A-1 (AD) Skyraider, A2D Skyshark, SB2D-1 (BTD-1) Destroyer

[Skyler]

    Hadn't the tri-color scheme been discontinued & replaced with overall dark blue by then anyway?

As I have a spare monogram A-1H kicking around, any ideas for it? What i'm thinking is either late '44-'45 tri-color or flat sea blue. Any other ideas?

I looked it up but I couldn't find anything on when it was replaced, I also just wanted it as an option. So, how about mid '43 tri-color? Or flat sea blue for the invasion of the home islands....

[lauhof52]

Somehow I forgot to come back to this thread with my completed Douglas Decimator that "we" talked about a few posts below.

The backstory is the fun part--briefly, a two-place Douglas super-dive-and-torpedo-bomber is arriving in Hawaii for use of the Fleet in Spring of 1944. A "command" three-seater is wanted for Bert Earnest, now commander of a re-constituted Torpedo 8 aboard the new CV-12 Hornet, and "the boys" on the airfield part out an old TBD trainer and rig up a new three-seat cockpit area for the Decimator. They painted it blue-gray like at Midway, even putting Earnest's old number "8-T-1" on the side. "The Revenge of Torpedo 8" takes shape as the whole squadron is allowed to paint their Decimators as Midway-era craft, and add a new stinging Hornet motif to the tail. For the big Philippine Sea battle (after the defensive "wall" of US Navy fighters decimates the Japanese aerial attack) Torpedo 8 goes on the offensive carrying *THREE* ship-killing "Whopper" torpedoes—Whitehead-Howell Ordnance, Oxygen-ProPelled, Exploder Rectified--per aircraft! Earnest has invited his old Midway gunner, Harry Ferrier, back on board, and his deceased partner from Midway, Jay Manning, is along "in spirit" with a Navy blanket that his blood had dripped upon. Together again, they ride to battle against the Japanese fleet, leading Torpedo 8 on its long-awaited revenge mission. (There is lots more to the story, but you get the idea!)

Here is one pic of the front quarter:


Here is a picture of the cockpit area (the major whiffery on an otherwise "stock" Skyraider):

Hello,

I was inspred by    the the TB3D model so I made an profile of it.

regards
Lauhof

[sequoiaranger]

I feel truly honored that you made such a fabulous profile of my whiffed Skyraider! Nice job!

I hope it's "OK" with you that I tinkered with your profile to more accurately represent the actual model of the Decimator: I moved the canopy/cockpit back a little (took out the telescopic sight) and re-formed the top of the engine cowling.

[lauhof52]

Thank you!  Your TB3D-model is aan excellent job!  So it was really inspiring to do the profile.

friendly regards
Lauhof

[lauhof52]

I feel truly honored that you made such a fabulous profile of my whiffed Skyraider! Nice job!

I hope it's "OK" with you that I tinkered with your profile to more accurately represent the actual model of the Decimator: I moved the canopy/cockpit back a little (took out the telescopic sight) and re-formed the top of the engine cowling.

It's truly okay! Nice to see the shape improve after your adjustments.

regards
Lauhof

[lauhof52]

Thanks for the adjustments. It inspired me to do another one...

friendly regards
Lauhof

[lauhof52]

Here is another TB3D-1 from VT-3 during operations in Tokyo  febr 1945.

regards
Lauhof

[lauhof52]

Here is an TB3D-2 version. regards Lauhof

[NARSES2]

Love the progression to the TB3D-2

[sequoiaranger]

Aha!! I was going to suggest the Dauntless canopy for a "Skyraider/Decimator" 2-seater for your profiles. In fact, I was just about to PM you about it when I saw this profile!!

Actually, that most recent profile was *THE* Douglas Decimator I had in mind at first, and (according to my backstory--yet to be finalized, but in the works for over a year) some whiz-kids in Hawaii (where there were still some Devastator "trainers") rigged up a "Commander's" aircraft for Bert Ernest as a 3-seater using a Devastator cockpit/canopy!! So "technically", *MY* Decimator is a one-off, and not a "production" Decimator---this "Dauntless-canopy" version *IS* the ORIGINAL Decimator I had in mind! I think the build-thread on the Decimator is gone (I looked in vain for it), but that would have had my "Dauntless-canopy" version drawing in the early stages. So my "Revenge of Torpedo 8" backstory scenario would have Bert's "Devastator-canopy" Decimator leading the squadron of "Dauntless-canopy" Decimators for their torpedo attack on the Musashi/Shinano carrier pair in the Philippine sea battle. Wow! If only I could CGI the scene and make a poster from it!!

And in my world, the "Decimator" evolves into the single-seat "Skyraider" (and other derivatives) in time for the Korean War, etc. and life goes on from there!

Anyway, good job!

[lauhof52]

Thanks for your reaction and the wonderful story of the development of the Decimator. In the meantime I have drawn another profile acting in the Korean scene from VT-19.

friendly regards
Lauhof

[Pablo1965]

mmmmm A Spad with a turret?

The XSB2D-1 would be closer to a turreted AD, especially as the BTD-1 single seat derivative was built to compete against the Curtiss XBTC-1, Kaiser XBTK-1 and the Martin XBTM-1. The BTD-1 didn't make the final cut so Douglas proposed the XBT2D-1 to stay in the competition, construction of fifteen prototypes was authorized as an amendment of the BTD-1 contract. The Navy was impressed with the resulting aircraft and a production contract was signed on 5 May, 1945.
The BT2D-1 was re-designated AD-1 in 1946.

Cheers, Jon

Why this plane is so much like Martin Mauler?

[rallymodeller]

Similar aircraft designed to a set of specifications laid down by the USN. The Firebrand was similar again, as the RN's requirements were broadly similar to the USN's.

[lauhof52]

Thanks for your reaction and the wonderful story of the development of the Decimator. In the meantime I have drawn another profile acting in the Korean scene from VT-19.

friendly regards
Lauhof

Another development: The TB3D-3 from VA-195 in Korea - regards Lauhof

[lauhof52]

the only squadron from the Marines which used the TB3D-1: VMF(N)-532.

regards
Lauhof