Rommel's Rod sells for $ 1 million +

[Greg Myers]

Lots of fun here : https://www.retronaut.com/2010/11/lucky-swastikas/

and here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

Edited July 17, 2014 by Greg Myers

[62rebel]

political issues are lots of fun to watch. they sometimes develop into full scale wars. being offended by articles with historical references is one of the most ludicrous modern pastimes i have ever encountered. if we were to obliterate every article that might offend someone regarding it's content, we'd be standing around in empty fields chewing cud.

[Brett Barrow]

LOOK OUT ! Comin' right at you from WWII Finland.

And even the Finnish national marking gets the PC treatment sometimes:

The Finns got it from Swedish Count Eric von Rosen, who used it as his personal crest and had it painted on the wings of his Thuilin Type D which was donated to the Finns during their fight for independence in the wake of the Russian Revolution.

They adopted the insignia and would use it until after WWII when they changed it to a simple roundel to distance themselves from the Nazis.

[Harry P.]

political issues are lots of fun to watch. they sometimes develop into full scale wars. being offended by articles with historical references is one of the most ludicrous modern pastimes i have ever encountered. if we were to obliterate every article that might offend someone regarding it's content, we'd be standing around in empty fields chewing cud.

Unless, of course, one is offended by empty fields. Or cud.

[Brett Barrow]

Since this is a model car board... We all know (or should know) that's the famous Chili Catallo "Little Deuce Coupe" made famous by the Beach Boys' song and album cover.

Look close. Real close.

And what is the one thing more All-American than hot rods? Coca-Cola... (bottle opener from the 20's)

Edited July 17, 2014 by Brett Barrow

[Harry P.]

Wow!

And that was after the symbol had been adopted by the Nazis!

[unclescott58]

I'm glad and impress with people's knowledge of history on this blog. Brett Barrow brought up a good point about Rommel not being a real Nazi. He was a good German. And right or wrong did his duty. But as Brett noted, he paid price when he stood up to Hitler and his Nazis. I don't want to make Rommel out as some kind of saint. But, not everything and everyone was black and white when it came to their affiliations during World War II. There are some grays out there too. By the way I am on my father's side, I am of Finnish decent. Early in the war the Finns sided with Germany because of their stand against the Soviet Union. This is not something I'm proud of my Finnish relationships for. But, I understand the reasons.

On the other side, my mother was born in Norway in 1935. She was five when the Nazis took over Norway. She lived Oslo, and my grandfather was part of the Norwegian resistance. His job was to hide a radio, so they could get news from England. He was also a communist who hated the Soviet way of doing things. If he had been caught with the radio, he more than likely would have been put death according to my mother. She remembered being woken up with Nazi soldiers pointing guns at her head. She also talked about people crying when the Nazis left. And how kind the Americans were who came in later. She ran away to America in 1952, at the age of 17. She meet my dad and married him in the spring of '53. She loved this country. She and my dad travelled through much the world. But, she never wanted to live anyplace else or go back to live in Norway. Despite our problems here.

So things are not always black and white. Was Rommel a good man? I have mixed feelings on that one. Am I OK with a swastika on Rommel's Rod? Yes, and I don't think liking Rommel's Rod or model kits of real German World War II vehicles and weapons is going to make me into a Nazi. By the way, my mother helped me build my first three model kits. One was a kit of a German Me262. A plane which I like the looks of to this day. Again, building this plane at the age of six or seven didn't make me want to become a Nazi. The Nazis built cool machines. Wore neat looking uniforms. But, I still think what the Nazis did to the Jews in particular was totally evil. The Nazi ideal is totally wrong and needed to wiped out. But, not all Germans were Nazis. Or believed the the Nazi ideals in the long run.

Several of my uncles, my dad's brothers, of Finnish decent, fought against the Axis powers during World War II. Some in Europe. Two in the Pacific. In fact one of my uncles married a Japanese woman right after the war. And brought her back to this country. She is still with us today. And I love her, despite what her country did to others in that war. She is a kind and loving person. Not one of the monsters from her country who did the horrible atrocities to prisoners of war and the Chinese. Again it's not all black and white.

