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Post by pegasusalan on Nov 30, 2014 18:33:50 GMT 1
I am just retiring to France, Calvados 14, and there is similarity wrt to Longchap's post. My 00 setup has sat in boxes for past 30 years and is still in same. Probably be unpacked mid next year when properly settled in. I worked in IT for 40 plus years, so DCC isn't off putting, have bought some new digital stuff, just have to figure out how to have part of the layout at analogue, rest as digital. Aiming for pre war/wartime/just post war with emphasis on GWR and have bought model vehicles to complement, however with no existing list of what I have, goodness knows what I will end up with! I shall enjoy the challenge of designing and building it, whatever it ends up as. My other interest is 1:1 scale WW2 military vehicles. (Why do French mil vehicle owners and re-enactors nearly all dress-up as Americans?)
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Post by longchap on Nov 30, 2014 22:12:22 GMT 1
Hi Alan and a hearty welcome,
I've been a military modeller as well as railways and maintain a keen interest in military history. I suspect the French love of dressing up as 'mericans may stem from the fact that the 'overpaid and over here' left so much of their hardware on French soil! Are any of your vehicles represented in USA colours and unit marking by any chance?
Seems as if you and I may well be unpacking the goodies around the same time and I too am looking forward to rediscovering exactly what's in all those boxes!
Good luck settling in, particularly with the red tape. It's a great place to live mind you and very worthwhile when you start to integrate with the French locals around you.
Bon courage,
LC  |
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Post by pegasusalan on Dec 1, 2014 17:24:10 GMT 1
Thanks for the welcome LC.
Another reason I suspect the French prefer US uniforms is that their WW2 stuff is so much nicer material than the Brit stuff. One has to admit that the British BD is itchy and uncomfortable by comparison and I speak from experience, having worn it as a cadet. My WW2 jeep is marked as RAF and the Dodge Carryall is as US 9th Air Force. That is only because it was in US 8th Air Force marking when I bought it and I changed it to 9th when I discovered they flew from an Advanced Landing Ground nearby. However it will be changed to the British Army Film & Photographic Unit eventually. With my white hair, less than slim body, I am not going to pretend to be a fighter pilot or paratrooper, the latter being a favourite of overweight, over aged French re-enactors!
However as this us a model train forum, back to the core subject. I can see we are both going to have an interesting time 'rediscovering our youth' next year.
Alan
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