Aces GB - The roster has been updated. make sure I have everything right

There is a store on eBay named Pete's Pilots that sells several RC pilots in different scales. May be worth a look:  Here is the link

I believe this is where jgeratic found the Japanese pilot.

Steve, no problem with the help.

Yea, I've been considering Japan as well, and found this lovely sculpt on ebay.  Can't believe it was designed for the cockpits of RC planes:

Also in the running is possibly Finland, and maybe something Russian.  Lots of time still to choose before bringing this one to the bench.

regards,

Jack

Jack,

I'll just go with my second choice, Annoni. The decal sheet from Stomo also has decals for Drago in his G-55. If I can find a good 1/48 G-55 that doesn't cost a mint (to me) I may build his as well.

OR, I may just forget the whole Italian idea and go Japanese. Zero kits are a dime a dozen and I have 5 in my stash, but I probably won't. I still have a long while before I start this build to decide.

Thanks for all you help.

Steve

Mij

Do you want us to post the ace/aircraft pictures and profile on this thread or the one that will be created on the December 7th?

Post them here for now. Then if I think of something better or if someone don't like it. I'll let everyone know. I can change the title.

They just seem to take up a lot of room.

aw nutz ... might have to scratch the idea about the home made decals because you need the specific boxing below for the 'Barraca' signature decal on the nose:

regards,

Jack

Do you want us to post the ace/aircraft pictures and profile on this thread or the one that will be created on the December 7th?

greentracker98

Mij, What is the seat like for the corsair? The seats for the lower slung chutes didn't have a cusion. I'm not an expert, others may be able answer this better than me, but this makes sense to me.

If the Hasegawa seat is accurate it looks like they used a low slung (seat cushion) type parachute. I have a a copy volume 2 of the corsair in detail & scale and that probably has a photo of the real seat and maybe a picture of a pilot with a parachute. So it looks like I'll be removing the backpack chute off the F-86 pilot and adding ridges to his helmet. Looks like I’ll be breaking out the Milliput for this one

From looking at a previous helmet discussion on the forum I'm apparently looking for a pilot with an H-2 helmet worn by Navy pilots in the early ‘50s in 1:48 scale. I found lots of WWII, Vietnam, and modern Navy pilots but the only Korean war era Navy pilot figure I can find is 1:32 scale. I guess Korea really is the Forgotten War.

Thanks Jack,

Yes, it's a 1/48 Hase kit.

I never thought about making my own. And your right It's just a number, band and crest change. I just need to do a little research.

By the way, the CR-42 is by far my favorite biplane.

SchattenSpartan

I don't know if it counts as an "ace in a day", but Barkhorn scored six kills on one day during his time in the Luftwaffe (on 19. July 1942)...

SS. That is definitley an Ace in a Day

modelcrazy

What did Visintini fly?

Ken,

Thanks, I know a representation is fine, I just wanted to get as close to Annoni's actual appearance as possible for my benefit.

Like I said before. The figure is going to be genaric  I have the closest figures ordered I can get to the real guy and its not that close. I like the Germsn Luffewafffe figure. It's real close, Biut the USAAF pilot isn't that close. So, get what you can. It's in the spirit of the GB. not perfection

Thanks Jack,

My main go to for the Regia Aeronautica is Stormomagazine.com (the site won't load at work, I guess it's considered offensive or something  ). They've been out of Martinoli's decals forever. In fact Stormo is the only one I can find who produces his markings, oh well, a representation of Annoni in 1/48 will be fine.

What did Visintini fly?

hi modelcrazy,

Unfortunately, an Italian pilot bust is something that I haven't come across.  In total, there isn't that many pilot busts out there, and I'd say about half those that can be found are of Luftwaffe personalities.  There is oddly though, one of  a female Soviet night bomber pilot (and quite nicely done too, the Night Witch I think she was called).  The largest scale Italians seems to be 1/32 and 54mm.  I'll keep my eyes open though if something comes up.

