The build thread is now up and running.

cs.finescale.com/.../1654781.aspx

Bish

No worries Ken. I will open a GB thread at the end of this month, giving about a one month run up.

No worries Ken. I will open a GB thread at the end of this month, giving about a one month run up.

Bish - I may change one of my builds here as in not doing it, but for now leave what I have on the roster, but add a P 47D Jug 1 48 scale by Tamiya.  I just got it last week, and the plan is NMF with Invasion stripes.

Thanks

I found a marking guide for the canadian M7, and found a kit but its 1:76.  Seems like an odd scale.....

My mistake, I was thinking about the Sexton, similar to the Priest but an entirely different SPG.

Whoops, sorry 

From what i could tell, the British M7's were the same as the US ones.

The Sexton was a 25 pdr, and Canadian built.  I did find that they were used too, but several regiments had drawn US built M7's with its 105mm shell for the invasion.  The 105 had a shorter range but packed a bit more punch.

Sounds like a mixed bag of SP guns.

Chris, it seems your in luck. Dragon have just released an Sexton.

www.hannants.co.uk/.../DN6760

Seems a good price for a Dragon kit as well.

I just did a search, would that be the Sextan then. From what i could find, it wasn't a Priest with a different gun but a different vehcile, but still based on the M3.

I believe the guns were replaced with one with a bore designed to fit British shells on some of the Priests but I'd have to look it up.

I seem to recall hearing about artillery firing while still in the landing craft. Allied vehicles are not my strong suit, whats the difference between the US and British versions?

I'm wavering on whether I want to do a landing craft or now I'm leaning towards a M7 Priest

I was reading that they were firing these from the landing craft during the assault

Now I'm just wondering what my best option for a British/Canadian variant from mid-1944 is available.

Many seem to be US based kits, though Revell had a 1/76 one that at least the box art looks like its British based.

Any suggestions?

No worries Len, unless we hear other wise, i will assume he isn't going to be around.

Bish

troublemaker66

I have his email address...I could shoot him a message and see if he answers. I know he was working 7 days a week there for awhile...maybe still.

Len, have you been able to get hold of Han's yet.

troublemaker66

I have his email address...I could shoot him a message and see if he answers. I know he was working 7 days a week there for awhile...maybe still.

Len, have you been able to get hold of Han's yet.

At my build pace lately and with my current work schedule that year will go quick...

Bish

Don't forget guys, the GB only starts on 6th June. You got a year to find kits and do your builds. So don't panic just yet.

Very true Bish, just wanted to know where I stood on options.

1). Dragon US Army Rangers with demo equipment for storming the Point du Huc positions. 

2). AFV Club Churchill III AVRE with two decal options for the D-Day assault forces. 

Probably a few more but it's nice to know if I do jump in I've got something ready to roll here.   

I guess I better start getting ideas for my entry...

You could always put that into Tigerman's Steel cats GB. I would deffinatly watch that.

okay,I just read something that he didn't get 007 until August,only a week before he was killed.I'll come up with something else,still plenty of time.

Tojo, is that Wittmann's final Tiger. If so, no unfortunatly it wouldn't. I'd love to see this built as i have that one my self. But the time frame is D-day to D+24. Wittmann didn't get 007 until much later.

You know guys,with that timeframe,it might be time for me to start up my Cyberhobby Wittman Tiger.Would that qualify ?

Don't forget guys, the GB only starts on 6th June. You got a year to find kits and do your builds. So don't panic just yet.

I told Hans to put me down as a tentative. Now that the rubber is about to meet the road I suppose I need to finally start rooting though the stash for a kit!

stikpusher

Oh wow, I did not realize it was so soon...

me either - I better get crackin on finding my kit

Oh wow, I did not realize it was so soon...

Me to Stik, though the GB is due to kick off in just over 2 months. So lets hope he returns soon.

Yeah, I just hope that Hans's disappearance is only temporary, so that heis here o run this GB next year.

Can never have to many GB's Dennis. Its one of the good things about this site, it isn't limited to one or 2 GB's at a time. The trick is knowing which ones to opt into. Glad to have you on board.

Wow, There are lots of GBs going on....I'm getting crazy. I was watching Saints and Soldiers "Airborne Creed the other night and its good.. And thought about this... anyway, count me in too.

