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

Bish

DoogsATX So am i right in thinking the P-51B you are doing for this GB is the same kit but different markings. And would i also be right in thinking you have a thing for P-51's. And that P-51B looks amazing.

Yep. Same kit, different markings. This time I think I'll do a closed canopy, though. Masking the inside frames of the portside panel was a nightmare.

Funny thing is, I actually don't have a thing for P-51s. I love the development story ("hey, what if we crammed this engine into it?"), and respect their amazing contribution to the war, but my first love is the P-47. Haven't bought one yet because I want to hone my skills a bit more so I can do it justice.

Thanks bish, depending on how things go I might be able to both, I dropped one of the GBs I was in, never started the model yet and lost interest. If I can manage to get a decent sleep schedual with work Itd help my model buidling time too. (Most of the time I work 3rd shift for two weeks and 1st shift one week)

The P-38 should be in today or tomorrow, I'm guessing today though. Its being shipped priority mail and was mailed out monday from Florida. I live in Wisconsin so I would think it'd come today but you never know.

redraider56 Thanks, that confirms Halesworth, bobbaily is doing an aircrfat from the same group but at the airfield they moved to from Halesworth. I ahve a few tamiya kits in the stash, all 72nd, but haven't built any yet. But i have only heard good things, but your right, they are pricey. But i always believe you get what you pay for.

ww2psycho i will leave it for now, hopefully the P-38 will come off. Will be nice to have a good vareity of aircraft.

DoogsATX So am i right in thinking the P-51B you are doing for this GB is the same kit but different markings. And would i also be right in thinking you have a thing for P-51's. And that P-51B looks amazing.

ww2psycho

So I just found out I have Tamiyas P-51B that has markings for 355th FG, 358th FS. If all fails with the P-38 I will do this one.

Finished that kit about a month ago. Amazingly well engineered. Didn't need more than a bit of a polishing sand along the major joins. Might want to watch out for the decals, though. Mine were pretty thick and didn't want to have anything to do with settling down into the panel lines.

Bish

Thats good enough. That will put it between July 43 and April 44.

I've been doing more research and the markings are for his plane as it looked in March 1944;  I believe I read he was shot down a month later

As for the kit, I bought it today and I have 2 words to say: Wow and Ouch.  Wow because this is my first Tamiya kit and I'm just amazed at the quality of it, and Ouch because of the $43 price tag

So I just found out I have Tamiyas P-51B that has markings for 355th FG, 358th FS. If all fails with the P-38 I will do this one.

Bish-I just ordered my decals-I'll be building Billy Edens' P-47.  Capt. Edens flew out of Boxted with the 62FS.

Based on a quick Google of Capt. Edens, I'll have a bit of history to share about Capt. Edens when the build is complete....unless the group can't wait and searches on their own....which is strongly encouraged...

Thats good enough. That will put it between July 43 and April 44.

Bish

Thats more than ok. I haven't put down an airfield as it seems this unit occupied 5 in the UK during its stay. Do you know for this aircraft.

All I found was that Mahurin was with the 56th's 63rd Fighting Squadron at Halesworth

simpilot34

Even though there isn't exhaust shrouds Doogs, you also have to take into account that it probably at some point had them. Possibly even on several occasions as engine changes were common.

I've also read that they were often taken on and off, perhaps depending on the mission. My understanding is the aluminum shrouds where there in the name of aerodynamics.

But verifiable evidence of the unshrouded exhaust...tempting. I LOVE Ultracast's resin manifolds, and the unshrouded ones are so much easier to deal with (paint manifolds, paint aircraft, insert manifolds in aircraft).

Maybe I'll gank the unshrouded manifold from the set I got for the -51D.

Doogs thanks for sharing that link!!!!  Great lil read!!! His plane is the one I have that is an old 1/72 Airfix kit! I saw the pic and smiled broadly!!!! Even though there isn't exhaust shrouds Doogs, you also have to take into account that it probably at some point had them. Possibly even on several occasions as engine changes were common.

Great account, that must have taken some bottle.

I found the Steeple Morden village website, its nice to see that still have links with the 355th and the scout group even carries the 355th flash on their uniforms.

http://www.steeplemorden.com/history.php

Hey all - was doing a bit of idle research into Steeple Morden and Lt. Henry Brown, and came across this fantastic account of his going up against four 109 aces - without ammo - and breaking their Lufberry. 

http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_eto_aces2.html#Brown

I also found a picture of the front of the aircraft, which very plainly reveals an unshrouded exhaust manifold. Crap. Guess I won't be able to use the shrouded leftover from "Shangri-La" after all.

Thats more than ok. I haven't put down an airfield as it seems this unit occupied 5 in the UK during its stay. Do you know for this aircraft.

