Sweet Eloise II

In remembrance of Canadian Warplane Heritage founder Dennis Bradley who passed away last week at 81.

One of the surprise visitors to Flying Heritage's Skyfair  yesterday was the newly restored A-26C Invader 44-34313/N4313. Owned by Mr. Bradley in the early 90s and flown in French markings on behalf of the Canadian Warplane Heritage as C-GHLK, the Invader has been repainted into its Korean War markings as "Sweet Eloise II."

We Stand on Guard for Thee

On Thursday the “We Stand on Guard for Thee - Aviation in Canada” display was installed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.  I lucky enough to be the curator of the display which runs for the next three months. Thanks to all my NWSM peeps for your assistance and models. You rock!

AZ 1/72 Bell AH-1G Cobra

This is the AZ AH-1G kit done as a "representative" Cobra for a new Vietnam display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. A friend flew a AH-1G named "Henchman II" in theatre and he has provide me with tons of period photos of his aircraft. My plan was to build his helo, but sourcing decals in time was a problem.

The AZ kit is an odd mix of nice and not so nice.  The cockpit detail was pretty decent, but the tub didn't fit so well.  On the other hand, the fuselage and sub wing fit was excellent.  The canopy was thick, cloudy, and fit was so-so.  It reminded me of a Matchbox kit, as if their design aesthetic was update to reflect 2010s technology. But next time I'll try the Special Hobby kit...

Dambuster Tribute

Sitting at the model desk contemplating the Dambuster raid which took place on this evening 75 years ago. The Lanc Project Part 2 will be both a Dambuster tribute and my own personal #RAF100 build. Now to decide which aircraft to model...AJ-F flown by Ken Brown, AJ-T flown by CanAmerican Big Joe, or AJ-N crewed by Canada’s last surviving Dambuster Fred Sutherland?

Slowly Turning Olive

The AZ Cobra rushes to the finish line.  Saturday saw final sanding, canopy masking, and Alclad Grey Primer applied.  After a tad more sanding on Sunday, I pulled out the Gunze Olive Drab acrylic and blasted paint.

I didn't have any masks for the kit, so I did it myself with Aizu masking tape.  Canopy masking is a modeling weakness, but the Aizu tape was a revelation.

Cobra!

AZ 1/72 AH-1G Cobra for the Museum of Flight’s Vietnam display is starting to emerge.  It needs to be done by May 3, so I better get moving!

RCAF Earthquakers

The eagle eyed modeler may have noticed in the new Airfix B-25C/D Mitchell that the “Desert Warrior” markings option lists a crew member as Pilot Officer Anthony Arthur Martin (RCAF). Why is there a RCAF crew member in a USAAF Mitchell?

In 1942, after Churchill and FDR’s Second Washington Conference, the 12th Bomb Group was transferred from the U.S. to North Africa and attached to the newly formed 9th Air Force. The 12th BG was tasked with assisting the British Eighth Army in their battle with Rommel's Afrika Korps. As the unit was inexperienced, it was decided to transfer 23 RCAF wireless air gunners to the unit to assist learning British radio procedures and to prevent friendly fire incidents. The Canadians served at two bases - Devesior in the 81st and 82nd Bombardment Squadron and at Ismalia with the 83rd and 434th B.S. Four of the RCAF WAGs were killed during their year with the 12th BG, and two, Alan James Mackie and Anthony Arthur Martin were awarded the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross. F/O Anthony Arthur Martin, from Squamish, British Columbia, was also awarded the American Air Medal and Six Oak Leaf Clusters for his ops with the Earthquakers.

It is assumed that when “Desert Warrior” returned to the United States for a bond tour, that F/O Martin was selected to join the tour due to him being the highest awarded RCAF WAG in the group.