South Pacific Group Build 7 August 2006 to 7 August 2007

gulfstreamV wrote:

Thinking about jumping in on this as my first GB. Would a R4D or a F2J qualify?

I too am missing a Spit!  I am about to add my second and probably final Hellcat, but no Wildcat.  I have decided on the P47 with the Sky Model decals.  I was also considering an early mark Beaufighter, but my storage capacity is being revamped, and it may take longer than the term of this build. Ugh!

By the way, the participants list has been updated.

I know what ya mean Joe... I am just getting around to building me one.  I am doing the Tamiya 1/48 bubbletop in the P-47 GB.  I've got all the Martlets, Do335's etc.. you can blink at but none of the major production AC of the time... (P-51, P-47 etc.)

-=edit=-  I just realized I'm doing my first spitfire in this reincarnation of my modeling life for the Aussie GB!!!  ACK!!!  And that's one of my favorite A/C!!  I didn't realize the fringe stuff would leave me this far behind in rounding out my collection!!

Tom

Thanks for the link.  In between meetings at work today I jumped on a review site and have decided to go with the Hasegawa Razorback.  I will get the True Details pit and wheels and search for PE flaps etc.  The decals are available from Sky Model, I used thier Hurricane sheet last year for the BoB build and was really quite pleased.

Any way when I looked in my display case I realized that I have no Jug!  What sort of collection is that after all?

Joe, from what I found there wouldn't be much to modify, just bring the wind screen forward a little and (I thnk) shorten the wingspan.. I may do it if you don't just for "fringe's" sake.. Here's a link to pic. it's the second one down:

http://uk.geocities.com/sadakichi09/army/IJA15.htm

As far as the P-47 several people make in 1/72:

Hasegawa, Tamiya, Revell DE, MRC, Academy maybe more.  Not sure about the Academy kit for the P-47 but I LOVE the FW-190 and Fi-156 I built by them... nice enough detail (could use some bits in the interior) no major flaws in building the kit, almost as nice as the Tamiya 1/48's I've built!

Dave, Mucker and Desdinova,

Desdinova, Sakai was actually @ Rabaul in the early phases, interesting choice!  Dave, always room for Kiwi subjects..Mucker I am certainly looking forward to you Zeke and am flattered you chose this Build to get back into the swing of things.

Tom,

Interesting choice on the Observation Plane subject...I am still torn though...However I am leaning more and more towards a P47. I am going to search decal sources and if there is a quality sheet I am probably going that way...now what companies P47 Razorback in 1/72?

I will get the participants list updated soon...

This sounds like the GB I need to do my Kiwi Avenger (1/48 Accurate Miniatures) that I have sitting in my stash ready to go. So count me in! With this time frame I may even have time to do another one or two after the three RAAF Spitfires I have ready to build.

Hey, Joe

Do you have room for another? I'm just getting ready to open up my 1/48 Accurate Miniatures Vindicator. I have been away from group builds too long and need to get back in!

Joe - you could do a Kobeseiko Te-Go... it was a modified Fi-156 Storch in Japanese markings, I saw some thoughts on how to mod it somewhere let me see if I can dig it up.  It would definitely be different and Academy makes a very nice offering in 1/72...

I think the only kit version of it is resin from RS models, I haven't built one of their kits yet so couldn't comment on it.

Hey there...

You know the more I research this project the less and less sure I am about a subject.  I started with the Ki43-1.  Then I was all for a P39 or P400 (Eduard kit).  Well that lasted a long time, now I am thinking on an observation bird, like the Grasshopper.  Decisions, Decisions!  Any suggestions out there?  I want to load it up on detail, so resin and PE are going in.  But I have storage space issues, so I usually stick with 1/72.

mph34 wrote:

World War Two - Nation by Nation by J.Lee Ready copyright 1995 by Sterling Publishing Check out Amazon.com or the Military Book Club.

Cool thanks!!!  That part of the history of WWII interests me.. no one knows much the small parts played by the small countries for good or worse... (ex:  Uruguay and Argentina)  I used to date a girl from Uruguay, her dad said there are 3 distinct sections of town in Montevideo <the capitol of the country>, the Latin American, the German and the Japanese... he said they all came at or before the end of WWII and settled...   Argentina is where they found Mengela.. I wonder how many others ended up there?

World War Two - Nation by Nation by J.Lee Ready

copyright 1995 by Sterling Publishing

Check out Amazon.com or the Military Book Club.

The Phillipines defenately fit into this theatre.  Some of the first ground battles were in the Phillipines, (think MacArthur and "I shall Return").  Then you have some great navel and ground battles in 1944 & 45.

