Battle of Midway Aircraft Group Build

tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Thursday, February 17, 2005 5:34 PM

Thad, you'll like that kit... follow the directions and if you run into trouble ask in here... several of us have built more than one of those... once you finish the interior take a seat get some light on it and admire it... you'll really like it!!!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Thursday, February 17, 2005 12:50 PM

Maybe I am biased....but any Dauntless kit is a fun build Wink [;)]

Really though-- I find the AM kits to be really great kits. The only non-AM Dauntless kits I have are the Hasegawa A-24 Banshee (gonna need to make sure the drill is charged for all those dive flap holes!) and the 1/32 scale nightmare from Revell....

E-bay has been very good to me for my Pacific birds-- I got the SBD-3/4 kit and the twin Avenger kits off ebay- as well as a Night Avenger (forget the designation)....

Mike

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KINGTHAD

Member since
May 2004
From: Dallas

Posted by KINGTHAD on Thursday, February 17, 2005 9:19 AM

I got this kit a the Hobby Lobby sale, She looks like a sweet kit. I think it will be a fun build. Big Smile [:D]

Thad

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Thursday, February 17, 2005 8:07 AM

Jules Should have thought of it earlier eh? Doesn't matter, you won't get distracted from your stuka now. Sounds like it'll take all of your attention. I was almost gonna buy one of the TBF's last week, but then I discovered the price tag.

Darren It would be almost impossible to tell which aircraft had what belts. Unless you have a photo of it that is. Some of the wildcats that left the factor with only lap belts might have been retro-fitted with shoulder straps. Which wildcat are you doing? I'll have a look and see what I can dig up from my reference stash.

Another thing is that, by June 1942 the F4F-4 had pretty much replaced the -3. That could mean the seat would be for a later model one. And I also think that shoulder belts were pretty standard by then too. After all that, I'd say go with shoulder straps (they look better too).

-Daniel

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 17, 2005 6:18 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by pingtang

Jules Which TBF are you getting? I know of a shop in Sydney that has the new TBF-1c kit in, if that is the one you're after. It'd get to you alot quicker than from the US. And I know another shop with a TBM-3D if you want that one too.

Let me know, and I'll give you the shop details.

Daniel i'm getting the Accurate Minatures TBF-1c Avenger, i already have it on order so i guess i'll have to wait the 3 weeks, if i had known about the one in Sydney i would have had them send it up, Oh well 3 weeks gives me enough time to finish that Stuka Approve [^]

Darren, mate i wouldn't have a clue which belts were in them, but even if they did have just the waist belt i think i'd still but the whole set in cause it just looks better......

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darson

Member since
February 2003
From: Melbourne, Australia

Posted by darson on Thursday, February 17, 2005 6:03 AM

Hi guys, Pete raised an interesting question on the previous page which got me thinking. I'm going to get the Ultracast seat for my Wildcat, should I get the early war model with only a lap belt or the later war model with the shoulder harness. Any help would be appreciated.

Darren

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Thursday, February 17, 2005 5:24 AM

Jules Which TBF are you getting? I know of a shop in Sydney that has the new TBF-1c kit in, if that is the one you're after. It'd get to you alot quicker than from the US. And I know another shop with a TBM-3D if you want that one too.

Let me know, and I'll give you the shop details.

-Daniel

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 17, 2005 1:48 AM

I have to wait for 3 maybe 4 weeks before i get my AM Avenger........So don't start without me fellas Thumbs Up [tup]

..............

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 9:02 PM

Jeeves - the SBD I just got with the 50% off sale at Hobbly Lobby is going to be a RNZAF one... seems the Kiwis didn't mind nose art as bad as the USN and USMC did... have a great pic of a stomach running with a bottle of wine in one hand and a martini glass in the other... really feel the need to model this one after doing the Martlet... some of the AC look good in other countries markings.. and kind of unexpected too!!!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 8:52 PM

Thanks Daniel- now if I can only figure out which SBD was flown by John Powers of the Yorktown I will be golden...he wanted to be sure of getting a "hit" on the carrier Shokaku on May 7th and dropped his bomb from a dangerously low altitude-- ended up crashing into the sea but got a vital hit. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously...seems a worthy subject to model...but for now-- on to the Midway Dauntless Wink [;)]

I am planning out ahead of time which schemes to do for my stash of Dauntlesses Big Smile [:D]

Mike

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 8:46 PM

Pete - yeah.... that would be it.. that seat will make a big difference as when you close the fuselage... all the BEAUTIFUL detail you put into it will be gone forever... however, that seat sticks out like you wouldnt believe!! but I really encourage you to do it all up on the interior and take a pic before you put it inside... it really feels good knowing how much went into that interior. My recommendation is take it slow with the cockpit area... the rest goes fast enough... actually anticlimactic would be a good word... I think the cockpit is the high point on the model as far as skills....

