GB Plans for 2005...

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
21

Those all sound good,

Always need a good excuse to build Spitfires and Me 109’s

For Ost front you could base it on campaigns for dates, seems like it would be a good cross “genre” build to include aircraft, armor, figures etc. So you could do a Barbarossa build, Stalingrad build, Kursk build etc.

I’m working on space exploration kits for my son’s room, X-planes fall right into that catagory.

I had an idea for a couple too…

I was thinking about a “got a new job” build equipment being used by new owners, civilian conversions of military equipment like firefighting Air tankers from old bombers, fire engines from military trucks, wild 4x4 Willy’s jeeps, air racers, second hand equipment under new colors (Isreali Shermans, South African Comets, captured equipment etc). Basically any equipment not being used by the original owner.

I think a North Africa build would be fun too, lots of unique things from the desert plus its the best chance to build Italian stuff.

A nightfighter / stealth build could be fun, again lots of aircraft that don’t get the same attention as their day fighter counterparts.

and finally I thought something based on the Korean war era could be fun, lots of cutting edge (for the time) equipment that doesn’t get much attention compared to WW2, Vietnam and modern.

22

You could set up the Bodenplatte build like you did Mustang Ranch… for the last few months of the year. Then on the first… BAM… everyone posts the finished deal.

I know this is sad because I’m doing the Mustang Ranch GB right now and it seems I’d be thinking of other types of ac for Bodenplatte, but I’d love to find markings for “Moonbeam Mcswine” for that . On the other hand… maybe I’ll have my trusty airbrush set up and working (with some degree of skill), and I can do one of the attackers. Hmmmm… I’m gettin’ antsy too Steve-O.

23

Well, then the MiG Alley thing would be right up your… alley… [;)]

Adam, that’s kinda what I was thinkin’ for the Bodenplatte deal; matter of fact that’s EXACTLY what I was thinkin’! Great minds think alike?

Actually, great ideas are contagious… [:p]

Fade to Black…

24

Blackwolf - you are forgiven - OK so England is tiny (minute I suggest by your standards) and during the war they had to land the B17s one at a time but it is not our fault they were not built with folding wings. Some pilots who had no brakes complained that it got a bit bumpy when they went off the end of the runway (the whole of East Anglia is flat) and hit the Pennines - these are a line of hills running down the centre of England, or ended up in the Irish Sea on the West Coast.

Look - a thought on the BoB build - just to spice it up a bit how about individuals each building one of the aircraft of the “aces” or well known participants. There were many more than say Bader or Stanford -Tuck for example and of course presumably you do not intend to exclude the other chaps who came from across the Channel? I can certainly help with a few (British) names if need be and a brief “history” - but the builder can do the research as to the markings etc. of the aircraft.

Incidentally (being pedantic again but just for fun) the BoB lasted from 10th July to 31st October 1940 - so strictly speaking anything offered outside of those dates should not qualify. This indeed was very unfair on a number of pilots who flew effectively prior to the 10th July and downed a few “bandits” but thus did not get a medal. However the civil servants had to get themselves noticed.

I am a bit dim - where is the Telegraph Road.

25

I’d get in on ther Battle of Britain build

26

I like that Aces of BoB idea… I would like to do Douglas Badders plane if I could find the markings.

27

So many Group Builds & so little time. I still like the P-40 & BoB ideas the best, but Mig Alley is a very tempting idea as well.

Regards, Rick

28

Whoops missed that… then again that may be what got my brain thinking about Korea in the first place. [:I]

29

Woodbeck3 - I am not sure if you simply man you want to get the decals or are not sure of the markings on Bader’s Hurricane. He did not (I believe) fly Spitfires until 1941 when he was a Tangmere. He was with 242 Sqdn in 1940 at Coltishall (East Anglia!!!) and Martlesham Heath (later an American Base after the war I think). He flew a Hurricane Mk1 with 242 Code LE -D serial no. V7467. I cannot trace any decal sheet for this aircraft but certainly Hannants do have letters roundels and serial nos. in sheets from which the required set cold easily be assembled. I think he amy also have had the Sqdn Ldrs “Badge” under the cannopy on the fuselage side. Let me know if you need any more info.

30

Can someone tell me please what you mean by “Bodenplatte” - the only word I am aware of is the German for “floor plate”??? Forgive a limeys’ ignorance.

31

I’m sure someone will tell you the exact date, but Bodenplatte was the codename for the last German air offensive of WWII. It took place around january 1945 if I’m correct and involved a lot of fighter bomber sorties. It would seem logical to assume a connection with the Ardennes offensive, but Bodenplatte came later. They used the newest types in that action, like the Me-262 and Ar-234. The bottom line was that the aircraft losses were pretty high and the effect of the bombing attacks disappointing. This it what I can come up with off the top of my head. Someone fill in the details?

