AIRCRAFT - USMC Group Build (ends 7/30/04)

stoomfluit,
I've never thought about it, but I don't see why there should be a limit to the number of models you can build. As long as you post a picture (or pictures) of the completed models on 30 July 2004 (not before), then build as many as you want. Hell, I might even build more than one. That's a good idea you had.

Sergeant Major,
My son told me the MOS number, but danged if I can remember what it is. I'll ask him the next time I talk to him. He's in Pensacola, FL, going through Air Traffic Control Screwl (a Rush-ism) right now. So, whatever the MOS number for that is................
I'm a big Rush Limbaugh fan, by the way..........

Scott53,
Man, you GOTTA do VMAQ-2 with the Playboy Bunny on the tail!! hehhehheh!!

Jeeves,
I've used Testors SIlver paint, and Chrome Silver paint, with no problems masking it at all. Just make sure you use a low-tack tape, like painter's tape, or even Post-It Notes. Good Luck!!

Allright then, then I'll just continue buying and building. Today I've bought a Wildcat, and I allready have RF-4B, and there will probably follow a few more

Lucky that I'm not married..

Steam Whistle, you don't know how lucky you are............... heeheehee!! I hope my wife doesn't read this stuff.

Well that shoots my plan in the foot - just ordered every available AV-8B kit I could find.
Wanted to try an AV-8B, AV-8B night attack and AV-8B +. So that makes 2 RM's and 1 hasegawa

Bag it -gonna do it any way

Trying to finish up the blackbox cockpit set . Had to rebuild certain sections of the seat after they broke when I was cutting it off the stub. The cockpit has more paintable detail than can be reached with a paint brush - most of which will be hidden in the end. It is beautiful however and I hope my efforts do it justice.

Love mailcall - almost never miss it. Can't beat the lil' gunny when he comes out.

wibhi2,
Yep, that is one great show. R. Lee Ermey was in Indy a couple of Saturdays ago as a guest at a car show here. I was gonna go and get his autograph, but it was only 5 degrees Farenheit that day, and I wasn't about to get out in that cold weather just for an autograph. I hope I didn't blow my possibly only chance of meeting him.

Another movie you gotta see him in is "Seige of Fire Base Gloria". The movie is only so - so, but R. Lee's character is outstanding!! He reminds me of a few Marines I knew when I was in the Corps.

By the way, wibhi2, what plan got shot in the foot? Kinda confused about that one......

usmcsm...

LOVE the Olde Bryan Inn.... although they have all new restaurants here in town now-- Appleby's, TGIFridays, and Panera Bread....but nothing beats Olde Bryan Inn. Well-- maybe the Brew Pub

Thanks garydmason.... that was something I was considering as well....

Garydmason,
building multiple models -not that it matters. going back and re-reading, I mistook something and the error is mine.

I've seen the movie "Siege at Firebase Gloria". One of his best performances as a DI (besides R\L - :0) ) was in "Full Metal Jacket", IMHO.

can't blame ya for not stepping out in that weather. I'm sure he didn't want to be there either

Hey, Wibhi2, we're allowed to build multiple models, so go for it!!! I would love to see all versions of the harrier!!!

Jeeves,
Roger that Brew Pub. Nothing like a good Mile and a Quarter Porter after a hot August day getting whipped by the ponnies.
Gary,
Ditto. Fastest 3 hours of the day.

R. Lee played a good Drill Instructor in "The Boys of Company C" also. If you haven't seen it check it out. Lou Gossett did a good job too in "An Officer and a Gentlemen".


wibhi2,
I live here in Harrier land. If you would like I can e-mail you some pictures.

Gary...When did Q-2 took the Bunny off their tails? I got the AeroMaster decal sheet for the Monogram kit and was shock to see that the Squadron is now called the Panthers and theres a big Puss....cat, on the rudder. Bet the PC crowd had something to do with it. I still have an old Superscale sheet with low vis decals for the Playboys, I might go with that one.

Semper Fi!

Scott,
Q-2 lost the Bunny sometime around July '92. That's when they made the 3 dets, x,y and z into three different squadrons. They don't have the panther anymore either. Now they are the "Death Jesters" and have, you guessed it, a jester on the tail. What will they be next year? Who knows?

