We had a great 1st year of business and looking forward to continuing our growth for 2020. We were amazed at the variety of kits suggested by our customers and have worked to increase our inventory of each requested item. The quality of the newer kits coming out on the market show off the craftsmanship that goes into creating a scale model. This includes the accessories that come along with the kits as these represent the extra effort a modeler puts into their build. The photo-etch details alone really bring out the best kit details and can help even a novice modeler look like a pro!.

As a history fan, I always enjoy the stories that evolve out of the conflicts. The WW1 Christmas truce represents one of those great moments in history.

During the Winter of 1914, with WW1 in full force on the battlefields of Flanders, one of the most unusual events in all of human history took place. The Germans had been in a fierce battle with the British and French. Both sides were dug in, safe in muddy, man-made trenches six to eight feet deep that seemed to stretch forever.

All of a sudden, German troops began to put small Christmas trees, lit with candles, outside of their trenches. Then, they began to sing songs. Across the way, in the “no man’s land” between them, came songs from the British and French troops. Incredibly, many of the Germans, who had worked in England before the war, were able to speak good enough English to propose a “Christmas” truce.

The British and French troops, all along the miles of trenches, accepted. In a few places, allied troops fired at the Germans as they climbed out of their trenches. But the Germans were persistent and Christmas would be celebrated even under the threat of impending death.

According to Stanley Weintraub, who wrote about this event in his book, Silent Night, “signboards arose up and down the trenches in a variety of shapes. They were usually in English, or – from the Germans – in fractured English. Rightly, the Germans assumed that the other side could not read traditional gothic lettering, and that few English understood spoken German. ‘YOU NO FIGHT, WE NO FIGHT’ was the most frequently employed German message. Some British units improvised ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’ banners and waited for a response. More placards on both sides popped up.”

A spontaneous truce resulted. Soldiers left their trenches, meeting in the middle to shake hands. The first order of business was to bury the dead who had been previously unreachable because of the conflict. Then, they exchanged gifts. Chocolate cake, cognac, postcards, newspapers, tobacco. In a few places, along the trenches, soldiers exchanged rifles for soccer balls and began to play games.

Looking forward to the holidays with plenty more models to come and looking forward to seeing the great builds by our customers.