This was done for the Who Needs Engines Glider GB. It’s done in the markings of the first CG-4A to land in Normandy on D-Day. There is a lot of story to go with the airplane, if you are interested you can read all the details in what’s posted in the GB. The decals were drawn in CorelDraw and printed with an ALPS MD-1000 and a Dell 1250C. A Griswold nose modification was made from plastic sheet and rod and the tailplane got struts underneath and EZ Line wire bracing on top. It is a typical Italeri kit, pretty good shape but lots of tiny parts with no positive locating devices. I made an attempt at replicating sloppy brush painted invasion stripes by putting 4 pound test monofilament under the edges of the masking.
Great work! Having built this kit, I can say honestly that you’ve done outstanding work on it. Look forward to the C-47 (I think) you said you were going to do to accompany her. Oh, and thanks for making me check on the fuselage windows! [:)]
Don> Amazon lists several places in their alternative suppliers.
I have had phenomenal luck with Italeri Aircraft . I might just have to find that one . There was a firm here in TEXAS that built planes . Waco , Pronounced Wah co in the town of WACO pronounced Way co . It was a good company and their pre 40s planes were awesome .
I think TB is a little confused. The WACO aircraft company was based in Troy, Ohio. That’s where the name for the glider comes from, not Waco, TX. As far as I know, WACO gliders were not built in Texas. Texas did have the glider pilot training school, however. [:)]
Don> Glad you found one! Looks like the Italeri Horsa is the only glider still readily available in 1/72nd.
Stik> No one else answered your question, but yes, it was this glider in which General Pratt was killed. Hit the trees at 70-80 mph.
Thanks GAF, I am pretty familiar with the tale of that glider’s landing. The Airborne in Normandy is one of my areas of keen interest. General Pratt was seated in the co pilot seat and crushed on impact, while the pilot was thrown thru the windscreen and survived with injuries. At least that is how I remember reading it in “The Longest Day”. It’s been a few years since I last read the book
Stik, I’m trying to figure out the markings for the C-47 that towed this CG-4A. I know the pilot was Col. Whitacre, the group CO, but so far no luck on whether he used an HQ, or 72/73/74 sqdn airplane. Any ideas?
Off the top of my head, no idea… but now you have me curious about it… I know there were lots of photos taken on the afternoon of June 5th before take off, and some leaders like that sound like prime candidates for a photo. But searching for such an image…
Here is a link to a copy of the annex of aircraft commitments to the 434th’s Field Order for D-day. It shows the Group HQ aircraft were not tugs for the Chicago Mission
There is a roster of ships, gliders and aircrarew for the 73rd TCS, but they start at chalk 17 or 18 of mission Chicago, so the ones your looking for are not listed here… but getting closer… fascinating stuff to me!!!
Having gone through this process before, I have to say finding the markings for a particular C-47 are going to be difficult. You might try e-mailing Mr. Day at the NWWIIGPA for his input. I’ve found the guys at the museum to be quite knowledgable and very helpful.
Thanks, Stik and Gary. I’ve been to both of those previosly and didn’t read the listing correctly, now I understand that although chalk 1 was a C-47 it didn’t tow a glider. Chalk 2 of the 72nd sqdn is my best guess at this point.
I have sent an e-mail to the address you suggested, Gary, we’ll see what turns up. At the very minimum, I’ll use a CU code and a serial from a C-47 close to several that I have found were associated with the 434th at that time. I’m hoping for the real answer, however. It would be more satisfying.
