Before They Were Aces-The First Aircraft of the Aces

Ok, it only took me 3 months but I've finally started on my kit. I'm doing the Special Hobby Grumman F3F-2 "flying barrel", in 1940 this aircraft was assigned VMF-2  and flown by Robert Galer.

In May 1942 Galer become the squadron leader for VMF-224 which was moved to Guadalcanal in August. During the fighting at Guadalcanal he was credited with 11 kills.

During the Korean War he flew strike missions while commanding a Marine Air Group. 

This is the kit

I got the cockpit together, the kit includes a lot of detail for a 1/72 kit with resin and PE bits. The camera is not kind, but this area will not really be visible once its all closed up. I'm amazed by all the detail they provided with the kit, I only used about half of the PE since it just won't be seen.

satch_ip

Sorry for the duplicate photos, fellas.  I've edited the post twice and they still appear.

Oh good thought there was something wrong with my computer there for a few minutes

Satch the 109 looks great, well done. Those decals must have been a pain to work with, I always have trouble with large ones so try and avoid them. The wash worked well on the panel lines, they are there but don't POP out at ya.

Jeaton wow you have a wonderful start going there, the seat belts are really nice. Are they AM ?  I gave my Hurricane to a new builder so will have to dig me up another.

Hans von Hammer can you change my P-51B build from the Tamiya kit to the Revell kit ? I wanna try the newly tooled version as it looks really good. I will be starting it on Monday

Sorry for the duplicate photos, fellas.  I've edited the post twice and they still appear.

Well done Satch!!!! Really looks good!!!

I'm moving Heinz Bar from the workbench to the shelf.  I have to go to work today for about two weeks so I'm clearing the bench.  I't pretty much done except for a flat coat and the antennae wire.  But I'm calling it done for now.

The canopy frames were decals!  They acutally worked well, just needed a little Sol to lay down.

Heinz Bar's White 13 of 1/51 Summer of 1940.  Painted with Model Master 70/02 and Aeromaster 76.  The yellow is Tamiya.  I used a oily/grimy black pin wash on the panel lines and wiped off the excess.  The guns are MM metal gun barrrels.  Everything else is OOB.

Thanks

[[The canopy frames were decals!  They acutally worked well, just needed a little Sol to lay down.

Heinz Bar's White 13 of 1/51 Summer of 1940.  Painted with Model Master 70/02 and Aeromaster 76.  The yellow is Tamiya.  I used a oily/grimy black pin wash on the panel lines and wiped off the excess.  The guns are MM metal gun barrrels.  Everything else is OOB.

Thanks

The canopy frames were decals!  They acutally worked well, just needed a little Sol to lay down.

Heinz Bar's White 13 of 1/51 Summer of 1940.  Not quite an Experten yet with only 7 victories here, he ended the war with 220. Painted with Model Master 70/02 and Aeromaster 76.  The yellow is Tamiya.  I used a oily/grimy black pin wash on the panel lines and wiped off the excess.  The guns are MM metal gun barrrels.  Everything else is OOB.

Thanks

John lookin good as always, cant wait to see more of your build as I always learn from them

I gotta get started on my P-51 soon am running out of time here.

Nice offices John!!!!

I have the cockpit(s) together on my Classic Airframes Hurricane I.  I put the (s) because I happened to see another kit at the LHS, and since I also want to do the earliest form of the Hurricane without the ventral fin I picked it up and am doing a 2fer.  It will be in 111 Squadron colors which was first to get the Hurricane.  I made decals for the instrument panels and also made the markings for VY*E which Albert Lewis was flying for his first two kills.  I don't know the serial number as records were not well kept in 1940 France so it will be absent and I will have to do a 50/50 on the hand of the camouflage pattern, as at that time odd airframes were one way and even were the mirror pattern.

Wabash, appliance cords are VERY nice for fine wire!!!! Or wiring inside radios as in the background!!

This is 1/72 btw for an Italeri 1/72 F4U-4B

Wabashwheels that is one sweet Jug you built there guy, very well done . Beautiful markings, makes me want to do another P-47

You really make me wanna do John Godfrey's P47 Lucky with that one ,but right now I'm doing

Don Blakeslee's P51B .  Great job on the P47.

Frank C.

satch_ip

...Cartograph decals are provided for the splinter camo pattern on the wings.  There are even decals for the canopy frames.

Decals for the framing and splinter camo? I've never seen that, other than decals for WW1 upper surfaces. Interesting option - are you using them?

Yeah, regrettably I probably realized that as I got going with it.  But they looked so cool and I was on a roll.  I've already stripped down some finer wire for my next attempt.  It is a bit tedious to do it that way, but I can get a better look than trying it with a PE harness.  Thanks for the input.  Rick.

The overall model looks awesome mate!!!!!!!! However, and I am sorry, but that 'fine' speaker wire needs to be MUCH finer!!!! That really looks more like copper tubing rather than an ignition harness!!!

