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

Bish,

Put me down for Ol' Flak Joe flown by Lt. Bill Fricker  363FS/357FG out of Leiston.  Kit will be either the Tamiya or Academy D in 1/72.  The only info I could find on Lt. Fricker was from a small obit on the Princeton U. website.  He graduated Princeton in 1942 as a geology major and served as the manager of the cross country team.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Four Clusters.  After the war he worked in the floor covering industry.  He was an avid sailor and Commodore of the Atlanta Yacht Club.  He died of cancer on 14 Aug 1995.  Survived by his wife, five children and eight grandchildren.

WOW, and i thought i had problems trying to figure out the production periods of Tigers. I only have 3 Forts, an F, G and one thats going to be build as an RAF Fortress I, plus i will have to get another G. I guess i better check my kits to see if they match the decals as i am useing AM markings. I do have 5, soon to be 6, B-24's. But thats only because alot of the bases in Norfolk only operated that type.

I am glad you are doing another Bassingborn aircraft. I know when people think of bassingborn, they think of the belle, so will be nice to see another plane from their, and will take me back to my training days.

For some odd reason I feel compelled to go out and get a P-51 but I'm gonna try to fight off the urge

Hi, Bish:

I've been building B-17's since 1982, and I have 24 of them (plus 2 B-24's and assorted 8th AAF fighters--all1/72) stored in plastic boxes to keep them out of the dust.  It was the year I discovered Hasegawa.

Chin turrets began appearing on some late-model B-17F's, and perhaps the only way to tell the difference between an "F' and a "G" for sure is by serial number.  There were some "escort" B-17's, called the "YB-40," loaded out with guns which I think had chin turrets too.  If I remember right, YB-40's were converted "F's."

Also, the side gun windows in the nose were often located differently, depending on whether the plane was built by Boeing, Vega or Douglas.  It took a while to standarize the location.  Then there was the factor of the modification centers (like Cheyenne, Wyoming), where some planes were altered before shipping overseas; plus any field modifications that were carried out once the plane arrived in England.  It makes for a confusing mess, so I try to find a photograph of the plane--which isn't always possible and which doesn't always answer all questions.  Most photographers seemed to be more interested in the nose art (I wonder why?), rather than whether the waist guns were staggered or not; and whether the guns mounts were K-5 or K-6.

The recoil from the chin guns tended to crack the longer "F" nose, so the cones were shortened during the "G" production runs, although there were "G's" that continued to carry the longer nose cone.  In addition, some early "G's" made it into combat with the old window arrangement from the "E" series, notably and unfortunately "Pistol Packin' Mama" from the 91st Bomb Group, which means I can't build that ship without substantial modification.  Maybe the best answer would be to get an "E" and splice in the chin turret, rather than try to fix the windows on a "G" kit.  But not for this group build! 

I have been partial to the Flying Fortress since the days Robert Lansing portrayed Brig. Gen. Frank Savage in "12 O'Clock High" on TV--waaaaay back in 1964/65 (when I was 12).

Sorry mate, didn't see your first post. I was 12 in 82 and used to watch the news up dates every day. We didn't have 24 hour live news back then. Even then i knew i wanted to join the army, but never thought i would be down there. Its a bit quierter now, but i have done my bit getting my *** shot off in Ulster and Iraq so i don't mind the slower pace now. This will be my third time, so its becoming like home.

checkmateking02 Thanks, i will update the build list.

You sound like somone who knows a bit about B-17's, so maybe you can help me. I had always thought that aircraft with the chin guns were B-17G's.  I recently got a book from the Osprey Combat Aircraft series on B-17's in the 8th. In there it has colour plates of two B-17F's with chin guns. I also noticed the longer nose cone on the F's and its also on one aircrfat labeled as a G. So apart from the shorter nose cone, how do you tell the difference between a G and an F with the chin turret.

