Behind the Scenes with Brickmania’s Animators
Rendering an upcoming animation
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Our Next Magazine Issue Is Coming Together!
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Building On the Past: War Pigeons
In 1943, the 169th London Infantry Brigade had taken the Italian village of Calvi Vecchia ahead of schedule. Unable to transmit a radio message, they sent G.I. Joe back to American headquarters to call off a planned American bombing of the village. Both the villagers and forward elements of the 56th London Infantry Division were saved as a result when G.I. Joe arrived with his message in the nick of time.
G.I. Joe was a war pigeon.
Deployed in both world wars, pigeons provided commanders with a simple way to receive messages from the front. Pigeons were kept near the trenches of World War I and could be dispatched at a moment’s notice. Pigeons were also kept on aircraft during World War II as a means of relaying a position if the aircraft was downed and the crew bailed out.
When the war began, English pigeon fanciers offered their birds to the struggle to act as message carriers. It is estimated that the Army, Royal Air Force, and Civil Defense Service deployed almost a quarter million of these birds during the war. After the fall of France, resistance members began to look for ways to relay military intelligence to their allies in England.
In April 1941, the British began Operation Columba. This top secret pigeon drop operation was designed to give the French Resistance a simple way with to send messages back to England with low risk. The first pigeons were dropped from a Whitley transport plane, and soon after pigeons began arriving back in England with critical intelligence on German troop movements and the location of supply dumps along with other military targets.
During the war, 32 pigeons were award the PDSA Dickin Medal, a decoration for animals who demonstrated gallantry.
New Release: M998 HMMWV – Two-Door Cargo & Troop Carrier
About the M998 HMMWV – Two-Door Cargo & Troop Carrier:
Another example of American utility, the HMMWV or “Humvee” has been produced over the past 30 years and features more than a dozen different variations, ranging from troop carriers and ambulances to weapons support. Over 180,000 Humvees have been produced by AM General in South Bend, Indiana.
Deployed in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, the Humvee has performed in military conflicts across the world, a common sight wherever American military forces are present. In combat situations, the Humvee can be equipped with everything from machine guns to anti-tank missiles. Armored versions have been introduced to provide soldiers with proper protection against enemy IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device).
Specifications:
- Crew: 1
- Speed: 70 mph (112 km/h)
- Range: 348 mi (560 km)
- Armaments: Various, including
- 40mm MK 19 Mod air-cooled automatic grenade launcher
- 12.7mm Browning M2HB heavy machine gun
- 7.62mm M60 machine gun
- 7.62mm M240B machine gun
- TOW anti-tank missile launcher
- Stinger short-range air-to-air missiles
- AIM 120 medium-range air-to-air missiles
Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:
The M998 HMMWV – Two-Door Cargo & Troop Carrier kit includes the following features:
- Opening doors and tailgate
- Engine hood opens like the real Humvee
- Easy interior access
- Rubber tires
- Several add-on packs available
- 1/35th scale to match other Brickmania models
Click here to pick your own own M998 HMMWV – Two-Door Cargo & Troop Carrier kit today! And be sure to check out the add-on packs we made!
Slideshow:
Preview:
All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited-edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.
WWII US Infantry Stickers – Uniforms On Sale, Boots Out Soon!
WWII US Infantry Squad Pack stickers (torsos) 25% off now and WWII US Infantry Boot stickers (legs) coming out soon!
#brickmania #WW2 #customlego #wwii #USArmy #Minneapolis #SmallBusiness #BestJobEver #minifigs
Building On the Past: The Italians
When the world went to war in 1939, Italy was not ready for the impending onslaught.
The fascist dictator Benito Mussolini had effectively ruled Italy since 1925. After conquering Ethiopia in 1935, he entered his nation into an alliance with Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Although this alliance proved fruitful at first, the Italian military was using outdated World War I equipment. New Italian tank production started in 1940–41, but Mussolini had failed to mobilize the economy for war, resulting in low production numbers.
Although inferior to German panzers, Italian tanks performed well against Allied forces in North Africa. Two in particular, the Semovente Da 75/18 and Carro Armato M13/40, were both deployed when the Allies began Operation Torch. Many of these vehicles were captured and used for a short time by the Allies, who were also lacking in armor during the campaign.
After the invasion of Sicily in 1943, available Italian tanks only become more scarce as the offensive continued. Never nearing the thousands of tanks produced by other nations, weak Italian war factories only produced these vehicles in the hundreds. Only 800 Carro Armato and 300 Semovente were deployed. The few that were deployed served until Italian surrender in 1943, after which any remaining were seized by Germany as they attempted to resist the Allies on the peninsula.
Restock: Modern US Army Rifleman
The United States Army was first established on June 14, 1775 by the Continental Congress. Primarily land-based, the Army rifleman has provided the backbone of armies throughout America’s unique military history.
This custom-printed minifigure by Brickmania features artwork inspired by the Army’s OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) and comes with a BrickArms MCH helmet and M4 TAC. Also featured is a dark tan Goggle Cover from Minifigcat.
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New Release: Panzer II Ausf L – Luchs
About the Panzer II Ausf L – Luchs:
Also known as the Panzerspahwagen II, the Panzer II “Luchs” (Lynx) was the last variant in the Panzer II series of light tanks. Originally conceived in the early days of the Reich, the Panzers I and II were designed as a stopgap measure until the Panzers III and IV could be fully implemented. The Panzer II’s combat history is limited to the early war (1939–1941) where it saw action in Poland, Norway, and France.
Nearly 2,000 Panzer IIs were produced during the war, among these only 100 were the Luchs variant. Most Panzer IIs were used for training purposes, although the Luchs was designed and used exclusively as a tracked reconnaissance vehicle for the Eastern Front. A few were transferred to the Western Front after D-Day to help shore up German resistance, but they were largely ineffective in combat.
The Luchs is likely one of the last light tanks to be produced in history. After World War II, most tanks were either Soviet holdovers from the war or newly-produced main battle tanks. Helicopter technology in the future would provide a better reconnaissance tool for commanders with lower maintenance costs.
Specifications:
- Crew: 4
- Armament: 2cm KwK 38 auto-cannon, MG34 coaxial machine gun
- Speed: 37 mph (60 km/h)
- Range: 161 mi (260 km)
- Production: 100–120
- Engine: Maybach HL 66 P water-cooled gasoline
Features:
- Brickmania Track Links™
- High-quality camouflage sticker sheet
- BrickArms Monopod
- Rotating turret
- Elevating gun
- Swiveling top hatch
- 1/35th scale to match other Brickmania models
Slideshow:
Preview:
All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited-edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.
Outmaneuver the Enemy: WW2 Kits, Minifigs and Sticker Packs On Sale Now
Save 25% on a selection of World War Two kits, minifigures and sticker packs, like the M26 Pershing, Messerschmitt Me-262 Swallow and Crusader Mk III kits, now through October 21, 2018! Some of these kits are out of production and won’t be restocked once they sell out. Some are newer and this is the best deal we’ve ever offered on them. Take a look now and don’t miss out!
Click here now to see the entire collection!
Do you have any of these lying around?
Found in the office
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