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World War II
Discuss WWII and the era directly before and after the war from 1935-1949.
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Eduard 1/48 Limited Edition Spitfire Mk.IX
chris1
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: October 25, 2005
KitMaker: 949 posts
AeroScale: 493 posts
Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 01:57 AM UTC
Hi Joel.
WOW. You'd never know how close to death that kit was.
A fantastic job.

What's next? A Hurricane? Another Phantom? Something German? But no more Spitfires or we all will start reciting Mals mantra.You can never have to many Spifires .

Cheers


Chris
betheyn
Staff MemberSenior Editor
AEROSCALE
#019
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: October 14, 2004
KitMaker: 4,560 posts
AeroScale: 2,225 posts
Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 02:17 AM UTC
Great work Joel. I am so glad that you persevered with this kit and finished it, it looks stunning, and you would never know it got stripped back.
This would make a great feature on the front page.
Andy
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
AeroScale: 7,410 posts
Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 02:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Joel.
WOW. You'd never know how close to death that kit was.
A fantastic job.

What's next? A Hurricane? Another Phantom? Something German? But no more Spitfires or we all will start reciting Mals mantra.You can never have to many Spifires .

Cheers

Chris


Chris,
Thanks so much for your most kind words.

As for what's next, just look at my signature: The Czech 1/32 scale multi media F2A-3 Buffalo. I've officially started it today after I grabbed a nap from working overnight. I must say that the kit is quite different from what I'm used to.

While my ever evolving building philosophy has now changed to up scale small or smallish WW11 aircraft like the Buffalo or even the F4F Wildcat versions. The cockpit is still somewhat overwhelming in size and scope, compared to my 1/48 scale addiction. So I'm planning on spending a good deal of time enhancing it.

Joel
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
_VISITCOMMUNITY
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
AeroScale: 7,410 posts
Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 02:58 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Great work Joel. I am so glad that you persevered with this kit and finished it, it looks stunning, and you would never know it got stripped back.
This would make a great feature on the front page.
Andy


Andy,

Thank you Andy.

I do plan on doing another feature article, with the Spitfire being the star.

Joel
SaxonTheShiba
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United States
Joined: February 01, 2009
KitMaker: 1,233 posts
AeroScale: 663 posts
Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 04:30 AM UTC
Looks great Joel. Glad you saved that one!

Best wishes,

Ian
Redhand
#522
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 20, 2013
KitMaker: 1,460 posts
AeroScale: 1,443 posts
Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 05:39 AM UTC

Quoted Text



As for what's next, just look at my signature: The Czech 1/32 scale multi media F2A-3 Buffalo. I've officially started it today * * * I must say that the kit is quite different from what I'm used to.



I just build 1/48, which can be annoying because that special version of an aircraft is only available in 1/72 or 1/32. Also, and this is just me, 1/48 has always felt like the perfect balance between size and detail.

But the Buffalo is special. It has a Wright R-1820 engine, and maybe the most varied and controversial performance record in all WWII for the number of airframes built.

The -3 at Midway is infamous, but the Navy got what it ordered. Funny how each succeeding version of this aircraft performed more poorly than its predecessor.

Are you doing a Midway aircraft, or one of the Florida trainers after the shooting stopped?

Brian
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
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Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 05:33 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looks great Joel. Glad you saved that one!
Best wishes,
Ian


Ian,
Thank you so much for those kind words.

To tell the truth, this just might be my only save ever! At least from what I can remember. Back in the good old 70's, it just seamed that working in 1/72 scale, a major screw up just ended up being tossed. Price, time invested (not much by today's build times), age, and a total lack of patience, and yes even a temper (which still makes an appearance every so often), all were contributing factors.

The Spit Mk.IXc will always hold a special place in my collection for being much more then a quality build.

Joel
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
_VISITCOMMUNITY
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
AeroScale: 7,410 posts
Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 05:57 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text



As for what's next, just look at my signature: The Czech 1/32 scale multi media F2A-3 Buffalo. I've officially started it today * * * I must say that the kit is quite different from what I'm used to.



I just build 1/48, which can be annoying because that special version of an aircraft is only available in 1/72 or 1/32. Also, and this is just me, 1/48 has always felt like the perfect balance between size and detail.

But the Buffalo is special. It has a Wright R-1820 engine, and maybe the most varied and controversial performance record in all WWII for the number of airframes built.