Fiji never saw any action, but did serve as a supply base and had a recon unit in 1942 if I remember.  Borneo was part of the New Guinie champaign, but you will need to research to determine details.  Timor, I am not familar with, but a little research would determine its history.

By the way, to all out there, I just got a book that covers each country's involvement in WWII.  There is some fun facts that I didn't know about some of the smaller countries and their role in the war.  Anybody need some info. on a country, just send me an email.

The Monogram 1/48 P-38 kit does give some direction to the "M" model.  Unfortunately, it does not give any details on the units that used them.  The links that were posted earlier by Panzerwulff were very helpful, except I did not find any listings of units that used the plane.  I will keep looking, I don't want to give up yet....

Australia and New Zealand are certainly included.  Tom mentioned some aircraft from the Mexican Air Force that were stationed in the Phillipines.  I am not exactly sure if the Phillipines fall into this Theatre.

Input from everyone is certainly appreciated.  I was considering anything from as far west as Timor to as far east as Fiji and as far north as Borneo.  If that were to be triangulated it covers quite a large area.

JoeRugby wrote:

grhornet(Richard) You're in...list needs to be updated.   Bob Good question...I have been thinking about limiting or better defing what exactly was the Theatre of Operations in which we are concerned.  If you are familiar with the book "Fire in the Sky" there is a good clarification there.  Point of fact, this book was the "inspiration" for this build. I am in the office right now so no access to my good stuff, other than a mountain of insurance forms, if that is considered good, seek medical attention!  I will post some clarifications before the weekend is out.

Thanks Joe.  Reason I ask is that I just picked up the Hasegawa P-40E and there are some options there, depending on location.  If some of the locations I mentioned aren't  in the Theatre of Operations, I'll find something that is!

    Thanks Joe, I am not the best builder, I I have fun trying!

                                                                   Richard

grhornet(Richard)

You're in...list needs to be updated.

Bob

Good question...I have been thinking about limiting or better defing what exactly was the Theatre of Operations in which we are concerned.  If you are familiar with the book "Fire in the Sky" there is a good clarification there.  Point of fact, this book was the "inspiration" for this build.

I am in the office right now so no access to my good stuff, other than a mountain of insurance forms, if that is considered good, seek medical attention!  I will post some clarifications before the weekend is out.

btw-JoeRugby-will the GB include planes based in Australia, New Zeland, etc.?

Thanks

PanzerWulff wrote:

mph34 wrote: Since this build doesn't start for a few months yet, I have time to do more research...  Hopefully, as I get into it, I will get inspired to find a P-38M that fits the build requirements.  If I can't find the information, I probably make a "L" or "J" model then. MPH34 The only P-38M kit that I know of  is a 1/72 P-38M "Night Lightning" by DML

The Monogram 1/48 P-38J has an option to build the "Night Lightning".  Not an easy build, but a good one to work on to practice certain skills....cutting, filling, sanding, cursing...just kidding-makes a decent looking kit if you're not a rivet counter.

mph34 wrote:

Since this build doesn't start for a few months yet, I have time to do more research...  Hopefully, as I get into it, I will get inspired to find a P-38M that fits the build requirements.  If I can't find the information, I probably make a "L" or "J" model then.

MPH34 The only P-38M kit that I know of  is a 1/72 P-38M "Night Lightning" by DML

Thanks for the web links!  I had already found one of them myself.  The Wright Paterson AFB site I have been one before, but it is easy to "get lost" due to all of the information that you find yourself wanting to look at.  A good site to visit when you can spend a few hours on the interent!

I have in the past found some sites that serve as unit histories.  Is there a site that has all of them linked?

Since this build doesn't start for a few months yet, I have time to do more research...  Hopefully, as I get into it, I will get inspired to find a P-38M that fits the build requirements.  If I can't find the information, I probably make a "L" or "J" model then.

MPH34 First and formost greetings and welcome to the gang. second here are the few P-38M night fighter pages I could find

http://p-38online.com/p38m.html  http://home.att.net/~ww2aviation/P-38-3.html  http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38.htm (this one has photo links that include the P-38 M ) http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avp38.html 

The P-38M was the Purpose Built night fighter variant with the radar in a pod under the nose and a very cramped radar operators position behind the pilot. however there were other radar equipped P-38's most notably a group of P-38 F models with a field modification of a wing tip radar pod similar to the ones carried by F4U Corsair Night fighters, which like the corsairs were set up as single seaters with the pilot operating the radar  I hope this helps TTFN!!!

Since this is your first GB and Tom has hit the high points I need to hit some others.  Check out your reference material on the radar Lightning.  Make sure it fits within the parameters of the build.  If you don't have the info, I can help and believe me there are some amazing resources on this forum.  Great to have you on board!

Watch out for those Aussies though!