For decals, try the Stormo site:

http://stormomagazine.com/Decals_Stormo.htm

Interesting choice on the Italian theme, as I've been considering one too in the name of Mario Visintini.  All his claims were while flying a biplane, and would end up being the top ace for all of WW2 for flying that type.   This is a neat little site for pilots claims on biplanes during the Second World War:

http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/aces.htm

regards,

Jack

jgeratic, (or anybody)

I'd be interested in looking at those busts. I would really like to put a bust next to my ace build instead of just a guy (depending on cost). I did find the exact 1/32 figure of my first choice, Teresio Vittorio Martinoli, Italy's top scoring ace, thanks to you and Bish, But I can't find the decals of his Macchi (out of stock for the past 2 months or more). The guy I want to go with now is Emanuele Annoni, "Ele", but I cant find a likeness of him. I will have to go with a generic 1/48 Italian pilot which is fine, but I would like to check out those busts.

Anybody else I'm interested in flew Fiat's, Reggiane's and 109's, but I only have a kit of the Macchi 202.

Hmmm It's starting to look like this GB is taking on a life of its own This is not a complaint, Its great, I love it

Okay. You can commit and sign on in this thread. Some of you already have.

I will post the list from here of all who tentitively signed on, and definatley commited. Then, if you want to change something, post it in the new thread which will be posted December 7th

I just ordered my Luftwaffe pilot figure. Still looking for a good RAF pilot to go with it. I have plenty US pilots for my US plane which is looking like a Spitfire with US markings, but I'm still kicking it around or may go with P-39Q. And I've finally settled on adding a Soviet ace with my Mig-3. Good grief, that makes 4 aces. Yikes!!

BF109F-4 - Luftwaffe, Karl-Heinz Krahl, served in the Battle of Britain and in the Mediterranean where has was finally shot down by anti-aircraft fire recording 19 total victories.

Spitfire Mk Vb - British,  Neville Duke,  the Mediterranean Theatre's top Allied fighter ace at the age of 22 with 27 total victories, awarded the DFC and DSO. 

P-39Q   - US, William Shomo, shot down 6 Japanese fighters and one bomber in under 6 minutes in only two passes earning him the MOH. Ace in a day I would say for sure. 

Mig-3  -  Soviet, Capt. A. V. Shlopov, considered and ace in "black 7", still haven't confirmed total kills.

That's my list for the build, hopefully I can get at least half built but I will push to get them all done. 

Thinking of doing Showtime 100.

I don't know if it counts as an "ace in a day", but Barkhorn scored six kills on one day during his time in the Luftwaffe (on 19. July 1942)...

Oh boy, I'm definitely in on this one! Pencil me in for something German 1/32!

Wait, make that something flown by Gerhard Barkhorn in 1/32...

While Erich Hartmann is known to almost everyone with an interest for militrary aviation, Barkhorn seems to be almost completely forgotten in comparison. I have nothing but utter respect for that man though.

During his career in the Luftwaffe he racked up 301 kills, making him the second highest scoring ace of all time.

Barkhorn was shot down 6 times, wounded 3 times, but only bailed out of his aircraft once.

The reason for him refusing to bail out of an damaged aircraft was the result of him doing exactly that over the English Channels pretty early in his career. While he was drifting around in the water, waiting for a German rescue boat to pick him up (and hoping the English boats didn't find him first) he swore to never do it again, so he wouldn't be as helpless as he felt in that moment.

Barkhorn survived the war with a total of 1104 missions flown and continued to serve in the Bundesluftwaffe after WW2 and retired on 30. September 1975.

He died on 11. January 1983 because of the injuries inflicted in a car accident a couple of days earlier.

Now what am I going to build? Well, there are two options for me to choose from: Either his Bf 109 G-6 or his Fw 190 D-9. I'm not sure which one it's going to be, but I'm leaning towards the 190 (got some Messerschmitts on my build list for 2015 already).
I also have a 54mm figure of Barkhorn I might put on a display base with the aircraft, but I'm not sure about that (would be my first serious attempt at figure painting)...