32

I have the Trumpeter 1/32 P-40 I would love to build eventually and since I am an OSTFRONT freak I would like to do my very first Luftwaffe aircraft as a battle of
Stalingrad stead. Yes …no…yes of course

33

I’d be interested in the Operation Bodenplatte group build. I have Aeromaster’s sheet #2 (both are available again now, I believe). I’d like to build both 190s,but only if I can find DML kits for them (I don’t care for Tamiya’s versions).

Another group build I’ve been kicking around in my head is a “Captured Aircraft” group. There’s quite a few aftermarket sheets for both Axis & Allies aircraft available. All sorts of possibilities there.

Just my [2c]

34

Operation Bodenplatte was, as Krax described, a large air to ground operation flown by the Luftwaffe.

The date on which the attack took place was January 1st, 1945, although it was planned to have gone off weeks earlier in support of the German offensive in the Ardennes.

The goal of the operation was to do as much damage as possible to the allied air forces which were based on the continent, hopefully putting them out of commission for a time. Sources vary, but it seems that the the operation targeted around 20-25 (roughly) allied airfields in Holland, Belgium and France.

Results were mixed and ranged from very successful to dismal. The attack on the airfield known as Y-29 at Asch, Belgium was probably the biggest individual failure of the day for the Luftwaffe. Here’s a site which describes that whole affair rather nicely:

The Legend of Y-29

Anyhoo, the operation was, overall, a failure for the Germans. Yeah, they did a considerable amount of damage, destroying around 140-50 aircraft and damaging many more, with 60 or so of the damaged aircraft considered to be beyond repair. But all those airplanes could be replaced. Very few Allied pilots were lost, and although a life can’t be replaced, those who took the place of the Allied men killed on that day where just as well trained as their predecessors.

The Luftwaffe losses were much higher. They lost almost 300 aircraft (a figure approaching one third of the total force despatched that day) and although these could be replaced, the losses in manpower were, for all intents and purposes, irreplaceable.

There were 237 Luftwaffe pilots killed, missing or captured on that day. The Germans had a tougher time replacing those pilots; finding the manpower was arguably the least of their problems; the REAL loss of the day was the experience of many of those killed or captured. The replacement pilots then entering service in the Luftwaffe were very poorly trained in comparison to their Allied counterparts as well as their predecessors.

Okay, enough history for now…

Midupper, you wanted to know about Telegraph Road… 'tis simply a song by Dire Straits…

Okay, seems there’s some interest in pretty much all of these ideas. As to the scope of a given GB idea, such as the P-40 versus OSTFRONT, that comes down to personal preference on the part of a potential participant. If it doesn’t appeal to you, then you are under no obligation to participate…

Fade to Black…

35

Takes me a long time to write something sometimes…

Pix, that idea of a ‘Captured’ GB is definitely cool. I’d take part in that fersher…

Fade to Black…

36

Blackwolfe - very many thanks - it just goes to show that no matter how much you read there is always something to learn! I have been through most of the many books I have on WWII, including some from the German side, and there is absolutely nothing about this episode! Having seen the site you mentioned it does apear to have been an “American show” but nevertheless it seems strange that it was not given a place in the various accounts I have!. Thanks also for the explanation of Telegraph Road - I do not hink I have heard of or listened to “Dire Straights” - should have asked my Partner - she is much more into that sort of thing than I. However my advanced years are my excuse.

37

Oh, and I forgot to mention that ‘Bodenplatte’ meant/means ‘Baseplate’…
Haven’t heard of Dire Straits? Wow, I thought everyone in Britain had heard of them! [;)] Of course, if, as you alluded to, one is of an older generation, then that kinda music is probably not their thing…

Alrighty, I’m thinking of changing the theme of one of the four original ideas…

I am Mr. P-40, yes. But I also live in the Buffalo, NY area (much to the chagrin of the sports fan in me) and there was another famous fighter built here as well; the Bell P-39. There were also other aircraft built here, such as the P-63 and the P-47, (albeit in small numbers) but of all the different types built here these two are really the staple of WNY’s aviation history.

So my question is this: How does a P-40/P-39 build sound? OR, how about a ‘Built in Buffalo’ build? This latter idea, I know, may not appeal to the masses, as there are only about five or six members here who come from WNY. But I’d like to see what kinda feedback there is to either of these ideas…

Fade to Black…

38

Steve, I would love a P-39 GB and I would also do the Korean War GB.

Pix, count me in on the captured GB.

39

My college roommate is from Gowanda…does that count? [;)]

40

I think I could have my arm twisted to build a P39 and P40, I am definately up for a Mig alley build and Ostfront could be fun, I’ve never built a Russian plane and I’ve been noticed several that I’d be interested in, also doesn’t hurt that I’ve been fooling around with IL-2 Forgotten battles on the computer.