This post was originally published on the HMGS site on September 10, 2019.

This past weekend the boys and I attended the Americans in Wartime Museums annual open house in Nokesville Virginia.  This event has fifty military vehicles including armored fighting vehicles from the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and Germany.  There are also AFV’s from the Cold War and Vietnam.  They even have a US Model 1917 tank based off the French FT!  Additionally there are WWII reenactors and even a troop of Spanish American War Cavalry reenactors!   

During the day, they drive some of the vehicles around a large dirt oval and they have demonstrations as well.  One of the most impressive demonstrations is by the US Marine Corp historical division.  They have a group of Marines in WWII era uniforms demonstrate a small unit assault on a bunker.  They use a K-9, a Sherman tank and even a flamethrower! 

If you are interested in the event or supporting, the museum you can find more information at nmaw.org

One thing worth noting in the pictures I took is how many of the tanks look like they are painted in different greens across the same nation.  I always say in my painting tanks class at Hobby University that there is no “right” color for a certain nation because of variations in dye lots, factories and field applications.  Even with modern restorations, these tanks have some variations in color.  (There are wrong colors though, I don’t think there were ever any pink Sherman’s for example!)

-Wachtmeister