Bish

I started having a skinhead in the late 80's.I had it that shrot, i must have been the only person who was told by an Army recruiter to grow their hair. Then when i started getting a bald spot i just decided to start shaveing my head. Now if i leave it for more than a week, i get to hot and uncomfortable.

One good thing about having a decent sized stash is that when any GB come along that i may be interested in, chances are i have a kit that will fit the bill. Well, thats my excuse.

on the stash statement!

Len

I started having a skinhead in the late 80's.I had it that shrot, i must have been the only person who was told by an Army recruiter to grow their hair. Then when i started getting a bald spot i just decided to start shaveing my head. Now if i leave it for more than a week, i get to hot and uncomfortable.

One good thing about having a decent sized stash is that when any GB come along that i may be interested in, chances are i have a kit that will fit the bill. Well, thats my excuse.

Bish

It can easily get over your head Ken. At one point i was commited to way more GB's then i could manage. And all of my armour builds where finished but i still need to do Dio's, i just didn't have the time. But now i have more time and i am being careful about what GB's i enter. Only got 6 kits for 8 GB's to do this year.

But hosting 4 GB's at once, wel, i am glad i have no hair to pull out

 

one time the CTEMBC (Truck and heavy equipment model builders club) , wanted to see pics of all the members, Well it turned out that most of the members had some stage of hair loss lol

I'm told i have balding spot on top of my head But i deny it If I can't see it, its not happening.

I have a couple of kits that I work on when I don't have thing else to do. but there's no hurry on them.

It can easily get over your head Ken. At one point i was commited to way more GB's then i could manage. And all of my armour builds where finished but i still need to do Dio's, i just didn't have the time. But now i have more time and i am being careful about what GB's i enter. Only got 6 kits for 8 GB's to do this year.

But hosting 4 GB's at once, wel, i am glad i have no hair to pull out

Bish - I know what you mean. I don't have some kits for my GB's. the X/YB-35 Flying Wing for th 1/72 GB. It doesn't have to be done for a long time. And I havent gotten the B 52 for the Buff GB; it doesn't have an end date on it. So this GB give's me 4 that i have yet to build. Plus I'm working on 2 currently.

I was afraid I'd be getting in over my head too, but now that I sat down and figured it out, its not too bad. LOL

Chris, great minds think alike.

Len, if you could, that would be great.

GAF, thanks for the vote of confidance. I might be biteing off more than i can chew as i am planning 3 GB's to start Jan 1st, so that will be 4 running at the same time.

Ken, it will deffinatly be running, glad your on board.

I'm still interested, and still in if it's going

Bish,

Probably no one better to take the GB over.  I may try to get in on this one (God willing).  A C-47 might be just the ticket!  Just need to find a model.

I have his email address...I could shoot him a message and see if he answers. I know he was working 7 days a week there for awhile...maybe still.

I was kinda hoping so - you read my mind.  I was leaning towards a Juno beach thing for this so that may be my cross over

I know he was haveing computer issues a while back. It would be a real shame to lose him from the site.

On another side note, i noticed you put out a feeler for a Canadian GB. I don't have anything to contribute to that, but i know the canadians contributed a big part to the Normandy landings and if tehres enough interest in your GB, maybe the two could be tied in together.

I think you have a good plan Bish

It would be a shame if this didn't go ahead, and with many of the new members I think we'd have fresh volunteers for this mission.

On a side note I wonder if anyone has alternate comms with Hans to see if all is ok.  

I sent a message to Hans back at the start of Feb. But he looks like he hasn't been on the site for some time. I hope all is well and nothing to serious keeping him away.

The gist of the message was to ask if he thought he would be able to run the GB, as it would be a real shame if it didn't go ahead. And i asked that if he felt he wouldn't be able to host it, if i could take over the reins.

So in lieu of han's return, and as long as you guys are ok with it, I'd like to host this GB. If Hans does return, of course i will be happy to hand it back over to him.

I would keep the GB rules and badges we already have. I know that since this thread first aired, there's been a little upheaval and some of the people who showed an interest may no longer be around. So to that end, i won't take any of the names already put down. So if your happy for me to take this on and you are still interested , let me know. I will post a GB thread in early May.