Bish- I have another entry if thats okay

Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Razorback, Bud Mahurin's "Spirit of Atlantic City, NJ" of the 56th FG

I can second all that. The decals i am useing for my B-17 are just very basic. And the instructions are also rather basic. On the other hand i have some decals like the Eagle strike P-51, the same set that DoogATX has but a different scale, and they have everything and the instruction are down to the last detail, including anything with the airframe its self that might need changing.

And the same goes for resin. Complete sets like the Aires ones give you everything and are very detailed on what you need to do, But the simple one piece sets like seats, wheels will come with a painting guide if your lucky.

ww2psycho

 

Bish:

 

Though once you start to build up a bit of stash, you can just join GB's that you already have the kits for, instead of trying to find a kit to fit a GB.

 

 

I have a small stash, but nothing with 8th AF markings. I've never done anything with after market parts or decals so all that is a bit fuzzy to me. Do they come with instructions on where to place them?

Decal sets always come with placement instructions and painting guides. And at least in the case of the Mustang decals I've been collected, they're quite a bit more complete in terms of stencils.

Eduard PE sets (and masks) also come with instructions. 

Resin's a different matter. I'd imagine the more complicated stuff - complete cockpits, etc - probably has to come with something, but the bits I've purchased - exhaust manifolds, seats and whatnot - are basically drop-in replacements, so no instruction needed.

Bish

Though once you start to build up a bit of stash, you can just join GB's that you already have the kits for, instead of trying to find a kit to fit a GB.

I have a small stash, but nothing with 8th AF markings. I've never done anything with after market parts or decals so all that is a bit fuzzy to me. Do they come with instructions on where to place them?

DoogsAtx hot link to ebay shows a good example of sellers trying to manipulate the price of their kits with shipping costs.  I like the one guy who is holding his shipping cost down and actually selling the kit with a true auction.  That would be the guy I'd watch.  Rick.

Sorry, i missed the second decal link, was meant to be this.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/CA48091

But hopefully the Droop Snoot will have the decals you need. As for the GB's, good luck with that. I way over commited last year, got to the point where i was going from one model to another, but not being able to build the full dio's just the kit. So now mi have about 9 kits waiting for Dioramas. So i said i would only commit to one at a time. In the past two weeks i have gone from 2 GB's to 4 with 6 builds. One will come up that you just can't resist.

Though once you start to build up a bit of stash, you can just join GB's that you already have the kits for, instead of trying to find a kit to fit a GB.

Well I gave in and bought the Droopsnoot from ebay. Although at this time I will not be committing to anymore group builds until I finish the two that I am apart of now.

Thanks Bish, yes that is the kit I saw at the LHS. Din't realize it was 1/72, sorry WW2. But here is a link to a review of the kit you want to get. Doesn't say what the decals actually are though.

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/aca/kit_aca_2158.shtml

So far from my P-38 in Action book I can confirm that a Droop Snoot was used by the 8th. 20th FG, 55th FS. More were used but careful research will prevail.

 Also whilst looking through my thick Spitfire book, The 8th operated them as well!!! PR's only I think, so there is another option out there fellas!!!

http://p38assn.org/variations.htm

And according to the P-38 Association, who should know, it was largly used by the 8th. I don't know what other markings come with that kit as reviews don't say, but i would give it a go, there must be a set of 8th in there.

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_P-38_droop_snoot.html

According to the above article, the first of those was used by the 20th FG, and the flew from England until the end of the war. But looking at the 8th AAF site, all the P-38 FG's seemed to switch to P-51's, but they don't say what date. Your best bet would be to go through the FG websites and see what they say

ww2psycho

Can anyone confirm if the 8th AF used the bomber version? The one with the clear nose.

I'm looking to get this tomorrow after work:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400144116783&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Not sure about running down markings, but the 20th FG flew P-38Js through at least March 1944.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/20thfg.php

Can anyone confirm if the 8th AF used the bomber version? The one with the clear nose.

I'm looking to get this tomorrow after work:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400144116783&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AC12405

I am guessing this is it. But haven't been able to find any reviews that say what decals it has. But it's 1/72nd not 48th.

I did find this set of decals which includes an aircrfat of the 55th FG.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SS72867

Ofr this set which includes the 364th.

I seen a Pacific Theater P-38 on ebay but its 1/72 I'm looking for 1/48.

simpilot34

WW2 I remember seeing an Academy 1/48 P-38 at the LHS, the box just had 'European Theatre' on the front box art. One would assume there would be some 8th decals in it. HTH

Do you remember or could you find a pic of the box art?

WW2 I remember seeing an Academy 1/48 P-38 at the LHS, the box just had 'European Theatre' on the front box art. One would assume there would be some 8th decals in it. HTH