Pepper: Not sure, you could always build the kit and then display it with the autographed box and the photos. Pretty dang neat find.

Deafpanzer: Not sure how old the M24 kit is but I remember it being in the Squadron catalog back in '87 so it's at least that old.

Dr Win

 You ought to get some of your maintainance guys memories down on tape then translated - that generation are starting to thin out now. !

Dr. Win:

I agree with what you've said (above) ... there's a retired Col that lives down the street - started as a B-17 gunner (credited with 3 Me109's) and then moved up to a pilot and made the Air Force a career ... we have him to our house (often but not often enough) for coffee and then sit at the kitchen table, with a tape recorder running, to have him share his memories and thoughts of days gone by ... am putting it all down in booklet form for my kids - so they'll understand where we've come from ....

Those guys, sadly and rapidly dying off, were the 'Greatest Generation' ... this might just be my, very puny, tribute to them ...

As an aside, i just bought (for $5.20) an Academy kit (all Korean writing on the box and instruction sheet) of a TBF Avenger  that has been autographed by the only pilot, who flew from Midway (with Torpedo 8), who survived the Battle of Midway ... in the box, besides the kit, are several 8 x 10 B/W photos of the pilot and his navigator/torpedo man (who also survived) + several written biographies and more ...

I'm thinking to not build the kit but put it, with the photos, in some sort of shadow box and either hang on the wall or put on my desk ... didn't the USN fly Avengers in the Korean War ? ... if so, it would qualify for this GB ...

I'm at a crossroads though,  whether or not I should build the kit or leave it still in the box ...

Suggestions anyone ? ...

pepper

Deafpanzer - I've only seen photos of Chaffees with white Stars and US numbering towards the rear of the chassis. Some I know had all the gaudy tiger paint on the front in late 1950/early 51 as the US started to push the Chinese back north of Seoul in operation 'RIPPER' & 'KILLER'. The ROK armour training school at Kwanju also had the M-24 and I've seen pics of those with ROK flags painted onto the side of the turret and the US markings left in situ...

Cheers Stik, nothing to report on the Dingo,  haven't had chance to anything with it for a couple of weeks now, the model railway has been taking the bulk of my free time lately. Currently I have that, the Dingo and eight pieces of commission work. I'm seeing glue in my sleep! 

I feel very pleased I could point you in the direction of such wonders. Im going to have to have to behave and wait until my birthday before splashing out on some! But Im looking forwards to seeing some photos of the finished articles. Your B-29 is looking good Draken. You ought to get some of your maintainance guys memories down on tape then translated - that generation are starting to thin out now. Sounds like he has some valuable oral history to impart! I remember my Korean co-teachers looking at me in a different way after I told them that my late uncle was a Sea Fury pilot on HMS Ocean...

How do you keep the kids off the models? With some of my classes they wouldn't  have lasted the day!

Gamera, thanks for the information.  I will go ahead and use the big white stars that came with the kit.  I don't see anything else I could use.  I shouldn't be too worried because Chaffee will be hauling alot of stowage.   Do you have any idea when this Italeri kit was made?  It wasn't printed on the box or even the instructions.  I googled too but to no luck I have no idea how old it is.  I am just curious...

Wow, great work guys all around

Great work on the B-29 Draken. Love the black undersides, thought about doing my model the same way but can't find any photos that point to her being painted that way so I'm just going with the default NM all over.

Deafpanzer: Wecome to the GB and great stuff so far. I built the kit about twenty years ago and had the same decal sheet. The instructions detailed all the schemes but I have no idea where they are now or if I still have them. I'm thinking the only nations to use M24s in Korea were the US and the Phillipines. The ROK were supposed to get some but there were never enough to go around. I certain someone else here is better informed than me though.

Guys, afraid I promised photos of the completed K1A1 this weekend. Took her to our local modeling club last night and got some comments and constructive criticism. I've decided to do a little 'fine tuning' to the dio and figures. Should have the photos before much longer though.  

