Awesome, absolutely awesome. I just returned from vacation and luckily got to spend a morning alone at this musuem. Simply incredible. The simulated flight deck with the Dauntless, corsair and wildcat were incredible.
I am building an SBD by academy. What is the Midway paint scheme? Is it gry on grey or blues?
Also, watched Midway for the 999th time last night. Did those Japanese torpedo planes have fixed landing gear?
Can’t stand Midway. They used what ever combat footage they could get their hands on, whether it was right or not. Yes the scheme is bluegray over light gray. The MAPS museum here in town has the fuselage of a SBD that was shot down. It is bluegray over light gray, and has the red outline around the star. Taht indicates that scheme lasted on some a/c until june, 1943.
I agree about the Museum. I too got to spend a whole morning alone there last summer. It was incredible! After seeing their SBD, I also decided I have to build one. I got a 1/72 SBD, but I haven’t really started on it yet. I’d like to put lowered dive flaps on it, but I can’t find any aftermarket sets for that scale. Maybe I’ll come across one…
God Bless!
Kevin
I second that! NEVER use that movie as a reference source for modeling. Only the Japanese dive bombers had fixed gear.
I do not think the red outline on the star is correct for Midway. The insignia was the blue circle with a white star within it -No bars. The red circle within the star was removed not long after the Battle of the Coral Sea. The bluegray over gray is correct.
How do you spend just one morning? I have been there several times and have spent the whole day. I can spend several hours in the snack bar just looking at what they have on display. [;)] Fugi films loves me when I visit. [8D] [8D]
I liked Midway, but never as a resource. That should go without saying. Eduard makes a fantastic photo-etched set for the Dauntless in 1/72. My jaw dropped when I got it.
Sorry if I confused anyone on the markings. The Midway markings are just the star in circle. The red surround was added a year later. I was just commenting that the camo scheme lasted another year on some a/c.
I remember going to the NMNA when I was little (around the 3rd grade) and was very impressed. That, and it being on Pensacola NAS is what started my love of Naval aviation. The U.S.S. Lexington was in port one time when we were visiting and I got to see her. When my dad got transferred from Keesler AFB we never went back. Someday I’m going to go back and visit.
Berny13: I would have loved to spend longer at the musuem but the one morning was all the time I had. I’ll be back someday, though…
God Bless
Kevin
Got my wings in that museum, underneath the Blue Angels.
But I gotta ask - who on earth VACATIONS in P-cola in July? 
That’s just CRAZY!!!
Just kidding - can’t always pick our vacation times!
Just some clarifications: Academy doesn’t make an SBD kit. Methinks you might mean Accurate Miniatures (or Hasegawa) in 1/48, or Hasegawa in 1/72 scale.
The national markings for the Midway period would have been simply the blue circle with white star. The red dot in the center of the insignias and the red-and-white rudder stripes were painted over or removed during the spring of 1942. It’s interesting to note that at first the Navy enlarged the national insignias right after Pearl Harbor in an effort to reduce friendly fire incidents. This of course also enlarged the red dots. Then, I think, in February or March 1942, they recinded the order and had the red dots painted out.
Come the summer of 1943, white bars were added to the insignia, and at first, a red border was painted around the bars and circle. By fall of 1943, the border was changed to blue, once again eliminating red from the insignias. Of course, the red stripe in the bar appeared in 1947.
Also, when you guys and gals are there, check out the 1/72 scale model of the WWII USS Enterprise on the mezzanine. The members of my local IPMS club (Richard I. Bong Chapter, Milwaukee) made all the aircraft (all from Hasegawa kits).
Mr. Boyer- As a modeler, the Enterprise was one of my favorite parts of the Museum. Incredible!! It was also neat to see its aircraft in the May issue of FSM. Your IPMS chapter did an excellent job!
God Bless
Kevin