New Releases for August 2017 - Inter-War Aviation (1 Viewer)

[ivanmoe]

Well I pulled the "trigger" . . . . . pre-ordered IWA-10, IWA-100, and IWA-200 . . . . . now I will have to get busy and re-organize my display shelves to make room for them . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Mike, seeing as how the release announcement was late this month, I bet your new sets are on someone's loading-dock as we exchange posts. I went a little crazy this go-round. For that reason, I'm kinda hoping that things get dragged out to the next billing cycle for my Visa Card!:redface2::wink2:

-Moe

 

[6th Wisconsin]

Well I pulled the "trigger" . . . . . pre-ordered IWA-10, IWA-100, and IWA-200 . . . . . now I will have to get busy and re-organize my display shelves to make room for them . . . .
:smile2: Mike

I like your style Mike. When you go for it, you go all in. That should be some display.

 

[6th Wisconsin]

Carrier based airplanes have always fascinated and appealed to me. These models with their carrier deck bases are fantastic looking. I am wondering now where this might lead and am hopeful that more types will be offered in the future such as the Gruman F3F, the Douglas TBD Devastator, and the Douglas SBD Dauntless . . . . . I am even hopeful that John decides to offer WWII Naval and Marine Corps carrier based planes someday . . . .
:smile2: Mike

I always loved the look of a Dauntless. That would be a winner for sure.

 

[mestell]

Mike, seeing as how the release announcement was late this month, I bet your new sets are on someone's loading-dock as we exchange posts. I went a little crazy this go-round. For that reason, I'm kinda hoping that things get dragged out to the next billing cycle for my Visa Card!:redface2::wink2:

-Moe

Moe, I understand that delivery to dealers is expected about mid month . . . . I had an easy July TS budget wise which allows me to make this pre-order . . . . mind you I am putting off purchasing any new Wars of the Roses or Wheels Across the Desert sets . . . .
:smile2: Mike

I like your style Mike. When you go for it, you go all in. That should be some display.

I don't know about style Dan . . . . . I told one of my suppliers that I must have my head examined from doing this . . . . . Makes me feel good though due to the dopamine effect . . . . gotta luv this habit, er, I mean hobby . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[mestell]

Something more I found to be interesting . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

​

 

[mestell]

Some more interesting pics from the internet . . . .

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[mestell]

VF-6B Fighter Squadron Six insignia
:smile2: Mike

​

 

[villagehorse]

I will be after all the ground crew for my carrier. There is enough here to span releases until Christmas. Robin.

 

[mestell]

I will be after all the ground crew for my carrier. There is enough here to span releases until Christmas. Robin.

I am with you on that Robin but with so many figures already pictured I have a feeling we will be collecting these into the first part of 2018 . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[ivanmoe]

Something more I found to be interesting . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

A: A compartment in the headrest housed a dinghy in case the pilot was forced to crash-land in the sea. This version also was radio-equipped.

B: The fuselage frame of all F4Bs was built of welded tube steel for strength. Stressed metal skins replaced fabric on the fuselage of the later versions, but all F4Bs retained a fabric- covered wing.

C: The undercarriage of the F4B needed to be strong. Even with the low speeds of biplane fighters, landings on carrier decks were often very hard.

D: The nine-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial was the forerunner of a family of engines that would power U.S. Navy fighters throughout World War II.

Pretty Geeky, Mike. I love it!:salute::

But, consider this for the arcane...{eek3}

There's a misprint in the release announcement for IWA-10. It indicated that the Bureau Number for the model that you purchased was BOEING F4B-4 A-9020. However, your pic above AND the model are both 9026. No reason to be concerned. As I mentioned, the BuNo in the announcement is a TYPO.

Those Bureau Numbers are a tangle in that Navy Aircraft were subject to reassignment at the drop of a hat, either as they were rotated through the O&R cycle, between units, or within the squadron. If a plane was struck or temporarily out of commission, a new one was sent down from the depot. Aircraft could (and were) reassigned within the squadron at the staff's discretion. In other words, the only aspect of the markings that was permanent was the BuNo located on the tail.

Jenkins' challenge was to establish concurrent livery for a section of VF-6 F4B-4, not an easy thing to do in the absence of proper documentation. "Plane Cards" kept for all USN aircraft do not note information other than squadron assignment and dates. Further complicating matters, the Navy did not require that squadron records, logs for instance, be preserved. No, if JJD wanted BuNo's for a section of aircraft, it was gonna have to find pics that brought them altogether. Black leader, or the #10 aircraft was no problem, in that it's so well documented, pictorially. #11 and #12 were going to be the challenge.

Which led the intrepid toy airplane designer (TAD) to a version of this image, the airship hangar at Moffett Field, circa 1935:

Note that I mentioned "a version" of the pic above. As shown here, there's not a great deal of information to be gleaned from the vertical fins of those planes, the place where the bureau numbers were located. However, the Navy does have a very special collection of TIF files that are derived from the original photos. The graphics file in this instance was approximately 6k x 4k and weighed in at a healthy 18 MB! It was from that file that these two images of Black 11 and Black 12 were found:

View attachment 217417

View attachment 217418

And that, sir, is the story of how the bureau numbers for these three models were obtained in graphical form, one quite easy, and the other two somewhat less so!:wink2:

Such is the role of photography in historical aircraft research!

