‘Toys’ tell history of WWII By Allison Lopez Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 18:39:00 02/09/2008 “WOW!” EXCLAIMED 7-YEAR-OLD Francis upon seeing a lot of toy airplanes, tanks and ships on display at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila. But the boy was even more amazed when he learned that the “toys” were scale models of weapons and equipment used in the Pacific region during World War II. Titled “Vintage Warcraft,” the ongoing exhibit organized by the Intramuros Administration at the Visitors Center features around 60 to 70 tiny replicas of fighter planes, submarines, artillery, battleships and carriers that saw action during one of history’s bloodiest battles. “This gives visitors of Fort Santiago an exhibit that details WWII, of which Fort Santiago itself played a prominent role in,” said curator Jose Antonio Custodio. Japanese troops made their last stand in Manila inside the fort, he added. The scale models, which are complete down to the tiniest detail, are part of the collection of Custodio and members of the International Plastic Modelers Society Manila like Mitch Doren, Art Gavino and Mike Jorge. The IPMS is a group of hobbyists whose passion revolves around constructing and collecting plastic scale models. Safely enclosed within glass cases, the miniatures, which were painstakingly assembled one piece at a time, tell the story of the arms race in WWII from the pre-war to the post-war period. The exhibit highlights several periods. “March to War (1930 to 1941),” for example, tells of how the major powers began a rearmament program, and how China had to rely on France for its weapons. “Aside from narrating history, the exhibit also shows the development of weapons. The tanks became larger while aircraft became more sophisticated as time went by. It’s brought about by the stimulus to make not only more weapons, but more powerful ones as well,” Custodio said. “Japan’s Sneak Attack (December 1941 to May 1942)” shows how the Japanese, who had been belittled for their technical competence, were vindicated in their Pearl Harbor offensive with their superb Mitsubishi A6M2 zero fighter planes. Japan’s six-month victory streak is recalled in “The Line Holds (June 1942 to December 1942),” while “Island Hopping (January 1943 to May 1944)” shows how American, British and Australian allies began getting back at Japan by taking over the islands under its control using new equipment. “Return to the Philippines (October 1944 to March 1945)” focuses on how the Battle of Leyte Gulf—touted as the biggest naval battle in history involving more than 600 ships and half a million men—signaled the country’s liberation from the Japanese. Reeling from consecutive losses, Japan’s final months are seen in “The Final Offensives (March 1945 to August 1945).” Assaults were made on the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the last two major campaigns in the Pacific, but the turning point came when the Americans decided not to let the conflict drag on for another year. Indeed, the use of the powerful atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki proved to be Japan’s end. In “Surrender (August 1945 to September 1945),” Japan finally waved the white flag and signed surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2. “The nuclear bomb was the weapon the Japanese never had. The type of airplane that carried it, the B-29, is featured in the exhibit. Had it not been for those bombs, the Japanese would still have fought on,” said Custodio. It should be noted, however, that the exhibit ends on a cautious note: “Just like the First World War that ended in 1918, the Second World War was also not the war to end all wars. More than sixty years after the end of the Second World War, conflicts and wars remain a constant feature in human existence.” Custodio said that aside from giving visitors a history lesson, they hope to stoke their interest in assembling scale models. “In fact, we will be adding 15 more models to the exhibit next week,” he told the Inquirer. Those who want to make this a hobby, however, should be prepared to shell out money. An assembly kit made in China costs P500 each while those made in Japanese are priced at P1,500 each. For those who want to see the “real thing,” Custodio said a trip to the museum of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (where he was also the curator) would satisfy war history buffs and kids fascinated with WWII equipment and arsenal. The “Vintage Warcraft” exhibit is open daily from 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. and will run until May. Entrance fees are P50 for adults and P25 for students. ‘Toys’ tell history of WWII - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
