These P-40’s were all painted with the “Tiger Head” and from what I have read, were all painted by hand. No two would be exact, but they would be close. If you can find pictures of the squadron lined up on the flight line, you may be able to pick out differences between airframes. I would suggest, you use what looks best for your interpretation on the “Tiger Head” and get whatever information you can on the aircraft’s in squadron number, whatever it may have been. I am due to receive a book later today, focusing on the Aleutian campaign, and I’ll see what it has to offer. I have to admit I know only a little bit on that theater, and since doing this Group build, have come to realize it was more than just a diversion for Midway. Hopefully this book will have better info than what I have seen so far.
One more thing I can say, is that they all sported OD over NG, with yellow, (Insignia yellow?) spinners and hub caps!
up until this build I can say I knew almost nothing. I was doing a little research because I know the SBD-3 I am doing shouldn’t take all year and starting on it this Saturday I will be done before Christmas. Jan. or Feb. so I was wanting to line up a second build and a potential 3rd. If I get to a third the third will either be the PBY-5 (Midway) or a B-24D (Alutian). JUst jumping back in I want to keep the builds basic and focus on painting and seam filling…
@Pj_s_thunderbolt Best advice for any GB. Keep It Simple. Don’t go trying a hard model kit, conversion, or diorama. Just do something you know will be easy. Once you’ve fulfilled the object of the group build, then you can think about something more complicated. If you don’t finish that second build, it’s still good because you’ve already accomplished the primary goal.
Gary
[In my best Robert De Niro] You talking to me? Are you talking to me? Huh? [LOL]
I tend to do my best to overreach, because it’s how I gain greater experience, taking on something that’s beyond my regular capacity.
I am going to attempt at least one airplane kit, though it will depend on cost and availability as to whether it will be a(n) :
A6M ‘Zero’ ;
B5N2 ‘Kate’ ;
D3A1 ‘Val’ ;
SBD-3 ‘Dauntless’ ;
F4F-4 ‘Wildcat’ ;
TBF-1 ‘Avenger’ ;
PBY-5A ‘Catalina’
or one of many other potential candidates, most of these I built as a kid (between age 12 and age 15) and had hanging from my ceiling at one time.
I also have been toying with the idea of some 1/700 waterline ships on an ocean display. I have been thinking of having a lineup of the principal aircraft carriers; the Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu on one side and the Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown on the other with a plaque reading: “Two Sides; One Outcome,” on it with the, “Battle of Midway; 4-7 June 1942,” just below that in larger lettering.
Of course those are just initial ideas, not plans. That said, the idea mill doesn’t stop churning and Military History has a fair amount of brain cell memory allocated in my head, so… no promises.
I AM planning on at least one aircraft, for certain. HOW that will be displayed is subject to imagination, materials on hand and ability to get at it regularly. Anything else will be, as they say, ‘gravy.’
Count me in! I pretty much exclusively build ships, and have been wanting to build an IJN ship for a while. Not 100% on which one I will go with yet, but leaning towards the IJN cruiser Tone. For those who do not know, the Tone played a pretty significant role at midway…
Carrier Striking Force: Tone served in Cruiser Division 8 alongside her sister ship Chikuma, acting as part of Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo’s mobile aircraft carrier strike force.
Reconnaissance Duties: Tone was designed specifically for long-range scouting and launched floatplanes to search for American warships on the morning of June 4, 1942.
The Delayed Sighting: One of Tone’s scout planes (Tone No. 4) spotted parts of the American fleet and radioed a sighting report, but administrative delays in routing the message contributed to confusion that hampered the Japanese response and contributed to their defeat.
Outcome: Tone escaped the battle without major damage from enemy carrier aircraft and was later detached to support operations in the Aleutian Islands before participating in subsequent campaigns in the Pacific.
Why is it that everyone forgets it was Admiral Fletcher who was in overall command at Midway? Guess because of his action at Guadalcanal.
Gary
Sounds like a man who knows his Midway! Welcome aboard BB!
As a late substitution Spruance got it done. Overall a great group of naval leaders at a critical time.
King had a hard on for Fletcher, and he made no bones about that. Once Yorktown was knocked out of action with the first attack by dive bombers, and he had to move his flag, he put Spruance in overall tactical command while he shifted his flag.