-Moe

 

[mestell]

Moe, your knowledge on aircraft specifications and history just amazes me . . . . Thank you for continuing to share your knowledge here . . . . It's certainly appreciated by me as well as everyone else I am sure . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[ivanmoe]

VF-6B Fighter Squadron Six insignia
:smile2: Mike

View attachment 217419​

Mike, that''s a new version of the "Tomcatters" patch. The originals were black and white, like this one on the side of Butch O'Hare's Wildcat:

The Tomcatters have operated fighter aircraft longer than any other squadron in the USN.

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

Moe, your knowledge on aircraft specifications and history just amazes me . . . . Thank you for continuing to share your knowledge here . . . . It's certainly appreciated by me as well as everyone else I am sure . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Hehe, you guys just have to wade through my posts.. JJ has to read all my email! BTW, Al is the real historian around here. I'm a stick-and-rudder guy, with a little airframe and powerplant thrown in for good measure.

-Moe

 

[lancer]

Hehe, you guys just have to wade through my posts.. JJ has to read all my email! BTW, Al is the real historian around here. I'm a stick-and-rudder guy, with a little airframe and powerplant thrown in for good measure.

-Moe

Thanks for the compliment, Moe. Truth is, I'm know a decent amount when it comes to WW1 aviation, but I know just enough about inter-war and WW2 aviation to get myself in trouble with a true aviation buff. I know from our conversations that you are no slouch when it comes to these areas of study. Keep those posts and e-mails coming as they are hugely useful. :salute:: -- Al

 

[lancer]

Pretty Geeky, Mike. I love it!:salute::

But, consider this for the arcane...{eek3}

There's a misprint in the release announcement for IWA-10. It indicated that the Bureau Number for the model that you purchased was BOEING F4B-4 A-9020. However, your pic above AND the model are both 9026. No reason to be concerned. As I mentioned, the BuNo in the announcement is a TYPO.

Those Bureau Numbers are a tangle in that Navy Aircraft were subject to reassignment at the drop of a hat, either as they were rotated through the O&R cycle, between units, or within the squadron. If a plane was struck or temporarily out of commission, a new one was sent down from the depot. Aircraft could (and were) reassigned within the squadron at the staff's discretion. In other words, the only aspect of the markings that was permanent was the BuNo located on the tail.

Jenkins' challenge was to establish concurrent livery for a section of VF-6 F4B-4, not an easy thing to do in the absence of proper documentation. "Plane Cards" kept for all USN aircraft do not note information other than squadron assignment and dates. Further complicating matters, the Navy did not require that squadron records, logs for instance, be preserved. No, if JJD wanted BuNo's for a section of aircraft, it was gonna have to find pics that brought them altogether. Black leader, or the #10 aircraft was no problem, in that it's so well documented, pictorially. #11 and #12 were going to be the challenge.

Which led the intrepid toy airplane designer (TAD) to a version of this image, the airship hangar at Moffett Field, circa 1935:

Note that I mentioned "a version" of the pic above. As shown here, there's not a great deal of information to be gleaned from the vertical fins of those planes, the place where the bureau numbers were located. However, the Navy does have a very special collection of TIF files that are derived from the original photos. The graphics file in this instance was approximately 6k x 4k and weighed in at a healthy 18 MB! It was from that file that these two images of Black 11 and Black 12 were found:

View attachment 217417

View attachment 217418

And that, sir, is the story of how the bureau numbers for these three models were obtained in graphical form, one quite easy, and the other two somewhat less so!:wink2:

Such is the role of photography in historical aircraft research!

-Moe

Terrifically interesting post, Moe. True research can can really tough and complicated and it takes dedication to stick with it. Good job. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Hey Moe, now that John has produced such excellent F4B's, what about asking him to maybe do some Curtiss Hawk II's and III's in Chinese Air Force colors? I'm almost sure he has nothing else to do.:rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Hey Moe, now that John has produced such excellent F4B's, what about asking him to maybe do some Curtiss Hawk II's and III's in Chinese Air Force colors? I'm almost sure he has nothing else to do.:rolleyes2: -- Al

Hmm, might the best shot be at an export version of the P-26?

-Moe

 

[lancer]

Hmm, might the best shot be at an export version of the P-26?

-Moe

Good idea! -- Al

 

[mestell]

What's this? An empty 3-foot long shelf . . . . . um, I wonder what I could display on it. Been organizing shelf space in anticipation of IWA-10 and the first two USS Saratoga deck plates . . . .
:smile2: Mike

​

 

[ivanmoe]

What's this? An empty 3-foot long shelf . . . . . um, I wonder what I could display on it. Been organizing shelf space in anticipation of IWA-10 and the first two USS Saratoga deck plates . . . .
:smile2: Mike

View attachment 217438​

Mike, I don't want to step on the subject at hand, but your Jasta 11 models look great on those stands!

Back on topic...:wink2:

I'm gonna set the deck modules up on a square coffe-table, but will have to get a cover made for it.

The dust in TX will choke a goat, so you can imagine the plague it is on toy pilots!{eek3}

-Moe