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 8:39 PM

QUOTE: OK- a little OT here, but not really. I plan on using my AM SBD-3 for this Midway build...and so I am thinking of using my AM SBD-2 to do up a Coral Sea Dauntless from the Yorktown. What I am wondering-- I imagine the Coral Sea markings for the SBD-3 are inaccurate for a dash 2...so does anyone know of any sites that would have some good references of Coral Sea SBD-2s? Or even something on the Yorktown Dauntlesses....I found a great site on the Enterprise with some great stuff on all the various squadrons...but have been unable to find something similar for the Yorktown CV-5....

Here is the big E site-- http://www.cv6.org/company/airgroups.htm

Here's a Coral sea SBD-2 for you. All of the aircraft used the red and white rudder stripes with red insignia dots. All you need is to change the fuselage codes to match those on an SBD-2.

-Daniel

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pmm736

Member since
April 2004

Posted by pmm736 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 7:36 PM

I've used them in the past and I actually did check there to see the paint colors. I just happened to have an order pending with GM, so I added this stuff on to save the shipping. I should have known though, because the light gray I ordered was on sale, and that never happens!!
OK, went back and ordered the right gray (and asked them to take the other one off- they're pretty good that way)as well as the Ultracast seat (they had 2 - I ordered the one they said was for early war - I assume this was the right one).

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 7:34 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by darson

Tom, you can take away the question mark from my name and put me down as a definite starter with a Tamiya 1/48 F4F-4 Wildcat from VF-3 flying off the Yorktown.

Great Darren! I think you will enjy the kit... I do recommend at the least the Ultracast seat and probably the ultracast prop as well... otherwise the exterior is just fine. In fact I think you'll like the way the landing gear go together... looks good with all the rods and supports and such. If you need more decals I still have the set from mine!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 7:33 PM

you ought to try www.squadron.com Pete... they dont have the huge selection greatmodels does, but if it shows up on their site it is in stock and out to you in about a week... prices vary back and before between them and greatmodels... but I use them both and just compare the savings before I decide which one I use... I buy all my MM paints from them and it's always like 3 or 4 days until delivery...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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pmm736

Member since
April 2004

Posted by pmm736 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 7:28 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900

Pete, the color I used was 1732, a bit darker than the color you got... you could either darken it just a tad with black, or if you really felt like it order the other color. The 2038 is a semi gloss but that's ok because you will dull coat it anyway so no biggie if you want to try to match the shade, the actual color is on www.squadron.com, do a search under paints and thinners, manufacturer Testors of USA, just type in gray int he search box and the first page will have 1732, the next will have 2038 so you can compare... the actual paint dries a bit lighter than the swatch on squadron shows so if you decide to darken dont go that dark.

Good luck!

That figures, Oh well. No biggie. Great Models doesn't have the Zinc Chromate in stock anyway, so I needed to make a trip to the LHS regardless.

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darson

Member since
February 2003
From: Melbourne, Australia

Posted by darson on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 6:53 PM

Tom, you can take away the question mark from my name and put me down as a definite starter with a Tamiya 1/48 F4F-4 Wildcat from VF-3 flying off the Yorktown.

Thanks
Darren

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 6:07 PM

ok I decided since we only have one possible for a Japanese plane I will build the Tamiya A6M2 Model 21 in my stash. I will have to research units as I have both the kit decals and a Super Scale set of Zero decals mostly from the groups that were over Pearl Harbor Dec 7th.. but as these were the same carriers then it should still be ok... will have to look into it.

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:59 PM

Pete, the color I used was 1732, a bit darker than the color you got... you could either darken it just a tad with black, or if you really felt like it order the other color. The 2038 is a semi gloss but that's ok because you will dull coat it anyway so no biggie if you want to try to match the shade, the actual color is on www.squadron.com, do a search under paints and thinners, manufacturer Testors of USA, just type in gray int he search box and the first page will have 1732, the next will have 2038 so you can compare... the actual paint dries a bit lighter than the swatch on squadron shows so if you decide to darken dont go that dark.