Time to get off my soap box on this one. Thanks for letting me rant.

Scott

(I'm not a saint either. But, I'm also not a bad guy.)

Edited July 17, 2014 by unclescott58

[Tom Geiger]

Scott you bring up good points of what people did to survive in a total irrational world.

I lived in Germany, as an American of German descent, from 1969-72. We met many of our German relatives, some of which were older and lived through the WWII era. Nobody talked about it at all.

[Harry P.]

Both of my parents were born in Europe and were little kids, living there, throughout WWII.

You wouldn't believe what they (and their families) went through. Let's just say it was not a happy, idyllic childhood for either of them. Europe during the 1940s was one big freaking mess.

But back to the subject at hand... even knowing what I know about what they went through, I don't have a problem with the idea of a "Rommel's Rod" model kit. I'm sure no harm was intended in the creation and marketing of that kit... it's more of a case of blissful ignorance.

[Brett Barrow]

Good points, Scott. The Finns were first and foremost fighting against the Soviet Union until late 1944. They were co-belligerents with the Germans, not allies. They were not part of the Axis Powers, they never signed the Tripartite Act. They never persecuted Jews in Finland, they actually helped shelter hundreds of Jewish refugees. The Finnish Army allowed Jews to fight and even had field synagogues. The Finnish story of WWII is very interesting.

My grandad was a WWII vet who fought in Normandy just after D-Day against troops under Rommel's command. He told me about the respect Rommel had among the US Army, he was seen as a good honorable military man, nothing like the feared SS men. He told me once that the only WWII movie he's ever watched, still to this day, is The Desert Fox.

[unclescott58]

Again, I just think Rommel's Rod (the Tom Daniel's model) is plain cool.

Scott

[blunc]

I just can't believe Harry had to mention "cud", it's just possible the sanity of that person can be in a questionable state.

[unclescott58]

Good points, Scott. The Finns were first and foremost fighting against the Soviet Union until late 1944. They were co-belligerents with the Germans, not allies. They were not part of the Axis Powers, they never signed the Tripartite Act. They never persecuted Jews in Finland, they actually helped shelter hundreds of Jewish refugees. The Finnish Army allowed Jews to fight and even had field synagogues. The Finnish story of WWII is very interesting.

My grandad was a WWII vet who fought in Normandy just after D-Day against troops under Rommel's command. He told me about the respect Rommel had among the US Army, he was seen as a good honorable military man, nothing like the feared SS men. He told me once that the only WWII movie he's ever watched, still to this day, is The Desert Fox.

Thanks for explaining the Finnish situation in WW II in a clear and concise away, Brett.

Scott Aho

[jbwelda]

ok, so now, just to see where the conversation can go, can we consider that maybe there is a difference between a historically correct replica of an actual vehicle/plane/ship containing a swatstika or other somehow hated symbol, as did the prototype, and a cartoonish model kit obviously (originally) aimed at kids?

I am going to get some popcorn, hope I don't miss much.

ps: please remember I am not offended by that rommels rod thing in the least bit, other than from a stylistic standpoint. I just think its very odd that a model company chose to reissue it even recently.

jb

[Brett Barrow]

Those historically correct replicas of actual vehicles/planes/ships containing swatstikas were aimed at the same kids! They were all aimed at kids!

And in the specific case of the Rommel's Rod, the swastika was not used on the box top illustration, and only shown on the side panels of the 1974 reissue and not at all on the 69 original or the 20?? retool lids.

Has anyone (but me) ever noticed "Krazy Kommand Kar" on the Rommel's Rod lid?

What about the Beer Wagon (Tom's first Monogram kit design), was it appropriate to use Beer in a product aimed at kids?

