Battle of Midway Group Build, 3 June, 2017 - 7 June, 2018

Doug great work, very well done.

I just read a new book concerning Midway from an SBD pilot's perspective, titled "Never Call Me a Hero".  I highly recommend it.  Amazon has it as a Kindle book for a low price.  It's actually an autobiography of Jack Kleiss but the majority of it is about the events of the early way culminating at Midway.

Somewhere on the forums there was a question about the catapults on carriers in WW II and there is some discussion of that, as Kleiss became an engineering officer later on.  In short, they were hydraulic and did not work well.

jeaton01

I just read a new book concerning Midway from an SBD pilot's perspective, titled "Never Call Me a Hero".  I highly recommend it.  Amazon has it as a Kindle book for a low price.  It's actually an autobiography of Jack Kleiss but the majority of it is about the events of the early way culminating at Midway.

Somewhere on the forums there was a question about the catapults on carriers in WW II and there is some discussion of that, as Kleiss became an engineering officer later on.  In short, they were hydraulic and did not work well.

 

I am reading that book right now due to several mentions on the forum.  What a life he had!  He loved those SBD's.

The Lexingtons had a single flywheel driven cat each, only useful for small scouts. But they were taken out before the war.

The Yorktowns had three hydraulic cats each, including one on the hangar deck. Like every other feature of the Essexes, they had a lot of variations. Some had hangar deck cats, some kept one on the deck and some had a second added.

I read somewhere that the SBD was the only bomber in the war to have a positive kill ratio in air-to-air combat.

They flew a lot of CAP at the Battle of the Coral Sea, mostly planned for torpedo plane suppression, with somewhat mixed results.

I've never seen one. I think there's one that flies at Ford Island.

I remember seeing an SBD at Smithsonian when I went there long ago. I can't remember if they had one at Chino, Seattle, or San Diego when I when I visited those museums. There is one on USS Midway if I can ever get down there.

OK, A bit more done here... I'm going to attempt to do a "Forced perceptive" kind of dio here. I made a Japanese aircraft carrier out of spare parts and suspended a cloud to break up and try and trick the eye. The Wildcat will be mounted about where its at now.

I really like doing action dios, but there is virtually no way in this case to "Hide" the aircrafts support.

Another view, oh, and I changed the prop blur... The other seemed to be a tad heavy.

Right now I'm waiting on a 1/700th aircraft carrier kit ordered off Ebay. to get the aircraft out of, so I can maybe add a few under and around the clouds to further enhance the illusion (Maybe) , but they should be here any time now.

Well, thats about all for now... Not what I really wanted to do, but I think it'll be alright in the end. Thanks all...

Doug

Hey Doug,

Great build mate, well done.

I have a solution on how you can sort the support out, Photoshop it out ...

I dolike that Doug, really nice smoke effects coming off the plane.

damouav

Hey Doug,

Great build mate, well done.

I have a solution on how you can sort the support out, Photoshop it out ...

 

Hey Doug, that is a very creative way of taking unexpected damage and turning it into something interesting and well done.  If I didn't know the backstory, I would be thinking, "now how did he come up with that?".  Fantastic job.  Be sure to show us the update when the mini aircraft arrive.

D

Thanks Bish, Dman...

Yup, still awaiting parts,,, we havent had mail in a day or so due to being in the path of Irma as it passes through the area. We just had high winds and down pours of rain, but I guess its best not to chance those little mail wagons getting cought in the mess. More to come! Thanks again guys...

Doug

Good job Doug, that was an interesting perspective.

Got the Avenger wrapped up today. Prett quick build really, really enjoed this kit.

After paint and decals i just did a flory wash in the panel lines. Wanted to keep this one pretty clean.

Then removed the masking on the canopy and added al the final bits and got it on the base. I used liquid masks and it reminded me why i don't like them. I always struggle ro remove it and did end up scratching the canopy in a couple of places. managed to polish most of it out.

Check, thanks for the exuse to build one of these finally. Desoite its age and lack of detail on the inside, this was a really nice kit, and i enjoyed just relaxing and having fun with it.

Look forward to seeing what the rest of you guys come up with.

Looks great Bish. Rarely get to see you do a PTO bird.

Thanks Steve. No, don't do them often. I do have a PV-1 in the stash and really want to get a Corsair as i like the look of those. Nice to do somthing different now and again.

Very nice Bish! Clean build and your usual great display for it. Bravo...

Doug

Great work Bish, she came up a treat, really like the overall look of Avenger you have created.

I'm about to kick start my Avenger build soon, hopefully I can create a build to the same level you have.

Thanks guys, really enjoyed this one.

damo, looking forward to seeing yours.

Hey Bish, she looks just dirty enough IMO.    Great job on that kit.  Now I want one.

D

Thanks D.

Looked good Bish.  I built this same plane a few years ago, it was an enjoyable build, but mine did not come out a well as yours in regards to the effects of the finish.

Scott

Doug:  really nice work with that uncooperative Wildcat.  The whole set-up is looking outstanding already.  It conveys an excellent sense of movement and action.

Bish:  great-looking Avenger; weathering is superb, and the base brings it all together.  Do you have a preference for the finished photo?  And thanks for being part of the GB.  It's always a pleasure seeing what you're up to.

On a less pleasant note, the home computer died last week; seems to be some issue with power, so I'm limited to using the computer at work.  This has put me behind on keeping up with things here.  The nearest Best Buy (where we got the thing) is an hour away, and I haven't managed to get there yet.

Although not for this GB, here is my now somewhat completed Enterprise as dipicted at Midway.  She is now out of the yards and room is being made to get working on the nemisis, IJN Akagi.  

Thanks Scott.

Thank you check, and i always enjoy being part of your GB's. Just a shame i don't have anything for Coral sea.

Which ever one you prefer will be fine by me when ever your able to do it. Thought you had been a bit quiet on here, hope you can sort it soon.

Scott, real nice looking Enterprise there. Which kit is that.

Bish

Scott, real nice looking Enterprise there. Which kit is that.

 

Thanks Bish, its the Tamiya, with a Shapeways/ModelMonkey 3D printed island, Tom's and WEM photo etch, and Trumpeter aircraft.  

The 350 kit? I bet thats a monster.

Bish

Thanks Scott.

Thank you check, and i always enjoy being part of your GB's. Just a shame i don't have anything for Coral sea.

Which ever one you prefer will be fine by me when ever your able to do it. Thought you had been a bit quiet on here, hope you can sort it soon.

 

Thanks check, always a pleasure.