Well, here it is, I think this is going to work to show my Academy B-29 Superfortress "Korean War" to everyone!

?action=view¤t=B 29c.jpg

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa345/the_tunnan/?action=view&current=B-29b.jpg

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa345/the_tunnan/?action=view&current=B-29a.jpg

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa345/the_tunnan/?action=view&current=B-29a.jpg#!oZZ4QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa345%2Fthe_tunnan%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DB-29d.jpg

Dangit!    For some reason I can't "View Image" to get the correct web pages for FSM's image viewer using Internet Explorer (remember, all of the menus are in Korean!  A lot of guess work and trial and error here) and my computer with Firefox and Chrome on it doesn't have internet access so far.  At least you got the links for the pictures.  And I took some more of it hanging in my class room!  I just have to wait until my computer gets internet access to do anything.  Or whenever my laptop at home decides to access Photo bucket...  Who knows...

In the meantime, I've got two projects on the bench right now (1/72 scale).  I'm working on a diorama of a field medical aid station.  I've got a surgeon, some litter bearers, stretchers with men, and more.  I'm working around the Airfix "Forward Command Post" building and adding a lot to it.  I'll use a picture frame and plaster for the base, have a road outside, and lots of odds n ends of equipment and such.

The other is the Trumpeter/Pegasus M-26 tank.  Looks awesome!  I've got some of the prepainting done, I'll be doing assembly and such very soon!  This one will get lots of stowage, maybe a yellow tiger on the front, and some weathering.  I might use one of my left over Hasegawa tankers for a tank commander or driver.

I'll type to ya later!

Stik, your Centurion is looking good!  Now I can start building my old Italeri M24 Chaffee I signed up for this GB.  Of course, I have to bring the balance with this armor after seeing plenty of good looking wings!

Here are my goodies... it only has three sprue sets... no more than 100 parts.  It will be a nice break for me after finishing a +700 parts Dragon kit  Marder II recently.

The kit tracks were old and in poor shape... 

I bought this AM tracks from one of FSM friends... I haven't done this before and I hope you can tell me if its good and easy to assemble. 

Having a reference book is a must for me... I wish I brought 'Walk Around' from Squadron instead.

Because the kit is as old as I am, I brought plenty of AM goodies from Verlinden. 

I was disappointed with the resin barrel that came with the Verlinden set.  There's a chip at the edge and it doesn't look that sharp.  I think I am going to order an aluminum barrel for only $5 via eBay...

The instructions didn't identify the decals for first two vehicles.  I am also thinking about ordering AM decals too depending on how many I need for this.  According to pictures I don't see many marks on Chaffees during that time... any suggestions before I dig further into this.

Can't wait to start a WIP over the weekend. Thanks for looking!

Looking good Kevin! That Gloss Sea Blue does look nice

Today I drybrushed Steel highlights on the outer face of my Centurions tracks. Next stop decals and weathering.

and I did some 1/48 KW figure painting most of the day. Not quite done with either one but I thought that I would share them here. The North Korean pilot from the Monogram MiG-15 which I built a few years back and the pilot off the Revell F-84E I just finished. Still need to paint his bone dome. Does anyone know of some tiny US Air Force insignia decals I could possibly use on the front of his helmet?

Here is the H-19 all painted in the correct color of Gloss Sea Blue

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Looking forward to that Superfort Draken And I do like your philosophy about getting it in there at school...

I'm done with it.  The Academy B-29 is done.  After a marathon day spent from 10A to 10P working on it, about 4 hours of it putting on decals, I can finally call it done.  I've been trying for the last 15 min to get photobucket to upload the pics so that I can put them here, but no go.  I'll have to do it tomorrow at work, I guess.  Needless to say, I'll have the Superfort hanging at work tomorrow, before my co-teacher gets to work on Monday.  It's always easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. 

