attend in person, ballgames were not broadcast within 25 miles of there they were being played. You could not see them on TV. The trick was to go outside that area to see the games. Small groups of men would head for the Shore, rent a room for the day and watch the ballgame on TV. Depending on where the motel was, it could work both ways. The innkeepers could expect to get both the Philadelphia and New York fans. That meant a little income for basketball, football and Spring-season baseball. Smart motel managers worked out a discount for the room, and so ensured repeat clientele for the off-season ballgames.
**
Ever wonder why you do not see many maintenance men or delivery people in big city buildings? Many buildings have a hidden set of elevators, corridors and entrances used by service personnel and delivery men. Many do not permit these people to use the main entrance or the elevators used by visitors, staff and employees. This allows the people who work and do business to pass unimpeded by delivery folks, and vice versa
The hidden corridors are usually painted an industrial green or grey. The lower four feet of the walls are covered in thick plywood, so as to absorb the bumps and scrapes of delivery carts. Plain doors give egress to doors or outside corridors where deliveries are actually made. They are placed and painted in such a way that they are ignored by folks passing by outside.
Most places with freight elevators had entrances in back. Yes, there were alleys behind the buildings, parallel to the streets, from which the freight elevators were accessible. The alleys were also where they placed their dumpsters. Most folks passed by them without giving them a glance.
Some buildings had a ramp into which one could drive a truck right up to a loading dock. Rockefeller Center took this a step further. There were two long freight elevators that could easily hold a 40-foot trailer. A truck would drive right on to the elevator and drive off onto one of two basement levels with several loading platforms. From there, one could unload and take a smaller freight elevator to the necessary floor. There was an easy solution to help people find a location, too. Rockefeller Center employed a small army of young men in sharp brown uniforms who would take you right to the place
The World Trade Center’s basement entailed a drive down a long causeway ramp to get to one of the basements. It was big, but Rockefeller Center was easier.
Loading docks in New York were only open for a limited time. Most opened between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning and closed between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. Very few were open until 6:00 or later. Calling ahead that you might be late worked in a few buildings, but not many. To get a full day’s work of deliveries, an outfit would have to have their truck on the road by 7:30 and hit their first stop between 8:00 and 8:30.
Aside from a look at something few ever notice, you might get some ideas here for your trackside scenery.
**********
One fellow thought being boss was making the rules and doing as he pleased. He usually showed up as his warehouse between 9:00 and 11:30, which meant his trucks got out anywhere from 10:00 to Noon. The man thought he could make up the time by working later. However, as most loading docks closed when they did, he was getting a mere four hours work done instead of a full day. Being the kind of person he was, he took it out on his employees. Suffice to say that within two weeks, he always had different workers. The man did not learn a simple fact about being boss. The boss does not make rules to suit his whims. The boss sees that the existing conditions are met so as to succeed and prosper. In other words, the rules are made by the job’s demands and conditions. In New York City, that means getting your trucks on the road by 7:30 at the latest.
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