Guys,

As mention earlier, I'll do a vignette on "Bukit Kepong"...

Bukit Kepong will be in 1:20 scale... involve 3 major conversion figures (from Tamiya Racing pit team). 1 police firinng his machine gun while another (with a revolver) helping his wounded comrade (with a rifle)... some sand beg on the side and partial wall (wooden plank) of the police station. Lastly lots of empty bullet casing on the floor....

Will need scratch build the weapon in this odd scale:
- 1 X Bren Machine Gun (or alternative Sten machine gun)
- 1 X SMLE rifle (maybe 2)
- 1 X MK1 revolver

I've gain enough info from the web about the incident and the weapon and their scale down measurement. Scratch build these will be a fun project for me :-)

Now come the PROBLEM:
I've browse through the web, our Polis D Raja homepg about Bukit Kepong incident... but fail to get image and info of the precise Polis Melayu uniform and badge at that time. The picture obtain are not clear with policeman wearing big black songkok, double pocket short sleeve shirt, baggy short.

Ref pictures:
Polis D Rja site

Anyone can help me to identify:
- Any clear image of the bagde (I think it's a crossing kris??)?
- What's the colour of the uniform (khaki? or desert yellow)
- There seems to be some sort of string like a lanyard on the left shoulder, is it attach to pistol or wisel?
- Did they use woollen puttees or socks and gaiter for their legging? What's their colour?


Regards,
CPTan

I do a bit of digging around but perhaps one possible suggestion is a visit to PDRM's museum. Can't remember where it is though, sorry. They will definitely have good pics of uniforms throughout the PDRM's history plus the possibility of additional info on Bukit Kepong.

Incidentally I will be visiting an estate not too far from Bkt. Kepong. I didn't get to visit there the last time but I try to see if I can squeeze some time to drop by. Best I can do for now CP. Good luck on the scratchbuild as I'm interested too. Here's is a reference site where you can get reference pics for the guns if you need some:

Gun reference with pics

Nice idea for a historic scenario.

Don't know if you're aware or have come across this website or if it (contents) is still valid. It is about the Royal Malaysian Police Musuem and it says there's a section dedicated to the BK incident, among other exhibits. You might find what you're looking for there.

Following are quoted from the site:

Maybe you could give them a call?

this should be an interesting piece. Maybe I can get Richard to contact you. He has quite a lot of material which may help. Speaking of which I believe WillPhang can help too to rummage through any old family photos.

CP,

Don't know how accurate the movie is, But I think you can find this VCD in the speedy vcd store..

I believe the PDRM museum is some where near the KL Bird Park. Need someone to confirm this as I saw it when I was trying to beat KL traffic gridlock.

I posted the address and phone number above. Just give the number a call to see if it's still there.

Thanx guys for all the info...

I think I'll settle with a vcd of Bukit Kepong from Speedy first and make arrangement for the rest...

I'll start working on the figure and weapon soon. Will try to post the WIP.


CPTan

Guys,

I've visited Speedy in Mid valley and Leisure Mall (Cheras) and cannot find "Bukit Kepong" copy :(

Anyone happen to know which Speedy branch still selling this? Or anyone keep the VCD (or VHS tape) so I can borrow?


CPTan
PS. Out of the depress, I've bought the "YAMATO" DVD instead :D Man.... it's a good movie and reference of the Great IJN Yamato

Sorry CP can't help you much with the CD but I had intended to visit an estate not to far from Bkt. Kepong this week. I was going to take some pictures of the area. Unfortunately they've informed me most of the areas are flooded with the release of water from the nearby dams so it may be next week if the floods subside before I can get there.

Sorry, some O/T if I may...Yamato was a surprisingly nice movie. Lots of blood flying everywhere if you like that kind of thing. According to the feature log IIRC, they built a huge replica for the set which was quite accurate to the real thing. However, I felt that some of the close in flying sequences were fake and got a bit tiresome after a while. The planes seemed able to turn on a dime. Still, quite watchable overall and made me want to build a Yamato badly. There's also that japanese actor from the movie Fearless in it.
Okay back to your regular programme!

I'll try speedy Penang and Let you know, I remember seeing it some time ago...

CP,

I took this photo in one of the museum in Melaka, I believe the Polis uniform is from the same era... can anyone confirm...

Hi CP,

If you are not in hurry, I can help you to find those old & classic pics during my upcoming CNY trip @hometown in Kedah.

Cheers!

William

masterqq,
Wah.... thanx for the reference picture. Really appreciate Ur help. I think the uniform is the same era, just one more question: Did U happen to notice their legging? Is it black stocking with a gaiter or woollen puttees (like WW2 japanese soldier one...)?


William,
I'm in the mid on research and started building the weapons. I only start build the figure once I gain enough info. Really appreciate if U can source out those classic pictures from Ur hometown. Thanx in advance :D


Regards,
CPTan

CP... No problem, but I took this photo like early last year, I don't recall how the legging look like.. sorry....

but this taken from the net..

I was quite happy that I manage to get to Bkt Kepong finally (thanks to a slight detour from visiting an estate not to far away :rolleyes: ) but was disappointed with what I saw. Flood had struck the site very badly.