I'm in. I've been wanting to do the DUKW (Duck) also my Uncles M-10 Tank Destroyer. The Tank Destroyer will be Tamiya's 1/35th scale. And the Duck will be Italeri's, in1/35 scale too.

I've been wanting to build "Pips" Priller's 'Black 13' since I watched "The Longest Day" a couple of months back...

If this build is still a go, count me in...

Ah, alright thanks for the input!

Hans is still around.  Last month he had a blizzard move through his town, he lost power for a while, and I'm pretty sure he's working 7 days a week right now.  I wouldn't worry about him.

I wouldn't right off Hans just yet. He was on the site the other day, so he is still around. Maybe he just didn't want to get involved in all this stuff, which to be honest is all old news.

I still hope this GB kicks goes through, any volunteers to take it over?

Sorry I already asked to get in on this one. Like they say the mind is the first thing to go

...I think most of the fighting threads got deleted, not just locked. But the griping threads are a ways back in the Armor forum, you'll get the idea of what happened. ...the titles say something like "this forum is slow"...

Gamera

You guys should be happy, it blew up over a weekend and I read though some of it but stayed out of it. Crazy stuff....

You guys should be happy, it blew up over a weekend and I read though some of it but stayed out of it. Crazy stuff....

I missed it too, I was wondering why it was so quiet.

Lets just say it got real tense around here, and the forum is only slowly returning to pre existing levels of activities. But on the good side, some new talent has shown up.

Wow! I missed something...a meltdown? I heard Manny got booted but didn`t hear anything else happened. I agree Stik, he was super busy remodeling homes or something like that...12 hrs/ 7 days a week. That`s enough to put the kibosh on a lot of extra-caricular activities....

Maybe the REAL Mafia made a move on the kingpin of the Monogram Mafia... Have Monogram kits suddenly gotten harder to find???

I do recall that he was pretty busy with real life, both home and work at the time. I do hope that all is well with him. He did PM with me a bit at the time of the meltdown, but not since then. I did not get the impression that he was leaving like some did.

he hasn't posted since the start of Dec, and his posting was going down before then. I hope he wasn't put off by the little spat a while back. Would be a shame to lose him.

I think he was capture behind enemy lines out of uniform (mit einer jungen Frau!) and thought to be a spy!

btw, I'm with a .....

~bump~  

Anybody heard from von Hammer recently??

I like this one, I've been wanting to do a US Tank Destroyer. My uncle was in one through the entire European Campaign, and won a Silver Star for his role in the attack on the Bridge at Remagen. Does this fit in here?

Hans von Hammer

BTW, I jumped with a steel pot on m' head at Ft Benning, aged all of 17 years...  And many times later on at Bragg, lol.. I served eight years in before I ever jumped with a K-Pot, lol..  

 Still remember your roster number? I do from there and OSUT... Yikes!

Good to Go...

When I cracked my public storage to move it I found my DUKW. Now mind you I hadn't been in there in about 2 years but I opened it up and found the hull sides have been glued to the bottom but nothing else done to it. Does that disqualify it because it's been started or is it still good to go for this GB?

BTW, I jumped with a steel pot on m' head at Ft Benning, aged all of 17 years...  And many times later on at Bragg, lol.. I served eight years in before I ever jumped with a K-Pot, lol..  

Yeah, and we've filled four pages already, lol..

Let me rephrase that to be "steel helmets". None of this wussy non ferrous stuff on a troopers head 

We still got over a year to go boss. 

stikpusher

Hans von Hammer

Well, I gave that some thought, and while I don't wanna exclude anyone, I can't put everyone in it either. Their were three distinct Allied helmet types, the American M-1 "Steel Pot", the classic "Tommy" helmet used by the Brits and British Commonwealth units, and the Brit Paras had their own helmet too...

Actually, the Brits had three (or techincally four) helment types for Normandy:

The classic Mk II

The new Mk III "turtle style" which was first used by some of the British assault troops

The Para's helmet

and its' close cousin, the Tankers Helmet, also introduced into combat in Normandy

Then I'd have to add US Tanker helmets, Brit berets, etc., and then I'd also get Flak from the USAAF, RAF, Luftwaffe, RCAF, etc. because I didn't have the flight helmets and "50-Mission Crushers"...

