ChairmanMilo's Collection

Light.Inf.Scout · Post by **Light.Inf.Scout** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:24 am

Dude...you've got a problem.

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:14 am

I have received a lot of deliveries this week - the "Great Aviary Expansion of '08" is about to come to a close, with only about ten more birds in the mail. Just in time for my birthday tomorrow! I now have just as many Corgi birds as I have Dragon Armour tanks - a big improvement from when I had just a handful of pro-built models, Easy Models and two sad-looking Forces of Valor planes (the black Hurricane and snake Stuka).

Here are my three South Pacific birds - B-25J Mitchell "Heavenly Body" (Corgi AA35301), a P-38J Lightning "Marge" (Corgi AA36601) and a B-25D-1 Mitchell "Crabb 2nd" (Corgi AA35308). I had to rearrange my collection to fit these new planes in - the IXO Beaufighter had to go back in its box:

"Crabb 2nd", a great-looking plane:

"Marge" - I've been fascinated by this plane since I read "The Last Dogfight" by Martin Caidin when I was a kid:

Two new planes and two "old" planes - two RCN Sea Furies (WTW72015-008 and WTW72015-006), an Airacobra Mark I (Hobby Master HA1703) and a brand-spanking-new Lysander Mark IIIa (Corgi AA36804):

A P-40 Kittyhawk Mark IA (Corgi AA35207) as flown by Bobby Gibbes in Egypt, 1942. The nose art (an Australian kangaroo kicking a Nazi dog in the arse) is great. The "Nose Art" panel weighs more than the bloody plane!

My first Swordfish - a Mark I (Corgi AA36306) flown off of the H.M.S. Illustrious at the time of the great Taranto Raid. Is it coincidence that I ordered it while reading another childhood favourite about the Taranto Raid?

The divine Spitfire IX "Spirit of Kent" (Gemini Aces GARAF1007), an exclusive release sold by the people that keep the real plane in the air. The absolute best diecast Spitfire in 1:72:

The only clipped-wing Spitfire out there - my Spitfire LF IXE (Gemini Aces GARAF1002). The colour isn't perfect - I've read all the debates about it - but the plane looks great nevertheless:

My cheap Stanford Tuck Hurricane Mark I (Corgi WB99620). I don't have the time or energy to hunt down one of the ultimate Hurricanes - the AA Stanford Tuck Hurricane - so this is fine for now:

The RAF/RCAF collection so far:

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:24 am

A funny release by Witty Wings - P-51D Mustang "Stinky" (WTW72004-009). I don't think I'll order another Mustang from them unless they release another unique scheme like this:

A de-certified but great nevertheless P-40E Warhawk "Typhoon McGoon" (Corgi AA35211). I missed out on getting it on sale from Monkey Depot, so when this de-cert popped up on eBay for cheap, I couldn't help myself:

My second "Flying Tigers" P-40E Warhawk (Corgi AA35209). Another de-cert but I don't really care:

My first Corgi F4U-1A Corsair, "Marine's Dream" (AA33008), and I can't say I'm disappointed:

Another gigantic P-47D Thunderbolt as flown by David Schilling (Corgi WB99607):

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:41 am

The newest addition to my Red Air Force aviary, the tiniest plane in my collection - a Polikarpov I-16 (IXO Junior PIXJ000018):

My entire collection of Russian birds:

My only two French fighters - a Morane-Saulnier MS.406 (IXO Junior PIXJ000012) and Bloch M.B.152 (IXO Junior PIXJ000023):

A super-hard-to-find Messerschmitt - a Bf 109E as flown by Marseille in North Africa (Corgi 49204). The bird came to me in bad shape - the engine was loose and the tropical filter had fallen off of the engine cowling, but it has been repaired:

My latest Gemini Aces Messerschmitt Bf 109F (GALFT3006N) as flown by Hans van Hahn:

A new panzer - a King Tiger (H) (Dragon Armour DRR60049) picked up during the Monkey Depot's sale:

My latest Cromwell IV (Hobby Master HG3101):

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:30 pm

I haven't posted any photos lately because I have been busy with work and I haven't been receiving as much lately. I have most of what I wanted when I first started collecting - at this point I'm waiting for items to become available and/or to be released.

Here's my third Corgi Heinkel He 111 (AA33703) courtesy of a fellow Canadian collector. It will have to tide me over until I can get my hands on the Alder Tag He 111 that I'm hoping will be released later this year...