King blamed Fletcher for Lexington’s loss, and then called him timid for not pursuing the Japanese at Coral Sea more aggressively. In my opinion that wasn’t fair at all. Fortunately, Nimitz had the faith and wherewithal to back Fletcher and stay between him, Fletcher and Adm King.
A little background for anyone who hasn’t been following my Dauntless adventure. I’m building an SBD-3 for the Midway Group Build, but discovered that my kit, despite being boxed as an SBD-3, actually contained part 183, which belongs to the earlier SBD-1. The correct part, 283, wasn’t included in the kit at all.
Fortunately, a mysterious forum benefactor came to the rescue and sent me the missing part!
Well, part 283 arrived today, and I finally got to compare it side by side with part 183. I have to admit, the differences are surprisingly subtle. In fact, they’re hardly noticeable at all! After all the discussion and effort to track down the correct part, I had to laugh a little when I finally saw them together. Still, it’s nice to know I have the right part for the aircraft I’m building.
A big thank-you to our mystery benefactor for making this possible! I now have everything I need to finish my research and get started on an accurate SBD-3 for Midway.
Of course, first I need to finish my F-86 from the Korean War Group Build and my F-4 Phantom from the Japanese Group Build. Hopefully, both will be finished by the end of this month!
Oh, and somewhere in there I need to figure out what I’m going to build for my own Unarmed & Unafraid Group Build, which is coming up soon. Apparently, I don’t have enough projects to keep me busy! 
I still haven’t truly decided on a build at this time. I seem to be ‘rabbit holing’ down to a Yorktown Flight Deck display of one of her aircraft.
I remain uncertain if that’s an SBD-2/3 Dauntless, F4F-3 Wildcat or a TBD-1 Devastator.
If one of those comes into my hands, I will get cracking pretty much immediately and set it up for a Flight Deck moment of some sort. I have gotten a lot of reading done on the deck construction, inclusive of the arresting gear, barricades, bomb elevators, landing lights, flood lights, etc., so I am thinking I might like to do a ‘coming in for a hot landing’ display. Mostly 'cause I think it would look cool.
If time allows and I can find them, I am still thinking of doing an aircraft display of the IJN and USN carriers. I originally wanted to do them at 1/700. Now I’m thinking, if possible, I’m going to see what’s available in 1/1200 or smaller (kind of a cheat for details, though).
Meanwhile, work on my flight deck testing materials proceeds apace.
Owl,
The SBD will be a -3. All carrier based SBD’s were -3’s. The Marines did fly the -2, but they were based on Midway itself and were mixed in with Vought SB2U-3, “Vindicaters”
All the carrier based F4F’s were -4’s. As with the SBD-s, the Marines also flew the F4F-3 mixed in with the F2A-3
All the carriers had the TBD-1, and six USN TBF-1’s also flew from Midway.
I hope this can help in your decision process?
Cheers,
Freddie
Thanks, I’ve been looking out online and the Aircraft Complement for the USS Yorktown indicated both SBD-2 and -3 units.
I didn’t ask my question properly. When I asked, “Aircraft Complement of USS Yorktown CV-5 at battle of midway,” I got the correct complement of aircraft.
Originally I asked Aircraft Complement of Yorktown CV-5
and it gave me the other designations (which were changed after December 1940).
So again, thanks for that.
I’m in. I have an F4F-4 on the way from Squadron that I could hold off a bit from building.
Count me in with building the GWH 1/48 TBD-1
If you want to double check, I posted a loose Order of Battle for both the Japanese and the American side. All the major combatant ships, their Air groups, Squadrons and the aircraft they flew. Even the Aleutians Operations are listed there. It’s not 100% as far as every single thing listed, but what IS listed, you can bet it’s accurate.
Welcome aboard!! Which kit are you building?
Glad to have you! Great kit too!!
Yeah, I used that initially, but you know how rabbit holes are. Once inside, you keep finding side paths in the burrowed hole and next thing you know, there’s this small table with two bottles and both say, “Drink me.”
It’s part of the issue with going down that hole in the first place – it’s easy to lose perspective of the start point.