Not sure how to encompass the beaches into it...  Maybe a section of the map above (with the WW2-era Canadian flag though) in the bar under the photo?

Trouble is, I'll lose a lot of detail once the badge is shrunk to proper thumb-nail size..

Hans von Hammer

Well, I gave that some thought, and while I don't wanna exclude anyone, I can't put everyone in it either. Their were three distinct Allied helmet types, the American M-1 "Steel Pot", the classic "Tommy" helmet used by the Brits and British Commonwealth units, and the Brit Paras had their own helmet too...

Actually, the Brits had three (or techincally four) helment types for Normandy:

The classic Mk II

The new Mk III "turtle style" which was first used by some of the British assault troops

The Para's helmet

and its' close cousin, the Tankers Helmet, also introduced into combat in Normandy

But I kinda like the GB Bdge map idea myself....

Instead of trying to encompass every country through their flags, what about using one of the maps with the beach heads on it.

I'm not suggesting the below one, it's just to illustrate what I'm talking about.

Just a suggestion.

Good work on the badges Hans, fitting.

Cheers

Tony

iraqiwildman

Good idea, but the hedgerow cutters weren't used for a month or two after D-Day.

Ironic too.. The steel used to make the hedgerow cutters was "supplied" by the Germans.. From their very own "Hedgehog) beach obstacles...

Well Hans, I'm not from the UK/Commonwealth but I like the Allied badge. 

I bought Accurate Miniatures Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-8 Josef Priller on D-Day kit. Forgot to mention it in this thread. I think I read its a rebox of the Eduard kit.

castelnuovo

Hans, I love the badges, both of them are very dramatic. But....The American helmet for allied figures...it represents only Americans. There were lots of other nationalities and Brits and Canadians had significantly different helmets. IMHO, this badge kinda exludes them, especially since the GB is about all allied participants. Can the badge be modified? Maybe add a British style helmet?

Well, I gave that some thought, and while I don't wanna exclude anyone, I can't put everyone in it either. Their were three distinct Allied helmet types, the American M-1 "Steel Pot", the classic "Tommy" helmet used by the Brits and British Commonwealth units, and the Brit Paras had their own helmet too... But, since Omaha Beach was arguably the bloodiest battle of the Day, and an American beachhead, I thought that the American helemt would convey that message better, and it IS associated quite readily with the movie, "The Longest Day", and the "helmet-shot" on the beach being the main movie poster... 

What I CAN do is add a bar to the bottom, with the flags of the various Allied countries with the highest involvement, that being the American, British, Canadian, and French flags.  If someone is good with Photoshop, I'd like a volunteer to do just that and submit it.

Here's a rough sketch:

The German badge, was it taken from the Saving Private Ryan? Do you think the German badge can be simmilar to Allied but with a Geman helmet? Just a thought.

Yeah, the photo of the German badge is from SPR.. I looked for a photo of a similar pose of a Stalhelm, but with no luck..

I might be interested in this GB.  And just to be different I would consider a Sherman.  I will be watching and waiting.

Kim

iraqiwildman

Good idea, but the hedgerow cutters weren't used for a month or two after D-Day.

I hear what you are saying Tim and agree.  I didn't plan on using the hedgerow cutter with the Shermy I plan to build, it's just supplied with the kit for one of the decal options.

Cheers

After digging around to see if there was something else that caught my eye, I officially decided on Italeri's 1/35 DUKW. With a swap coming up 1st week of October I'll see if I can find a decently priced howitzer to use as the cargo load and of course I'll probably add verlinden and eduard sets to it.

I`m in...if I don`t forget about it....

Good idea, but the hedgerow cutters weren't used for a month or two after D-Day.

Hans, I love the badges, both of them are very dramatic. But....The American helmet for allied figures...it represents only Americans. There were lots of other nationalities and Brits and Canadians had significantly different helmets. IMHO, this badge kinda exludes them, especially since the GB is about all allied participants. Can the badge be modified? Maybe add a British style helmet?

The German badge, was it taken from the Saving Private Ryan? Do you think the German badge can be simmilar to Allied but with a Geman helmet? Just a thought.

