Mighty 8th GB 1-Nov-2010 - 31-Oct-2011

Participants:

Aggieman Monogram 1/48th P-51B, 4th FG, Debden (Station 156) Essex

Bish Academy 1/72nd B-17F, 96th BG, Snetterton (Station 138) Norfolk

bobbaily Tamiya 1/48th P-47D, 56th FG,  Boxted (Station 150) Essex

CallSignOWL Revell 1/48th P-51B, 352nd FG, Bodney (Station 141) Norfolk

Tamiya 1/48th P-51D, 352nd FG, Bodney (Station 141) Norfolk

checkmateking02 Airfix 1/72nd B-17G, 91st BG, Bassingbourn (Station 121), Cambridgeshire

                                   Airfix 1/72nd B-17G, 100th BG, Thorpe Abbots(Station 139) Norfolk

1/72nd B-17G, 100th BG, Thorpe Abbots (Station 139), Norfolk

cleobe  Minicraft 1:48 P-38J, 20th FG, Kings Cliffe (Station 367), Northhamptonshire

             Hasegawa 1:72 B-24D, 44thBG, Shipdham (Station 115), Norfolk.

            Revell clear 1/72nd B-17G, 34th BG, Mendlesham (Station 156) Suffolk

DoogsATX Tamiya 1/48th P51D, 352nd FG?, Bodney (Station 141) Norfolk

                     Tamiya 1/48th P-51B, 355th FG, Steeple Moredon (Station 122) Cambridgeshire   

                     Tamiya 1/48 P-47D 56th FG, Boxted (Station 150) Essex

Helo H-34   Tamiya 1/72nd P-51D 357th FG, Leiston (Station 373) Suffolk

hutchdh Revell 1/72nd B-17G,303rd BG  Molesworth (Station 107), Cambridgeshire

jbrady  Tamiya 1/48th P-47D,56th FG, Halesworth (Station 365) Suffolk

               Tamiya 1/48th P51-B. 4th FG Debden (Station 156) Essex

Kermit Revell 1/72nd P-51D, 359thFG, East Wretham (Station 133) Norfolk

 lewbud  Tamiya 1/72nd P-51D, 357thFG, Leiston (Station 373), Suffolk

               Academy 1/72nd P-51B 357th FG  Leiston(Station 373) Suffolk

Little J Revell 1/48th B-26C, 323rd BG, Earls Colne(Station 358) Essex

              Tamiya 1/48th P-51K, 78th FG, Duxford (Station 357) Cambridgeshire

redraider56  Tamiya 1/48th P-51D, 361st FG, Little Walden Essex (Station 165)

                      Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Razorback, 56th FG, Halesworth (Station 365) Suffolk 

 satch  ip        IArii/Otaki 1/48th  P-47D 78th FG, Duxford (Station 357) Cambridgeshire

Scorpiomikey Tamiya 1/48th P-51B, Leiston (Station 373) Suffolk

                          Hasegawa egg plane P-51D, 352nd FG, Bodney (Station 141), Norfolk

Wabashwheels 1/48th Tamiya P-47D, 4th FG, Debden (Station 146) Essex

I'm in! Between this and the NMF and Ostfront group builds, my poor Eduard Hellcat is going to be ruling the stash for some time!

I'm planning to build:

Tamiya 1/48 P-51D Mustang - John C. Meyer's "Petie 3rd" of the 352nd FG based at Bodney, forward deployed to Y-29 in Belgium.

Tamiya 1/48 P-51B Mustang - Harry Brown's "The Hun Hunter from Texas" of the 355th FG based at RAF Steeple Morden in the Spring of 1944.

Not sure which order I'll end up building them in, but I've been having some awesome luck assembling everything I need.

The P-51D is going to be rocking:

• Ultracast exhaust manifolds
• Ultracast pilot seat
• Eduard PE set - though after my Dauntless experience I don't know how much I'll take and how much I'll leave on the fret!
• Eagle Strike Bluenosed Birds of Bodney Part III decal sheet - I actually managed to track one down, it's in the mail now!
• Squadron vacuform canopy that I may or may not use.
• ...and maybe Ultracast's replacement spinner and prop blades. If I can figure out how to mount it.

The P-51B will be going forward with:

• Ultracast exhaust manifolds - I've got a set of shrouded manifolds left over from my "Shangri-La" build.
• Eagle Strike decals for Brown's aircraft - looking really forward to this one - the RAF Dark Green upper and NMF underside could make for a really distinctive 'stang!

