Sgt Joe Bradley
Joey tried to help me find a job a while ago...
Port Arms practice in bell bottom jeans and 7.62mm SLR rifles. Shortly after, a recruit was seriously wounded on another base and the guns were then locked away. I'm on camera duty, (8mm film clip)
I named Sgt Bradley after one of the leading Generals (Omah Bradley) involved in the D-Day landings. I chose his home town of Allentown Pennsylvania from the Billy Joel song, Allentown. I also created the fictitious company "General Toye Motors" which is the uniting element to most of the members of the 247 Military Field Hospital. The 247 MFH is also inspired by the Korean War comedy M.A.S.H.
Jacket
I cut open an old Action Man jacket and created several templates from it. Probably better to see a youtube video on making doll jackets as following a picture doesn't convey enough detail as I discovered trying to make Lisa's pilotka cap.
Not clear in the photo here, but cut out one piece of fabric. Fold over the 'arms' and sew together. Fold over the body and sew together. Turn inside and attach fasteners.
Pants
Socks
Most GI JOE figures don't come with socks and these are really simple to make by folding a stretchy fabric ( old green T shirt in this case) over a template. All the templates I use are made through trial and error. There was no distortion through shrinkage during the sewing. These will be absolutely necessary when the 24/7 MFH get to Bastogne, Belgium by Christmas 1944. They turned out so good I wish I had some.
Most GI JOE figures don't come with socks and these are really simple to make by folding a stretchy fabric ( old green T shirt in this case) over a template. All the templates I use are made through trial and error. There was no distortion through shrinkage during the sewing. These will be absolutely necessary when the 24/7 MFH get to Bastogne, Belgium by Christmas 1944. They turned out so good I wish I had some.
Canteen
Not clear in the photo here, but cut out one piece of fabric. Fold over the 'arms' and sew together. Fold over the body and sew together. Turn inside and attach fasteners.
Cover
The Bottle
I made my canteens by making 2 separate clay molds, one for the front and one for the back. I then glued the two pieces together and silver painted them. Original canteen on the right.
Medic Armband
I cut a strip of white cotton canvas and hemmed up both sides. Sewed on a photocopied a red cross emblem.
M1 Helmet
I was never really able to capture the shape of the helmet. My first effort was done using Sculpey clay followed by paper clay.
Sculpey Clay
Using a GI Joe helmet for a mold
Producing two blanks
Paper clay version
Gi Joe Battle of the Bulge Action Man
I took the M1 helmet off the GI Joe action man, painted it a darker green and attached red cross emblems to it.
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Joe's Story
I'm not entirey happy with how the story is going as writing has never been one of my strengths. However.
Before the war, Joe worked for a local engineering company specialising in small tractors and motor cycles, General Toye Motors (GTM), named after its founding member, Arthur Toye, a veteran of the first war.
The company decided to compete for a government contract to create an all purpose terrain vehicle for the army. Initial designs were trialed, tested and submitted. The government really liked the design of their vehicle which at that time did not have a name other than being a 2 Litre 1/4 ton car. But the company soon realised it had a very big problem. The government needed 50000 units and it was very clear that they could only produce 100 units a month!
The large car manufacturers Willerton and Fordstone stepped in with their designs but they were rejected. However, they were secretly shown the plans from GTM and asked if they could copy their design and produce the 50000 units required. Modifications were then made to the GTM design to avoid copyright infringement. Production began immediately. GTM were also allowed to proceed with a production run of 100 of their vehicles in total and sadly fading into history after the war, being reduced to a motorcycle and tractor factory. It is by pure coincidence Buck Remington would collect one of their own 'Jeeps' prior to D-Day from stores prior to departure to Normandy. An ally in the field would ensure that the company received a very high honour and award after the war.
Before the war, Joe worked for a local engineering company specialising in small tractors and motor cycles, General Toye Motors (GTM), named after its founding member, Arthur Toye, a veteran of the first war.
The company decided to compete for a government contract to create an all purpose terrain vehicle for the army. Initial designs were trialed, tested and submitted. The government really liked the design of their vehicle which at that time did not have a name other than being a 2 Litre 1/4 ton car. But the company soon realised it had a very big problem. The government needed 50000 units and it was very clear that they could only produce 100 units a month!
The large car manufacturers Willerton and Fordstone stepped in with their designs but they were rejected. However, they were secretly shown the plans from GTM and asked if they could copy their design and produce the 50000 units required. Modifications were then made to the GTM design to avoid copyright infringement. Production began immediately. GTM were also allowed to proceed with a production run of 100 of their vehicles in total and sadly fading into history after the war, being reduced to a motorcycle and tractor factory. It is by pure coincidence Buck Remington would collect one of their own 'Jeeps' prior to D-Day from stores prior to departure to Normandy. An ally in the field would ensure that the company received a very high honour and award after the war.
Corpsman (medic) Joe landed on Omaha on the third wave but after a leading senior officer was wounded, accompanied him back to his ship. Joe then returned with the 247 MFH on the next available wave. The 247 MFH was also followed by another Landing Craft containing a Sherman tank which had been held up for repairs as a result of damage during loading in England.
Rough seas during the mission pulled the two landing craft off course, delivering them on a quiet section of coast lightly defended by members of the St. Lo Rocket propulsion and jet facility unit (V2 rocket crew) machine gun post. After a minor confrontation on the beach, the German position was over come and the German unit retreated without casualties back to the Chateau St. Lo, a few km inland.
Giving up the chase after the 35th division swept the area and declared it a safe zone, the 247 MFH unit set up its medical evacuation center at the Chateau which turned out to be occupied by the V2 rocket crew members. A brief exchange of fire occurred before members of the V2 rocket crew surrendered.
