Tiny Warriors Ultimate Soldier News

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Halftracks are back!!!

After many requests, we are finally able to get our hands on the re-released Ultimate Soldier 1:18 US M3A3 Halftrack, and the German Hanomag Halftrack. Both World War II classics!!

We are not sure how long these will last, so get your orders in. We have a case of each on the way to Tiny Warriors HQ as we write this.

Posted by C.L. Smith @ 11:14 PM
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Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Dodge WC62 finds a home

As promised, we are going to feature stories and photos from some of our customers who are collecting and restoring military aircraft and vehicles. Here is our first news post from Mike Haines of Ohio...

I first heard, from my oldest son, about a WC62 sitting along State route 29 west of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. This was around mid May of this year. I was not in the market for a truck just yet. But since I had been kicking myself in the butt for selling my WC51 in 2002, I thought that this might be a chance for the bruises to heal so I could sit down comfortably again.

A few days after hearing about the truck, my 4 year old Grandson and I went to check it out. When I first saw it, sitting in front of a farm house, there was no for sale sign on it and judging by the good condition of the truck I was guessing that if it was for sale the price must be at least $12,000.00 to $15,000.00, way out of my price range! I proceeded to check out the truck and to take photos, still believing it was out of my range. Finally I went to the door of the farm house and a young man came to the door. He said the truck had been his grandpa's and that grandpa had died and left to his step-daughter, the young man's mother. He said he had no idea how much his mom wanted for it, so we exchanged phone numbers and such. However as I was leaving his mother came home and she said she just wanted to get rid of the truck so she wanted only $6,000.00 for it. I just about choked trying to blurt out,"I'll take it".

There was one big glitch however, she had no title for the truck. it seems that when grandpa died they could not locate any legal documents, not even the deed to the farm. So to make a long story short, after 2 months of attempting to get a title (so she said) her lawyer advised her to either scrap it out or sell it without a title. When she called and told me this I said "I'll pick it up this weekend". There was just no way I was going to let the truck stay in the possession of someone who was considering cutting it up for scrap! I called the State of Ohio BMV and was advised how to go about applying for a title, it's not a 100% sure bet that I will get one but the BMV they lady I spoke with said she is very confident that I will.

So, my plans are first to get a starter in it that works and then to strip and repaint the vehicle, put makings on it from an anti-tank company in the 83 Infantry Division to represent a vehicle that fought from Normandy through the end of the war in Europe. I'm not a re-enactor but I will be driving it in many parades and displaying it when ever possible. This all hinges on whether or not I get a title. If I don't she will be for sale again, with one difference, I have a much better appreciation for how much this truck is worth.

There aren't that many of these old trucks left, but there are a few and parts availability for them is very good with many NOS (new old stock) parts abounding and many fine reproduction part are now being made.

So keep your fingers crossed for a title.

Mike Haines

Take a look at the Ultimate Soldier WC63 and see how it compares to Mike's!

Posted by C.L. Smith @ 5:01 PM
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Tuesday, August 01, 2006

War Stories

Starting this month, Tiny Warriors news will be feature pictures and stories from our customers who have, or are restoring military aircraft or vehicles.

We invite everyone to send photos and a little bit about your project to chris@tinywarriors.com.

Cheers,
Chris