Beginnings of my 1:144 aircraft fleet

[Dauntless]

Da Germans planes. Like both of these.
IXO / Altaya Me-264 Amerika Bomber
The wing span is longer than the fuselage. I assume for high altitude flight. I wonder if they had planned on any gunner positions for it if it went into production and how many?




He115 Floatplane

[Epap]

The Germans fooled around with the ME-264 idea for years but only made three prototypes, only one of which flew. The whole idea was scrapped after poor results on the prototype. I don't think any gunners were intended for the wings on this one.

[aferguson]

the 264 is one of the few 1/144 altaya/ixo/amercom planes i need to pick up still. It's an interesting bird. The long wings were for increased range, as it was intended to fly to New York and back (long wings reduce the relative amount of wingtip vorticies and thus the drag, thereby increasing range)....they would allow higher altitude flight too, of course. There were gunner stations planned (not in the wings though) but none were on the prototype that flew and it is thus represented correctly on Altaya's model.

[Dauntless]

You can still get them at a couple places across the pond.

Like to see the drawings for the one that had the gunner stations planned (not on the wings obviously)

Interesting that the JU-390 was the aircraft that won the competition for "Amerika Bomber"
A Ju-290 modified for six engines and an extended fuselage etc.
That would be something to behold. The Ju-290 is already huge.

Unverifiable claims that one Ju-390 flew within a few kilometers of New York in 1944.

[aferguson]

yeah i know but they're like $50 with shipping. I don't want to pay that much for one. I'm hoping it gets reissued in some future subscription.

[Epap]

According to William Green's book, "The Warplanes of the Third Reich", the planned armament for the ME-264 was 1 13mm machine gun in a forward dorsal position, 1 20mm canon on an aft dorsal position, 1 13 mm machine gun firing forward through the nose glazing, two more machine guns---one per side----firing from beam positions and one 20mm canon firing from a rear ventral position.

[Epap]

Here's an artist's rendition of the ME-264 with its guns:

[Dauntless]

That's cool.
Interesting you don't see any ventral turrets on axis bombers, but other types of gun positions.
They never quite developed them correctly I guess like the US.

Yeah Aferg, that seller is quite high on his shipping. Funny I can get four Altaya bombers shipped from another seller for around the same price. He does have some good stuff though like the British wheels up Catalina I haven't seen anywhere else.

I would pay those prices for a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley maybe.

[Epap]

Usually, I don't do much weathering/staining on my 1:144th scale models----a few of the B-24s and B-17s being exceptions, but I recently did some work on a Corgi Short Sunderland, which now looks like it has seen a good deal of service :

[JollyRoger]

Very nice weathering Epap. Looks real

[Dauntless]

Very nice weathering on the Sunderland Epap.
Probably get a Cafereo, as the prices on the Corgi are high these days. Are the Cafereo's a good Sunderland, anybody got one?

While looking for 1:144 Luftwaffe I came across the Projekt Flieger Popy series of late war and experimental aircraft. Can't find much info on them, or availability, except for some outrageous prices. Anybody know about them, who made them, availability?
I thought they would kinda go with the obscure Luftwaffe theme I've been on lately.

[Epap]

Thanks, guys. Although I don't have them, I've read very positive reviews of both the Cafe Reo and IXO versions of the Sunderland on other forums. Weight aside, both seem to offer good detail and are somewhat less seam gappy, though the Corgi model is perfectly acceptable in this regard----in my opinion.

[aferguson]

i have the Cafereo Sunderland and it's quite good. The only problem is that it doesn't have any of the radar aerials on it, like the Corgi does. At one point in the war all Sunderlands had them and both of the Cafereo paint schemes should have them. The Corgi aerials are WAAAY overscale but at least they are there. So, you either have to live without them or scratchbuld them. The Altaya is the third choice for sure being not overly accurate in wing plan view and the least detailed...it also does not have the radar aerials and they are starting to go for a pretty penny. Too bad they didn't issue it in an early war scheme because then the radar aerials wouldn't be needed.

The Popy Project Flieger series was from about 7 years ago. Made by Bandai. They made some interesting stuff which, as you noted, fetches high prices now. Unfotunately the series was discontinued before very many types were made but if you can find them at a good price they would be neat to have. Hopefully somebody redoes this line someday as i think there would be a high demand for it.

[aferguson]

so i just caved and bought the Me 264 and British Catalina from an Ebay seller. Worked out to $40 each. Yuk.

The interesting thing about the British Catalina is that it has the markings of the plane that first spotted the Bismarck, when the Royal Navy was hunting it in '41, which allowed the Swordfish attack.

[Dauntless]

Was hoping it was that version.

A little different with the landing gear up and detached. With the wing floats up, flying.

[Dauntless]

A few more IXO twins. Crappy camera

Ju-88, I think this one is my favorite scheme of the IXO Ju-88's, though it's my first so maybe get another. It's well done for 1:144.