Glad you were able to get those decals in that scale. I will especially be looking forward to seeing you D. Might get some pointers for when i do mine in 72nd. How are you doing the NMF.

The start date was in january? Sorry I do not understand.

No, the start date is 1st Nov. Sorry, guess it must be confuseing. In the UK we do it day/month/year.

Bish

Glad you were able to get those decals in that scale. I will especially be looking forward to seeing you D. Might get some pointers for when i do mine in 72nd. How are you doing the NMF.

Believe me, it took some hard core Google-fu and more than a little luck. Actually found a guy on another forum selling off all his 1/48 stuff - think he's moving on to 32nd - and the decal sheet happened to be among the items he was selling. 

As for the NMF, I'm undecided between Alclad II and Talon. I'm going to use my NMF group builds - two simultaneous early Wildcats - to host an NMF-off between the two. 

I haven't tried the talon, but i have tried the alclad, but just the once so far for the first NMF GB. It wasn't perferct, but i did learn a few lesson. And though it does need alot of sanding the primer before applieing the Alclad, i do like it and i am going to stick with that. Though i might change my mind after doing a B-17 or 24 with it.

Yeah, I played around with Alclad on a testing basis. Went down rough, but I'm pretty certain it's because I didn't bother with any prep sanding.

One of the things that really grabbed my interest about the Talon paints is that they don't necessarily need prep sanding (or even primer!?!?) to lay down smooth. 

Bish

No, the start date is 1st Nov. Sorry, guess it must be confuseing. In the UK we do it day/month/year.

Ah thank you for clearing that up! I will keep that in mind. I have to finish up a Me109 for the Classic Aviation GB and then a F-86 Sabre for the Korean War GB. Depending on when I get those done, should there be enough time left for this GB, I will join it!

Hi Bish ;

I have Tamiya's 1/72 scale P-51D Mustang ; 8th A.F. ACES

I'm pretty much committed to the Korean War Group build for the next 10 months but seeing I'll be putting together some more P-51D's in the not to distant future , I thought I could throw this Tamiya kit in at the same time .

There are 3 sets of great markings and it's hard to choose which option ;

1: Big Beautiful Doll , Col John D Landers 78th FG

2: Glamorous Glen III , Capt Charles E Yager 363rd FS , 357th FG

3: Old Crow , Capt Clarence Anderson , 362nd FS , 357th FG

I kinda like option 3: "Old Crow " with the Olive Drab over Neutral Gray scheme , so I kindly ask if I may join your Mighty 8th GB

                                  John .

I work for a company headquartered in Dublin.  As a Texan, it took me a while to acclimate to the date notation, and even after 4 years, I was still thrown off by your date format.  You might try using 1-Nov-2010 through 31-July-2011 which is how we date all of our internal documents.

As for the group build, I can't resist.  Please put me down for a thus-far undetermined build.  I have several bombers (-17s and -24s) to choose from, but will probably go with a fighter, of which I have lots to choose from in my stash as well (Tamiya P-47D, old Revell 32-scale P-51B or P-47D, Monogram P-51D, P-47D, plus nearly every other 48 scale Monogram kit that would fit this GB.  Too many to choose from, really, but I'll eventually make up my mind.)

Well seeing as my grandfather served with the Mighty Eighth, you can count me in!

Planning on doing an Arii/Otaki P-47 and a Monogram P-47 in his honor despite the fact that he was a B-24 pilot.  I am sure that he wouldn't mind!

Thanks

Mike

Aggieman

As for the group build, I can't resist.  Please put me down for a thus-far undetermined build.  I have several bombers (-17s and -24s) to choose from, but will probably go with a fighter, of which I have lots to choose from in my stash as well (Tamiya P-47D, old Revell 32-scale P-51B or P-47D, Monogram P-51D, P-47D, plus nearly every other 48 scale Monogram kit that would fit this GB.  Too many to choose from, really, but I'll eventually make up my mind.)

I'd love to see what you do with the Tamiya P-47. I've got a major soft spot for the Jug, and keep holding off buying one for the stash because I want a few kits under my belt so I can do it justice.

There's a beauty of a razorback I saw on the Y-29 episode of Dogfights that I want to build if I can ever find the markings. Olive drab fuselage with NMF wings and a chrome cowl ring. 

I have a small stash of B-17's I've been meaning to get to, so I'd like to participate.  I'll have to check specifically, but I think it'll be Airfix's Flying Fortress, a re-issue of the Academy/Minicraft B-17G.

