Belgium, fall of 1944. The heat of the summer has given way to cold crisp mornings. The smell of dew-sodden leaves mingles with the stench of high octane fuel and motor oil. The sun has been up for a half an hour, but the crew of a P-61 Black Widow stand near their machine, discussing the details of the night mission they were on only hours before. Two mechanics haul a heavy box of 20mm cannon ammo to the concrete tarmac to begin the re-arming process for the giant fighter. Only a year before, the tarmac was home to German aircraft and German crews. Now, the Americans operate here. As one of the mechanics pulls out a belt of ammo, a rustling is heard amongst the pile of leaves under a maple tree. A white and brown flash darts across the grass, between the cluster of crewmen, and over to one of the mechanics. It's one of the local mutts, and she barks happily at the man in front of her. "Hey Red, I hope you've got some snacks for her!" Shouts the pilot of the plane. "Snacks? That's the last thing this pooch needs, sir!" I'm very pleased to have finished this diorama, and I'm grateful that Dolly let me use her likeness to make/sculpt a 1:72 version of her out of polystyrene and filler putty. She's a good girl.
