[1250ships]

As several people echoed my call for a Devastator to go along with our pre and early war US Navy aircraft I thought I'd point out there are enough possible liveries to make a mould feasible. In no particular order:

Ensign George Gay's plane at Midway (photo of artwork from torpedeoeight.com- you can puchase a print of this through them). You can also do the other two Midway squadrons.



Pre-war USS Enterprise




VT-3 aircraft in experimental North Island camo scheme 1940




Experimental float plane version October 1941




VT-5 USS Yorktown 1938:



Early war USS Enterprise (Coral Sea schemes for Yorktown and Lexington would be very similar)




USS Enterprise pre-war late 1941



USS Lexington early 1938




Basically you have, in chronological order:

1. Colorful pre-war scheme
2. Experimental North Island scheme
3. Late pre-war low-visability
4. Early war scheme through Coral Sea
5. Midway scheme

All of these except North Island allow multiple variations for different squadrons and battles. Float plane is a bonus if the floats are simple to do.

[kb466]

As I have stated previously, I would love to see a TBD Devastator-- in any scale, though I would prefer 1/72 and/or 1/32. Can you just picture a 1/32 Devastator?!! What a great companion for the 1/32 SBD coming out soon. How about it Hobby Master?-- Give us Devastators!!

[Tundra04]

I'd really like to add a Devastator to the collection. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Gay a few years before his death. Unfortunately, he didn't have much to say about his ordeal but I was able to obtain a nice autographed, graphite drawing of his Devastator.

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by Tundra04

I'd really like to add a Devastator to the collection. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Gay a few years before his death. Unfortunately, he didn't have much to say about his ordeal but I was able to obtain a nice autographed, graphite drawing of his Devastator.

Hi Tundra04, could you tell us a bit more about your meeting Mr. Gay?

I read he lost something on the order of 20 lbs in the 24 hrs. surrounding his 04 June 1942 mission.

[Ara1]

You make a strong case, 1250ships. The TBD would be great in 1/48. Prewar USN is SO happening right now.

[Cruver Collecter]

Put me down for four. The Midway Ensign George Gay's version, couple of the pre war (Lexington & Saratoga), and the Enterprise version with red and white bars on the tail. They sure would look sweet!

[Shawn 507]

I'm in for a few, silver and yellow wing, pre war blue and Ens. Gay's

[Cruver Collecter]

Torpedo yes, folding wings,,,, not to keen on.

[Epapazian]

This has always been one of my favorite planes. I had an old Cruver ID model of it, which is now melting away, and, of course ,my special plastic models. I would prefer it in 1:72nd scale and would buy at least three of the versions pictured. But please don't do the folding wing bit HM, unless you are certain of a good fit and minimal gaps when the wings are extended. And please design a cradle-like stand so the model can be displayed in the in-flight mode with a torpedo under its belly.

[Tundra04]

Originally Posted by Ara1

Hi Tundra04, could you tell us a bit more about your meeting Mr. Gay?

I read he lost something on the order of 20 lbs in the 24 hrs. surrounding his 04 June 1942 mission.

Ara,

It was probably 1990-1991 when I met Mr. Gay. I was about 10 years old and met him with my dad at the IPMS Nationals in Atlanta. He was as nice as could be, but would pass a few short years later and as such didn't have much to say. I knew who he was mainly because of the scene in the movie "Midway" when the Catalina comes in to pick him up after the battle. Sorry I can't give more details but I did find this extensive interview with him about his experience:

George Gay USNR* Sole Survivor of VF8* Battle of Midway