Hey Heath, Thanks for input on the after market stuff.
Dang, I really wanted to work on the models and play with the air brush over this upcoming three day weekend. But like you said, “busy with family”, well sort of. Don’t laugh but I’m a Girl Scout Co-Leader and my daughter and I are going to San Diego with the troop for a weekend campout. Ah, they just like having me around for the heavy lifting. Anyway, MONDAY NO MATTER WHAT, I’m going to pull out that air brush. Lol

Hey usmcsm,
Wow you are even closer to me than Heath. So how do you like Yuma? Have you been there long, I mean have you had the taste of our great summers?
Oh, I was reading you were having trouble posting pics. I don’t know if this will help or not. It took me awhile to figure it out but the code basically goes like this:
[ img]http://whatever/something.jpg[/img ] NO SPACES I added them so I could show the example.
Also, thanks for the input on the Photo-etch and do they have a hobby store in Yuma?

Thanks for the info USMCSM. I retired in 92 at El Toro and went over to Riyadh till 02 so I was out of touch with many of the Squadron changes. Think I prefer Q-2 with the Playboy bunny instead of a Jester. Will see if Q-2 has a web site tomorrow and see what their emblem looks like?

See if this works. Q-2s new look.

keeg,
Imperial! Yeah, you're right down 8. Yuma does have a hobby shop and it's pretty good. It's right across 3E from the main gate of the air station. Great model selection, guns, military collectables, etc... he always has movies on the box too. The first time I went in he was playing The Outlaw Josey Wales. I wandered around stunned at the model selection, decals, paints, he asked if I found what I wanted and if not he'd order it!
I said "man if you sold tacos and cold beer here I'd never leave!"
Are you going to the airshow on the 21st?
Gary, I'll send pictures.
Out here

Keeg there is nothing wrong with spending time with your daughter. This world needs more dads like you. Maybe there wouln'd be so many problems out there in this world. Anyway.

Did I read right earlier in this build that the USMC used the SBD's. I never new that can anyone point me to a website for reference? IF TIME permits i may try a second build between now and July 30 but no promises. Things are going a little better than I had hoped So Far. Cheers. Take care.

They were given pretty much all of the pre-war SBD-1's.... and I do believe the Marines used them on Guadalcanal as well- did they not?? I know Dauntlesses were involved in the Battle-- just am not sure if they were Navy or Marine SBD's....

Also-- I think there were Marine-owned Dauntlesses stationed on Midway when it was attacked.

Scott53,
I was getting out of the Corps at Cherry Point when this happened, so it must have been around late '94 - early '95. Supposedly, a women's group didn't like the fact that an "obscene" character was being portrayed on a military aircraft, so they petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly to have it removed. Caused quite a stir AGAINST the women's group among the locals in Havelock, NC (home of MCAS Cherry Point, the world's LARGEST Marine Corps Air Station). I can't think of anyone that I knew, male or female, that objected to the Playboy symbol on the Prowlers. Most people thought it was great. Anyway, there was (supposedly) nothing the USMC could do about it but go along with what they were told to do. So, after much deliberation, and a vote among the personnel at Cherry Point, it was decided to change the motif, so to speak, to the Carolina Panthers, which had just been awarded their franchise a year or so prior to this. The Panthers organization whole-heartedly approved, and so that's why we have the VMAQ-2 Panthers instead of the Playbunnies now. I just kinda wished they had went with a more colorful scheme. Oh well.

Scott53,
Sorry. I didn't see the 6th page of posts until AFTER I had sent the above message. I didn't know the squadron had once again changed their name. When I got out, it was still the Panthers. I did know about the change to three squadrons (VMAQ-1, -2. & -3), which involved (correct me if I'm wrong here, SgtMaj) combining another VMAQ from Whidbey Island, Washington. I just kinda forgot to about it. Seems I might be a bit wrong about the dates also, although I remember all of this happening while I was stationed there. Must be the age getting to me.