Well, I finished Red Norley's "Red Dog" a few weeks ago, but have just now finished the pictures. Norley shot down two German aircraft in this bird, before becoming an ace in the P-51.  This aircraft is in the markings of the 336th Squadron of the Fourth fighter group.  The kit is Hasegawa 1/48.  I had some fun wiring up the engine with some fine speaker wire.  It was easier than I thought it would be, and I'm really happy with the dimension it added.  The rudder did not fully form on one of the fuselage halves, but luckily I had a resin part to replace it.  The olive drab and neutral grey were Model Master,  airbrushed on, grey first, and then I made a small rolled masking tape "pillow" under my demarcation tape line along the fuselage.  By raising the masking tape edge away from the surface, I was able to give the edge a soft look.  The white markings are Krylon rattle can.  Decals are Aeromaster "4th Fighter Group The Early Days".   Cockpit details were improved with the Eduard Zoom kit.  Not that they were really needed, but I added True Details Wheels.  Other than having to replace the rudder, the kit was great.  Landing gears and bomb rack are very nicely detailed.  Red Dog sits very well and looks great on the shelf.  I can't wait to set "Donnie Boy"  Gentile next to it.  Rick

Great models guys. Imagine, "cutting your teeth" in a Jug! That'd be like learning to drive in a Viper.

Ok, I'm starting Scat II next week, as I finished a GB this weekend and about to wrap up a longterm project.

Looks like there'll be a Messer to chase!

Well, I finished Red Norley's "Red Dog" a few weeks ago, but have just now finished the pictures. Norley shot down two German aircraft in this bird, before becoming an ace in the P-51.  This aircraft is in the markings of the 336th Squadron of the Fourth fighter group.  The kit is Hasegawa 1/48.  I had some fun wiring up the engine with some fine speaker wire.  It was easier than I thought it would be, and I'm really happy with the dimension it added.  The rudder did not fully form on one of the fuselage halves, but luckily I had a resin part to replace it.  The olive drab and neutral grey were Model Master,  airbrushed on, grey first, and then I made a small rolled masking tape "pillow" under my demarcation tape line along the fuselage.  By raising the masking tape edge away from the surface, I was able to give the edge a soft look.  The white markings are Krylon rattle can.  Decals are Aeromaster "4th Fighter Group The Early Days".   Cockpit details were improved with the Eduard Zoom kit.  Not that they were really needed, but I added True Details Wheels.  Other than having to replace the rudder, the kit was great.  Landing gears and bomb rack are very nicely detailed.  Red Dog sits very well and looks great on the shelf.  I can't wait to set "Donnie Boy"  Gentile next to it.  Rick

Further progress on White 13:

The only fit problems were self inflicted by placing the cocpit side wall too far back.  The canopy will be closed so no blood no foul!

Looking good Satch!!!!

Satch_ip Your pit is lookin good there guy, and I see you use the same brand files I use as sanding sticks Hope to see more of your build soon.

Further progress on White 13:

The only fit problems were self inflicted by placing the cocpit side wall too far back.  The canopy will be closed so no blood no foul!

Here is my second entry for the group.  It's in conjunction with the Battle of  Britain GB.  I offer you Heinz Bar's Bf109E-3 as it appeared mid  Summer of 1940.  Bar flew with 1/JG 51 as an Feldwebel and ended up the highest scoring NCO ace of the BoB with 10 victories.  He went on to become the 8th highest Ace of all time with 220.

The kit is the Academy Bf109E "Heinz Bar" in 1/48.  It's a very simple kit but finely molded with very nice surface detail and great fit.  It comes molded in blue plastic and Cartograph decals are provided for the splinter camo pattern on the wings.  There are even decals for the canopy frames.

While the sidewalls of the cockpit are nicely done, the seat leaves a bit to be desired.  The canopy is a one piece closed part so without an aftermarket canopy a new seat would be wasted.

Hans, are we going with the Luftwaffe definition of Experten?  The markings have 7 kill stripes but if we are defining Ace as 5 then I can snip a few off.

Well Hans I tell ya it the kit builds half as good as it looks like it will it cant be beat for the 12 bucks I spent on it at the LHS. I built one of the Monogram kits was a fun build too.

Yeah, the Malcolm does change the lines a bit, but I've always posed it with the Malcolm slid back rather than the hinged one open... Dad flew a C with the Malcolm and said he preferred it to the D, even though the D had the extra guns, and also said that the visibility was about the same to the rear, and even better out the side and down rear ...

   I just got a pair of the old Monogram "Ding Hao!" ponies off Ebay, reckon I may have to pick up the Revell one now...

Hans they are both P-51B/C models but I have to admit I am leaning heavily towards the Revell kit instead of the Tamiya offering. For me I like the sleekness of the standard canopy, to my eye the Malcolm hood makes the 51 look  a bit bulky if thats even possible.

Well, I've always been partial to the B/C Ponies, especially if they have the Malcolm hood...

Hans von Hammer Sir we cant have this group back on page 2 so I want to let all you know I got decals for Arval Roberson's P-51 a couple days ago, found them on evilbay. There are also enough on the sheet that I will be able to build his P-51D also, cool huh. Now being a Revell fan, Hans I have a tough decision to make at this time. You see I have a Tamiya kit for this build, however I got my mits on Revells retooled P-51B/C kit #85-5256 with all those nice recessed panel lines and added detail so what to do, which one do I build now.

pordoi

Hans,

 

I'm not  on the list with Kearby's Fiery Ginger. 

Don

 

Done, Don... Sorry 'bout that oversight..

Bill Looking forward to seeing your Oldsmobuild!!! (<sorry had to do it) When we lived in California in the '80's, my brother was in the Air Force Reserves and went TDY to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. He got to see Robin Olds 'C' model Phantom still in service. It was autographed and still wore the kill marks.

Satch nice job on the Revell P-40 looks great !!! I can tell ya that sharkmouth decal drove me crazy on the last one I did. You handled it very well. Pics aren't too bad either for a phone camera.