Same reply as in the other thread.

Bert Stiles wartime book “Serenade to the Big Bird”. If you haven’t read it, find the time and you’ll know why it’s top of the list 🙂

Dan

I wish someone would take a crack at Bert Stiles, “Serenade to the Big Bird”. So much more then a war story. IF and a BIG IF, they could somehow present the human element that Stiles gets across so well, then the airwar stuff around the 17s and Mustangs would be great background.

So much of what he talks about regarding the state of the world at the time, seems awfully relevent today

Dan

Growing up on USAF bases in the 50’s I suspect it was a C-47. While in Japan I remember seeing the “Baka” kamakazi on display at what was then Johnson AB.
But my biggest warbird thrill was after years of waiting, finally seeing a pair of fire fighting B-17s at Mesa Arizona’s Falcon Field in the summer of 1976.
I’ve rarely been so excited (aeronautically speaking) 🙂
Back then in the US, if you wanted to see some warbirds, there was a lot of travel involved.

Now that you mention the firefighting B17s, I do have a vivid memory of a formation of three of them headed north to fight the fires in Northern Minnesota. I was pitching a little league game and stopped to look up between batters. So that would be my first warbird sighting, not the KingCobra as the 17s would have been 1971-72

Dan

To capture and record then all those surplus, derelict and 2nd line unit Spitfires and Seafires that went on to foreign service, gate guardianship and the like and are now our world-wide extant fleet.

So perhaps if you just happen to be sitting on an early shot of a survivor and would like to make an old historian happy. 🙂

First in the line of this derelict bunch at 39MU Colerne, circa June 1948, is P7350 – now BBMF.

Mark

Photo by Norman Parker

Any XIIs in that line up? Can’t tell from the image but there are clearly some Griffon engined kites

Dan

Welcome Dog House Leader. It’s a great place to hang out. Just keep an eye on your wallet. Some of these guys will pick you clean if you don’t watch it 🙂

Dan

Yes, she now flies at the Palm Springs Air Museum here in the states. Registered to Pond Warbirds LLC as N114BP. When I last saw it in the mid 90s it was painted in a blue/green cammo and marked as WZ*P. I’ll try and scan a photo in the next day or so.

Yep, it seemed like they took the paint scheme from the Matchbox 1/32nd Scale Spit 22/24 kit.

Better known as the all red Spencer Flack Spit XIV.

Dan

The 338th FS used a 2 inch wide green band as a border between the OD and natural metal finish. HTH

Ugh! Now I’ve had folks tell me two different things. One definitive “its red” and now this one 🙂

Someone make up their mind!

Dan
Did this bird just for fun since I like the paint scheme

Very nice Dan.

If I may once again, the bomb rack under the wing would be a nice addition. Also worth of note, the early Ds did not have an handle on each side of the canopy, but just a small square, like on this picture:

Thanks for sharing your artwork 😉

OK, here are the two Mustangs, after the latest refinements based on folks observations. Added the bomb racks. Changed Da Quake’s artwork color and the rudder color. I added the little scoop over the flare gun hole beneath the canopy of Da Quake too. I’ve been staring at these off and on now for a couple days. No doubt I missed something so please point it out if so.

Shabby Abby, I’ve been doing these for fun along with lots of others. It took over for model building as a hobby. No glue on the canopy this way 🙂 Not sure what you need, but I’ll help if I can. I’m learning as I go

Dan