Been gone for a long time but to recap, Im an avid builder of early WW2 aircraft (those who kow me from long ago know that already [;)]), I have recently been working on a 1/48 B-17D, and a 1/48 LB-30 (export version of B-24). Both bombers were essentil to the early war aireal campagin in the pacific. I want to build a series of early war versions of fighters to complement the bombers. What would be some good additions in the form of early versions of the fighters that fought in the pacific. I can build any type I want, (have all the kits and books for them) but I just figured Id let someone else decide where to start for me.[:D]
Hey thanks, I tell you that LB-30 is a reall b%#@ to build, I gutted the entire interior and have had to make over 200 new parts for the interior, reshape the prop blades, scavenge some new hubs for the props, and …Ill just tell ya when I put my post up when I finish it, way to much tp type this early in the morning plus I m at work and really shouldnt be doing this[:D]
TAdan -I built up a generic early P-40E for the pacific already and have not decided yet if I want to build my academy P-36 so soon, I do have the Hasagawa P-38E but again the same thing. I would like to tackle tha Monogram P-39 I have siting around, maby gut that too and build a new cockpit. Although I do have the Monogram 1/48 P-51B, I have wanted to strip that of everything but the wings and feusalage and scratch the rest with some Tamiya stang parts in there.
How about the P-35, P-43 or P-66? They fought a bit west of the PTO, in the CBI, but they have an interesting history, especially the P-43 with it’s AVG ties, and the unusual history of the P-66 9though it’s hard to find a kit).
I’d like to get around to those myself.
The Buffalo would be a neat subject. I don’t know how early in the war the Commonwealth Boomerang flew… seem to recall about '42… but that’s an interesting and unusual kit.
How about the legendary “Ghost P-40” with bamboo skis? [;)]
What are you talking about? Isnt that why we go to work, to have time to post on the forums. While at home there are too many “chores” that need to be done. Plus at home you should be building. Put your time at work to good use and post away!!!
Ya got a point there, So I guess Ill just sit here and post here and at WW2AA till I have to go home, boy It looks like another tough day at work.[:D][;)]
VA, I like the idea of someone doing an LB-30. I plan on doing an LB-30B with the long nose the same as a B-24D, and a Martin turret amidship over the wing. For the engine cowlings, I plan to use ones from another Consolidated product, the PBY as they used the same R-1830 engine. I believe Reuben Fleet used many similar parts across many of Consolidated’s aircraft. I remember reading in one of the B-24 books that the B-24 and the Coronado had the same part numbers for the tail assembly so the engine cowlings should be similar. I plan on doing AL 613, an LB-30B used in the Aleutians and then rebuilt as a cargo aircraft. Its’ original Aleutian 28th BG pilots saw it at Tacloban in the Phillipines and it ended up at Kingman after the war. I am also working on 2 original B-26’s used by the 77th BS and the 22 BG in New Guinea. I am also doing a the only combat B-17B used, 38-216.
You could do a P-400 used in the South Pacific showing it being uncrated and assembled by the mechanics of the 67th FS in the mud as depicted in the book, “The Ragged, Rugged Warriors” by Martin Caidin…
Hey before you do anything crazy remeber this, before you build an LB-30B you have to build a B-24D? What I mean by that is you have to first fix whats wrong with the D-kit before you can backdate it and there is a hell of alot thats wrong with this thing, one major one being the fuesalage is 1/4 inch too shallow past the waist gunners to the tail gunner, so you have to put in a shim.
I have put about 200 new parts into the model, I basically scratch built the entire interior the only thing origianl is the cockpit floor but that was even heavly modifyed.
Its one hell of a bird when done and will really make heads turn.