[Fresno Bob]

I've had some interest in WWII fighter planes for years but haven't taken the time to really learn about them apart from being able to identify a few of them. I've started reading up on a few planes and that's lead me to start buying Maisto Tailwinds. Does the die cast madness ever end? lol

I've bought 4 that are in the focus area of WWII but I've already strayed, I bought an AH-64 Apache yesterday haha. As far as WWII stuff goes, I have a B-17 Flying Fortress, a Spitfire MK.Vb, a F6F Hellcat and a Messerschmitt Me-262 so far. Looking at Maisto's site, I see a few more to keep an eye out for. It really does never end lol.

 

[1970AMX]

Obviously, straying is part of collecting

 

[Fresno Bob]

No doubt, straying has made it more interesting. I've told my story on how it started of only meaning to be Chargers and '59 Caddies before, we all know how well I kept with that idea hahaha.

 

[Diablo_Fire]

When I first started collecting again I swore I would not collect anything other than Fire, Police, and EMS die cast within a few months I started adding Military, and now I have gone and added a lot more to my collection than what I started out with.

I currently have two WWII aircraft in my collection A B-24 and a Hellcat. My grandfather was a belly gunner on the B-24 and I like the Hellcat.

 

[1970AMX]

I have a couple of 59 Caddies including this one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/M2-Machines...85320?pt=Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item35b032ca68

 

[Fresno Bob]

When I first started collecting again I swore I would not collect anything other than Fire, Police, and EMS die cast within a few months I started adding Military, and now I have gone

I currently have two WWII aircraft in my collection A B-24 and a Hellcat. My grandfather was a belly gunner on the B-24 and I like the Hellcat.

I give a salute to your grandfather. Watching footage and seeing pictures of the inside of the planes, it really puts me in awe of the bravery those men had. The B-24 is one that I'm on the lookout for too.

I had some family that fought in WWII, the only one I got the chance to be close to was my grandfather on my mom's side. He was definitely a story teller but that was something he never talked about it and although I was always curious, I never felt it was right to ask. About the only thing I know is that he was in the Army. I'll always be curious but at the same time, I feel it was meant to be that those memories died with him.

 

[Lummox]

Some belly gunners met a sad ending if the landing gear failed along with the workings of the ball turret itself.
Your Gramps was one of the lucky ones!

I'd sure like to let those twin 50. cal Browning rip. Must be quite a rush in the belly of the beast!

 

[Diablo_Fire]

I give a salute to your grandfather. Watching footage and seeing pictures of the inside of the planes, it really puts me in awe of the bravery those men had. The B-24 is one that I'm on the lookout for too.

I had some family that fought in WWII, the only one I got the chance to be close to was my grandfather on my mom's side. He was definitely a story teller but that was something he never talked about it and although I was always curious, I never felt it was right to ask. About the only thing I know is that he was in the Army. I'll always be curious but at the same time, I feel it was meant to be that those memories died with him.

My grandfather was not one to talk about what happened. But he did tell my father and I about a few of his experiences and I have to say he was lucky to walk away.

Some belly gunners met a sad ending if the landing gear failed along with the workings of the ball turret itself.
Your Gramps was one of the lucky ones!

I'd sure like to let those twin 50. cal Browning rip. Must be quite a rush in the belly of the beast!

My father told m that he and my grandfather were sitting on day drinking beer together and my grandfather told him about the time that he almost bought it when they had trouble getting the torrent up. The plane was all shot to Heck and they finally got the torrent up just a few minutes before the plane was landing.

My Grandfather's Medal and his belt buckle along with a picture of my Grandfather

I still have his medal's and his belt buckle. I will be wearing the belt buckle this weekend.

 

[Full Flaps!]

It's amazing how dangerous being a part of a bomber crew in WWII was. If you made it through a full tour - which was twenty five or thirty missions if I'm not mistaken, you could count yourself very blessed. I think the expected lifespan of a crewman was a mere six missions. Daylight raids flying through flack and facing down enemy fighters. Today it's hard to imagine the fortitude required to make a crew get in that plane and go out there.

@ Fresno I recommend one of my favorite books on WWII aircraft, specifically the German ones. It's called Wings of the Luftwaffe by RAF test pilot Captain Eric Brown. It's long out of print but still available on Amazon. The author recounts his personal observations and stories evaluating captured German planes. The book also includes fantastic cutaway drawings of each plane discussed with descriptions of various parts. An awesome book!

 

[STUTZ]

I'm hooked on Corgi WWII fighters and bombers.