Cheers...

Even though this is a few months away, I'm a starter for sure.  At the moment I'm thinking of Tasca's M4A1 Sherman with Hedgerow cutter although I will probably change my mind before the start date. These marking come with the kit so this is probably what I'd go for.

Yup it's been sealed in a public storage locker since it came out....just no excuse to build it until now

Vance, Overlord was still a very nebulous concept at the time of Dieppe. While many lessons learned there were later applied in Overlord, it was never intended as such a rehearshal for the main landing. It was actually more of "lets see what we can do with this force" type of thing. And a demonstration to the Soviets that the Western Allies were able to raid Europe but not able to hit and stay as they were demanding.

Mike, Italeri makes a very nice DUKW in 1/35.

COUNT ME IN! Long time to actually settle on a kit too but the term DUKW comes to mind. Not 100% on that but pretty sure that's what I'll end up doing.

~bump!~  Listening to CBC Radio with a special report on the infamous Dieppe Raid. Apparently there was another objective beyond just a trial-run for Overlord.

Doogs, persnicketiness, really. I thought you were making that up, but no, its a real word. What you do, swallow a bloody dictonary

Suits me on the GB badges Hans, can get a bit to much with to many.  That German one is spot on

Gamera

Hans von Hammer:

Badge One- For Allied figures and Infantry dioramas and vignettes..

Planning on Armor, Aviation, Naval ship,  for both sides, Allied and Axis.. (""Der Längste Tag"...)

 

Hans looks great to me! If you want to add more great but I think this one gets the point across quite well.

After thinking about it, I decided that your're right, but will go with the one Allied, and one from the German POV:

Yeah, they couldn't give the order to paint the stripes too far in advance, not with Jerry still flying photo-recon missions and suddenly seeing hundreds of aircraft appear with black & White stripes on 'em.. The weather DID work in the Allies favor for that particular thing..

Now this is just a SWAG, but its the weekend, all passes off base have been canceled because of the upcoming mission, and you are handed buckets of paint, brushes and told to go paint stripes on planes. Do you think you will be overly happy and doing your best work at that point?

Oh, I can just hear the belly-achin' goin' on from the ground crews, with the exasperated line-chief finally telling his P/O'd crew-chiefs and armorers, "I don't CARE about you and your effin' passes bein' canceled, just go paint the the effin' stripes on the planes..

NOW, dammit!"..

*Grumble-mumble-mumble-grumble*

I heard a rumor that the world might end this December, if it doesn`t, count me in!

Len

Hans von Hammer

Remember that the order came down overnight and the various crews did what they could do, however, it's quite likely that most of the stripe-jobs were "tightened-up" a few days after the 6th, when the OPTEMPO slowed a bit (and the crew chiefs decided they couldn't stand to look at sloppy stripes anymore)...

One that was initially sloppily-applied could easily be properly masked and repainted starting around the 9th or 10th...  In reality, it doesn't take but a couple/three hours to paint them on, depending upon the size of the aircraft... Obviously, a Spitfire or Mustang can be done quicker than a C-47, Sterling, B-26, etc...

Yup... D-Day was originally scheduled for June 5th (a Monday) and was postponed for 24 hours on the evening of the 4th (a Sunday). So the original orders for the stripes had to have come down around on the 3rd or so to have the aircraft marked in time. Now this is just a SWAG, but its the weekend, all passes off base have been canceled because of the upcoming mission, and you are handed buckets of paint, brushes and told to go paint stripes on planes. Do you think you will be overly happy and doing your best work at that point?

stikpusher

God bless Google

The closest 61 in this shot looks like it is OD/NG, while the other two certainly look black...

Was looking through that Wings of Fame issue again, and that photo's in there.. The OD bird is "Hustlin' Hussy", and the decals for it come in the Monogram kit..

Remember that the order came down overnight and the various crews did what they could do, however, it's quite likely that most of the stripe-jobs were "tightened-up" a few days after the 6th, when the OPTEMPO slowed a bit (and the crew chiefs decided they couldn't stand to look at sloppy stripes anymore)...

