World War II biplanes are getting some new kits these days, and that suggested a campaign theme to me. How about one focusing on these basically obsolete, but still game, combat aircraft of World War II? I figure we'd cover the Spanish Civil War and the "China Incident" as well to give us the broadest coverage.

I'd be looking at an April start date. Any interest?

Michael

Intriguing, got a Grumman J2F Duck in the stash. Not sure I'll be ready to start in April. Since rigging is involved will it be a standard 6 months or longer. Would be my second rigged bi-plane, still a rookie.

I'm down with going longer due to rigging.

Michael

Sounds interesting!

Have a Fiat CR42 I could build to add my Malta collection. And on the lookout for a Sea Gladiator.

Oh well... I have this absolutely horrible history with campaigns but I love the subject! I shouldn't but - I'm in!



Magnus

I'm also in, probably with Hs 123 from Spanish Civil War.

Giving this one a bump. We have 5 so far.

Michael

If you are running it for a year I am in. I have a Swordfish I have been wanting to build.

If you run it for a year then I'm in.

Got a couple of kits in the stash that would fit.

Michael, we may need a list of candidates. I've got an F3F-2 and SBC Helldiver that might qualify. The F3F-2 has markings for a trainer used up til '43 and there was a squadron of Marine SBC's on Samoa until 1943.

Hi all,

i'm in for a one year campaign with a spanish war He-51.

Nico

Mark,

I would consider either of those as qualifying. I figure if it was a biplane and flew with a military organization at any time between 1936 (the Spanish Civil War) and 1945, then it would fit in this campaign.

Michael

Kewl, Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Great! We're at 9.

Michael

I'm in! Got more than enough of these!

That's 10! I'll see about getting it set up and will let you all know.

Michael

OK, this campaign is up and ready to enlist. To look at the rules and sign-up, go here. Since biplanes normally involve rigging and folks like some extra time for that, it will run from 1 April, 2020 to 1 April, 2021. Looking forward to this one!

Michael

I have an Old matchbox British bomber biplane. I Will have to do some research to check if it fits the time period. Otherwise I Will find something else in the stash. I recently invested in some flexible rigging wire - that would be fun to try out.

More to follow

Research was quick. The Handley Page Heyford will be my build for this campaign. Served from 1934 to 1941 in the RAF, so should fit perfectly.

It is an old kit, but should still look good despite a detail level that does not fit today’s standards. Nostalgia is unbeatable though

Here are a few photos of the real thing. Starting picture of the kit at a later date.

Wow Jesper, have fun with that one!

Michael

Back for another spat. Has been gone for a decade, but will start again due to illness and unemployment. Have a Fiat CR42 and a Gladiator in the stash. Both flew in the Swedish air force during WW2. Will have to roll the dice over which though.
One Gladiator scored three victories over Finland during the winter war, and that one calls for attention.
Lillen

Good to have you back Tony!

Michael

Michael,

Since this is a full year campaign I will join later with one of the easiest rigging biplanes ever, the Henschel 123.
Got the AMTECH kit (the old Esci moulds) with some serious good AM resin from Vector to beef up the kit.

Cheers
Pedro

Well. Campaign start is coming up, and I've been trying to choose target. A J8 Gloster Gladiator from the Finnish winter war, or a J11 Fiat Cr 42 from the Swedish neutrality defense?
The Gladiators were fitted with skis during the main operation, and I've got the wrong model for that. The Finnish insignias are available on separate decal sheets, but the skis are only possible to find in 1:72. Mine is a Roden in 1:48, without skis.
I have found a photo in a book about the F19 wing (which the volounteer force was called), which shows my specific plane after the operation, but before overhaul and refurbishing back to Swedish Air Force standard. Since the flight home took place in Swedish airspace, all Finnish insignias were overpainted with "macho" and comical symbols. These are also available on decal sheets.
If anyone here have an idea where to find, and order, aftermarket skis, I would prefer to do the Gladiator in "warpaint", but if that is as hard that I have found, I might go "skull and bones". It's an odd look, after all.
Alternative 3 is a J11 Fiat. One of the F9 wings Fiats were left undone when the castor oil systems were rebuilt to more modern standards. A visiting General, who wanted to try a modern biplane, apparently got confused by the odd smell, and crashed the plane at take-off. That too is an individual, worth modelling.
The only problem with that is that the mottling on the Fiat scares me a bit. I haven´t held the airbrush for over 15 years, so I guess I need a bit of practise before attempting something like that.
It seems my picture links does not work. Either I've forgotten how to put them in correctly, or Google Photos is a bad choice of source. Any suggestions?

Tony,

I don't think I can help with the skis, but did you use the [img] button below the reply screen (last button on the right)? That brings up the code necessary to paste in a link to an image.

Michael