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

Not sure if I ever knew that. If I did i've forgotten it. I do know that early on in his combat career most guys didn't want to fly with him... they thought he was nuts.

DoogsATX

Welcome aboard, jbrady! I'm sure Bish will get you added to the intro post soon! 

Looking forward to seeing the Johnson P-47. I swear, the more I learn about different pilots, the more fascinating they all become. Did you know that Johnson never passed gunnery school?

Did you also know that Johnson had the engine drop off its mount in mid flight on his P-47?  If I remember correctly he took a couple bullets to the nose area in a dogfight and on the return trip home the engine just dropped and he ended up in a dinghy in the Channel

I cant wait to start this! I want to work on my P-38 sooooo bad! I might start one and find the mistakes in it so I can fix them on the fighter for this GB, after all I do have 3 to build!

Welcome aboard, jbrady! I'm sure Bish will get you added to the intro post soon! 

Looking forward to seeing the Johnson P-47. I swear, the more I learn about different pilots, the more fascinating they all become. Did you know that Johnson never passed gunnery school?

I'd like to join in this build. It's only my second kit so the build won't be up to the usual high standards displayed by others but I'll give it a shot. I want to do a Robert Johnson P-47D. The plane is the one he got his 24th and 25th kills on April 13, 1944 so I guess the 61st FS was still at Haleswowrth. I hope to learn aa lot. By the way its a Tamiya kit.

Alright, I won the auction! Sign me up for a third. 

1/48 Monogram P-47D Thunderbolt. Of the bubbletop variety.

Markings will be for Col. David Schilling's "Hairless Joe" of the 56th FG, which flew out of Boxted from April 1944 through the end of the war.

I'm really looking forward to this one, to the extent that I might even build it before Petie 3rd. See...I built this exact kit probably 15 years ago around the height of my model building days. I'm 99% sure it's one of the handful of models that were both selected for and survived my parents' move from Texas to Arizona pretty much the moment I left for college. I'll be extremely interested to see how it stacks up against what I'm capable of these days!

Well you got plenty of time. I have two GB's involving 3 kits to build before i start on my build for this one. I am glad we have a P-38 on the list.

Alright I'm all set for this GB, just need to finish my other build for the last GB.

O right, thats odd. You got decals for a standard 38J but the kit only allows you to build the droop snot.

Great info Bish! Thanks for the help.

So I was test fitting the parts last night just to see what I was dealing with and when attaching the nose section, I found out that it only comes with a nose for the droop snoot! There isnt any holes on the bottom for the spend shells to fall out of. I must go buy another P-38 model now, which will make 3 (Glacier Girl, Droop Snoot, P38J)

Possably. It could be that he had to land somewhere else, or ditch somewhere.

I did find this site, which says that Schank is credited with 5 kills.

http://www.americanfighteraces.org/wwllusaf_n-s.html

And did you spot this link. There are 2 entries for him on the 25th July, and one on the 19th Sept, which is just after he failed to return.

http://www.station131.co.uk/55th/Encounter%20Reports.htm

In the notes it shows this:

From Greeley, Colorado.
24 April 1944 - Joined the 338th Fighter Squadron
26 August 1944 - Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
05 September 1944 - Recorded as 'Not Yet Returned' from the mission.
06 October 1944 - Ended Tour of Duty

Does that mean on 05 September 1944 he was shot down?

Bish

Check this link, about the 17th one down. CL-T 'Stinger' flown by Lt Thomas D Schank. Doen't give any dates. Well if we can't pin down a specific date, we will just leave it open to either one of those airfields.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/55thfg.php

And here are a couple of other links that might be useful. The first is the 55th FG site. Click planes, then 338th FS. You will see CL-T stinger down the lict. You can click the link for the pilot and the aircraft. On the link for your pilot it says he join the unit on the 24th of April. thats puts him at Wormingford.

http://www.55th.org/

And the second should be your aircraft

http://www.station131.co.uk/55th/images/Plane%20Photos/338th%20FS/P-38J%2042-104106%20Stinger%20CL-T.jpg

 

 

I did go to those links, thats how I found the pilot and the pic. I will use that pic as insperation to build it.