One that was initially sloppily-applied could easily be properly masked and repainted starting around the 9th or 10th...  In reality, it doesn't take but a couple/three hours to paint them on, depending upon the size of the aircraft... Obviously, a Spitfire or Mustang can be done quicker than a C-47, Sterling, B-26, etc...

It's important to remember with invasion stripes, as with so much else WWII-related, the only accurate answer is "it depends". There's plenty of evidence of really sloppily-done invasion stripes, and plenty of evidence of carefully-done invasion stripes, and all ranges in between.

For example...some done with more care than the Spitfire shown above.

I imagine it was probably a matter of several factors - advance notice, availability of masking materials, of spray guns vs. brushes, persnicketiness of the crew chiefs, etc.

Bish

stikpusher:

I just love how the photos show that we modelers make the invasion stripes appear much neater and nicer than the real deal in most cases (the Widows above being obvious exceptions). The (sloppy) ones that I painted on as a kid look more historically accurate.

 

I was thinking that as well. I think if i have do a kit with the stripes, i may just brush paint them. I like the third photo with the position of the stripes marked out with what i assume is chalk. A nice Dio idea.

Way ahead of ya..

This one's at about 60%, so it won't be in the GB... I got a LOT of figure-work to do, plus finish the P-61... This is a more of a "Mock-up" at this point than a diorama, but y'all get the idea...

 .

stikpusher

I just love how the photos show that we modelers make the invasion stripes appear much neater and nicer than the real deal in most cases (the Widows above being obvious exceptions). The (sloppy) ones that I painted on as a kid look more historically accurate.

I was thinking that as well. I think if i have do a kit with the stripes, i may just brush paint them. I like the third photo with the position of the stripes marked out with what i assume is chalk. A nice Dio idea.

I just love how the photos show that we modelers make the invasion stripes appear much neater and nicer than the real deal in most cases (the Widows above being obvious exceptions). The (sloppy) ones that I painted on as a kid look more historically accurate.

This is roughly what my "Striping the Widow" diorama looks like..

This one is unusual, having the "Greyed-out" US insignia..

I've got a good reference book that that shows, possibly, ONE  "full-striped and black" Black Widow, BTW...  "Wings of Fame", vol15.. It shows a black P-61 (Double Trouble, assigned to 1LT Robert Bolinder) that appears to have, at least on the booms, full stripes (can't see the top of the wings, it's in a 80-degree vertical bank).. Also, for the OD/NG version, it has a nice, full-page 3-way profile of "Borrowed Time", P-61A-5 (No turret) s/n 42-5547, assigned to 442nd night-fighter ace Herman Ernst as it appeared after Overlord, flying out of A-78 (Florennes) in July, 44..

The order to remove the top stripes from all Allied tactical aircraft came on 6 July, 44... Naturally, it takes time to get around to taking things off operational aircraft, and it would likely only happen when the aircraft came up for its 100-hour checks or a similar maintenence function, or if the crew-chief had nothing to do (unlikely)..

I'll try to scan it, but my scanner is a bit persnickity about scanning photos with any writing on 'em. Dunno why that happens...

I have spent the past 30 minutes twice trying to get this photo laden post up only to have it lost once by my own bone up, second time my computer ate it... this is my last attempt.

For you Bondo, a fully striped Widow

Secondly, photos of stripes being applied to various aircraft immediately prior to D-Day

and late summer 1944 when the upper stripes had been removed

I had a LOT more explanation written but after losing it twice I am too pissed to write it all again...

So would a black one with stripes then. Next to figure out if any had stripes on top. Only a photo will prove that, and my bet is not.

stikpusher

bondoman:

 During the training period before they became operational July 7th and flew their first mission on July 15th, they were reprinted in gloss black. I think that was before June 6th, as there's lots of pictures of them in black with invasion stripes. Don't know if aircraft kept getting stripes after D-Day?

 

 

Look up Bondo, look up!

The stripes were a Theater Identification mark all thru summer of 1944. Any replacement aircraft arriving at an operational unit during that time should have had them applied. While they were removed from the upper wing surface about 6 weeks or so after the initial assault landings, many aircraft had them on lower surfaces throughout the rest of the war.