Here are my two Corgi Tuskegee Airmen P-51Ds - "Bunny" (AA32203) and "Creamer's Dream" (US32215):

One of my four Dragon P-47s, "Five By Five" (DRW50210). The nose art is great:

A Dragon P-47D as flown by Glenn Eagleston (DRW50126) and P-47C "Missouri Kid - Sho Me" (DRW50178):

My hugely expensive and extremely rare Fw 190A-6/R3 - the Corgi Flying Mule commission (US34308) that I was fortunate enough to pick up from louis, a member of MH2:

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:43 pm

A Gemini Aces Messerschmitt Bf 109F (GALFT3006N) as flown by Hans Van Hahn in 1941:

My Modelzone commission Corgi Hurricane (AA32014) as flown by George Burges during the air battles at Malta:

My second Corgi Wellington, a VIII (AA34704) as flown by RAF 221 Squadron special duties flight based in Malta in 1941:

Corgi Swordfish III (AA36305) as flown by 816 NAS in 1944:

Another item I was lucky enough to pick up from MH2 member louis, a Flying Mule commission P-40E Warhawk (US35209) as flown by Tex Hill:

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:52 pm

A tiny little IXO, the second-tiniest plane in my collection (next to my Polikarpov), a Brewster Buffalo (PIXJ000026) in Finnish colours. Shame that it doesn't have the correct markings...

A new Corgi Spitfire VB (AA31927) in Russian colours sitting next to the other Easy Model lend-lease birds in my collection (a P-40E Warhawk and Hurricane II):

Three F6F Hellcats - a Hobby Master F6F-5N night fighter (HA1105) and two Dragon Warbirds F6F-5s (DRW50325 and DRW50328):

My only 1:48 birds, both by Corgi - the Von Richtofen Albatros D.V (AA37801) and the Billy Bishop SE.5a (AA37202). The latter is of special significance to me because he was my childhood hero. I have a copy of the book I read in public school titled "Air Aces" by Dan McCaffery and I must have read the story about Billy Bishop a thousand times...

One of only four post-war birds in my collection - the Hobby Master CF-104 in "Tiger Meet" livery. I like it so much that I'm going to get the second RCAF Starfighter that's going to be released this year...

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:01 pm

I re-arranged my collection today. The shelf on my desk now contains all of my American warbirds - Mustangs on the top, Mitchells & Warhawks in the middle and Hellcats & Thunderbolts on the bottom (to keep it all weighted down!):

Gemini Aces P-51B Mustang "Bald Eagle" (GAUSA2001) that I picked up from PappyB at MH2 - it completed my Gemini Aces Mustang collection.

Gemini Aces P-51B Mustang "DING HAO!" (GAUSA2002) that Scott Merritt was kind enough to sell to me:

Gemini Aces P-51B Mustang "Ferocious Frankie" (GAUSA2005) that came from Scott Merritt's Merritec:

My complete Malta set by Corgi. In front are the new Gladiators - "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" which cost a pretty penny and were worth every cent. They all display well together, and as soon as I have a display cabinet they'll be on the top shelf safe from dust and clumsy hands:

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:11 pm

My night-fighting RAF collection, including a new addition - the Corgi Swordfish III "Newt" (AA36304):

My re-arranged RAF/RCAF Spitfire & Hurricane collection:

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire IIA (AA31930) and Hurricane IIC (AA32015) - the Modelzone commissions:

My Russian collection, including three recent additions courtesy of Scott Merritt - an IXO Ilyushin Il-2m3 (IXJ-2007-31), Lavochkin La-7 (PIXJ000010) and Yakolev Yak-9 (IXJ-2007-34):

Jagdpanther · Post by **Jagdpanther** » Thu May 08, 2008 7:11 am

Very nice collection ChairmanMilo!

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Thu May 08, 2008 7:35 pm

Thanks, Jagdpanther. If I had more room I'd be collecting 1:32 planes and more 1:32 tanks... but for now, my focus is on 1:72. People aren't kidding when they state that we were living in a golden era for diecast collecting... there are so many manufacturers and there is so much variety. It's getting hard to fit everything in my "man room"

[CAT]CplSlade · Post by **[CAT]CplSlade** » Thu May 08, 2008 8:04 pm

If someone did a study to determine the number of miniature military museums in civilian homes, I wonder what the result would be?

Chairman, how close are you to having a representative of every make and model developed for the wars covered by your collection? Seriously, you can go insane with this, right?

blurx7 · Post by **blurx7** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:52 pm

Great collection! But,wow...I thought I needed a twelve step program.

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:31 am

I may have picked up a few more diecast planes & tanks over the last week.

