First Lunar Landing Part 2

 

Ever wonder...

Ever wonder about aircraft from the Spanish Civil War?

Now I know that this is a subject, many of us may not think of, it is not as well known in the U.S. as it is in Europe, and many of us may just ignore it.

When I grew up, only one model company that I bought from, even had models featuring markings and paint schemes from this conflict, and that was MPC, which does not exist any more.

However recently, I have been thinking about this conflict, mainly because this was such a mis match.  Italy and Germany provided very modern aircraft where as England, France, Russia and the U.S. all provided mostly obsolete bi-wing aircraft for the most part.  The few mon-wing aircraft were not up the same standard as the opposition.

Yet this is a conflict, well worth modeling.

Here is a link to a page, that has images and information on the aircraft, markings, and camoflague used by both sides, but most importantly, model kits available for these aircraft.

Enjoy, exploring this aspect of history.
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/drnash/model/spain/index.html

My model of the Mobius Seaview

I have been a fan of the old TV series, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, since I was a little kid, I had one of the original Aurora kits of the Seaview when I was a kid.

About a year ago, I managed to find the Mobius kit of the Seaview,  This model is 1/128th scale and is nearly 40 feet long.  It comes with a model of the mini sub, the flying sub, and diving bell as well as the command and control room for the sub.

Here are some photos of the model, including some of it with the diorama I built around it.

Me with my completed model of the Seaview.

Seaview and the beginning of a diorama.  The rocks I collected from a near by rail yard, to where I work.

Seaview and diorama being developed.  Did not end up using the large rock with the flying sub on it.

Here you can see the diorama as it is currently.  Actually, there are more rocks, I did not move, but this gives a better idea of the diorama.

If you look carefully, you can see the diving bell and the mini sub in this shot.

Detail shot of the aft boat and the flying sub.

Yes that is the mini sub there.  Some of the rocks I painted and some I left as they were.  I used photos in National Geographic for guides on painting the rocks and the display bases as volcanos.

Seaview head on.  That is an actual piece of rusted metal, I found near the rail yards close to where I worked.

Final shot, for now of Seaview and diorama.

The completed SM-79

Here are photos of my completed model of the Italian SM-79 bomber, and a few surprises.

Almost done, just needs the decals.

SM-79 Bomber in front, German Ju-52 Tranport behind.

Side profile of both the SM-79 and Ju-52

SM-79 showing decals in place.

Never say that a model can't take flight.  Looks, like this one is flying over current day Denver.

My latest adventure

When I build models, I am always looking for a model that is new to me.  I mean I have favorites like everyone else, but I always like to try something different.

Currently I am working on a model that is brand new to me, both in the manufacturer and aircraft represented.

The model is the SM-79-1 tri engined bomber, used by Italy in World War Two.  This is the second tri motor aircraft I have built, the first being the Junkers Ju-52.

The kit is made by Italeri, and it is the first kit by this company, that I have ever built.

Why did I not build Italian aircraft before?

I really can't tell you this, I always loved the Italian paint schemes, but I just never got around to building any kits, until now.

The SM 79-1 was a modified version of the SM-79, a plane used by both the Italian Army Air Force and Naval air wings. 

When I got the kit, it came with markings for an Italian bomber used in the Spanish Civil war, as well as a pre war version and a version used later when Italy began their campaigns in lands like Ethiopia and North Africa.

Although there were some interesting paint schems, I wanted something a bit more interesting, lucky for me I am a member of a facebook site titled Ships-and-planes-silhouettes, which provides a variety of profiles of aircraft, armor and ships as well as profiles of pilots and crews.

I found a profile for the SM-79 as a night bomber, the plane painted almost entirely in black.  This scheme cried out to me, and I quickly began to paint my model for this version.

I have used Google to search for photos of the interior of this plane, so I have the right colors for things such as seats,contold panels and flight decks.

So far it has been a slow build, but for me that is the nature of the game. 

Here are some photos of my model as it looks now, and a few of the actual aircraft.

SM 79 having made successful anti shipping attack

SM 79 desert air base, North Africa?

SM 79 with clipped wing tips.

Early war markings and camoflague, based on paint scheme used in Spanish Civil war.

SM 79 Desert camoflague and setting.

Possible photo of  SM 79 with 257 Squadrigila 108th Gruppo 36th Stormo

Formation of SM 79's on patrol.

Flight of SM 79's ready to take off on a strike.

SM 79's low level approach.

Model representing SM 79 as it would have appeared in the Spanish Civil War.

Profile from Facebook group Ships and Planes Silhouettes.

Cover of Italeri 1/72nd scale model of the SM 79

Parts being painted Gloss Black.

Parts,instructions and decals.

Landing gear and gear foors installed.

A Forgotten Hawk, the Curtis P-36 Hawk-75 1939-1944

U.S. Army P-36 with no camoflague, Natural metal and Dark Olive Drab anti glare panel.  Because the Army had evualated the P-36 as not up to part for combat, they relegated the plane to use as a trainer and test bed for camoflague patterns.  The above P-36 was in a training squaqdron which explains the lack of camoflague and the larger markings.

My model of the  Curtis  P-36 Hawk in the paint scheme and markings of the French Air Force 1939.  Academy kit in 1/48 Scale

A second version of experrimental camoflague tested by the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1939

P-36's with experrimental camoflague 1939

Illustration of Experrimental paint scheme, less extreme, using White Orange and Bottle Green on upper and lower surfaces.

Another photo of one of the P-36 Hawks in experrimental camoflague 1939

One variation of the French Camoflague pattern used 1939-1940

Good look at a variation of the French scheme using two tone Brown and Green for upper surfaces, instead of the intermediate Gray.

Variation of standard French camoflague pattern.

Royal Canadian Air Force winter scheme using an intermediate blue gray and dark Olive Drab upper surfaces and light gray lower surfaces.  RCAF used the P-36 mainly as a training plane, although a few saw combat.

RAF Standard markings and camoflague for P-36 Hawk 75 in the CBI theatre 1942-44.  Note that the Red center meatball on the RAF markings has been omitted here, to avoid confusion with enemy aircraft.  Standard RAF camoflague of dark brown, dark olive drab and Sky Blue lower surfaces.

Captured French P-36, sold by Germany to Finland.  Standard German camoflague of Light Olive Drab, Black Green Light Sky Blue and Yellow cowl and lower wing tips.  The Fins used the Hawk 75 against the Russians' who had taken territory from Finland.

There are sources that indicate that an earlier version of the Curtis P-36 served in China between 1939 and 1941, this version had fixed landing gear that did not retract, and one rumor claims that Claire Lee Chennault, the man who formed the Flying Tigers, actually flew this version of the P-36 and had a kill record of around 50 Japanese aircraft by the time he started the Flying Tigers.  However, finding photos or any additional information on P-36's used in China is difficult.