Aces of WWII (1 Viewer)

[OzDigger]

Like a number of guys my age I got into military model collecting via plastic model kits that I used to assemble and paint with some skill, meaning not much skill at all

These days I am happy to collect a variety of ready made diecast aircraft and tanks that are much better than I ever hoped to glue together and I now have a cabinet full of 1/72 aircraft and tanks as well as a growing K & C collection.

Before I got into 1/72 diecast I collected 1/48 scale diecast aircraft made by CDC/Armour which is now owned by Franklinmint. I now have to many of them to display at once but here's a pic of some of the top aces of WWII.

From the back, left to right, we have

P-38 - 'Marge' that was the mount of top US ace Richard Bong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bong

Spitfire (Hobby Master) - a later version piloted by top British ace Johnnie Johnson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Johnson_(RAF_officer)

Bf-109 - flown by top German ace Erich Hartmann: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann

Spitfire - flown by top Australian ace Clive Cauldwell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Caldwell

The figure is 1/32 scale and is included to indicate aircraft size.

 

[Beaufighter]

OZ:

Thanks for sharing! I collect the Armour models as well. I have EVERY Mosquito variant they put out; the SBD Dautless Midway version; and Boyington's Corsair. No Beaufighter mdel yet though which is sad!!!

Tally Ho,
Beaufighter

 

[OzDigger]

The Mossie is my favorite aircraft, apart from the Lancaster of course. I actually switched form 1/48 to 1/72 as there are so many more molds available in the smaller scale and they take up less room which is a problem for me as I collect a variety of stuff.

I just snapped a photo of my Corgi Mossie and Ixo Beaufghter, both from ship-busting squadrons as you can see from the color schemes.

 

[OzDigger]

Here's a pic of the mighty P-47 Thunderbolt flown by 'Gabby' Gabreski. It's surrounded by a group of tanks from various countries which are also in 1/72 scale. This gives a good demonstration of the size of actual aircraft compared to vehicles. The 1/32 scale 'Ozdigger' has been marched out again for a size comparo

Btw, the P-47 is my only Matchbox (aircraft) mold being the only example of this aircraft in 1/72 that I could find. And even then I had to butcher a Corgi mold of it's landing gear to glue onto the Matchbox model which don't come with l/g.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Like a number of guys my age I got into military model collecting via plastic model kits that I used to assemble and paint with some skill, meaning not much skill at all

These days I am happy to collect a variety of ready made diecast aircraft and tanks that are much better than I ever hoped to glue together and I now have a cabinet full of 1/72 aircraft and tanks as well as a growing K & C collection.

Before I got into 1/72 diecast I collected 1/48 scale diecast aircraft made by CDC/Armour which is now owned by Franklinmint. I now have to many of them to display at once but here's a pic of some of the top aces of WWII.

From the back, left to right, we have

P-38 - 'Marge' that was the mount of top US ace Richard Bong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bong

Spitfire (Hobby Master) - a later version piloted by top British ace Johnnie Johnson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Johnson_(RAF_officer)

Bf-109 - flown by top German ace Erich Hartmann: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann

Spitfire - flown by top Australian ace Clive Cauldwell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Caldwell

The figure is 1/32 scale and is included to indicate aircraft size.

Oz,

K&C did Dick Bong's P-38 Marge (2007) and Eric Hartmann's Bf-109 (1995) (I own these) as well as Johnnie Johnson's spit (I think Bill Sager has it). Andy did several other Ace's planes over the years, and I have always loved the history.

 

[jazzeum]

Very neat Oz, really like the Beaufighter and the Mosquito.

 

[OzDigger]

Here's a couple of biggies. A PBY Catalina in British Coastal Camo together with a Boeing B-17 in classic silver finish, this aircraft is named 'Bit O' Lace' which has a scantily clad woman painted on its nose. The Catalina had large wings for a two engined aircraft which gave it a long service range of 2,521 miles. The B-17 (Flying Fortress) was not the most efficient bomber having a relatively small bomb load but it was reliable and well loved by its crews.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Here's a couple of biggies. A PBY Catalina in British Coastal Camo together with a Boeing B-17 in classic silver finish, this aircraft is named 'Bit O' Lace' which has a scantily clad woman painted on its nose. The Catalina had large wings for a two engined aircraft which gave it a long service range of 2,521 miles. The B-17 (Flying Fortress) was not the most efficient bomber having a relatively small bomb load but it was reliable and well loved by its crews.

K&C did the B17 "A Bit O' Lace" back in 1995 in both 1:32 and 1:48 scale (it is actually depicted in the main warbirds flyer, and was available in 1:48 scale from K&C, UK as recently as 2006). I have a similar K&C fort in 1:32 called the "Sentimental Journey". K&C also did PBY Catalinas, but I have never even seen one.

 

[tk7263]

Nice collection Oz,always loved ww2 aircraft.Your tile floor makes it looks like their taxiing out on a concrete runway
Eric

 

[Gideon]

I really liked those Armour planes when they came out. At the time when they first began production - mid 90's I think - I remember people coming into the shop just amazed at the detail.

This was certainly one of the companies that included modelers into the ready built market in a serious way.

Lou, how's that book coming along?

 

[Louis Badolato]

Lou, how's that book coming along?

The text and hundreds of photos have been in the hands of the sponsors, who are arranging for publication since January. We hope to hear something soon.