That’s very nice…in a speedy, easy-to-fly, stable-gun-platform sort of way. (If you like that type of thing.)
I’m thinking this:
Anybody else?
I have lots of 72 scale stuff I should build while I can still see. Put me in for the ICM Fokker E.IV. Just cuz it’s on top of the pile. Maybe I can actually finish a GB kit!
OK, Freem, you’re down for the Fokker. Welcome to the group build!
Nice checkerboard up front.
Yes, I admit I do go for the more refined flying experience. I prefer making the enemy shoot me out of the sky, not falling out of the blue because the plane’s wings have folded. And I prefer wheels to floats. <bails out at 5,000 feet as flames consume the fuselage>
Anyone else want to share possible paint schemes? Aaron?
That’s just what they’ll expect us to do.
Here we go:
I’m sure my kit comes with the Red Baron scheme, that’ll do fine. This thing is going to be tiny.
I have my eyes on the WnW HB W.29, but a) the chief financial planner will say no, and b) it’s not my scale. There is that Felixstowe from Roden in the stash, the gunship with eleven Lewis guns…
Here is the DH9A’s livery:
This sounds like fun. I’ve never participated in a group build before and planes (of any era) are not my forte though I do have a number of kits tucked away in my stash. Sign me up to build a Heller Roland C.11 Walfisch (whale.) It is in 1/72 scale. Also one quick question about group builds: Will I need to post pics of the build in progress? Thanks and I’m looking forward to this…
TZombie, you’re down for the Heller Roland. Definitely. The pics of the build are part of the fun.
Now that’s a plane that looks like it means business. Did the kit come with bombs?
Nice choices guys!!!
…my most brilliant Stork"- Capitaine Brocard, Commander of Esc N3
Georges Marie Ludovic Jules Guynemer
Guynemer was France’s most beloved ace. He entered the French Air Service in November 1914 and served as a mechanic before receiving a Pilot’s Brevet in April 1915. Despite his frail physical appearance, he took part in more than 600 aerial combats and was shot down seven times and survived. An excellent marksman and highly skilled pilot, he was hailed as the French Ace of Aces. Guynemer received letters from women proposing marriage, requests from school children for his autograph and was often followed through the streets. One of the first pilots to receive a SPAD VII, he called his plane Vieux Charles (Old Charles). On 25 May 1917, he engaged and shot down four enemy aircraft withOld Charles in one day. Looking for ways to improve the performance of his aircraft, Guynemer armed a SPAD VII with a single-shot 37 mm canon that fired through a hollowed out propeller shaft. He called this impractical aircraft his Magic Machine. Despite the fumes that filled the cockpit and the recoil of the canon, during the summer of 1917 he shot down at least two enemy aircraft with his Magic Machine. On 11 September 1917, Guynemer was last seen attacking a two-seater Aviatik near Poelcapelle, northwest of Ypres. Almost a week later, it was publicly announced in a London paper that he was missing in action. Shortly thereafter, a German newspaper reported Guynemer had been shot down by Kurt Wissemann of Jasta 3. For many months, the French population refused to believe he was dead. Guynemer’s body was never found.
“Captain Guynemer flew so high he could not come down again.”-French journalist explaining to schoolchildren the aces death.
Wow! That’s a powerful story, Gamera, and a great choice for a model.
Thanks Tim, I picked up the kit because of the interesting paint scheme and chose it for this GB because it looked like the easiest to paint since I’m cutting my teeth on one of my first biplanes. I had no idea what an interesting guy Guynemer was and what an awesome life story he lived until I started doing some research on him last night. Thanks for the GB Tim and Aaron, I’ve learned something fascinating already and we haven’t even started yet!
If I may in the longer bio Ernst Udet, highest scoring German ace to survive the war, got into a dogfight with Guynemer when both of his guns jammed. Seeing Udet beating on his unresponsive guns with his fists instead of taking out his defenceless foe Guynemer waved and broke off from the fight and withdrew.
In Udet’s words: "Guynemer had watched me doing and knew for now I was his defenseless victim : he made another pass just over my head in almost inverted flight and to my amazement made a sign with his hand and left westward.Startled I got to the field. Afterwards some people suggested that Guynemer’s machine gun had the same problem while others thought he was afraid of me hitting him in my distress. But I don’t buy that. For me, Guynemer displayed some perennial element of old chivalry that oulasted modern fighting methods.Therefore, I feel committed to contribute this personal testimony as a homage to the unknow tomb where he rests…"
Yep, 20 pounders and 112 pound HERL’s, whatever that means[:D]
Is this what you’re looking at? Heh, I like the idea of naming a bomb HURL.
Wow, those are all real nice looking entries for this GB! Can’t wait for this one this one to get started! [Y]
Cliff, great write-up on Guynemer’s Nieuport! Love the bit about Udet also, and, as it turns out, the E.III I’m doing for this GB happens to be Udet’s mount! Sweet!
Cool, great to have Udet too Mike!
Cliff
Gentlemen,
Here’s our offering for the badge. We went with a simple treatment. Special thanks to Tom Ford, FSM art director, for putting this together for us.
We really liked Jack’s idea of the airplane’s silhouette and incorporated that into it. Because Jack went like gangbusters to design a badge, we’re going to offer both this badge and his as options for the GB, so long as you guys don’t mind.
Suits me. Maybe I’ll alternate, I like both!
Two badges are fine by me. Is that a specific aircraft in that badge.