Re: [MV] NOW Impressionators

From: Bruce C. Beattie (bruce@EECS.Berkeley.EDU)
Date: Sat May 07 2005 - 18:29:25 PDT


Thanks Chance,
    Between you and Ron, I just learned a whole bunch, and I really
appreciate it.
Bruce MVPA 23824

chance wolf wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ron" <rojoha@adelphia.net>
>To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
>Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 2:31 PM
>Subject: [MV] NOW Impressionators WAS Re: [MV] Aberdeen- Convoy-for sale
>stuff and shopping list
>
>
>
>
>> Got a flash for ya sport. IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN! These Guys are just
>>THRILLED that anyone NOW even recognizes what they did THEN! How many M35
>>owners have had WWII vets come up and say to their 50 or 60 year old son,"
>>This is the TYPE of truck we used to ride in during the war." I sure as
>>hell am not gonna correct him!
>>
>>
>
>I've had that happen quite a bit in 20 years of displaying at airshows and
>stuff (nevermind things like Safeway parking-lots while out fun/utility
>driving), and yup, it's best to nod and just let the fellow and his
>grandsons et al enjoy the "army vehicles" on that level, and let the carport
>curators enjoy them on the other level. That sort of policy hurts no one,
>and keeps it fun for all concerned.
>
>
>
>> I've been asked to take part in the LST 325 visit to Boston at the USS
>>Constitution next month. To drive one of several driverless WWII vehicles
>>down and back. We've been asked to wear period correct uniforms by the
>>
>>
>NPS,
>
>
>>if possible, or as close as possible. But because of the lack of
>>
>>
>"authentic"
>
>
>>uniform items at a reasonable price, and the anal retentives you run into
>>
>>
>at
>
>
>>these events, I'll probably just wear jeans or a mustard colored set of
>>Dickies work clothes.
>>
>>
>
>Since your adopt-a-vehicle is likely going to be in unit markings you'll not
>know of beforehand, just pick the standard USGI combat ensemble and sew on
>appropriate rank and flashes for one of the familiar WWII units. All NPS is
>trying to do (same with some of the Canadian events we attend a heavy
>commemorative or historical slant) is to prevent people showing up with
>Woodland M65 parkas or Flectar suits w/South African webbing, so any effort
>on your part to come up with a WWII-era uniform of whatever type will
>doubtless be greatly appreciated by organizers and public alike. The Public
>is the key appetite to satisfy here - not the carport curators or those who
>feel the need to walk around with a pocketful of period material swatches
>just to see if your M1941 jacket dye is up to snuff. In some venues that
>might be important, but if those venues are North, I'll be the guy heading
>South in a cloud of dust which would put the Road Runner to shame. Most
>MVPA chapters I know have people who would line up to help you out with a
>uniform for such an event, and even the dyed-in-the-wool re-enactors always
>start somewhere, and are always working on their impressions from
>event-to-event as they learn things they didn't know before. It's the same
>in the Vehicle hobby as well.
>
>
>
>> Best to not even try, because of the FARBEs out there, just can't wait
>>to crap in a fellow HMV collector's rice bowl, showing they ARE superior
>>
>>
>to
>
>
>>you, eh?
>>
>>
>
>Suffered lots of those over the years, and learned that at the end of the
>day they'll never matter as much to anyone else as themselves. Being
>fastidious, exact, and scholarly as you solder your little 'F's on to your
>head bolts and measure the angle of your grease fittings is a fine thing if
>you have the budget and temperament for that sort of thing, but not all of
>us do, and it's no basis to lord it over the Combat Class collectors which
>tend to make up the vast majority of airshow attendees and club drive
>participants anyhow.
>
>
>
>> Ever notice the re enactors either don't, or can't, own an HMV for one
>>reason or another? We all compliment each others hobbies....
>>
>>
>
>I know some who do both, actually. One fellow does 1st Can Para in our
>local mob, and another does Brit para. We also have some combined events
>which unite the Vehicle and Re-enactor end of things, one of which is coming
>up in a couple of weeks in the form of the "Fort Rodd Hill Living History
>Encampment", which typically draws Civil War re-enactors, Boer War
>re-enactors, Royal Engineers types, and the WWI/WWII/Korea folks our
>vehicles complement quite nicely. It's an amazing thing to see all
>stretched out there in the National Park (a coastal gun battery), and the
>couple-three times I've been there, I've not heard a single condescending
>remark about any fellow participant during either time. I know that's not
>universal though.
>
>Anyway, next time Wing Commander Haughty and friends start picking apart the
>thread-count on your reproduction Dennison smock, see if it's intended as
>informative or pejorative, and offer him a beer and note the info for future
>reference in the case of the former, or walk away shaking your ahead if the
>latter. The Public's happy you're there anyway - and the Wing Commander
>probably hasn't been happy since 1937. <shrug>
>
>
>
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>



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