If any Tom Daniel kit is offensive, it's gotta be the Tijuana Taxi! Here's the text from the box:

EET EES ONREAL! Would you believe Tijuana Taxi? Ole' In Tijuana, South of the border, gringo car designer Tom Daniel spotted an antique taxi, the makings of a real, unreal show car. He took the ornate Spanish frame, added a new read end with dual shocks and coil springs and ornate radius rods. A hot "Big Poncho" engine with dual quad Weber carbs, groovy headers and lots of chrome completed the chassis. He painted the antique body hot orange and restored the 1st class interior, 3rd class fender seats and top-mounted 2nd class seat and chicken coop. Tom got it on its feet with a set of Goodyear slicks, and wide boots up front, all mounted on deep dish spider wheels. It's the Tijuana Taxi, Ole'

I wasn't around back then, but I gotta think that where I grew up (the South) Tom's Devil Chopper and Satan's Cycle would not have gone over too well! I've always gotten the impression that a lot of the kits of this era, like Tom Daniel and Dave Deal stuff was meant to be stuff your parents didn't really approve of. Were they marketed that way back then? A little edgy?

As I said before, I've been selling this stuff since 2001 in probably the most PC time in history and no one I've ever dealt with has ever been offended at the inclusion of swastikas in model kits, only at the exclusion of them.

Edited July 17, 2014 by Brett Barrow

[Greg Myers]

What about the Beer Wagon (Tom's first Monogram kit design), was it appropriate to use Beer in a product aimed at kids?

If I recall correctly that was the downfall of many NASCAR kits as well as a few drag cars awhile back. No beer for you.

[Harry P.]

Same with tobacco logos.

[Brett Barrow]

If I recall correctly that was the downfall of many NASCAR kits as well as a few drag cars awhile back. No beer for you.

Yep, I remember that back in the early 90's. I was a hard-core NASCAR builder in my teens (growing up a couple miles from Martinsville Speedway didn't hurt) and my very first commission job was to build Rusty Wallace's #2 for the husband of one of my mom's co-workers who was a big Rusty fan. Had to start with this kit and find decals for the MGD.

(Same scheme after switch to Ford)

I don't know that it was the downfall, though, as I remember it NASCAR collectibles exploded right around that same time (possibly because they could now be sold directly to kids). They were everywhere we even had a couple year-round NASCAR stores and when the races came to town I used to walk up to vendor trailers and look for kits.

Edited July 17, 2014 by Brett Barrow

[kitbash1]

The swastika is an ancient symbol that dates back many hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It appears in ancient civilizations, it was a common decorative element in tile work of building floors long before it became a symbol of the Nazi party. Heck, we even used it ourselves...

We have a small town in Northern Ontario named Swastika. During the second world war, the government of Canada wanted to have the name of the town changed to something more patriotic and British sounding. Well the town told them to go to hell, as they pointed out that the town was named long before Hitler came to power and it wouldn't change it. The towns motto during the war was " Hitler be damned, we had it first. "

[Guest]

Since this is a model car board... We all know (or should know) that's the famous Chili Catallo "Little Deuce Coupe" made famous by the Beach Boys' song and album cover.

Look close. Real close.

And what is the one thing more All-American than hot rods? Coca-Cola... (bottle opener from the 20's)

Guess I am blind. Where on the car is a swastika?

[unclescott58]

Look in the middle of the upper belt pulley.

Scott

[Brett Barrow]

Look in the middle of the upper belt pulley.

Scott

Once you see it you'll never look at that picture again without your eyes going right to it. At least mine do.

[Guest]

I see it now. Yep Brett, you are right, stands out now.

[cobraman]

I remember when I was about 17 I put a Maltese cross sticker ( Known to me as a surfers cross ) on the gas door of my 62 Ford. When my dad saw it he blew up. Don't know if I ever saw him that mad. It was removed the same day. To him it meant a whole different thing.

[jbwelda]

yes the maltese cross sticker was much more mainstream and I believe it didn't "originate" (quotes taking into consideration its actual origination centuries before) with the Nazi party, it was a German military and government symbol before shickelgruber came on the scene and therefore avoided the smear the other symbol has endured.

jb