Here's a photo of the Airfix 1/72 Flying Fortress and a sheet of decals (dated 1999!) I found in my stash.  I plan to build one of the planes feature.  All are from the 91st Bomb Group, stationed at Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire (USAAF station 121).

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I'm leaning toward "Just Plain Lonesome," a B-17G from the 324th Bomb Squadron.  In photos (I've only located two on the net) she appears to have the longer "F" style nose cone, and extended barrels on the chin guns.  One item I'm not sure of are the waist windows.  I suspect from the timeframe they may be the three piece canted style, rather than the later flush style.  If I don't find information to the contrary I'll probably go with the earlier style,  Squadron has some vacuformed pieces I've used before.

Bish:  I hope you have a safe deployment, and return home healthy and happy.  What branch of the military do you serve with?  I remember watching the news in 1982 when the British fleet set sail for the Falklands.  Even for a Yank living in North Carolina (a paradox, I know) at the time it was a stirring sight to see.

All I can say is 'it happens'

Sorry to hear that redraider! I managed to slip with an xacto and stab myself in the index finger when I was younger. Bled like a stuck pig, and still have the scar all these years later.

Makes me question my sanity sometimes when I pull out the scalpel!

Well I was getting some work done the other day but then cut my thumb pretty bad with my x-acto knife so that didnt last long

Crap guys. I just came across this build over at Promodeller 

http://www.promodeller.com/in-flight-p-51/

...and it has me seriously contemplating doing an in-flight diorama of Petie 3rd. Specifically, Meyer's famous takedown of a 190 while taking off from Y-29. 

Need to think about this some more. But for now I think I'll probably be doing Schilling's P-47 and Brown's P-51B first while I contemplate...

ww2pyshico hope your able to sort things out with your brother.

redraider56 life has a habit of getting in the way of hobbies. I only get to build when i am away from home. I am based to far from home to travel, so i only get home at weekends (if i am lucky) and leave. So because i spend more time in my room in camp than at home, and because i don't have the room at home at the moment, i do all my building here. Last night was the first behind the bench since April, and its takeing time to get going. I am just starting a B-24 for a different GB. Unfortunatly other things have to come first.

Just ordered a True Details seat for my Razorback, and I'm really excited for this GB.

Since I'm at college I have limited modeling time, so I've got a plan for myself.  Christmas break will be the soonest I can start on this group build but both planes will not be done together.  Since I'm still working on my B-17 diorama (my figures are getting done thanks to the figure GB....plus this project is my first priority ) I will build my Razorback at the same time since it looks like it shouldnt take too long.  If all goes well I may even get to start on the B-24

After Christmas break, I have  a week off for spring break so I will work on or begin the B-24, along with a B-25 and B-26 I'm doing for a show in october of 2011.  Then I get done with school the 2nd week of may which wil give me roughly 2 months to finish the B-24 before the group build ends

I like the Badge! I havent been at home that past couple of days. I got into a fight with my brother so I was staying at a friends since thursday.

Thanks. And like a few GB's on here, i won't be to rigourous on the end date. Either way i will be happy to let it run until every one is done.  But i don't see any harm in extending it, so a year it is. I guess seeing as i am also asking people to do a little more digging than is normal when building a kit, its only fair.

I do plan to post a pic of everyones finished work over on the aircraft forums. So it would be handy to have a set date to do that.

Bish, I hope you have a safe return to the Falklands and an even safer return back home!!! I wouldn't mind at all if you decided to extend the end date so that you yourself will have ample time to complete your build. A year would be good! Anyways it's just a thought and look for your safe return!!!

As some of you guys may know, i first toyed with the idea of this GB while still deployed in the Falklands. I had hoped that the build would be started and finished before i went away again.  But the day i got back from my last deployment i found out i am off to the Falklands again in Feb, and expected back home at the start of May. I only told my better half yesterday, and then felt it only fair you guys should be kept in the picture. There's nothing worst than a GB host who just goes AWOL. So, due to this and my other GB commitments, i am planning on starting my own build for this GB on my return, so will be about mid May.

