Neat little model here of bin Laden's compound

[Supertom]

It's the official one, built by the Pentagon to plan the raid.  It's about 1:84 I think.  Too bad it wasn't 1:72, the generals could have played toy soldiers with it.  I know I would have.

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/16/11738144-pentagon-unveils-scale-model-of-bin-laden-compound?lite

[Go4fun]

Join the Army and... build models? Can you see the photoShop posibilities here. The Milinium Falcon sitting in the empty lot with the Rebel Alliance crew attacking the house? WW II Tanks attacking it? General Custer and his Calvary troops attacking it? Beauty queens sunning on the deck as the Marines come in to 'rescue' them?
Oh, the possibilities!

[martinbayer]

Join the Army and... build models?

The NGA https://www1.nga.mil/Pages/default.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Geospatial-Intelligence_Agency, although part of the DOD, isn't exactly the Army, but used to be a component of the CIA Directorate of Science and Technology and has its own model shop. Some of their work from that time is displayed at a classified CIA museum:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/report/2007/deep-politics-5-3-1.htm
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/650/1

Martin

[zenrat]

I like the fact it's "obviously" built from real life because every things not square and aligned.

[Captain Canada]

That's pretty neat. Nice that models are still relevant in today's age ! Would be fun to play with....I mean, work with. You know, check rotor clearances of various coalition helicopters etc.....


The Cosmodrome is neat as well. I like that word...cosmodrome ! I see the Soviet Flying N didn't make it to far of the launch pad tho....

[martinbayer]

I just came across this fascinating article that discusses the military use of terrain models by the Allies in WWII (as well as some notable applications before and after): http://www.geography.wisc.edu/histcart/v6initiative/09pearson.pdf

Martin

[Go4fun]

When I was in the Kansas Army National Guard I had a stack of Micro Armor and seeing as we always did our two weeks training in the same area I'd run 'Sand Table Drills' using the maps of the Training Area. Then I started running desert drills which everyone thought was a waste of time, My platoon was well versed when Desert Storm broke out.
"Playing with toy tanks!" ended up not being such a waste after all. I don't know the value of showing VCR tapes of "The Rat Patrol" as 'Training Films' though.