[smartd]

Originally Posted by Tundra04

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

He was a regular at airshows in the 80's, always selling his book. He would take time to talk with everyone and always finished signing his book,.."Keep America Strong" .... cool guy,....a good read if you have not already done so.

[djjeffhall]

I'm all for a Devastator in 1:72 scale. It's funny, but for a plane that they only build 129 of there are so many great schemes.

[STARMAN 352ND]

That one is long overdue as well..
I would take the pre-war scheme and George Gay VF-8 TBD.
JP

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

That one is long overdue as well..
George Gay VF-8 TBD.
JP

Oh yeah... interesting interview with George here:

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

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Oh yeah... interesting interview with George here:

George Gay USNR Sole Survivor of VF8 Battle of Midway

That was a cool interview to read...Thanks for posting that link.
JP

[planenutsfrog]

Why not...?

However It would be far more logical to see the SB2C Helldiver made first.

It had been the main dive bomber of the USN after all... Its production even outnumbered that of the SBD !

Moreover, several foreign navies operated it after the war, especially the French Navy in Indochina.

The Vindicator/Vought 156F could also be an alternative to the TBD...(so I could have a French one too )

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by planenutsfrog

The Vindicator/Vought 156F could also be an alternative to the TBD...(so I could have a French one too )

I would also be in favor of someone putting out a model of the Vindicator, could even have a Midway paint scheme for this one.

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by planenutsfrog

Why not...?

However It would be far more logical to see the SB2C Helldiver made first.

It had been the main dive bomber of the USN after all... Its production even outnumbered that of the SBD !

Moreover, several foreign navies operated it after the war, especially the French Navy in Indochina.

The Vindicator/Vought 156F could also be an alternative to the TBD...(so I could have a French one too )

For the sake of discussion (because I wouldn't mind a Helldiver eventually) the Devastator makes more sense than the Helldiver, if only because the Devastator has a strong emotional component the Helldiver lacks. Just about everyone knows the story of Ensign Gay. Quick- can anyone name a Helldiver pilot? If you believe that people choose their models because they know the story behind the aircraft then the Devastator is the better choice. The Helldiver came along when the outcome of the war was decided- Japan would be defeated we just didn't know the eventual cost. The Devastator has the mystique of fighting in the battles when the outcome was uncertain.

Second the TBD comes in the glorious technicolor pre-war schemes. Helldivers have a much more subduded color palette. If Hobby Master has found that the colorful paint schemes are big sellers then that is another vote for the Devastator.

Finally the TBD was an historic aircraft in that she represented a number of firsts for the US Navy. She was the first widely used monoplane, the first all metal contruction carrier aircraft, the first with a totally enclosed cockpit, and the first with hydraulically powered folding wings. The Helldiver is mostly known for having teething problems that delayed its entry into service.

[Shawn 507]

Order of merit:
Devestator
Helldiver
Vindicator

[Cruver Collecter]

Medal of Honor winner Captain Richard E. Fleming's Vindicator would make for an interesting paint scheme. Have come across a couple of versions regarding his last mission, but one indicates his aircraft was damaged and he flew it in to the Japanse Cruiser Mikuma. Remember seeing pictures in a book once showing what was supposed to be the wreckage of his aircraft on the aft turret.