 

All Allied Tactical Aircraft were ordered to be painted with the stripes about June 4-5th (Dad told me that they painted the stripes on all the Squadron's aircraft overnight.. He walked out to the fliightline at 0400 on the 5th and the ground crews had them done ) This would also apply to Widows that weren't yet operational for Overlord, if my info is correct...

The Allied tactical aircraft were also repainted temporarily for Operation Market-Garden, IIRC...

At any rate, an OD/NG P-61 with full "Ovelord" invasion-stripes on 6 JUNE 44  is quite possible..

Hans von Hammer

Badge One- For Allied figures and Infantry dioramas and vignettes..

Planning on Armor, Aviation, Naval ship,  for both sides, Allied and Axis.. (""Der Längste Tag"...)

Hans looks great to me! If you want to add more great but I think this one gets the point across quite well.

bondoman

 During the training period before they became operational July 7th and flew their first mission on July 15th, they were reprinted in gloss black. I think that was before June 6th, as there's lots of pictures of them in black with invasion stripes. Don't know if aircraft kept getting stripes after D-Day?

Look up Bondo, look up!

The stripes were a Theater Identification mark all thru summer of 1944. Any replacement aircraft arriving at an operational unit during that time should have had them applied. While they were removed from the upper wing surface about 6 weeks or so after the initial assault landings, many aircraft had them on lower surfaces throughout the rest of the war.

Hans von Hammer

 

 

Dakota will be my build.

 

"Dakota" or "Skytrain"? (Makes a difference, ya know... ) Personally, I like the Dakotas that the USAAF took back from the RAF for paint-schemes.. They have RAF camo, but US markings..  Add the Invasion Stripes, and they're an eye-catcher..

 

 

Although a OD/NG Widow would be nice, but I don't think they were operational at that time in the ETO.

 

Yeah, they were, but just... The 422nd and 425th NFSs had their Widows by then, barely..

422d NFS was assigned to the 9th AF in March of '44, and after training with Mossies suppplied by the RAF, the got their P-61s just prior to Overlord, and remained in England until they went to forward bases in France in July of '44...

The 425th NFS was assigned to its first ETO station at RAF Chormy Down, on 26 May 1944, and was also assigned to the 9th AF in England...

I don't know if they had OD/NG paint though.. That might have been late enough to get them delivered in Black..

Reckon a year is about enough time.

You prompted me to pull down a book, perfect Saturday morning activity now that I am home on weekends. Looks like the 422nd arrived at Charmy Down on March 7, 1944. Transferred to Scorton on May 6th. They received eight O/D P-61A-5s on May 10 at Speke. Because the aircraft had no turrets, their gunners were mostly sent to the 423rd to fly in A-20s. During the training period before they became operational July 7th and flew their first mission on July 15th, they were reprinted in gloss black. I think that was before June 6th, as there's lots of pictures of them in black with invasion stripes. Don't know if aircraft kept getting stripes after D-Day?

The 425th landed at Charmy Down on May 26th and played catch-up with the 422nd, transferring to Scorton on June 12th and receiving A-10 Widows. They became operational at the same time as the 422nd.

These two, along with the 414 and 415 in the MTO, we're the only USAAF squadrons in Europe to receive the Widow before the end of the war.

It's an attractive scheme. All black, with stripes on the bottoms only of the wings and tail booms. Also, the 422nd birds, because they were reprinted in the theater, had all manner of strange radome paint. Yellow, red and oxide red are some. This could be fun.

God bless Google

The closest 61 in this shot looks like it is OD/NG, while the other two certainly look black...

God bless Google

The closest 61 in this shot looks like it is OD/NG, while the other two certainly look black...

Dakota will be my build.

"Dakota" or "Skytrain"? (Makes a difference, ya know... ) Personally, I like the Dakotas that the USAAF took back from the RAF for paint-schemes.. They have RAF camo, but US markings..  Add the Invasion Stripes, and they're an eye-catcher..

Although a OD/NG Widow would be nice, but I don't think they were operational at that time in the ETO.

Yeah, they were, but just... The 422nd and 425th NFSs had their Widows by then, barely..

422d NFS was assigned to the 9th AF in March of '44, and after training with Mossies suppplied by the RAF, the got their P-61s just prior to Overlord, and remained in England until they went to forward bases in France in July of '44...

