1/72 "War Stearman" from the classic Revell kit

[Brian da Basher]

By the third week of December, 1941, the situation in the Philippines had grown dire and with most of the American and Filippino air units out of action, Major Manuel "Manny" Manilla, C.O. of the 15th Training Squadron was forced to take desperate measures. He ordered the ground crews to modify as many of the squadron's Stearman biplanes for combat as possible, including his personal mount, Old 08. The crews installed two .50 cal. Browning machine guns from the gunnery range atop the front cockpit which was covered with sheet metal. Interruptor gear was salvaged from downed P-26s. A headrest carved from wood that contained the radio was added and the "Yellow Wings" scheme was painted over in whatever brown, tan and green paint could be found. Eventually, 14 "War Stearmans" were able to take to the air and delay the Japanese advance into the interior of Luzon. Major "Manny" Manilla was credited with 7 enemy aircraft downed and 4 probable by January 21, 1942, when he was ordered to evacuate to Mindinao. Major Manilla eventually made his way to Australia where he became instrumental in re-building the Philippine Air Force later in the war. As for his "War Stearman", Old 08, it was destroyed during a Japanese bombing raid. "Manny" Manilla left the service after the war and went on to make his fortune in office supplies, specializing in, you guessed it, manilla folders.

Brian da Basher

[GTX]

Nice!

Regards,

Greg

[Brian da Basher]

The basis for this project is the venerable 1/72 Revell Stearman Kaydet which I picked up for a couple of bucks a while back. My first idea was to modify it with an inline engine and a nice pointy prop, but I decided it was more in the spirit of this group build to make it resemble an actual Stearman. I added Aeroclub spats and the cowl ring from a P-26 and made a headrest from the tip of a drop tank. I also covered over the front 'pit with thin sheet plastic and added the guns from a Fokker D.VII. The entire model is brush painted by hand with acrylics and rigging was accomplished with some of this great plastic wire Jeff Fontaine sent. The decals were from a Zotz sheet Jeff also sent. Thank you, Mr Fontaine!

I hope you enjoy the pics. Stay tuned as this is the first of three projects I've got planned for this GB!

Brian da Basher

[kitnut617]

Oh yes ! very good 

[John Howling Mouse]

Betcha this one feels just as good and capable in the hand, flying around the cottage, as it looks on the screen.

Very, very well done, BdaB!   

[lancer]

Spatman's done it again... Superb build Brian.

[Captain Canada]

What a beauty, Brian ! A great idea nicely executed....again ! Like Baz said, looks like a good one to fly around the homestead...ask your Mom if we can come over and play !