Thanks so much for these pictures. Since the 70's I've wanted to go to a museum like this, but never had a chance. What Museums here in the US or Canada are still doing thses weekends?

Unfortunatey to my knowledge, none. Perhaps Benning will be a looser set-up when and if it gets up and running. The CMH (Center for Military History - the "owners" of all US military aftifacts.) The CMH directive says no vehicle or weapon shall be used for its original purpose. Does that extend to saying it cannot be opperated under its' own power? They have never been exactly clear on the question, so perhaps it's better no one asks for further clearification.

I knew that there was something strange about that guy in black, that I couldn't put my finger on... After this picture, it is now obvious.

Camo is a hell of a modeler on top of being a AFV enthusiast. Ya gotta live a guy that has a Deuce & Half in his driveway...

Also, the picture for 2000 with the P51D in the background, providing close air support brings back some memories. That was the first PM event that I was able to attend and told the wife that the growling of the Rolls-Royce Merlin was the sound of freedom to many in Europe. It was also cool that one of her former soldiers from Germany was a reenactor on the losing side, that day... They were able to catch up on events of the previous seven years.

Ahhh, da memories...

John

For years I wanted to get to Fort Knox. I made it there in 2010 but only to the gunnery range for our Cav gunnery tables prior to deployment and never got outside the range. I made it back there for two weeks this year in May for an MOS transition course where I had plenty of time to look around, but of course it was too late. I missed the armor museum, and I was a week early for the new Patton Museum's opening.

One day I'll get to Benning and Anniston. Thanks for the pictures, I've been following Armor For the Ages for years and the Museum's Facebook pages.

Here is an example of Camo's great modeling work:

A visitor to a Patton event a few years back. You can never have enough Sd.Kfz. 10 prime movers!


Here is the Patton's D7 halftrack being driven by Stick Decker.


And once again Duane Klug this time driving the D7.

A posed shot of Stick Decker and Gary Redman with the Patton's Swimwagon.

Another shot of the D7 owned by Keisler Firearms of Jeffersonville, IN.


This is the same Sd.Kfz. 10 that appears near the bottom of page 1 of this thread at a Patton event.

Distinctly recall this fine gentleman, he was one of the founders of the modeling club we had at Knox in 1989. RIP, see you in Fiddler's Green

Not all the restoration happens inside the Patton Museum - 1943 Ford jeep owned and restored by Patton Volunteer Kenneth Johns:

(I have a soft spot for this particular restoration b/c I have more than a few hundred hours invested in this rebuild myself.)

Two more shots of Sherry Marlene:



Looks to be Syd Stansbury driving. That happens to be my son Eric Koenig (a sometimes Patton Volunteer) second from right, up top.

The Museum's PAK 38 posing after a good cleaning.

(Mike Koenig Photo 2003)


Manhandling the PAK back to storage after cleaning. That's Gerald Atherton and Kenneth Johns up front and Goody Goodall in the coveralls. Sorry I do not recognize the fourth man from this angle.
(Mike Koenig Photo 2003)

p.s. This is how the three wheel arrangement on the PAK 38 allowed it to be manhandled and repositioned in combat.

I patterned this model of the D7 after the Keisler vehicle and the PAK 38 after the one in the Patton Museum. (I did however make the camo on the gun match that of the vehicle - If I had it to do over again I would match the camo on the gun to the one in the Museum.)



I added an engine plus lots of interior details based on my experience with the Patton and the Keisler D7's plus two other vehicles seen at various events.

Eric Koenig (a sometimes Patton Volunteer) and his para impression at a Patton event.

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(Mike Koenig Photos 2002)

James Goodall; "Goody" Commanding the Hetzer at a Patton event.

Robert "Stick" Decker driving the D7. (Mike Koenig Photo 2003)

World War I exhibit as seen inside the Patton Museum. - Always thought they should have included one of the Ford FT-17 style small tanks as well.


LOTS of hand planted grass there!
(Photos Mike Koenig 2003)

The Patton's Panzer III at the kick-off event after its' running restoration.

Museum Volunteer Brian Johnson does his best Audie Murphy impression during a Patton Memorial Day event.

(Mike Koenig Photo)

One of the derelict vehicles, this one a Panther I, that sat for years on display behind the main Patton Museum building, photographically restored using Photoshop, gives us its' best winter impression of the Battle of the Bulge.

QUIET ON THE SET! - R. Lee Ermey comes to the Patton Museum to shoot a segment for his show "Mail Call" covering Patton's Ivory handled revolver!
By the way, that's Kenneth Johns on the far left working with the camera crew as a dolly puller.

That day's Museum Visitors took this as a very special treat.


(All photos Mike Koenig) ______________________________________________________ R. Lee's Service Coin from the Program "Mail Call"

Rocco, keep an eye on the Collins Foundation located in Conn.. They do a WWII reenactment weekend once a year. It's pretty neat now, but I'm hoping they'll expand it some in 2015 after they get the pieces from the Littlefield collection. You can check out their website for more info. (they also have a nice collection of cars and aircraft, too)

Steve Hoffmann (Master Welder and all round good guy!), R. Lee, and Steve's son John Hoffmann.

Great photos. I'm going to start making canvas covers from tissue. They just don't look real in plastic.

R. Lee's official website

http://www.rleeermey.com/