IMC 72nd Combat Group Battle Damage Kits

[Drifterdon]

So I know these are not kits for the serious builder but did anyone else build them as a kid?  I enjoyed the novelty of the battle damaged parts.  I built all of them at some point (Skyraider twice).  This was back when I'd buy the kit with my allowance and have it built in an hours time.   The glue wouldn't even be dry and I was playing with it. 

I ran across these kits on ebay and it got me to thinking back when I collected these.   Just tossing this out there for nostalgia's sake.   

Don

[southwestforests]

My brother and I each had one or two of these in 1970s.

Can't remember which ones, only concrete memory is a few moments looking at one plane after spray painting it white, to see if the spray got in to the battle damage detail and if any bare spots existed.

As big a deal as having the pilot figure is to me, I can't remember whether these planes had any or not.

Played in Google for a moment but I'm on a time limit now to go get some things done.

[Drifterdon]

1 hour ago, southwestforests said:

My brother and I each had one or two of these in 1970s.

Can't remember which ones, only concrete memory is a few moments looking at one plane after spray painting it white, to see if the spray got in to the battle damage detail and if any bare spots existed.

As big a deal as having the pilot figure is to me, I can't remember whether these planes had any or not.

Played in Google for a moment but I'm on a time limit now to go get some things done.

Looking at some of the parts layouts on ebay, it appears they all came with pilots.   Some molded with seat, cockpit, pilot all as one piece (ala Hawk kits).

[ST0RM]

I recall someone's comment about the F-4 kit. It went something like, I knew the Phantom was tough, but didnt know it was built with rebar. 
Here's a nice build-up of the RF-4
https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/builds/imc/build_imc_0481.shtml

[Norm DUbay]

I remember buying and building the RF-4, F-100, and the A-4. My dad was stationed at Williams AFB and I believe I spent all my allowance at Toyland on base.  Good times!

[Drifterdon]

Ah, Toyland!   Gave much of my allowance to the Toyland at Offutt AFB.   

 

[dmk0210]

On 8/13/2024 at 11:55 PM, ST0RM said:

I recall someone's comment about the F-4 kit. It went something like, I knew the Phantom was tough, but didnt know it was built with rebar. 
Here's a nice build-up of the RF-4
https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/builds/imc/build_imc_0481.shtml

That is so cool!

 

I built that F-4 kit as a kid. I brush painted SEA camo on it though and built it as a USAF RF-4C with some decals from another kit.  I'm sure it did not come out anywhere near as nice as the Marine bird shown here. 

 

For some reason, I always misremembered it being a Lindberg kit. It was a standout in my mind with the unique battle damage option. 

 

Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!

 

 

Edited February 15, 2025 by dmk0210

[Drifterdon]

Dave,

You didn't misremember that kit as I see it's listed as a Lindberg kit on ebay.  

I'm thinking about grabbing one of these kits as a nostalgia build.

Don

[dmk0210]

42 minutes ago, Drifterdon said:

Dave,

You didn't misremember that kit as I see it's listed as a Lindberg kit on ebay.  

I'm thinking about grabbing one of these kits as a nostalgia build.

Don

Ah!  So my memory was correct for once! 😁

 

I may have to pick up one myself. 

[Drifterdon]

Just grabbed the A4D kit.   It's going to be wheel's up and battle damaged.

[STEN8]

This is a nice trip down memory lane. Thanks for the ride, guys.

 

Harry

Lutz, FL

[ikar]

I did build all those kits when I was in school. I never say the real things come back with battle damage on my first time over there because we had a ton of B-52Ds and later got some "G" models sent to help.

We had some interesting damages come back that somehow made it to the revetment area.  We even had one go by me as I blocked the road past the EOR and it deployed its drag chute only to find that someone forgot it attach it to the aircraft.  It used up the entire length of the runway plus more, eventually going through barbed wire, passed a bunker, across the inland overrun, across a section of grass and straddled a road that went to the bomber area.  It was quite a sight seeing that big bundle of chute rolling down the runway.

My second time there at another base had some interesting things happen too, but by then the war was winding down some.

[Ryan Hothersall]

Building one of the battle damaged kits at the moment, the MiG-21. Something a bit different. 

[Drifterdon]

19 hours ago, ikar said:

I did build all those kits when I was in school. I never say the real things come back with battle damage on my first time over there because we had a ton of B-52Ds and later got some "G" models sent to help.

We had some interesting damages come back that somehow made it to the revetment area.  We even had one go by me as I blocked the road past the EOR and it deployed its drag chute only to find that someone forgot it attach it to the aircraft.  It used up the entire length of the runway plus more, eventually going through barbed wire, passed a bunker, across the inland overrun, across a section of grass and straddled a road that went to the bomber area.  It was quite a sight seeing that big bundle of chute rolling down the runway.

My second time there at another base had some interesting things happen too, but by then the war was winding down some.

 

I love your war stories ikar.   They bring real life to the modeling world.

 

14 hours ago, Ryan Hothersall said:

Building one of the battle damaged kits at the moment, the MiG-21. Something a bit different. 

 

Just started an A-4 Skyhawk Ryan.  

[ST0RM]

This would make for an interesting Group Build. 
Hopefully you guys post some photos, once completed.