Here is my Modelzone Battle of Britain Memorial Flight by Corgi, right before I rearranged my collection:

2 Corgi beauties... my first B-24J, "Sleepy Time Gal" and my first B-17F, "Zoot Suiters" - both from Merritec!

My recently rearranged section of Corgi Swordfish, top shelf where they belong:

Recently rearranged gaggle of P-51Bs, P-51Ds, P-47Ds and F6Fs:

Two new additions: a US Navy SNJ-5 and a German Luftwaffe Harvard IV, both by Hobby Master:

Three IDF/AF birds by Witty - a Spitfire IX, an F-15D and an F-16C:

Two new Luftwaffe birds - the captured P-51B by Gemini Aces and the third Messerscmitt Bf 110G by Hobby Master:

My Vietnam collection in its entirety - all by Hobby Master: F-104 "Pussycat", the Ritchie F-4D Phantom II and UH-1B Huey "Train":

The "talk of the town" as it were...

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:34 am

My two newest Hobby Master tanks - an M10 tank destroyer an an Achilles IIc:

Jagdpanther · Post by **Jagdpanther** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:17 pm

Nice collection ChairmanMilo.

cheesecake · Post by **cheesecake** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:34 am

this guy is crazy

but his collection is as crazy as him...

really great collection chairmanmilo...
You should place them in diorama now... but your place seem to be limited

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:08 pm

Here are some new photos.

First, my Corgi 1:48 Albatros D.V (von Richtofen), Spad XIII (AA37901, Charles Biddle) and SE.5a (Bishop). I've had the Spad XIII for a month or so now, I just forgot to take a photo of the three of them together. They are displayed in the living room on the same Ikea shelf that the B-17F "Zoot Suiters" and B-24J "Sleepy Time Gal" are sitting on. My future wife understands that the space should be shared, and she likes to see my planes far more than the tanks. She positively hates the tanks, 1:32 or 1:72 - it doesn't matter how small they are.

My third Corgi Wellington (AA34805, a Mark VIII), the RAF Coastal Command bird. I hadn't planned on picking up another so soon, but Scott Merritt got his hands on a few of them and the price was right. I especially like the Leigh light. It's pretty bright. I had two problems with this bird - the major problem being that the right engine fell off. I seem to have a problem with Royal bloody Air Force planes' engines falling off. Anyhow, that was easy enough to fix (read: glue) just as the other problem was - the wireless antennae on top of the cockpit was loose.

My first two Dutch birds by Witty - a Spitfire IX (WTW-72-002-007) and a Sea Fury FB.11 (WTW-72-015-005). I am about to get my hands on my first RNLAF F-16, also by Witty (WTW72010-09 "Dirty Diana") and am still actively looking for the second Witty F-16, the hard-to-find Witty F-104G, the Corgi Meteor F.8 and Hobby Master F-104G. I take especial pride in my Dutch ancestry.

The long-awaited Corgi B-25J "Bats Outa' Hell" (AA35303). Scott Merritt was good enough to hunt one down for me and I am very grateful. It has by far the most attractive B-25 livery out of the four that I have so far and looks great sitting next to its older brother, the B-25D "Crabb 2nd" (AA35308):

My recently re-arranged collection. I have RAF and FAA on top, a mix in the middle of RAF, RCAF, RNLAF (not to mention the Luftwaffe Harvard IV and USN SNJ-5) and Luftwaffe on the bottom. I totally re-arranged my Luftwaffe birds to fit in the the three Bf 110s that you can clearly see there. The fighters look good the way I sorted them out yesterday - it's 109-190-109-190 etc. from side to side, with the Fw 190Ds and Gemini's captured P-51B sitting next to the Bf 110s.

I totally re-arranged my 1:72 armour as well. I took down my modern armour (it didn't really fit in with the rest in the cabinet) and broke out all of my Dragon Shermans, Tigers and Panthers. It was kind of pointless to display them in their plastic boxes on the shelf underneath - you couldn't see them at all. Considering that the most expensive Dragons that I own were down there, it wasn't a very good setup. Now they're pretty easy to see

My brand-new StuH 42 (on the right - DRR60357) with my prized StuG III (on the left - DRR60312):

Brand-new Tiger I hybrid (on the left - DRR60291) and yet another Tiger I hybrid (on the right - DRR60290), both representing units that fought with "Gruppe Fehrmann" in Germany close to the end of the war.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:46 pm

Man, all those Corgi planes look great! I've got such a small collection and there's some planes that I want to add eventually like the B-24, the JU-88 and the Wellington for starters.

While its not Corgi, you need to get your hands on the Hobbymaster B5N Kate torpedo bomber. It is very well detailed, has crew figures, and has a bit of historical significance as the flight leader's aircraft for the Pearl Harbor attack

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:53 pm

Some recent additions.