Check this link, about the 17th one down. CL-T 'Stinger' flown by Lt Thomas D Schank. Doen't give any dates. Well if we can't pin down a specific date, we will just leave it open to either one of those airfields.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/55thfg.php

And here are a couple of other links that might be useful. The first is the 55th FG site. Click planes, then 338th FS. You will see CL-T stinger down the lict. You can click the link for the pilot and the aircraft. On the link for your pilot it says he join the unit on the 24th of April. thats puts him at Wormingford.

http://www.55th.org/

And the second should be your aircraft

http://www.station131.co.uk/55th/images/Plane%20Photos/338th%20FS/P-38J%2042-104106%20Stinger%20CL-T.jpg

in the decal instruction sheet there isnt a tail number, its a white circle on the outside and a T on the inside, on the side of the booms it has a T then CL.

I just realized that on the packaging for the decals it has 55th FS/ 338th FG 8th AF. Then on the instruction sheet it says "Stinger" 55th FG/ 338th FG, 8th AF 1944.

If more info is needed I will scan the instructions and post the pic.

Whats the tail code for the aircraft. And if your instructions say 55th FS/338th FG they have it the wrong way round. But that wouldn't be a first.

I am not 100% certain, but i don't think they all had the names. Most pilots would have flown more than one aircrfat due to damage and when given a replacement i guess putting your name and other markings would not be a priority.

I cannot find the location, theres info about the pilot and everything but no location. I'll keep searching though.

One thing, did all planes have the pilots names on them? My decal sheet does not have a decal for that.

Bish

Being in the UK our prices are usually higher than yours anyway. But over here i don't think Tamiya is to bad. I just compared Fw 190 kits, and the tamiya ones are more than say Acedamy and revell, around £10 for the Tam and around the fiver mark for the other two, they are still cheaper than the AZ model kits, and i have no idea what they are like.

As for the Mossie, i think you guys are being ripped off i found two Tamiya 1/48th kits for £22, which is about $30-£35.

Just glancing at Sprue Bros, Tamiya's got two Fw 190s, an A3 and a D9, going for $23.50, in range with the 'stangs, Corsairs and the like. Hasegawa's got 190s ranging from $25-70. Personally, just based on seeing what my F6F-3 looks like on the sprue, I'd seriously consider spending $30 or so on the Eduard kits.

As for the Mossie, I mostly noted the $80 (sorry...$79.99) with a shake of the head. Sprue Bros. has two kits for around $30 each. 

A few of the Tamiya kits can get ridiculous, but they seem relatively few and far between in 48th scale. Though I still think the Jug is pricey. 

ww2psycho

Bish- The P-38 decal sheet says 55th FS/ 338th FG 8th AF.

I take it thats 55th FG 338th FS. That would either put it as Nuthampstead or Wormingford, depending on date. Here is a couple of links, you might find something useful.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/55thfg.php

http://mighty8thaf.preller.us/php/1Unit.php?Unitkey=55

Being in the UK our prices are usually higher than yours anyway. But over here i don't think Tamiya is to bad. I just compared Fw 190 kits, and the tamiya ones are more than say Acedamy and revell, around £10 for the Tam and around the fiver mark for the other two, they are still cheaper than the AZ model kits, and i have no idea what they are like.

As for the Mossie, i think you guys are being ripped off i found two Tamiya 1/48th kits for £22, which is about $30-£35.

DoogsATX

And Hobby Lobby inflates the prices of Tamiya kits BIGTIME. At least the ones around here. 1/35 M4A3 Sherman for something like $70. And a 1/48 Mosquito for $80. 

Sorry. The Mosquito is a cool plane and all, but it's not $80 worth of cool.

I got a Mosse at Hobby Lobby but I think it was $70 normal price, but I used the 40% off coupon to get it.

Can't speak to Hasegawa kits, as I've kind of ignored them, but I've found Tamiya kits to be all over the road. The Jugs strike me as pricey, but I think the Mustangs and Corsairs and the like are pretty reasonably priced. I picked up both B's for around $23 each, and got my D for $20. 