Count me in, but oh the choices!  I'm a Don Gentile guy, so I'll probably do his P-47D "Donnie Boy".  It will be either the 1/48 Hasegawa or 1/48 Tamiya Razorback.  Gentile was the top ETO Ace (I think), flying with the 4th Fighter Group, 336th squadron out of Debden.  If I get going really good, there are a couple other 4th Fighter Group birds that I'd enjoy sharing.  Thanks, Rick.

Steven Thats a good idea on the date. I knew you guys did it the other way round i just didn't think about it when i typed it out.

John I will put you down but leave it open as to which one.

Mike I was sure at least one person here would have had a relative who was with the 8th. Do you know where he was based. I know most B-24 unit where in Norfolk, but there were some in other places.

checkmateking02 Is that a newer Airfix B-17 or the older one with the markings for 'A bit o lace'

Welcome aboard to all of you, i will add you all to the list. There is plenty of time to decide exactly what you want to build.

OH BOY!!!!! My eyes lit up when I saw the heading for this GB!!!! Not starting till November will give me a bit of leeway to try and get a few other things done first. I AM IN!!!

My build will hold me to the upmost of standards just for the plane that she is to do her justice. I'm in with Academy's 1/72 "Memphis Belle". 324th BS, 91st BG, 8th AF, Bassingbourn.

Was looking for the perfect excuse to build her. Well done Bish!!!!!!!!

Glad to have you. I was hopeing someone would opt for this. Not just because its the Belle, but also because i did my Army training at Bassingborn back in 90-91. We used to go for runs round the old perimeter tarck and the gym was in one of the hangers. So thank you for joining.

Thanks for the warm Bish!!! I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Col. Morgan in person at a book signing  at Robins AFB, Georgia in the late '90s!!! I have an autographed copy of 'The Memphis Belle-Home at last by Menno Duerksen.

Also had the pleasure of meeting the Belle herself whilst she was still in Memphis.

WOW, now thats deffinatly something to keep hold of. So where is the Belle now, i didn't realise she had been moved.

Speaking of Basingbourn, in case anyone is woundering, the B-17 on the badge is Shoo Shoo Baby, also from the 91st BG.

WOW lol!!! Guess what? Shoo Shoo Baby and the Belle are now together, or will be once the restoration of 'Belle is complete. She is currently being restored to an MMMPH of flying condition at the USAF Museum, Dayton, Ohio. She was moved there in '04 or '05.

Check out the web site of the National Museum of the US Air Force.  They do a fair job ob updating of their restoration projects.  The"Memphis Belle" and the "Swoose", the oldest and only surviving B-17D are both midstream in their restoration process.  The museum has a program on Fridays where they take a tour through the restoration facility.  The tour is an up close and hands on (they won't let you get too friendly) walk through the facility.  It is a great opportunity to look at all kinds of projects rivet by rivet.  It is amazing to see the detail and care that these artisans work with.  Right now the two B-17s are in pieces being worked on.  You'll never get a better look at a B-17 up close, inside and out.  You need to preregister for the tours.  They are worth the trip.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=12773

Wabashwheels

Count me in, but oh the choices!  I'm a Don Gentile guy, so I'll probably do his P-47D "Donnie Boy".  It will be either the 1/48 Hasegawa or 1/48 Tamiya Razorback.  Gentile was the top ETO Ace (I think), flying with the 4th Fighter Group, 336th squadron out of Debden.  If I get going really good, there are a couple other 4th Fighter Group birds that I'd enjoy sharing.  Thanks, Rick.

Just finished up Gentile's P-51B "Shangri-La" a few weeks back...I know he was the top ETO ace as of March '44, when he wrecked S-L while hooning for some reporters and subsequently got sent back to the states for a war bond tour. Not sure if he kept the top ace status all the way through the war, though...

Great link, thanks alot. Got an article on the Belle as well. And its odd how shoo shoo baby landed in Sweden but was then found in France.

I am hopeing to get in a visit to Duxford next week. If i do i will get some pics posted.

I would join this build but my B-17 project is already well under way

Will do red. Is that the Revell kit you have in your sig. Do you know what markings it will carry.

My bad on the 1/48 B-26.   I realized after I said that that it will be in 9th  AF markings.  Sorry!

No problem. Its a pity, would be nice to get a B-26 in. Well, theres plenty of time, if you decide you want to jump in later with somthing, your more than welcome.

Bish

No problem. Its a pity, would be nice to get a B-26 in. Well, theres plenty of time, if you decide you want to jump in later with somthing, your more than welcome.

I realize now that all B-26s in the 8th were transferred over to the 9th in 1943.

As of rightnow now I dont have anything else for this GB but I am seriously considering buying a P-47...