1/32 Aircraft

[CAT]CplSlade · Post by **[CAT]CplSlade** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:18 pm

Google tells me Grant Smith was part of the 325th FG, squadron 318 and Double Nuthin' was s/n 44-63165 and salvaged at some time in 1946.

The 325th was stationed overseas in Algeria and subsequently Italy. No Pacific service.

The checkertail was inspired by Colonel Robert Baseler's admiration for WWI ace Werner Voss.

Lt. Smith had fewer than 5 kills with the 318. I did, however, find a reference to the fact that he was the only 325th pilot to have downed BOTH German and Japanese aircraft. Turns out he was previously with the 13th AF and flew P38s and P40s, earning 2 Zero kills.

http://www.325thfg.org/index.html

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:28 pm

That explains the Japanese Kill Flags

In fact, I have a photo of it in one of my reference books The Encyclopedia of Aircraft of World War II (Amber Books 2004)

I cannot make out the "Double Nuthin" noseart in the picture, but that area is in a shadow in the photo, so it may be hard to see.

* * *

And just for kicks, photos of the other P-51Ds that 21c replicated, all from the same book:

"Mrs. Bonnie"

"Sharkmouth" (112 Squadron, RAF)

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:12 am

Cool, that's pics of the last 3 P-51D's 21C made in the superior tooling!

Well that explains the Japanese and German kill markings I thought I saw.

Did a little searching on the internets, and Grant Smith died in 2001

Can't find much on his 13th airforce service, but got caught up in the whole Guadalcanal story where the Army unit fought along side the Marines and Navy in the Cactus Airforce. Man that place was a living hell for a while there.

Wouldn't mind having a model of one of the first P-39 Aircobras the Army sent to help out there with the snarling teeth markings on the nose.

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Sun May 16, 2010 4:47 pm

Looking through my 1:32 collection of Zeroes, I just realized I didn't have the Saburo Sakai version.

Luckily I found one at this place:
http://goingoverthetopmilitarycollectibles.com/cart/

Most of the 1:18 stuff is pricey, but they had one 32X Sakai Zero. Looks like I got the last one for 19.99 plus 10.00 shipping.
Anybody ever bought anything from them?

I just discovered that I am missing the 32X "Princess" P-51 B/C.
I thought I had that one but turns out it was the "Bald Eagle" I got two of a while ago, so I got an extra of that maybe I can trade for the one I'm missing.

hworth18 · Post by **hworth18** » Sun May 16, 2010 7:25 pm

Greatmodels has quite a few 1/32 planes and some are on sale..

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Tue May 18, 2010 6:11 pm

Those are some sweet deals. I have all of them already though I wouldn't mind a couple of repeats.

Saving for another 32X I got a line on though, but
Thanks.

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Sun May 30, 2010 7:49 pm

Finally won me a British "Operation Tunsten" Corsair on ebay at 31.99 plus shipping.
That completes my Corsair 32Xtreme Collection. Whew, they never come up hardly.

Got a "Tarheel Hal" P-47 Thunderbolt last week for around 24.00. Don't really like the gawdy scheme but what the hell, I didn't have one.

Still working on getting the "Princess" P-51 B/C, but they are a little rich for my blood right now.
For some reason I bought 3 of the "Bald Eagle" P-51 B/C's, so I was thinking someone here might want to trade a P-51 for a P-51 anyone?

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Mon May 31, 2010 5:22 am

Got a "Tarheel Hal" P-47 Thunderbolt last week for around 24.00. Don't really like the gawdy scheme but what the hell, I didn't have one.

That's a good deal on the Hal, I have one, and like you I always thought the scheme was a bit outlandish, but it grows on you after awhile.

Nice score on the Tungsten Corsair as well.

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:21 pm

Thanks, that Corsair was tough to get. They either never came up or I got outbid and they went too high. Happy now.

Got me a P-51 B/C "Princess" just a few minutes ago for 36.99 + shipping. I'm ecstatic that I was able to nail that one finally. It was the last B/C I was missing.