[Epapazian]

About ten years ago, I bought a copy of a WW II ID model of an SM-82 from Classic Aircraft Collections in Texas. Being an ID model, it was virtually devoid of detail, however it looked like it had potential. So the engine openings were drilled out, the side windows were accentuated, guns, pitot heads, antennas, etc., were added, and overall, various rough edges were smoothed out, air holes filled, and so on. Then I painted the model in a standard Italian three -color camouflage scheme, applied the appropriate decals and put it on a large stand. I just dusted this old boy off and am debating whether it deserves a place on one of my display shelves after all. What do you guys think?

[Epapazian]

[skydriver]

Looks good, but what does "ID" mean?

[RockJock]

Looks nice but I sure wouldn't of did that. You just ruined a real collector piece by altering it. Those ID planes bring very good money and will only appreciate in value in the future. Specially this model, its not an easy one to find.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by skydriver

Looks good, but what does "ID" mean?

ID stands for identification or recognition model. During WW II, thousands of these were made to provide our military with a method of identifying Allied and Axis warbirds at a distance. Most were made out of a form of early plastic and, on the whole, they were fairly crude representations with emphasis on shape rather than detail.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by RockJock

Looks nice but I sure wouldn't of did that. You just ruined a real collector piece by altering it. Those ID planes bring very good money and will only appreciate in value in the future. Specially this model, its not an easy one to find.

Quite correct. As I mentioned in my post, this was a copy of a WW II ID model, not the real thing, so I had no hesitation taking liberties with it. That, now defunct company had assembled a collection of 100+ WW II ID models and made rubber molds from them, so resin castings could be sold to interested collectors. A successor company still sells these at the rather high prices of the former owner, although I wonder how the original rubber molds are holding up so many years later.

[RockJock]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

Quite correct. As I mentioned in my post, this was a copy of a WW II ID model, not the real thing, so I had no hesitation taking liberties with it. That, now defunct company had assembled a collection of 100+ WW II ID models and made rubber molds from them, so resin castings could be sold to interested collectors. A successor company still sells these at the rather high prices of the former owner, although I wonder how the original rubber molds are holding up so many years later.

I missed that it was a copy. You did a great job with it then! Looks nice!

[Cruver Collecter]

Another fantastic paint job! They finally came out with a decent model on this one too. Latest Squadron flyer has a 1/72nd kit of this by Italeri. Kit sounds pretty detailed in the description, but it is also pretty pricey too.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by skydriver

Looks good, but what does "ID" mean?

Here is a photo of what the Cruver ID model of this one looks like, pretty much no frills.

[mikeb1958]

Sorry, but this is one ugly plane with no detail. Looks like you can make it out of black play-dough also.