While doing some research for a model I came across the story of Lt. Ralph “Kidd” Hofer. Having German Shepherds myself the pictures of him with his dog Duke caught my eye. He’s a real interesting character being one of the top aces in the 4th Fighter Group.
I built the 1/48 scale Tamiya P-51B out of the box using Tamiya acrylic paints and Lifelike decals. Coated in Future with a light panel wash.
While my models will never win a contest or compare to those I see on the forum I really enjoy the hobby and have learned lots here on the forums.
Hope others that build like myself will post their work here too.
Lt. Ralph “Kidd” Hofer and his dog Duke after a mission.
Very nice…I have the same kit done with the same markings!—he is a cool character…unfortunately KIA over Romania I believe…he was MIA for several years but his body was discovered decades later I believe…most feel he was shot down by flak while strafing an airfield…
Thank you! Yes, he was lost 2 July 1944 while strafing an airfield in Mostar, Yugoslavia on a shuttle mission. He was shot down on his first pass and plowed into a gun emplacement killing at least two of the crew. He was buried in a common grave and returned to the states I think in 1950 when the politics of the time allowed.
Nicely done, and a great choice of subject! How was the kit? I’m currently building the ICM P-51B, and it’s been said that it’s a copy of the Tamiya kit. I found fitting the cockpit into the fuselage, and the lower fuselage join, to be a little fiddly. I’d like to get the Tamiya kit and compare.
I like the way your metal finish came out, too, and the weathering, just right, not too much nor too little.
Thanks again! This is the second time I have built this kit, the first being Don Gentile’s aircraft. This kit just falls together with no fit problems at all.
With each build I try something new and learn from my many mistakes.LOL
The aviation artist Troy White wrote a nice book on Hofer and it’s filled with great pictures and info:
B-17 Guy, the lesson I learned on this one is to use primer with aluminum paint. I wanted to paint the panels around the exhaust stainless steel but was having trouble with my masks pulling the paint off the model. I also switched to the blue painters tape which is less tacky than the masking tape I was using on the large areas.
Good to see a razor-back 'stang—get tired of everyone fawning over the bubble-tops. Most people don’t realize that the “razors” (51 and 47) served way longer than the bubbles…
Buckeye, very nice work on a tough paint scheme. I too have found a lot of interest in the 4th fighter group. I’ve always been interested in Don Gentile since he grew up in Piqua, just down the road from my hometown of Wapakoneta. That has led to an interest in the great markings used in the 4th. Again, nice bird. Don’t worry about contests or critiques, I bet it looks great on the shelf. Rick.
Love the plane! You’ve done it justice.
Interesting pics too. I neve realized Salem Representative was so colorful, I must build it!
In one of the pics I see what looks like a walk path fabricated to protect the upper wing of the plane. I’ve never seen this before and it looks like it would make a neat addition to a dio.
I’ve never seen the wooden slats laid on the wing like that before either. Makes me wonder if they were put there just for the dog so he wouldn’t slip. There are several pictures of Duke on the wing and in the cockpit of the plane in the book by Troy White. He was known to take him up on local flights, pull into formation and slide down in the seat so only Duke was showing.LOL
