SURVIVOR
This is a Monogram Speedi-Bilt model my father built some time in the early 50's. I can remember from about '54 on & I don't remember him building this so it must have been before then. These kits were plank balsa & acetate. As you can see this one still exists.
I rememeber having a P-51 that was a Speedi-Bilt or maybe a Strombecker.
My Father was a 2nd pilot in the 15th AF, 47th bomb wing, 376th bomb group, 512th squadron. They were known as the "Liberando's" I believe this was the same Squadron that the "Lady Be Good" was in & the same Group as the "Strawberry B***h" although both were earlier in the war.
I have a picture ofm him & the crew in front of one of the aircraft named "Cap'n & the KId's"
This was not the plane in the nose art book. This plane just had the name in script.
His log says he flew D's, H's & J's.
Thanks for sharing that! Somewhere in storage, I have a Speed-built B-26 Invader that my uncle made in the mid 50s. He also flew them in Korea. Those are really cool old kits.
Very cool!
Yeeeaaah buddy! Now that is the "RealDealHolyfield"! For a kit as old as that one is, it held up well. What is the scale? Is the nose art hand painted or is it a decal?
I believe it is 1/48th. The nose is a decal.
Speedee-Bilt's didn't come on the scene until 1953, - the MiG-15, F4U-5, P-40E and P-51D, and the big ones like theB-24 didn't come till around 1956, when I recall buying both the B-26 Invader and B-25 Mitchell.
THAT is beautiful! Do you have more pictures?
That's all I have taken so far. It's sitting on a plastic stowage box & doesn't get moved much. I can take more if needed.
that is a real treat...i remember attempting the corsair stearman p-51 etc...great to see one built
Al .. appears this model I ready to be fueled and a crew on board .. as Tom says .. a professional job .. "we", VMF-215, had one of these in '54 at Olathe Ks NAS that the older reserve pilots used to get "flightime" .. I got to "hop" several times .. REAL treat .. the paint job, decals are really marvelous !