Small Scale Military Headquarters

I bought my first new 1:32 in what is likely years this last weekend. Keep in mind that while I collect favorite pieces from all eras, my primary focus is modern, so things are even worse off for me right now than for those who focus on WWII.

Be that as it may, I also try to keep an eye out for civilian vehicles/items, as my main project is an Iraqi street scene diorama. I can easily field two platoons of Abrams, with infantry support as needed, but my streets look oddly deserted. Most all of the 1:32 civilian vehicles I can find are, not surprisingly, far fancier and more exotic than you would likely see on the streets in Baghdad. Audi R8, Subaru WRX, and so on. As it is, I pick up an item here and an item there, so someday when I put it all together I should have enough to create a busy background. Motorcycles, lawnmowers, Bobcats... All that sort of thing.

Where am I going with all of this? Good question, as I seem to have gotten off track...

This last weekend, at a gas station, on the Grapevine, as we stopped for a drink and a bathroom (why can't women ride in a car for more than 2 hrs without having to pee?), I stumbled into a surprisingly well stocked selection of New Ray toys. Lots of semi trucks, but the one that caught me most by surprise? A 1:32 helicopter! Part of New Ray's ""Glorious Mission" line. Not much really, slightly reminiscent of a Kiowa Warrior, but more of just a light transport. Googling about shows me that Michigan Toy Soldier has quite a selection of modern New Ray, including the one I found:


photo from Michigan Toy Soldier

Despite being a gas station in the middle of nowhere, the price was right, so I bought one. I'm not sure just what I'm going to do with it yet, as I'll admit, it will need some work, but hey, it's a start for a custom, and considering what has been out there lately, I'm happy to have it!

There was also a transporter hauling an Abrams, and some neat civilian stuff... I think I,ll be checking back in, I'm pretty sure she'll have to pee again anyway...

MV

I have a few of those choppers and they will be 'used' with my modern Brits. Overall the NewRay stuff isn't great but it's something and it's generally inexpensive. As far as the the hauler and Abram, I've seen them. I haven't purchased it but I already had the haulers in civilian colors and painted one desert camo and the other NATO colors.... I have a fair number of Abrams.
Years ago NewRay had Hummers, various trucks and APCs, which were die cast and they still have trucks, APCs, barracks or quanset huts, etc. Again, at least it's something... (Don't forget about Bravo Team)

Cool! There's also a New Ray AH-64A Apache in 1:32. I had one for a while before I sold it to another board member. It was not much in the way of detail, but had a bit of custom potential - a lot like the helo you pictured above. New Ray makes some interesting items and a few items we can only get through them in 1:32 scale.

I forgot about the Apache. The newer NewRay Apaches even have US Army demarcations. If you have a Hobby Lobby near you use their 40% off coupon and you can pick one up for cheap.

I also have one of the Apaches, however, mine is in the Testors kit form, and is put away in a box somewhere, still unassembled. I'm hoping to, well, basically remodel the a spare bedroom in our new house and have a nice work space, which I'll then be able to use to complete such projects.

I've been watching the New Ray low-boy haulers for a while now, always thinging of how they would look with an Abrams on them. After stopping in Yermo a few weeks ago to watch several Abrams be lifted off of such trailers and placed on rail cars, I think I've got a pretty good idea of just what they should look like, and the New Ray trucks should be just fine. The trucks in Yermo were all civilian contractors, so the trucks looked pretty nice, not plain olive drab or sand colored. No pictures though, as I figured those would cause trouble, and sure enough, after a few short minutes of watching, MP's did show up to ask questions. Apparently though, no camera = no problem.

MV