The -3 at Midway is infamous, but the Navy got what it ordered. Funny how each succeeding version of this aircraft performed more poorly than its predecessor.

Are you doing a Midway aircraft, or one of the Florida trainers after the shooting stopped?

Brian


Brian,
Like you, I've settled into 1/48 scale as my perfect scale for that balance between size, detail, display area needed, and even price. But as I've gotten older, I've gotten less tolerant of what I term as just too small scale versions of certain aircraft for me to really do a quality build on. And then there is the kit quality/accuracy factors as well just to make it a little more interesting.

So I evaluate each build on those factors, and now 1/32 scale now becomes a viable option for me. I'm even looking at a few F4F's in 1/32 scale rather then what's out there in 1/48, but that's some ways down the road.

The Cartograf decals were copywrited in 2007, and while they weren't packaged in a plastic bag, there shouldn't be any issues with them. I'm looking at doing the 6/4/42 Battle of Midway version: MF-15 01553 Capt. William C. Humberd USMC who actually Survived.

As for the Buffalo itself, the performance decreased as the Navy added modifications that increased the weight without an increase in HP, namely an extra gas tank to increase range. Although that 3rd gas tank that was located right over the bottom viewing glass, made looking through it next to useless, so that crews just painted right over it. Later airframes in the run didn't even have the fuselage look down glass.

Joel
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
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Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 06:11 PM UTC
Brian,
BTW, the version I'm planning on doing, just might be one of the most successful FA2-3s every flown in combat.

Capt. William C. Humberd (F2A-3 MF-15) B5N2 Bomber; A6M Zero; B5N2 Bomber Damaged.

Pappy Boyington actually flew Buffalos at one time. Here's what he has to say about the beast:

"It was a DOG!" (His emphasis). Then he slowly leaned back in his chair and after a moment quietly said, "But the early models, before they weighed it all down with armorplate, radios and other [auto-censored], they were pretty sweet little ships. Not real fast, but the little [auto-censored]s could turn and roll in a phonebooth. Oh yeah--sweet little ship; but some engineer went and [auto-censored]ed it up."

Joel
Redhand
#522
_VISITCOMMUNITY
New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 20, 2013
KitMaker: 1,460 posts
AeroScale: 1,443 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 01:28 AM UTC
Joel:

The Buff is one of my top five favorite A/C of WWII. A number of years ago I was incredibly lucky, after doing some begging at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, to be shown the "sole survivor," Finnish B-239 BW-372 pulled from a Russian lake. The staff there even let me get up real close and touch the old bird!! Thrilled beyond words and all that.

Of course, the Naval Aviation Museum finally saw reason and sent it to Finland, where it really belongs. It's their airplane, after all.

Your Spit build is a beauty. When I build an Eduard Spit, my first will probably be in USAAF livery.
chris1
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: October 25, 2005
KitMaker: 949 posts
AeroScale: 493 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 04:08 PM UTC
Hi ya Joel.
Doh..didn't think to look at your signature.
This may be of some help.hint hint.
Geoff Fisken RNZAF (highest scoring Commonwealth Ace in the Pacific) gained his first 5 kills in Buffalo mk 1s flying out of Singapore. In case you wanted to go non American.just saying.

I have the Buffalo aces book as a pdf should you need some research material.

Chris
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
_VISITCOMMUNITY
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
AeroScale: 7,410 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 05:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Joel:

The Buff is one of my top five favorite A/C of WWII. A number of years ago I was incredibly lucky, after doing some begging at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, to be shown the "sole survivor," Finnish B-239 BW-372 pulled from a Russian lake. The staff there even let me get up real close and touch the old bird!! Thrilled beyond words and all that.

Of course, the Naval Aviation Museum finally saw reason and sent it to Finland, where it really belongs. It's their airplane, after all.

Your Spit build is a beauty. When I build an Eduard Spit, my first will probably be in USAAF livery.


Brian,
Now there's a pretty neat side bar story. Like you, the Buffalo for some strange reason is a personal favorite of mine, yet marks such as the Vindicator aren't by a long shot. Go figure.

Thanks for your most kind compliment on my build. I'm already looking forward to your American marked Spit, although I suspect it will be another year or so before you can actually start it.

Joel

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