This should not affect my role as host as i still have ample access to the net from down there, and its nothing like going to Afgahn. At worst i might have a week when i can't get online. I should be able to do everything down there that i can do here. If tehre is anything i can't do, such as posting pics of completed builds on the front page, i will do that as soon as i get home. So, if during my time away i miss something or seem absent for a while, i will apologise now. And please feel free to make me aware of somthing if i seemed to have missed it.

In the mean time, feel free to take the GB badge once the build starts, and above all have fun.

Yeah, I'm willing to mix paints... just didn't know where to start. Thanks for the suggestion. Actually Khaki Drab might just be the color I'm looking for.

jbrady

Thanks for the welcome simpilot34. Maybe I can start learning now. I'm about to paint my very first kit and I'm going with OD/Grey standard. I'm using MM OD FS34087... seems too green. Any thoughts on how to tone the initial coat to a more brownish olive?

You can always mix paints to get the desired color. I think MM makes a Khaki Drab that's more on the brown side and would probably work well for toning down the green.

I actually just came off my first paint mixing experience with my almost-done Dauntless. 1:1 Vallejo Dark Blue Grey and Intermediate Blue came out just right. Used bottlecaps to test ratios and mixes, then made a batch big enough to last the model (about 3/4 a bottle).

jbrady

Thanks for the welcome simpilot34. Maybe I can start learning now. I'm about to paint my very first kit and I'm going with OD/Grey standard. I'm using MM OD FS34087... seems too green. Any thoughts on how to tone the initial coat to a more brownish olive?

Use Tamiya paint? I use Tamiya paint and it seems pretty close to the real thing.

Thanks for the welcome simpilot34. Maybe I can start learning now. I'm about to paint my very first kit and I'm going with OD/Grey standard. I'm using MM OD FS34087... seems too green. Any thoughts on how to tone the initial coat to a more brownish olive?

Almost all pilots flew a variety of different squadron aircraft. Squadron and group commanders had personal aircraft... in some instances that was true also for section leaders. I know of several aircraft that had two separate names and markings one on the left fulelage and one on the right. Check your references for the particular aircraft and pilot you're modeling.

Yes it is the 1/48th Razorback from Tamiya. I grew up just a few minutes from Bradley Field in Windsor Lockes CT. It is the place where I learned to fly and it's the place where many of the P47 units formed before leaving for Europe.

jbrady!!! You will learn alot here trust me!!!!

Sorry for my brief absense. I spent yesterday traveling back to barracks and then sorting my room out. When i got back from the Falklands i just dumpped everything in and went home so it was a bit of a mess. You will have to excuse me if i do vanish for a few days, being in the Army things can come up at short notice. But i will catch up as soon as i can.

jbrady Added you to the list, i assume its a 1/48th kit. According to the Little Friends site, the 56th moved from halesworth on the 18th April, so yours is just before the move.

This shareing of info is what i really like about GB's. I am sure you guys do look into the kits you are building anyway, and not just if it is accurate, but also into the history of the aircraft and the guys that flew them. And this is what i really wanted from this GB, to remember the young men from your side of the pond who spent so long in my neck of the woods as well as the bases where they lived and the local communities many of whom still remember the friendly invasion.

Cool thanks! You or anyone buy from them?

This one says either Academy or Hasegawa.

http://www.hlj.com/product/LEGLF4020

Does anyone know where I can find a detail set for the P-38? Everything I've found is for the Has kit. The only thing i dont like about the Academy cockpit is the steering wheel thing (not sure the exact name). I guess when it was made, one side seems to have shifted on the other so its like looking at two different pieces glued together poorly.

I looked at greatmodels, sprue brothers, ebay, verlinden.

The story I like is the time he had his rudder cable cut. He flew home with another squadron with 30 feet of cable in the cockpit. Managed to land using only rudder trim.