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.
1 additional image. Click to enlarge.
John Healy said on May 2, 2013
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.
Troy Brindack said on May 2, 2013
Very cool!
Seamus Boughe said on May 2, 2013
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?
AL HOFFMAN said on May 3, 2013
I believe it is 1/48th. The nose is a decal.
Tom Cleaver said on May 3, 2013
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.
Rob Anderson said on May 3, 2013
THAT is beautiful! Do you have more pictures?
AL HOFFMAN said on May 3, 2013
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.
bob mack said on May 19, 2013
that is a real treat…i remember attempting the corsair stearman p-51 etc…great to see one built
Ray B. Hall USMC said on May 19, 2013
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 !!!!