Good luck!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 12:45 PM

OK- a little OT here, but not really. I plan on using my AM SBD-3 for this Midway build...and so I am thinking of using my AM SBD-2 to do up a Coral Sea Dauntless from the Yorktown. What I am wondering-- I imagine the Coral Sea markings for the SBD-3 are inaccurate for a dash 2...so does anyone know of any sites that would have some good references of Coral Sea SBD-2s? Or even something on the Yorktown Dauntlesses....I found a great site on the Enterprise with some great stuff on all the various squadrons...but have been unable to find something similar for the Yorktown CV-5....

Here is the big E site-- http://www.cv6.org/company/airgroups.htm

Mike

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pmm736

Member since
April 2004

Posted by pmm736 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 8:57 AM

Tom, O.K., I ordered the AM Midway SBD2 today, along with the paints you recommended. I took a guess that the light gray you mentioned was MM #2038(there were two light grays listed), if not I can always get the other one. Should have it in a couple of weeks and will attempt to fit it in amongst the multitude of other builds I have compulsively joined.

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bobbaily

Member since
November 2003
From: Nashville, TN area

Posted by bobbaily on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 7:01 AM

Bump

Bob

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 9:38 AM

Yup-- it is one of my favorite Dauntless prints-- done by Stan Stokes...it's called- "Midway- The Turning Point". My wife was good enough to buy me one of the actual prints for Christmas- still need to get it framed.

Mike

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 3:32 AM

Jeeves thanks for the link Thumbs Up [tup]

I do have that Robert Ballard Midway book and the National Geographic documentary on Midway as well, i noticed the pic in your sig is in the same book, another good Ballard book is the Lost Fleet Of Guadalcanal and the Search for the Bismark......

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Monday, February 14, 2005 10:12 PM

Here are a couple good links:

http://www.lodinet.com/rruss/midway/
http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/midway.htm

More on the Marauders:
http://www.redraiders22bg.com/stories/b_26_midway.html

And for you J.S.
http://www.olympicflightmuseum.com/images/tbf1midway.jpg

Tom-- I bought the book a couple years ago at Barnes and Noble--I am in my third read through of it Wink [;)]

The ISBN is 0-87021-569-8 and the author is Barrett Tillman. If you like the SBD (and I know you do)- it is one of the best reads out there-- between it and the Detail and Scale book, they are my bibles!

Mike

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Monday, February 14, 2005 9:31 PM

OK-- I can be a bit more specific since I found the materials that were sent to me by one of the armorers (sp?) that served on the Enterprise during the battle. I will be modeling an Enterprise SBD-3 from VB-6-- Squadron Commander Richard H. Best's aircraft-- 6-B-1 BuNo 4687.

Tom-- I was fortunate to get a nice chunk of $ for Christmas so I bought up a few AM Dauntless kits-- so I'll be able now to model all variants....

J.S.... I see you are interested in the Avenger-- if you can find it, the Robert D. Ballard book "Return to Midway" has some great images of that specific Avenger. While I have decided not to build it for this GB, I still plan on doing one of every USN plane that served in the Battle and will eventually build this one.

Mike

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Monday, February 14, 2005 9:08 PM

Jules, I ran across a site with an account from one of the surviors today... I;ll see if I can find it and post the link...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 14, 2005 8:34 PM

OK Boys i've just ordered the Accurate minatures Grumman Avenger but it won't be here for another 3 weeks, gotta wait for it to come from the States.....
As Daniel mentioned only 6 Avengers saw action at Midway and 5 were lost so i'll be building the sole survivor which was crewed by Earnest, Farrier and Manning.....

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Monday, February 14, 2005 8:29 PM

I'll start doing some research today to find a scheme to do my SBD-3 in. I might look at doing one from the Yorktown or Enterprise.

Tom I agree with you on those AM kits. They are the best researched kits I have ever built. Even the A-36 Apache I built last year showed those sort of details (the insignia's had darker blue outlines because the real aircraft had their red outlines painted over. And because the rest of the insignia was faded, the new paint was darker). I'm always impressed by the amount of research tahat goes into their kits.

-Daniel

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Monday, February 14, 2005 8:16 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by pingtang

Tom Regarding the scheme's, Your are correct in saying that the red dots on the insignias still showed after being painted over. They often showed up as light pink dots. Some decal companies even think to show this on their decals. The squadron codes were also painted over to prevent the japs getting too much info on the aircraft.

Daniel - the AM Dauntless kit gets 10 points on all of these areas... the decals show the pinkish dots, they recommend using a shade lighter paint over where the squadron number would go (also it was the former USN squadron number on the plane so they had to paint it over in this case) and the rudder decals reflect a darker and lighter layer of paint beneath the blue/gray. because of the red white previously on there it looked more lighter blue, almost gray darker color... a lot of work went into making that kit and in the research!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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