Scaled tank construction starts with a model of the project, usually 1/35 scale. There are many sources available for models but one that I cannot recommend is Great Models. I placed an order in June 2008. On July 15, they emailed me that my items were in stock. I initiated payment and it went downhill from there. Several emails and phone calls later that were not answered or responded to in any way and I do not have my items. Additionally, I have been unable to access my account at their website twice since July 15th.
Recently I received an email (July 23, 2008) stating they had shipped my order (after it was cancelled) and that I should refuse it since they had not received the payment (that they refunded already). Obviously, one department has not a clue what the other department is doing.
Well, it has been three weeks since I got the email and the order hasn't yet arrived. Big Surprise. I don't think it was ever shipped or if it was, given the overall handling this has received so far, it was addressed incorrectly. I'll give it one more week in case they shipped it 4th Class Mail. I had contacted them about a week ago asking for the method of shipment and a tracking number. They told me it was USPS but there was no tracking number. Another strike against them in my book. I never ship out a paintball order without a means of tracking it.
I emailed them again about Aug 18 informing them I had not received the order and that I had had enough. No Response. I'm still not convinced they shipped it. Even at Book Rate postage, it doesn't take a month to get from Utah to Kentucky.
Scaled Tanks Tactical Command
Blue Army
This quotation pretty much sums up my attitude regarding the complexities involved in building a Scaled Tank!
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causus
(Happy is he who knows the cause of things)
Virgil, Georgics, 29 B.C.E
I'm not going to turn this into a political rant except to say that the direction the country is going currently is, in my opinion, downhill. I think if it continues in this direction, building scaled tanks will be a thing of the past, either due to serious economic problems or the activity being viewed as "terroristic" in nature. In my opinion, both political parties have had a hand in the situation confronting us today. 'We, the People' need to take control back from a government that is unresponsive and out of control. If you agree and want to get back the feelings of unity and purpose you had after 9/11, check out
It has been some time since I wrote the statement above and now it has come to pass for me anyway. I'm sure other tank builders are having similiar problems.
It would seem the economic situation in this country will dictate whether or not any of the below listed projects progress. Thank you, Federal Government for once again screwing things up for us "peons". At this point, keeping a roof over my family's head and food on the table must take priority over tank building and given the enormity of the National Debt, even those priorities will not be sustainable much longer. Be sure to read the Letter this Petition is based upon.
If you are as fed up as I about out of control government, go sign Glenn Beck's petition at the site below:
Sign a Petition to the National Leadership
Kleines Kettenkraftrad SdKfz. 2
West German Marder 1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
M60A1 Patton RISE with M9 Bulldozer Blade
MTVEch2 (M113 Combat Engineering Version)
bswitzerATscrtc.com Email me by replacing AT with @