The 425th NFS was assigned to its first ETO station at RAF Chormy Down, on 26 May 1944, and was also assigned to the 9th AF in England...

I don't know if they had OD/NG paint though.. That might have been late enough to get them delivered in Black..  In the diorama I built, "Striping the Widow",  I used an OD/NG paint-scheme anyway...

Dakota will be my build.

Although a OD/NG Widow would be nice, but I don't think they were operational at that time in the ETO

Prepare to be amazed, Bish, old chap...

Nice idea on the badges. I do like that one. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for German armour.

Badge One- For Allied figures and Infantry dioramas and vignettes..

Planning on Armor, Aviation, Naval ship,  for both sides, Allied and Axis.. (""Der Längste Tag"...)

DoogsATX

Bish:

 

VanceCrozier:

 

in!

I don't think giving this much lead time is that odd, considering the subject. It's a big # anniversary. After the initial push has happened over the next  little while, you could probably just make sure to add a new post on... 6th of every month?? So it stays active without chewing up too much of the front page space.

Now, the kit to build...

 

 

 

Ye, good idea. Otherwise we will have dozens of pages before it even starts.

 

I'd recommend this staying around as the "announcement" thread, then starting a separate official GB thread when the time comes.

That's the plan, Doogs... I'll have it ready to go with a decent title..

 I just wanted this thread to be around as the time grows near, and not let anyone "Steal the Thunder", lol.. I like Vance's monthly  "6th of the Month" count-down idea too.. 

"Der Längste Tag"...

Gonna start playing with some badges... Y'all think that there should be separate "genre"-badges.. Y'know.. Badge with a plane if you build one, ship badge for the Navy freaks, armor for the Tread-heads, etc.?

Pretty sure i am in on this.  I was thinking a diorama of a C-47 dropping some paratroopers will get back on that.

I am in. Dont know what yet because I have oh so many kits in my stash to choose from. From big to small... by next June I will have a choice...

I am definately in on this one.I have no idea what kit.I'll think of something.

Hans, I'm in too.  Doogs' ideas are so good but I don't want to be a copy cat.   I'd love to do a Tyffie or a TASCA Sherman.  I'll wait to see what he's doing and then take the left overs. 

Kinda sounds like my high school social life...

Bish

 

VanceCrozier:

 

in!

I don't think giving this much lead time is that odd, considering the subject. It's a big # anniversary. After the initial push has happened over the next  little while, you could probably just make sure to add a new post on... 6th of every month?? So it stays active without chewing up too much of the front page space.

Now, the kit to build...

 

 

 

Ye, good idea. Otherwise we will have dozens of pages before it even starts.

I'd recommend this staying around as the "announcement" thread, then starting a separate official GB thread when the time comes.

In for sure. Not 100% settled on what I'll build, but I'm leaning toward the 1/32 MDC Hawker Typhoon I just ordered. One of those planes that just looks right in invasion stripes. Need to check if the markings support it, but perhaps the PCM Spitfire XIV...if I haven't caved and built both by then.

Course, there's also Tasca's M4A1 with the hedgerow cutter...could be a contender as well.

VanceCrozier

in!

I don't think giving this much lead time is that odd, considering the subject. It's a big # anniversary. After the initial push has happened over the next  little while, you could probably just make sure to add a new post on... 6th of every month?? So it stays active without chewing up too much of the front page space.

Now, the kit to build...

Ye, good idea. Otherwise we will have dozens of pages before it even starts.

in!

I don't think giving this much lead time is that odd, considering the subject. It's a big # anniversary. After the initial push has happened over the next  little while, you could probably just make sure to add a new post on... 6th of every month?? So it stays active without chewing up too much of the front page space.

Now, the kit to build...

I can give you a definate maybe Hans. Sorry but I don't know what I'm doing an hour from now much less a year. Still I've got a pile of American/British/Canadian kits that would work.

I'm interested!  Great idea.

O, now this is a neat idea. You are sure you have the dates right this time

Of course, i am in. I have a couple of German armour kits that will fit, but i think i know what i will be building.

Great theme.....Glad to see this one Hans.  I don't recall seeing a 'strictly D-Day' GB since I've been here.

Will try to participate in this one.