The 'new' Police station has been built over the old Bkt Kepong Police Pondok or at least that's what the Plaque outside says. The new Police station was abandoned when I arrived in the evening due to the flood. Apart from 2 APC and some very wet oldie photos left outside to dry there were no souls around. Pity as you can see from some of the display I photographed, there must have been some writeup on the incident plus photos but alas I think they were taken away or floated down river.

Plaque outside.


Current station built over old site.




Some remaining description of the incident that I found lying in the sun.




May those that perished find everlasting peace.

The view outside the Balai. Notice the only large hill in the background of the old shop. I reckon the shop was around during the incident.


Back of station. Notice how close the river is:


Now having looked at the lay of the land and using what little I've learnt from reading of military books I have to say the position of the old balai if the position stated on the plaque is true, IMHO is a very poor defensive position. The hill nearby would have been more ideal. Since its been ages since I saw the movie I can't remember how the balai was portrayed. No doubt the locale would have been closer for supplying by river but being lower than the road and having no natural physical barriers on its flanks would have made it very hard to defend.

Terrorists taking the high ground on the nearby hill would have been able to shoot down on the old balai. Just my non-military 2 cts though.

I've posted some pics of the 2 APCs outside in Druid's thread on the Ferret in this same section for those interested. Best I could do CP.

BeachBum,
interesting finding..

And, I was in Melaka last couples of days, I managed to shot more photos on the uniform.

The missing legging from my earlier photo


The belt, some kind of Naga shape thingy


the logo on the Songkok


Diorama idea?.... lady on bike=DML Viatcong figure?


And, Uncle M want you..... maybe some one can translate those Jawi writing....

more...

BK Police...


And MalCong


And tommy.



And Dimler..


Anyone know what is the AFV behind the Dimler...


Merdeka Diorama, 1/16 I think..

Apologize if there are some errors but my jawi is a bit rusty. :lol:

It says something like this...

"Kewajipan kita!"
"Bersama-sama menghapuskan penjahat-penjahat."
"Apa ada kamu buat?"
"Masuklah berkhidmat sekarang."

I think this can be one of the posters in the Group Build... :D

Looks like a Daimler Armoured Car. The one in front is known as the Daimler Scout Car

any idea who did the merdeka dios?

For someone who claims that his jawi is rusty...that's spot on!

Anyway that poster reminds me of the 'Lord Kitchener' poster of WW1 and all those 'Uncle Sam's' "I Want You For US Army" posters.

Guys,

Thanx for the effort of finding and collecting useful historical resources on this topic.

masterqq, the detail images on the legging and other accessories are sincerely appretiate. Especially the hook-like belt buckle, never cross my mind they actually look like this.

CK, the images of the actual site and historical remains indead are very useful. Now I know Sarjan Jamil's number is 3493... which is not stated on all the name list I've found on the net (including our Polis D'Raja site (they've listed all the KIA polis with their number but Sarjan Jamil).

I've seen images from movie "Bukit Kepong" that there're sand bag use to fortified the Polis station. But these images are very blur lar... CK, any way of knowing the colour painted on the polis station then? The vignette suppose to have a partial wooden wall as back-drop.


Regards,
CPTan
PS. Guys, sorry for the delay respond lately.... have been very busy. Hopefully can resume my "modelling activities" after CNY :D Gong Xi Fa Chai

CP it was just unfortunate that I visited the site after the flood. As mentioned the new station was deserted. I'm sure they would have kept some artifacts and old photos of the old station coz I found the other info being left on table to dry in the sun.

The pill box in my photo is a very recent addition. I reckon you won't go to far off using the sandbags. I'm not sure if they keep some photos at the Police Museum, KL but if they do I'm guessing these are likely to be B & W. Sorry can't help much with the station's color. You may have to use some artistic licence with the color but I reckon a white whitewash would have been the standard Govt building color of postwar Malaya. At least that was the color most of our colonial estate bungalows were painted.

The only thing I can help you with which is off little use is that the color of the soil around that area is a mid brown. Pretty close to Tamiya's earth brown.

As a sidenote it will be nice to have the poster as a backdrop for our display, Imran.

CP, No problem..

Beachbum and gang... I also sokong to have that "Pakcik M Mahu Hang" poster as backdrop... :D

Its a pity that those who gave the lives in defense of this nation only gets a printed plastic bag to honor them!!!. We have to show more appreciation if we are to do a memorial in the first place....

some pics on CP's progress...









can't wait for this to be finished!
hope you like it....

Fantastik noooo...

Druid99, Hang pandai bacha jawi. Betui apa yang di perkatakan. "Ada apa kamu buat" is an old wording used in the 50's like in those movies - "Rosman, apakah artinya semua ini"...

I was in Taiping couple months back for a short holiday. Had breakfast at this old Chinese coffee shop infront of Taiping wet market. Guess what? I saw the leaflet and posters dropped by the Brits to MalCong informing them ways to surrender framed on the wall.

Asked the Taukeh how much would he sell it. Not for sale he replied!! Anybody from Taiping here?

Sarge.

CP, that's a very excellent modification you've done there. You even got the "naga shape" buckles made.

Just a suggestion though, maybe you can print the names of the persons that has lost their lives in the tragedy to honour them.