Ju-188
Anyone know what the stirrup like thing is around the front of the canopy? Radar?


A-20 Havoc
This scheme of La France Libre' is going to be Hobby Master's first A-20 livery in 1:72.

[aferguson]

the stirrup thing on the ju-188 is a cable cutter. The ju-188 did a lot of low level attacks, especialy maritime and there we usually barrage balloons around so the cable cutter would, well, cut the cables on the balloons. Not all ju-188's had it but many did. It's a bit crudely done on the altaya model.

[aferguson]

anybody know what unit the Ju-88 with the squiggles that Dauntless shows above belongs to?

there's also a third Ju-88 by Altaya (actually Amercom reissue)....does anyone know anything about what unit it's from?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Junkers-Ju-88-G ... 19d33ed920

[Dauntless]

Cable cutter huh. Doesn't look like it could cut one very well. Though maybe in a retracted position?
Thought most would protrude way out there and around the props like the He-111.

Never noticed till you mentioned it, but the squadron insignia on the Ju-88 looks a lot like the skull & crossbones of the SS.

(edit) looked it up, it's the 54th Kampfgeschwader Bomber unit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampfgeschwader_54

The Amercom doesn't look too bad in the night bomber scheme (can't quite make out the insignia) but opted for the squiggles over polka dots. The other IXO desert Ju-88 looks horrendous.
I'll put together an F-Toys green version before deciding to get another diecast one.

Wish there were more He-111 in correct green colors.

[aferguson]

thanks for the info on KG54

the wings on the 188 had cable cutters in the leading edges, and the props would cut cables, so you just need something to protect the nose of the plane and that's why the cable cutter was so small looking.

I learned the polka dot ju 88 is from early '44 during the Baby Blitz on London....corgi did the same scheme in 1/72.

[Dauntless]

Interesting the props could cut cables. When I worked for a little FBO at the airport a prop strike of any kind meant the engine had to be overhauled. Must be tough engines.
Seen that Corgi Baby Blitz 88, but the Amercom is a heck of a lot cheaper. I'm good with that.

My first F-Toys fighter put together, a Ki-43 Oscar.
Much harder to deal with than the bombers because they are tiny. You need tweezers, good reading glasses and a lot of patience. They flubbed the canopy though.



Decided to buy a bunch of Mikeg's 1:144 21stC fighters he had up for sale, and they are on the way. I know some of the old 21stC planes are not as good as the newer gashapon examples, but they were reasonable and I don't have to put them together, 'cause it's a pain in the a**!

[aferguson]

wow......that canopy on the Ki 43 is really hurtin'. eesh. There are model kits of ki-43's. Maybe you can find a cheap one and use the canopy from it to replace the F toys one. Surprising, their stuff is usually pretty good.

Did 21st Century make a 1/144 ki-43? I know Bandai did but they're hard to find.

[Dauntless]

Yeah kind of a bummer. If I find an extra canopy I'll be lucky unless I just get another. At a distance it's not that noticeable.
Had a couple of problems with the F-Toys fighters so far. This one and an Me-262B with two right horizontal stabilizers. The seller just sent me a new plane.

Don't think 21st made a Ki-43, but they did make the Ki-84 Frank which is unusual. Most of what they did make is well known iconic single engines.
Still have to get others from F-Toys and Cafereo etc.

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

Interesting the props could cut cables. When I worked for a little FBO at the airport a prop strike of any kind meant the engine had to be overhauled. Must be tough engines.
Seen that Corgi Baby Blitz 88, but the Amercom is a heck of a lot cheaper. I'm good with that.

My first F-Toys fighter put together, a Ki-43 Oscar.
Much harder to deal with than the bombers because they are tiny. You need tweezers, good reading glasses and a lot of patience. They flubbed the canopy though.



Decided to buy a bunch of Mikeg's 1:144 21stC fighters he had up for sale, and they are on the way. I know some of the old 21stC planes are not as good as the newer gashapon examples, but they were reasonable and I don't have to put them together, 'cause it's a pain in the a**!

Talking bout small parts, wait till you get around to the F4F, or a Kingfisher

Anyways, is F-Toys still releasing new models, or no?

[Dauntless]

Yeah I got one F4F, but don't think I'll put it together yet as it's the special O'Hare Wildcat. I want another 1942 version.
Are they hard to put together? The Ki-43 was a beaach. The smaller planes in general are harder assembly.

The last single engine release I think was the Wildcat, Hellcat, Dauntless assortment? It's already got some hard to find pieces.

Heard you say the 1:144 21stC Hellcat was a good one no? Can't hardly find the F-Toys F6F for a good price. Got a couple 21stC Hellcats from Mikeg coming in so problem solved.

Just ordered an F-Toys Marine Corsair on ebay. They are starting to get scarce and going up. Tried to find the best deal I could, and no one else makes one I think?