Not a What If but different

[philp]

I did finally finish a real model the other day (as opposed to the prepainted snap Revell Star Wars kits I have done this year).  This one was being done for a guy in Norway who is doing a project and wanted 60 V-1 builds using the Tamiya 48th scale kit.  Not sure I got mine done in time but did finish it and it is on its way tomorrow.

Not my scale but a very simple build.  Looks like the engine pod sits a little too high but didn't bother with that.

Also, since I like to be different, I went with a USAAF JB-2 Loon.  This was based on one at the Hill Aerospace Museum and there is a picture of it in the same scheme in use so because it has local appeal I went for it.

Kit went together pretty easy with just a little trouble getting the engine front to stay even inside the intake.  There actually were decals for this version but they are out of print.  Even with many requests throughout the web I got no joy so did the letters using individual dry transfers (yes, I know some are a little crooked, I don't care).  The US stars and bars came with the new Iliad Design P-38 sheet which I got for review so was able to kill two birds with one stone.  They conformed well over a coat of Future and used some Microsol on the fuselage markings.  The top wing insignia did silver and I am not sure why but no problems with the others.

Now got to find a decent version in 72nd scale (and some decals).  Do still have the old FROG version that came with a Spit so many years ago and it isn't too bad.

[NARSES2]

Come out well Phil, for some reason it dosn't look so menacing in Stars and Bars ? But then again I'm a Londoner and can still remember quite vivedly my mum and dad's tales of the German ones.

[dumaniac]

agreed - the US military brown does not look as threatening as the Luft scheme

still a very nice build - nice work

Dumaniac

[PR19_Kit]

Come out well Phil, for some reason it dosn't look so menacing in Stars and Bars ? But then again I'm a Londoner and can still remember quite vivedly my mum and dad's tales of the German ones.

The first thing I can ever remember was a very loud bang as me, my 2 month old brother, my Mum, Nanna and Grandad were sheltering in our basement in Croydon. Apparently I looked up, said 'Damn!' (meaning 'Bang'....) to which my Grandad replied 'I couldn't agree more son'. 

A V-1 had landed in the park just across the railway line from us.

[philp]

Thanks guys.

My Mom was over there during the Blitz (Norwich).  She has never talked about what it was like other than from breaking up her family as they were moved to different foster homes.

At least the Loon never got fired in anger though the plan was to use them against Japan.

[NARSES2]

The first thing I can ever remember was a very loud bang as me, my 2 month old brother, my Mum, Nanna and Grandad were sheltering in our basement in Croydon.

Apparently Croydon got hit with more V1's then any other London Borough. The tame "spies" MI5 had managed to convince the German's they were overshooting and therefore the southern boroughs got hit rather then central London. As a kid we played in the shell and gardens of a fantastic old "big" house that had taken a direct hit

[PR19_Kit]

Apparently Croydon got hit with more V1's then any other London Borough. The tame "spies" MI5 had managed to convince the German's they were overshooting and therefore the southern boroughs got hit rather then central London. As a kid we played in the shell and gardens of a fantastic old "big" house that had taken a direct hit

Well that was nice of them, perhaps I should send the bill for my ear surgery to MI5 rather than Fairey Aviation? 

That big house wouldn't have been 'The Chateau' in Chatsworth Rd, would it Chris? That was down the road from my Nanna's place and it suffered a direct V1 hit at one time.

[RussC]

Have to say, your exchange about what it was like really set me thinking of how that could feel, impersonal as the doodlebug was it still was sent with extreme prejudice. That's a feeling that had to run deep and you folks recall it like yesterday, makes me feel genuinely fortunate.

  My same years as a youngster were the Cuban crisis and it really didn't effect things much around my house, probably because there really wasn't much to do about it, it either happened or it didn't and if it did, all worries were off anyway.

  Here's to your generation, the one that meant "keep calm and carry on". 

[PR19_Kit]

I like to think my Dad played some part in bringing those who were dealing out 'the extreme prejudice' to book, even though he never shot or bombed anything. He just took the piccies of the targets and the resultant craters, and he sure did a lot of that!

Apart from that V-1 explosion I can't remember anything else of my WWII years until it was time to board the SS Stratheden to go to Egypt right after the Armistice. It was the very first civilian sailing out of UK after the War apparently, and I can clearly remember getting off the train at Southampton New Docks and seeing the side of the ship across the other side of this HUGE shed that was heaving with people. Apparently I asked my Mum why they'd painted the far wall white with big black dots on it. 

Needless to say it was the side of the ship and the dots were the portholes.......... 

[NARSES2]

[That big house wouldn't have been 'The Chateau' in Chatsworth Rd, would it Chris? That was down the road from my Nanna's place and it suffered a direct V1 hit at one time.

No it was the "White House" in Upper Norwood, although I know Chatsworth Rd quite well. I think the "Chateau" is now a small estate whilst the "White House" grounds was turned into a police training college