Great job on the cockpit Pepper!    

I have to get the yellow painted on the rotor blade tips tonight and that should do it for the rotor blade painting.  I masked and airbrushed all the color stripes.  I have trouble brush painting white, red and yellow and getting a good result.  This way takes a little longer but I am usually happier with the result.

I did a little wet sanding to the helo to get out some of the dust that settled on the paint while drying.  I will shoot some Gloss Sea Blue on her tonight I hope.

The model may be on the small side but that blue really catches your eye.  Such a nice color.

Pepper Kay, that Saber is looking real good so far! I have a high opinion of Academy's own molded kits that I have built so far.The Saber looks like more of their good stuff! Their Achilles heel is decals, but that is hit or miss.. certainly no worse than Dragon kits. I have that kit in my stash and it certainly is the nicest of the three Sabers that I have in the stash.

MAC, I have added your Chosin Diorama to the first page completed pics. Dr Win, same goes for your Armored Car. If anyone else has a completed entry that I have missed please let me know. The completed builds are looking pretty good here.

Tonka, I am looking forward to seeing your next work.

I have moved the GB badge to the bottom of the 2nd post on page 1 for all completed projects.

You guys have been GREAT!   I signed up for this GB and I haven't started my build yet but I have been following all of your WIPs.  I am almost done with my Marder II for Marder Madness GB and I hope to start my Italeri M-24 Chaffee for this GB in few days...

Great Work guys! I have been away for awhile, but am back now and started back on my Chosin dio last night. Will post pics soon.

Question? How /where do I get the Group Build badge for my completed 120MM fig I finished early in build?

Good to see this build going strong!!

Kevin

A couplea more photos from this morning ...

Here's the cockpit tub ready to install ...

And now installed ...

Bottom wing on ... great fit with no filler needed ...

Right wing setting up ...

Now have the left top on and all the little hatches installed ... should have it up on its landing gear and in the paint booth by early afternoon, weather permitting ...

After a week of mid-70's, we're once again heading into another Arctic Blast (as the TV talking heads are prone to sayt) ... temps are dropping and snow expected again late today ... brrr - it's getting cold and old ...

pepper

PS  BTW - I can't get the Smileys box to open ... any suggestions ? ...

Pepper: Wow, that's one fantastic looking cockpit.

Mac: Looking forward to the photos of your chopper, don't keep us waiting too long

Draken: Seems like Christmas came late this year for you! Maybe I should be doing 1/72nd just so I can get more stuff done. Read General Pak's story of his service in the war last year. Fantastic book that I'd recommend to anyone with any interest in the Korean War. Gee, I'll bet that veteran has some incredible stories too.

The K1A1 is hovering around 97% done, the friggin' transparent sheet for the vision blocks vanished but otherwise I'm pretty much done. Will try to get the photos up by the weekend with or without the vision blocks done (they don't show all that much).

WOW!  That's almost enough to get ME into 1/48 scale!  Impressive work on a great model!  I only  wish that they'd just pantographed the 1/48 scale down into 1/72 instead of using their old kit that was supplied to Hobby Craft.  Not that it's in anyway bad, but it could have been incredibly awesome rather than just awesome. 

Hi All:

Finally - a start and some progress on the Sabre Jet ... this is 1/48, Academy - m'thinks a rebox of the Hasegawa kit ... so far, so good ... great fit, minimum amount of flash and good instructions ... the decal sheet looks good as well ...

I started with the engine - out of sequence from the instructions, but what the hey !! ...

Next, the cockpit tub and engine trunk ... I was going to use a resin cockpit, but only 2 pieces would fit (from all the aftermarket parts) - the panel and the seat ... so, the kit parts came into use ...

First blush at drybushing the consoles on the sides ...

Beginning of the instrument panel - this one is green on part of it because I knocked over a bottle of paint, got my thumb in it and somehow 'printed' the panel ...

Used the resing panel and got a start on the interior ...

