Ranger74

I also made same mistake. Just finished reading Osprey's book on the battle.....oh, well. Sometimes getting sucks.

Actually that is film from the battle fro Palau. The marine squadrons occupied the airfield built by the Japanese and captured early in the campaign by the Marines. The airfield was so close to the hills where the Japanese had established their final defense area that the pilots did not have time to raise the gear after takeoff. They just made their runs with gear down, then circled around to land to get ready for next mission.

Thanks, Brendon. I am at a temporary halt while I finish a review build for IPMS-USA. As soon as that is completed, hopefully by end of the week, I will return to work on the F4B-4s. Jeff

Coming along nicely. Jeff

Nice clean work. Jeff

Nice to see one of these actually built. Picked mine up in a store in East Berlin in 1982. After exchange rate, cost me about $2 US. Jeff

Thanks for the comment. My brothers and I destroyed a fleet of old 1/700 Japanese warships and a couple old 1/48 tanks using powder from fireworks and even some gunpowder out of blanks. We thought it was great back then

The airframe has been assembled and lower wing added. I'm waiting to add horizontal stabs till I can paint fuselage. Filling was required at wing joints with fuselage on top side of wing. Additionally, the gun cover/upper fuselage required some filing to make smooth transition to fuselage sides. I was able to acquire two more interior sets for the other two airframes, but only one Starfighter PE rigging set. Jeff

Here is left fuselage half The parts for the side panes require no trimming other than pour stubs as they are thin enough to glue straight as is.

I have been slow to post my progress. The photos that follow are from work before I came down with a case of Diverticulitis and spent a week in the hospital and another week recovering from the starvation diet inflicted on me while in the hospital. Counting weight lost from when I first became ill about five days before I was hospitalized until I was allowed to eat real food was about 20 pounds. The first 10 pounds was probably water lost through GI tract issues. On to the pics. This right side of fuselage with the interior kit from Starfighter.

What is the name of this new month located between September and October?

Fast. clean work. Looks great.

I will build 2 Navy and 1 USMC. After these three, time remaining in the group build, I will see if some other 20s/30s squadrons fit requirement.

I have started my first F4B-4 with inspection of parts and found the following issues to resolve before construction can begin.

I also have the interior for the P-6E/F11C. It's the cost of $8,almost more than the kit itself that is the factor. I do plan on ordering the rigging sets for all of my builds. I rigged the Monogram P-6E about 15 years ago. Not terrible, but if I can do it easier, it is a serious consideration.

Yea, I built one many, many, many, etc., years ago and painted it but can't remember if brushes or spray cans.

My first builds will be three Monogram 1/72 F4B-4s from 1930s. I am adding a Starfighter interior set to my first build to see if it is worth to purchase for other builds. I believe that the cockpit opening is way too small to make it worth expense as can only see interior with aid of a flashlight. Additionally, decals are also from Starfighter. This will be my first use of these decals. Hope they work good as I have stash of them for other US Navy/Army 1930s aircraft.

Beautiful Phantom! I am too disorganized in my approach to building to get them out like this build/

Now that our host mentioned a possible disestablished squadron GB I will hold off on the VF-9M and HQ, USMC builds until then. I have plenty more 'tweeners that might qualify for the current GB.

What source do you use to host your pictures? The URL are indicates ARC Forums. Jeff

Three Monogram 1/72 Boeing F4B-4s:- VF-10M, 1934; VF-3B, 1933, and VF-6, 1937. Concurrently, but not officially part of group build, two more 1/72 F4Bs: F4B-4, VF-9M, 1935, and conversion to F4B-3, HQ USMC. Upon completion of these A/C, may add additional but different aircraft depending on build-qualifications for squadrons. For aircraft, 'tween the wars is my favorite time period.

Trying to get clarification on what squadrons qualify, as initial rules on page one weren't completely clear. Based on quote above I take it that the squadron must currently exist in some form and trace lineage back to before designated date. If squadron was disestablished at any time it cannot be included. If I am correct VF-9M does not qualify as it was redesignated as VMF-111 in Marine Corps Reserve and disestablished after Korean War and personnel and equipment was transferred to VMF-112, which still exists today under new designation. My other three qualify after frequent redesignations.

I was sitting on my deck with my wife, son and grandson, outside Smyrna, TN, watching the first half of the eclipse and was down to just a sliver of sun when a cloud too thick to see through even with the special glasses just sat there over my house. Extremely disappointed. This was my second total eclipse. I watched the first through a "pinhole" camera.

Not a problem. My comment was concerning your banner. I know mine qualify as they are all pre-1938. Jeff

It appears to be missing an USMC squadron, unless I couldn't recognize it under the lettering. Other that, it looks great.