Here's a HW Corsair and a Corsair made by Corgi.

A JL Thunderbolt and a Corgi Thunderbolt.

A HW Cougar and a Corgi P-40 Kittyhawk (two cool cats).

A JL Mustang and a Corgi P-51D Mustang.

The WWII bombers made by Corgi are very detailed. I like my B-24 Liberator the best. The machine gunners in the bomber really make the model.

My wife going on the cat walk of a B-17.

She's a waist gunner in a B-24 Liberator.

 

[STUTZ]

Probably made favorite picture, a 1937 Shrock Brothers Studebaker and Spitfire made by Corgi.

 

[Fresno Bob]

Those are great, STUTZ! Definitely a huge upgrade in detail from the Maistos lol. I think the Maistos are nice for what they are, but them Corgis are amazing. I can definitely see one or 2 of those ending up in my collection.

 

[STUTZ]

Those are great, STUTZ! Definitely a huge upgrade in detail from the Maistos lol. I think the Maistos are nice for what they are, but them Corgis are amazing. I can definitely see one or 2 of those ending up in my collection.

Check eBay Bob (search for Corgi 1/72). Sometimes they are very reasonable. The BIN auctions usually don't sell unless a bidder is looking for a specific model with specific markings. Most of the Corgi WWII fighters were made in the early to mid 2000's, and they have very nice detail at a reasonable price. WARNING!......If you get one, you will want more than one.

I'm still looking for a P-47D Thunderbolt and a P-51D Mustang with Red Tails markings (the new "Red Tails" movie will make it pricey), and a John Glenn P-51D Mustang. I have several different P-51D Mustangs made by Corgi, but I really want the Jonn Glenn model.

 

[STUTZ]

Here's a 1:32 scale P-51D made by Corgi Bob. It comes with 3 figures, but I didn't include them in the picture.

My pictures don't do this model justice. There are more than several moving parts, and this model is heavy.

This P-51D was at my local airport a few years ago. You could fly in it for $725 for 30 minutes, and you could'nt believe how many people were willing to pay $725 for a 30 minute flight.

Last year a P-51C was there and it was $2200 for 30 minutes, and you had to make reservations to fly in it. A was shocked when I saw a young boy no older than 13 years of age get off the P-51C Mustang. His grandfather escorted him off the runway (someone said he was a congressman). I wonder if our tax dollars paid for the flight.

 

[Fresno Bob]

Thanks for the info and the pics! I'm sure I'll end up with one and I'm sure, like you said, it'll only lead to more. I know how that goes! haha

I'm not much for flying period so the thought of getting in the air in one of those does scare me but at the same time, I think I'd really want to if I had the chance. Thinking about the fact that people flew in those while being shot at kind of puts things into perspective. I doubt if I could fit in one though lol.

 

[dirtracer51]

It's amazing how dangerous being a part of a bomber crew in WWII was. If you made it through a full tour - which was twenty five or thirty missions if I'm not mistaken, you could count yourself very blessed. I think the expected lifespan of a crewman was a mere six missions. Daylight raids flying through flack and facing down enemy fighters. Today it's hard to imagine the fortitude required to make a crew get in that plane and go out there.

@ Fresno I recommend one of my favorite books on WWII aircraft, specifically the German ones. It's called Wings of the Luftwaffe by RAF test pilot Captain Eric Brown. It's long out of print but still available on Amazon. The author recounts his personal observations and stories evaluating captured German planes. The book also includes fantastic cutaway drawings of each plane discussed with descriptions of various parts. An awesome book!

25 missions. 1 bomber did it in the entire european theatre and it was the memphis belle

 

[STUTZ]

25 missions. 1 bomber did it in the entire european theatre and it was the memphis belle

The B-17G Nine-O-Nine did 140 missions dirttracer51.

Check the link below.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-O-Nine

 

[STUTZ]

The Nine-O-Nine was at my local airport last year (about 3 miles from my house). The picture below was taken in the Nine-O-Nine.

 

[STUTZ]

Walking through the Nine-O-Nine

Here's a video of the Nine-O-Nine at the Allegheny County Airport last year. You can see the B-24 and the P-51C in the background. You could fly in any of the three WWII planes.

The catwalk is narrow!

Walking through the Nine-O-Nine.

 

[Tone]

If you like the Maisto and the Corgi die cast plane models of WWII subjects then you'll probably like the Play Art series from the 70s. Though hard to find, they are still relatively inexpensive and Play Art made a great variety, though not as great as the variety of road vehicles.