And here's the start on the seat ...

pepper

WOOHOO!  Finally (has it been two weeks already?) got my package of resin 1/7 armor from Milicast in Glasgow. 

Oh.  My.  God.  I picked up the M-19 dual 40mm bofors, the Halftrack with bofors, the M-32, the M-32 and M-18 as well as some other goodies.  I'm incredibly impressed!  The level of detail is fascinating.  They're gonna be so awesome in my classroom with everything else.  I also got another Airfix Skyraider (gonna put bombs and a torpedo on it for the dam busters raid), the Airfix Churchill bridgelayer (INCREDIBLE!  New tool and Re-tool!), the UM T-34/85 which looks like it's a wonderful build, the Hasegawa Daimler, Matchbox/Revell Humber, and I even sprang for the Airfix "Forward Command Post."  I'm going to use most of the structure of the command post and make a field aid station out of it.  I've got the figures I've made already, the ambulance, jeep ambulance, and some other figures from SHQ.  Should look awesome when I'm done.

So far this week (vacation for Korean schools) I've done the nacelles for the B-29 and put together my SHQ 105mm Airborne gun and three figures for it.  I _HAVE_ to get the bomber done before Friday, my co-teacher comes back on Monday and I want to hang it up before she gets back.

On a related sidenote, the maintenance dude at my school was enlisted in the RoKA during the war.  He spent most of the time fighting the guerillas that were in the Taebak Mountains behind our lines under Gen Pak Sun Yup.  He said this through my co-teacher/interpreter.  He loves my classes, is thrilled by the models and hates the North Koreans.  What more can I ask for?

stikpusher

If it is a USN/USMC bird, the color for that time was Gloss Sea Blue overall, not Blue Angel Blue. That was never a field operational color on USN/USMC aircraft. Only the Blues use it, hence the name.

I figured as much.  My common sense advised me of that but I followed the instruction sheet.    At least it is a close color match and a few passes of Dark Sea Blue should fix it.  That's what I get for following Italeri's instructions.  Maybe Blue Angel Blue is Italian for Dark Sea Blue...

If it is a USN/USMC bird, the color for that time was Gloss Sea Blue overall, not Blue Angel Blue. That was never a field operational color on USN/USMC aircraft. Only the Blues use it, hence the name.

WOOOHOOO!!!  I finally got a coat of paint on the H-19!  The instructions called for Blue Angel Blue FS15050.  So that's what I used.  It is a gloss so it will take a while to dry as you all know.  I also got a few colors on the main and tail rotor blades as well. 

I think one more short painting session should do it for the helicopter itself.  I gotta mask and paint the stripes on the rotors too.

It's coming along.  Sorry for the delay in this build.  A 1/72 helo shouldn't take this long. 

MAC

Stik

         I hope you don't mind but you said I earned the Korean Badge so I put it on my profile

 

Mac

Not one bit. I am jazzed that 2 of the three GB badges you display are mine. Your work is first class and I look forward to having you in any more GBs I run.

Just a thought, has anyone given consideration to the Lindberg LSU and LST kits?  ISTR that the LST is in 1/200 scale (or there abouts) and the LSU, although variously listed as 1/72, 1/100, 1/144 scales is kind of more like a 1/110th and has an HO scale M-26 with it.  I've got two LSU's at home in the states, but they're set aside for specific projects, and I haven't seen any on eBay as of late.

Stik

         I hope you don't mind but you said I earned the Korean Badge so I put it on my profile

Mac

WOW!!!  Awesome work Mac!       Looks like a miserable place to be. 

I fixed the crack in canopy on the H-19.  The tail boom became a little dislodged too so I had to fix that.  Now I have a nose weight banging around.  O well.  I will paint her up with some Dark Sea Blue tonight.  I will also get some of the rotor blades painted too.  As soon as I can get a camera that works I will take some pics.  

That looks chilly. Good job on the figs and base.