QUOTE: Originally posted by usmcsm R. Lee played a good Drill Instructor in "The Boys of Company C" also. If you haven't seen it check it out. Lou Gossett did a good job too in "An Officer and a Gentlemen". wibhi2, I live here in Harrier land. If you would like I can e-mail you some pictures.

I was trying to remembder the other movie R. Lee was in - thanx, I remeber that movie well.

Pics of the JJ's - would love 'em. Any detail shots that you would be willing ( or allowed) to provide I will gladly accept - you will have my eternal gratitude. Thank you.

I also found that ARAAM puts out a resin conversion for the harrier to make RM's
AV-8B into a AV-8B II and AV-8B II+ (which is what I suspect that RM has included in thier recent re-release).

SBD's were used extensively by the Corps in WWII. They were on the 'Canal as part of the Cactus Air Force along with F4F, TBMs and Air Corps P-400s(P-39).
If you get on line and look at any of the VMA webb sites you can get referances. In WWII Marine dive bomber squadrons were designated VMSB. Most VMSB's traded in their Vought SB2U Vindicators for Dauntlesses. Marine Squadrons on Midway flew SBDs, SB2Us, F4Fs, and F2As. There were some TBMs there also as well as PBYs and Air Corps aircraft.

Gary,
You are correct. I believe the Whidbey sq. was still flying EA-6A's when the conversion took place. All are now at CPNC. I remember the NAG attack on the bunny. Typical of the breed.

Sergeant Major,
You can NEVER have too many pictures!! Thanks for the offer. By the way, I talked to my son last night, and his MOS will be 7251 when he finishes all of his schools. Right now, he's 7200, which just means he's a student in ATC.

As far as air shows go, there isn't one in Indy until late September, and, by then, it's usually so hot out that it makes it very uncomfortable to go, although I do. Last year, the Thunderbirds (or was it the Blue Angels?) showed up at the little airfield (Mt. Comfort Airport, about 10 miles east of Indy on I-70) for the airshow, and I, along with many, many others, was unable to attend, as there wasn't enough parking. Seems as though the airshow folks didn't anticipate the numbers that showed up. We usually have 20,000 - 30,000 show up over two days for most of the airshows, but that weekend, supposedly over 100,000 showed up both on Saturday & Sunday to see the Thunderbirds (or was it the Blue Angels?). So, consequently, I didn't get to that airshow. That airport is just too small for the Thunderbirds or the Blue Angels. More so because of parking than anything else.

Gary & USMCSM
Thanks for the update. I remember first seeing that bunny back in '71 when Q-2 was called VMCJ-2 and they flew the RF-4B's and EA-6A's. And now they're called the Jesters? Damn PC crowd! Hmmm, think I'm talking myself into starting on the Monogram Prowler today.

Sergeant Major,
NAG attack! That's right..... I remember that situation being called that now. My memory is S L O W L Y coming back to me about that now. Heck, it's been 10 years since I even thought about that.

Scott53,
I've either seen on TV or read (I don't remember which) that the F-18F will be taking over for the EA-6B in the near future. Supposedly, the F-18E & F will become the Navy & Marine Corps' do-anything plane. Just change out some modules and PRESTO!! You're on to your next mission. Based on what I've heard, it certainly seems feasible, but I guess time will tell. I wonder if they'll have the big football antennae on their vertical stabilizers?

http://www.acepilots.com/usmc/hist7.html
A decent link for Midway

Looks like there will be some ECMO officers out of a job. Trying to picure that large bulb antenna on an F-18 tail. I expect the ECM pods would remain the same.

You know I hate it when we get into this multi role aircraft thing. We always sacrifice something in performance. The RF-4 was never really adequately replaced. I guess the trade off isfor easier suppy and maint. which saves $$$$$$$

You're probably right, SgtMaj. I guess the McNamara way is coming back. Which isn't so bad, I guess. Back in the '60s, we didn't have the technology to do what he wanted done. But now, we do. So maybe "commonality" isn't such a bad thing. Look at the JSF. One plane for all Services. Makes good financial sense, AND we have the technology to enable the USA to do that now. Not that I liked McNamara or anything. I mean c'mon - he worked for FORD!! Now, if he had worked for Chrylser, then I might be more partial to him...........