A 1:400 Gemini Macs Vickers VC-10 K4:

1:400 Canadian Forces C-17 Globemaster sitting next to the new VC-10:

New Israeli airpower! Witty F-15D "Ru'ah Pratsim" (WTW-72-006-007), Witty F-16C of the 101st Squadron (WTW-72-010-023) and Hobby Master A-4E of the 116th Squadron (HA1407). The right rear horizontal stabilizer on the F-15D was loose and required a bit of white glue to stay put. The unpainted zuni pods on the A-4E are a bit of a bother but the plane itself looks outstanding. I just wish I had more ordnance to mount on its weapons pylons! The thing was a bomb truck after all!

Newly expanded Vietnam War display. Isn't it great to see the first two Hobby Master Phantoms sitting next to each other? I'm glad I was able to pick up "Showtime 100".

Last but not least, my first WW2 warbird in 1:48 - the Hobby Master Spitfire XIVe as flown by J.E. Jones, sitting next to the Bishop SE.5a in the same scale! I thought it would be historically significant to have the top Commonwealth aces of both conflicts sitting next to each other - as I mentioned earlier, I plan on getting a Hartmann Bf 109G in the same scale by Franklin Mint to sit next to the Richtofen Albatros D.V (and the Fokker Triplane when it comes out later this year).

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:55 pm

^ Corgi Ju 88A (AA36703 - the Norway bird) with a Matchbox Spitfire II (Adolphe Vybiral) chasing it. Kind of.

^ Corgi Ju 88A-6 (AA36704 - the Italian job) with a Matchbox Spitfire Ib (Brian Lane) in close pursuit. Very close pursuit.

I was impressed at how great the Matchbox Spitfires look. They actually look a bit more detailed than Corgi's early Spitfires.

^ "The Shelf" - three top shelves of 1:72 aircraft, three bottom shelves of 1:32 armour. RAF on top, RAF with two USAAF in the middle and Luftwaffe on the bottom. For the tanks you've got heavy German armour on top, German early war & winter war armour in the middle and a mix of German tank destroyers & Allied armour on the bottom.

^ new aircraft arrangement. I pretty much left the Luftwaffe birds alone - it took me forever to make them look as good as they do.

The middle shelf got a complete redo. Now on display is the entire line of Gemini Aces Spitfire IXs, the Gemini RAF P-51B, the Dragon Warbirds USAAF Spitfire Vb (Levine), two Battle of Britain Hurricanes by Corgi (Bader and McKnight), four Corgi Spitfires (Bader, "Screwball" Buerling, Dick Audet David Crook) and the Witty Wings RCAF Spitfire IX. Lots of Merlins there!

The top shelf just had a few items added to it. Out are the "Merlins over Malta" set and the FAA Gladiator (behind the Swordfishes).

^ top shelf.

^ "Merlins in the Middle" shelf and the Luftwaffe shelf below it.

^ the armour.

All the Gemini Aces P-51B/Cs and the best of the Dragon P-51Ds. One can never have too many Mustangs. Unless they're Corgi. I do have Corgi (the Tuskegee Airmen P-51Ds, "Shangri-La" and "Missouri Mule" P-51Bs and "Hurry Home Hunny" P-51D) but I don't like to display them for some reason. I also have three Matchbox P-51Ds ("Shangri-La", "Old Crow" and "Petie 2nd") but I haven't figured out how to display them with Dragon stands yet. I don't have the room to display much more anyways... when "Snoot's Sniper" comes out I'll pretty much have no room at all for more.

Light.Inf.Scout · Post by **Light.Inf.Scout** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:57 pm

Please send me a pm with your address and times your home is not occupied. LOL

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:00 pm

tmanthegreat wrote:Man, all those Corgi planes look great! I've got such a small collection and there's some planes that I want to add eventually like the B-24, the JU-88 and the Wellington for starters.

While its not Corgi, you need to get your hands on the Hobbymaster B5N Kate torpedo bomber. It is very well detailed, has crew figures, and has a bit of historical significance as the flight leader's aircraft for the Pearl Harbor attack

tman - truer words have never been spoken. Hobby Master has released some truly unique warbirds over the last few years, and I hear you. The B5N looks great. I haven't started collecting Japanese aircraft from WW2 yet because I lack the space to add another theatre of war to my collection

Believe me, it's definitely on my 'to-do' list. Or rather, my 'to-buy' list. IXO has released some great Japanese fighters too that I'm also thinking about buying.

The Corgi B-24, Ju 88 and Wellington are all great moulds. It is very hard to make a bad decision when choosing one to buy. If you want some great photos, go here: http://www.tricatus.co.uk. His photos will help you narrow down what you want to pick up.

hworth18 · Post by **hworth18** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:26 pm

Chairman,
Your collection is absolutely, fantastic and getting better everytime I see it. It is good to see marriage hasn't slowed you down a bit.

Der Kommandant · Post by **Der Kommandant** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:53 pm

Nice collection!
Where did you get the German Mustang?