I hope this post contains enough information on Barkhorn...

Cheers, Clemens

Mij

I found a pilot figure that came with a Monogram F-86. His helmet looks pretty close but his parachute is a backpack style. Did late model Corsair pilots use a backpack style parachute or did they use a lower slung type that they sat on?

Mij, What is the seat like for the corsair? The seats for the lower slung chutes didn't have a cusion. I'm not an expert, others may be able answer this better than me, but this makes sense to me.

Mij

I'd like to join. Right now I'm thinking of Guy Bordelon and his F4U-5N however I have other options if I have difficulty locating a figure to go with the Corsair. Guy's helmet was quite a bit diffenerent (hard with ridges meeting at the crown) than a the soft helmets so worn by US flyers in WWII. So subing a WWII figure wont look right. I'm thinking there may be options with a hard helmets o can modify in my spare figure stash.

I'm also planning to build a Adolf Galland figure and his 109E for the 2015 Bf109 GB however I don't like have a crossover as my entry so I'll do something orignial for this GB.

I know What you mean Mij. I too am having trouble getting a good match for Robert Johnson. I've found that very few of the figures for pilots have a smile, and all save one photo of Bob J. shows him with a smile. I'm betting he was a great guy to be around. Anyway. I'm not going to require a perfect match to the pilot you are depicting. its going to be a spirit of the build rather than getting it to perfection

I'd like to join. Right now I'm thinking of Guy Bordelon and his F4U-5N however I have other options if I have difficulty locating a figure to go with the Corsair. Guy's helmet was quite a bit diffenerent (hard with ridges meeting at the crown) than a the soft helmets so worn by US flyers in WWII. So subing a WWII figure wont look right. I'm thinking there may be options with a hard helmets o can modify in my spare figure stash.

I'm also planning to build a Adolf Galland figure and his 109E for the 2015 Bf109 GB however I don't like have a crossover as my entry so I'll do something orignial for this GB.

Hey, thanks tons guys. I get right on those, I knew I just needed to ask. I'm so impressed with the combined knowledge and recourses on this forum.

Steve

I have the pair of 1/48 Italian pilots, they are a really nice sculpt.  The brand  Jaguar has a webstore, and if I read correctly are based in California.  http://jaguarmodels.com/store/index.php

Ultracast has pretty good listing in three scales and further categorized by country, but I'm sure there is more out there.     http://www.ultracast.ca/Figures.htm

There are some resin busts out there too, but are pricier.  I won't list what I found, unless someone says they would be interested.  Well,  just a few I will post that I think are stunning sculpts:

I found this set of 1/32 assorted famous pilots:

regards,

Jack

Just did a quick search and found these 1/48th resin figures, not sure where you might find them.

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev7/6701-6800/rev6759-Jaguar-GD48001/00.shtm

Checkmaster has 2 48th and one 72nd set.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=&code=&product_type_id=&scale_id=&keyword_search=Italian+pilot&setPerPage=25&currency_id=

Does anybody know where I can find an Italian pilot figure an any scale? If I can't find one for my Macchi I'll have to change aces, and I really don't want to do that.

How about a German Pilot figure? Does anyone know if I could substitute a German Figure for Italian? Did they wear similar looking uniforms? It seems like they did, but I can't really find any info or good pics.

The only good reference to the Regia Aeronautica is http://www.stormomagazine.com/.

Steve

JOE RIX

When the time rolls around Ken, I may strongly consider joining up. I have the Corsair kits and decal sets for any one of the number of Jolly Roger aces. Plus Hellcats and their associated aces. That's for starters.

I'll be glad to have you aboard Joe. Like they say, "The More the Merrier"

When the time rolls around Ken, I may strongly consider joining up. I have the Corsair kits and decal sets for any one of the number of Jolly Roger aces. Plus Hellcats and their associated aces. That's for starters.