I'm in with a Tamiya 1/48 F4F-4 Wildcat

Any tips on the best source for decals that are representative of a machine from the Battle of Midway - they seem to be scarce !!

Cheers

Paul

Paul,
my plan for a 1/72 TBF Avenger is to use the "TBD Devastators in War" set from Starfighter Decals-- I know they do 1/48 too. They specialize on interwar and early WW II US Navy, so you might find something good for you at www.starfighter-decals.com too. I haven't ordered them yet, so I can't say what the quality is like though, but I see them available on several sites and direct from their site.
-Sean.

Paul,

Welcome aboard! Honestly, US markings at Midway were very simple and you can probably use the kit decals to do your Wildcat (assuming Tamiya decals don't turn you off). Depending on the ship, the only letter/number codes carried were usually an F followed by an individual aircraft number, either in white or black. I know this is heresy and I will no doubt be excoriated by the aftermarket companies, but there really wasn't much to them.

By the way all, here's the current list I have of who has joined and committed to something:

1. Bruce Miller/Grayghost666: Ship or TBF
2. Jesper/SgtJKJ: A6M2
3. Allen Berry/Tomcat31: SBD
4. Bob R./BigRip74: F4F
5. Naseby: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
6. Robert Melvin: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy
7. Jeremy H/vonHengest: TBF/poss. 1/700 Japanese carrier
8. Vance/vanize: SBD, B5N or D3A
9. Naseby: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
10. Jim/potchip: Diorama of Japanese carriers being attacked
11. Aaron Newlands/611_sqn: D3A 1/48 Hasegawa
12. Sean Hadfield/windysean: TBF 1/72 Academy
13. Daniel Chavez: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy or Japanese ship
14. Paul Pawlak/ppawlak1: F4F 1/48 Tamiya

Technically we have 19 enlistees so far, but not everyone has said what they're building (like me, for instance )

Three months to go! Really looking forward to it

Michael

My choice(s) aren't set in stone, still checking out options, but I am leaning towards one of those

Jeremy,

Good lord! I'm just keeping a list (anal, remember? ). In no way is that supposed to be committing you to anything. You build what you want as long as it fits into the Campaign!

That goes for everyone, just kind of feel like keeping track is part of my job for coming up with this thing, feel free to change your minds (I always do )

Michael

I understand, just keeping you in the loop Michael
There are seriously a lot of good choices for this campaign...

Paul,

After a little further research in the Bible (which is to say, John Lundstrom's The First Team), I can tell you the following about F4F markings at Midway:

National insignia was the white star in blue circle only. No red center, no red/white rudder stripes

Looks like the wing insignia for all three carrier squadrons was about 50" in all four wing positions.

Fuselage insignia was a "medium" size (not huge like they had been), about mid-rear fuselage in VF-3, a little further back in VF-6 and VF-8.

VF-3 had white aircraft numbers (no squadron designation, no F) on the fuselage in front of the insignia and on the cowling and top of the wing panels. They also had small Felix the Cat insignia below the windscreen.

VF-6 and -8 had larger aircraft numbers in similar positions but black and with an F in front of them (still no squadron designators, no "-") Neither of these units had squadron insignia.

Looks from photos like the small "Navy"and "F4F-4 Bu.No." inscriptions on the tail were all black in all three units.

Hope this helps some!

Michael

I have decided that I will go with the Pit Road 1/700 DD Ayanami

Gotcha Jeremy! The list so far:

1. Bruce Miller/Grayghost666: Ship or TBF
2. Jesper/SgtJKJ: A6M2
3. Allen Berry/Tomcat31: SBD
4. Bob R./BigRip74: F4F
5. Naseby: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
6. Robert Melvin: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy
7. Jeremy H/vonHengest: IJN Ayanami 1/700 Pit Road
8. Vance/vanize: SBD, B5N or D3A
9. Naseby: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
10. Jim/potchip: Diorama of Japanese carriers being attacked
11. Aaron Newlands/611_sqn: D3A 1/48 Hasegawa
12. Sean Hadfield/windysean: TBF 1/72 Academy
13. Daniel Chavez: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy or Japanese ship
14. Paul Pawlak/ppawlak1: F4F 1/48 Tamiya

With about 2 1/2 months 'til we start, we already have 21 enlistees If anyone else has given any thought as to what they might want to build, or you have changed your mind from what I have on the list above, let us know! Personally I'm thinking of going for a collection, like all the fighters, dive bombers, torpeckers; something like that. Looking forward to it in any event!

Michael

Wow Naseby is doing Two Wildcats ! Dont push my or or or ,or I will do a Devastator instead !

Fine! DO a Devasator! See if I care! You'll only be teaching YOURSELF a lesson!

Sorry, guess I got a little over zealous.

1. Bruce Miller/Grayghost666: Ship or TBF
2. Jesper/SgtJKJ: A6M2
3. Allen Berry/Tomcat31: SBD
4. Bob R./BigRip74: F4F
5. Naseby: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
6. Robert Melvin: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy
7. Jeremy H/vonHengest: IJN Ayanami 1/700 Pit Road
8. Vance/vanize: SBD, B5N or D3A
9. Jim/potchip: Diorama of Japanese carriers being attacked
10. Aaron Newlands/611_sqn: D3A 1/48 Hasegawa
11. Sean Hadfield/windysean: TBF 1/72 Academy
12. Daniel Chavez: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy or Japanese ship
13. Paul Pawlak/ppawlak1: F4F 1/48 Tamiya

Michael

I've ordered my decals. Come June 7th, I should be able to hit the ground running!
-Sean.