And Hobby Lobby inflates the prices of Tamiya kits BIGTIME. At least the ones around here. 1/35 M4A3 Sherman for something like $70. And a 1/48 Mosquito for $80. 

Sorry. The Mosquito is a cool plane and all, but it's not $80 worth of cool.

Bish

The other 2 guys doing 56th FG P-47's are doing the Tamiya kits so will be nice to get a comparison with the Monogram and you migth pick up a few pointers from their builds. Thats one of the great things about GB's.

I built the Monogram 1/48 P-47 Razorback a few years back when I was starting (over) modeling.  The kit really wasn't bad, aside from raised panel lines and a sparse cockpit.  However, with the canopy closed, you never see the cockpit.  At the end of the day, it looks like a P-47 and is a great platform to practice on painting & weathering.  And for the price difference....well, if I hadn't picked my Tamiya kits up off the Hobby Lobby clearance table, I'd have to consider the Monogram kit.  IMHO, retail for any Tamiya/Hasegawa kit is a bit too steep for me.

Bish- The P-38 decal sheet says 55th FS/ 338th FG 8th AF. I will try to find the location. Good thing this doesnt start till Nov. I keep running into things on my other GB. Nothing that is hard to fix, just taking more time than I'd like.

I had access to the net from about 2001 for about 2 years before i stopped modelling, but i didn't really access the net for my hobby. I did register on here but never came on. But i had been getting the mag since the early 90's. While the mag is great, the good thing about this place is that if somone post a techniqure and you are not sure about anything, you can always ask, which you can't do with the mag.

Add as many as you like. The other 2 guys doing 56th FG P-47's are doing the Tamiya kits so will be nice to get a comparison with the Monogram and you migth pick up a few pointers from their builds. Thats one of the great things about GB's.

Bish

But my modelling has improved more in that time than it did in the 20 years i was building before. This site has been a great help.

Agreed! I wandered away from modeling right around the time the internet was starting to gain steam. Back when I was regularly building - through about '96 or so - my only access to tips and techniques was FSM and the like. My only access to kits outside the LHS was Squadron mail order. Coming back and seeing the changes the internet has wrought is really pretty amazing. There's so much information out there, and so well documented, that yeah, it's already taken my modeling way past where it's been before.

Oh, and I broke down and placed a bid on a Monogram P-47D from the 56th. Figure, you know, a stepping stone before I go whole hog with a Tamiyabolt. Built one back in the day and remember really liking it. If I end up winning I'll go ahead and add that to this GB as well.

DoogsATX Deffinatly can't wait to see more of your builds. I was forced to take a break which lasted 5 years and only got back in at the start of 08. But my modelling has improved more in that time than it did in the 20 years i was building before. This site has been a great help.

ww2psycho Well chuffed that has come through. So thats a Academy 1/48th P-38J correct? Can you give me the unit and location.

P-38 came today. The decals are for the fighter version, not the droopsnoot. I'm happy either way, gotta live fighters! Its a Neutral Grey and Olive Drab, with a red nose camo. Decaling will take longer than what i've done on other aircraft. I will be finishing my Me109 before starting this or the Mustang.

Bish

DoogATX If thats what you produce when your just honeing your modelling, i can't wait to see what you do when you have them honed. I have a thing for Ju-87's, got 11 in the stash but still haven't got round to building one yet.

Thanks man! Believe it or not, that Mustang was actually my first build since 2000 or so. It was a great intro back into the hobby, and I think probably the best finished result I've ever pulled off.  I'm actually happier with my Dauntless WIP, but it's also become sort of a giant test lab for various techniques I've been reading about. About half of them are working out like I'd hoped.

ww2psycho I know what you mean about work. My modelling has to keep being put on hold because of work. I ahve had to drop out of a few GB's because of it. Worse thing is i only build at work and not at home.

DoogATX If thats what you produce when your just honeing your modelling, i can't wait to see what you do when you have them honed. I have a thing for Ju-87's, got 11 in the stash but still haven't got round to building one yet.

ww2psycho

 

. I live in Wisconsin so I would think it'd come today but you never know.

Yay for wisconsinites!