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

OPPS, missed your last post. Lovely close ups of the nose.

Well, not sure i have been as attentive as i should have been, partly my fault and partly work. I am thinking ahead to hosting another GB, but not till 2013 when i am out of the army and can give more time to hosting. Until then, thanks for takeing part check. And look forward to seeing more of your work on the forums.

Gosh, Bish, you were quick.  If all Her Majesty's soldiers are that fast, Britain's enemies need watch out.

Here are references I used for the exhaust staining.  First, about the only one I could find of the undersurfaces.

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The next two are top views.

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In doing some research, I ran across an opinion that the exhaust stains ended where those eight squarish ducts began--because these ducts vented the wing, they (supposedly) blew the engine exhaust away and prevented staining at the trailing edge of the wing.  I think the above photos show that the engine exhaust could and did extend to the trailing edge, at least sometimes.  There is an overhead photo of "Knock Out Dropper" where the exhausts seem not to have stained beyond the eight ducts, however.

You're fortunate to have all this 8th AAF stuff so close.  These are places I'd like to see, if I ever make it to Blighty.

The kit is the 1:72 offering from Airfix (reboxed from Academy)

I added the Squadron waist windows by first positioning them and taping them down, then I ran a line of superglue (CA) at the top and the bottom, from the outside.  (Photos show these windows where installed from the outside of the fuselage--which makes every earlier time I've used them on kits:  wrong.)  Then I sanded that smooth.  I used diluted white glue to fill in the sides of the windows.  It can be nerve wracking to install these, since the tendency of the CA is to be drawn into the window by capilllary action; too much, and it will overrun the clear parts of the windows.

Squadron makes a set of windows including the three-piece waist positions specifically for the old Academy kits--but they are way too small for the fuselage openings.  Be sure to use the Hasegawa-designated windows from Squadron.  They are big enough to work.

Is that "Rabbit" or "Super Rabbit?"  Hasegawa put out a G with "Super Rabbit" markings.  I haven't built it yet, but you maybe should be sure to check sources.  I'm not sure, but if it is "Super Rabbit," that might be late enough in the war to have the single window waist position.  I was surprised when I found a starboard aft photo of "Fever Beaver," whose markings are contained in the Airfix release.  She carried staggered waist positions and the one piece waist windows.  I have one more Airfix Fort left, and when I build it, will probably do this craft.

As for the front page, the two earlier Forts I did were both from the 91st BG, based at Bassingbourn. 

Thanks for your kind comments.  Again, it was a great group build.

I just happened to be on at the right time lol.

thanks for those photos. I admit my B-17 referance isn't very big. I say not big, off the top of my head its the two Osprey books of the B-17's of the 8th AAF. I couldn't find any decent pics showing the exhaust staining. Its very subtle isn't it, not as heavy as it seems to have been on B-24's. You have got that spot on. It shouldn't be to hard for me to add it.

It is Super rabbit, i can't recall what company makes the decals now. I am at home at the moment and hannants don't list them now. I need to do some research on it before i build it, not makeing the same mistake i did with the F. From the decvals sheet instructions, it has staggered windows and off the top of my head, i think it does show the single large pain waiste window. But i will check elswhere. Thanks for the tip on the squadron windows, i will make a note of that.

I do feel very lucky haveing all this history so close. There are 3 former B-17 bases within about 20 mins drive. he whole area is littered with them. I really must make the effort next summer to visit some of them.

My pleasure, and thanks for makeing such a big contribution.

It appears that I'm the one dragging the chain and not finishing yet . I certainly feel quite embarrased...

Check you did and excellent job on your B-17 build : Well done Sir

Bish , I started lookig around the net for the history on my P-51D 'Old Crow' but I have only found a limited amount of info , that is 357th Fighter Group , late 1944 .

Something else that has me a little confused is this pic from the "little friends web site ...

The underwing tanks look a bit different to the ones Tamiya supplied , I was thinking of swapping them with some from the Academy kit .

Anyway , like Check has done , I was hopping for an New Years eve finish too ; but sadly that's not going to happen ..... "My sincere apoligies"

I'll keep going , better late than never I suppose .

                          John .

Thanks, John.

Have you seen this website, from the pilot--Clarence "Bud" Anderson?  NIce rendition of "Sing, Sing, Sing."

http://www.cebudanderson.com/

Keep at it and post pictures.

Helo, no worries. You finish when you finish. We will keep the candle burning for you until you do.

My wife's father was Murdoch Cunningham, the pilot of the Flying Scot/Vicious Virgie.  He passed away in 1985.  From some of the pictures we have you have done a nice job at reconstructing his plane.  Why the model of his plane? Or were you making models of all the Blue Nosed Bastards? 

I hope life finds you well.

Cheers,

Michael Donovan

We had 3 of the Bodney P-51's built for this GB, was it OWL who built the one you mention. Its the only one i can't see the nose art of.

I think he may have built that as they were the markings he had, thats my guess anyway.

Sorry to hear that your father-in-law has passed away. My aim for this GB was for it to be a tribute to all the Americans who served in the 8th as much as to the art of model building. I certainly don't envy him being based there. Its pretty remote even now, and the accomadation on the camp is much the same as it was back in the 40's. But i bet it wasn't as comfortable back then.

Thanks for dropping in and hopefully OWL will pick up on your post.

GSD

My wife's father was Murdoch Cunningham, the pilot of the Flying Scot/Vicious Virgie.  He passed away in 1985.  From some of the pictures we have you have done a nice job at reconstructing his plane.  Why the model of his plane? Or were you making models of all the Blue Nosed Bastards? 

Michael Donovan

Bish

We had 3 of the Bodney P-51's built for this GB, was it OWL who built the one you mention. Its the only one i can't see the nose art of.

I think she may have built that as they were the markings she had, thats my guess anyway.

Thanks for dropping in and hopefully OWL will pick up on your post.

Thanks for the complement! I liked the combo of a bluenose with full invasion stripes. The plane didnt really have any nose art other than the names. I had a decals sheet with the markings for  Bodney p-51s, and decided to use them for this GB. There really wasn't more reason  than that, but Im glad you liked it.