Just a little bump. Less than two months to go and 22 enlistees!

Michael

Awesome!

Any tips on working with 1/700 ships?

One more bump.

A little more than two weeks to start, we have 23 enlistees! Those who have an idea of what they're going to build are:

1. Bruce Miller/Grayghost666: Ship or TBF
2. Jesper/SgtJKJ: A6M2
3. Allen Berry/Tomcat31: SBD
4. Bob R./BigRip74: F4F
5. Naseby: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
6. Robert Melvin: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy
7. Jeremy H/vonHengest: IJN Ayanami 1/700 Pit Road
8. Vance/vanize: SBD, B5N or D3A
9. Jim/potchip: Diorama of Japanese carriers being attacked
10. Aaron Newlands/611_sqn: D3A 1/48 Hasegawa
11. Sean Hadfield/windysean: TBF 1/72 Academy
12. Daniel Chavez: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy or Japanese ship
13. Paul Pawlak/ppawlak1: F4F 1/48 Tamiya

If I've missed anyone or screwed someone (Nasby) up, please let me know. I myself am starting to lean towards the Trumpeter 1/32 SBD-3 in Wade McClusky's markings. But given my inability to concentrate (look, a Hurricane!!)... Well, we'll see.

Hi ho everyone, getting close now!!

Michael

I am in with the Hasegawa 1/72 Dauntless.

Michael,

Excellent, welcome aboard! I look forward to seeing the B-25 too!

1. Bruce Miller/Grayghost666: Ship or TBF
2. Jesper/SgtJKJ: A6M2
3. Allen Berry/Tomcat31: SBD
4. Bob R./BigRip74: F4F
5. Naseby: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
6. Robert Melvin: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy
7. Jeremy H/vonHengest: IJN Ayanami 1/700 Pit Road
8. Vance/vanize: SBD, B5N or D3A
9. Jim/potchip: Diorama of Japanese carriers being attacked
10. Aaron Newlands/611_sqn: D3A 1/48 Hasegawa
11. Sean Hadfield/windysean: TBF 1/72 Academy
12. Daniel Chavez: USS Hornet 1/350 Trumpy or Japanese ship
13. Paul Pawlak/ppawlak1: F4F 1/48 Tamiya
14. Michael/flyboy92187: SBD 1/72 Hasegawa
15. Michael/MichaelSatin: SBD-3 1/32 Trumpeter

Hi,
US Martial here. This is my first group build and I am looking forward to the experience, to say the least! I'm a wing-thing guy with a moderate stash of 1/32
birds, including a Doyusha Type 21 Zero, plus the Trumpeter SBD4 and F4F-4. I'm thinking at this point that the faster, simpler Zero would be a good starting point (get the juices flowing before going on to the more challenging Tumpeter kits). This will be my first Japaneese subject and if anyone can make any suggestions regarding paint selection, decals or cockpit detail improvements, I would be very appreciative. Incidentally, the kit includes a decal set for an aircraft stationed onboard the "Souryu" circa 1941, along with some fairly mystifying paint instructions, hence the cry for help. Thanks in advance for your help.

US Martial,

Welcome aboard! That's 24!

I'm sure you'll get all the help you can handle here, but to start Soryu was (of course) at Midway and unless I'm very much mistaked I don't believe the markings for the Zeros changed much or at all between Pearl Harbor and Midway, so what the kit has should be OK (correct me if I'm wrong here anyone!) There's always http://www.j-aircraft.com/ as well, a wealth of info there.

If needed, I have the Tamiya 1/32 A6M2 and am planning on using alternate markings, so if you'd rather have some Tamiya kit decals we may be able to work something out. They have markings for all six Pearl carriers, so four of them should work for Midway too. Let me know!

Michael

Michael,
Thanks for the info and the generous offer. As I get into the actual building I'll be very glad to explore the options available with the Tamiya decal sheets. I'm really looking forward to this campaign and making some new friends along the way. One immediate concern I would like to address ASAP is the cockpit question. I understand that the kit is pretty decent otherwise but seriously in need of upgrading in that area. I read somewhere that the original incarnation of this kit was designed for a battery-driven spinning propeller effect and that the dimensions of the cockpit area are way off as a result. Any help on solving that problem will be greatly appreciated. Again, many thanks!

One difference: Soryu was flagship of 2nd air fleet during Pearl, aircrafts had 1 blue fuselage band. Before Midway, flag transferred to Hiryu, so Soryu aircrafts had 2 blue fuselage bands instead.

@Usmartial : Welcome to the campaign and good luck with Your build.

Ok so we are near the starting line, so its time to make some last time changes. Since I didnt have time to look for a Wildcat, PEs, canopy masks and suitable decals for it, I decided to change in favour of the Hasegawas 1/48 D3A1 Val which I have in the stash with masks and som PEs. I will try to find some info on the machine flown by Lt. Michio Kobayashi (1914-1942), leader, Kanbaku Buntai (bomber wing), Hiryu, Leading Carrier, Second Carrier Division, First Carrier Striking Force, Combined Fleet of the Imperial Navy, who was the leader of the first strike against the Yorktown and was shot down and killed in this attack.

Potchip,
Thanks for the Soryu fuselage band change info. I've learned something new already. As an aside, I recall reading a very enjoyable account of the battle of Midway back in the mid seventies entitled "Midway: Incredible Victory". I may have to find a copy and re-read it just to refresh my understanding and appreciation for the valor and skill of the brave men who fought and died there. Thanks again.

The Official campaign thread can be found Here

As the official thread is now open for posting this thread will be locked

Enjoy your campaign

Sam