Author Topic: Logan's Profiles - 8x8 Scimitar  (Read 366941 times)

Offline lauhof52

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Re: Logan's Profiles - Captured Japanese Viking/Stuka
« Reply #400 on: September 22, 2013, 09:47:14 PM »
Thanks, guys!  Watch this space (especially you, lauhof!), because I should be able to do another one in the next couple of days.

Cheers,

Logan

Looking forward to it, Logan!! (..and still hoping for the Midwaystuff..)
regards
Lauhof

Offline Logan Hartke

  • High priest in the black arts of profiling...
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Re: Logan's Profiles - "Shwab's Wagon" - The Story of an A-19 Viking
« Reply #401 on: September 23, 2013, 07:13:03 AM »
Anybody ready for another?  There is a long backstory for this one, but I don't want to clutter this thread with a GWOT (Giant Wall of Text), so I've posted the full story in its own thread over in the Stories forum.  I recommend checking it out to anyone who enjoys a good story.  I can recommend it without shame since I didn't write most of it.  I pieced it together from about three sources and modified it to suit the profile with just a the minor addition surrounding the pilot's personalized markings.  See that thread here: "Shwab's Wagon" - The Story of an A-19 Viking



While operating from 7-Mile Drome at Port Moresby, this aircraft was primarily flown by Captain Virgil Schwab. Capt. Schwab had the ground crew paint “Schwab’s Wagon” on the side of the aircraft in big bubble letters, but the soldier that painted the marking on the aircraft misspelled Schwab’s name, leaving out the “c”. Schwab took it with humor, however, and decided to leave “Shwab’s Wagon” as it was.



Thanks to Talos for providing the excellent "Shwab's Wagon" marking seen here on the side of the plane!  He did a great job with it!

I've also submitted this to the Asiarama GB over at the What If Forums.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #402 on: September 23, 2013, 01:01:57 PM »
It's been a good weekend.  Who wants another?  Remember the natural metal finish Vikings from days of yore?  How about another for old time's sake?



The Vought V-187-A was an export version of the Viking intended for the Fuerza Aérea Argentina. Northrop test pilot Eddie Allen had demonstrated the Northrop Model 5B in Buenos Aires in 1935, and the FAA was looking at purchasing the Douglas Model 8A in 1937, but a Vought tour of South America with the V-187 company prototype would end up convincing a number of air forces to go with the Vought product instead. This was in no small part due to the goodwill Vought had built up with their sales of the Corsair throughout South America over the past ten years. In fact, the Vought Corsair would be the very plane the Viking was replacing in many of those air forces, including Argentina's. The FAA ordered 30 V-187-As in 1937, and these were shipped to Argentina between February and March 1938. As with the other early export orders, the aircraft were not equipped with the bomb displacement gear for reasons of security. Vought construction numbers were 1531 to 1560. FAA serials were A-401 through A-430 (later O-401 through O-430). The V-187-As were operated by the Fuerza Aérea Argentina's Grupo A de la Escuela de Aplicación de Aviación, Comanda de Aviación de Ejercito from El Palomar.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline lauhof52

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #403 on: September 23, 2013, 02:32:19 PM »
Wow, Logan, excellent work - especially the USAAF-one! My compliments! :P

regards
Lauhof

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #404 on: September 23, 2013, 11:19:53 PM »
Thanks, lauhof!  More Vikings should be coming soon!  I'm still slowly marching towards Midway.  Not too much more to do now.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #405 on: September 24, 2013, 09:08:25 AM »
Still south of the border for this one.  Interestingly, I found another combat mission for the Viking on July 29th, 1941.



In 1939, Lt. Cmdt. Armando Revoredo Iglesias CAP traveled to the United States to oversee the purchase of new aircraft, among which were the Vought V-187. The Vought V-187-PE was an export version of the Viking for the Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú. A total of ten V-187-PEs were built (company numbers 1612 to 1621). On June 1st, 1939 the first three aircraft took off from the Vought factory, commanded by Revoredo himself, for their over 7,000 mile delivery flight to Lima. They arrived on the 5th of June after a direct flight from Panama, landing at Limatambo Airport at 5:45pm. After arriving, they were assigned to the XXXI Escuadrón de Información Estratégica y Ataque "Zorros" (31st Strategic Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron "Foxes") based in Las Palmas.

In early 1940 the Peruvian government decided to use the Viking for a goodwill flight throughout South America. Five V-187-PEs from the "Zorros" were chosen for this flight, once again under the command of Armando Revoredo Iglesias, now promoted to Comandante de Aeronáutica. The flight began on Saturday March 23rd, 1940 with the Lima-Quito leg, then proceeded to Bogota, Panama, Caracas, Paramaribo, Belém do Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Asuncion, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, and La Paz, finally getting back to Lima on May 3, being greeted by a large crowd at Limatambo having flown a total of 11,000 miles.

In July 1941, the Vikings of XXXI Squadron would have their baptism of fire in the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War. The "Zorros" took part in reconnaissance flights, bombing Ecuadorian positions, and even providing air cover for the airborne landing that seized the Ecuadorian port city of Puerto Bolívar, on July 27, 1941. This was the first time in the Americas that airborne troops were used in combat. On July 29th, the 92 Escuadrilla of the XXXI was chosen for an attack on the Arenillas Bridge and Santa Rosa Central Railroad. Lt. Cmdt. Manuel Polidoro García piloted XXXI-92-1 in this attack which caused considerable damage to the bridge and rail line.

By the way, anyone interested in that actual combat history of the Douglas 8A-3Ps from the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War of July 1941 should really check out this awesome color footage on YouTube.

YouTube - Peruvian Air Force Campaign of 1941. Campaña de 1941.


Cheers,

Logan

Offline lauhof52

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #406 on: September 24, 2013, 02:50:50 PM »
Peruvian one is very nice! :) :)

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #407 on: September 25, 2013, 05:56:57 AM »
And so believable!! :)
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Logan Hartke

  • High priest in the black arts of profiling...
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #408 on: September 25, 2013, 12:52:46 PM »
Lauhof, the time has finally arrived. The Battle of Midway has begun!



When Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7th, 1941, the US was ill-prepared for war.  Many American combat aircraft through the Pacific were still in bare metal.  Japanese ace Saburō Sakai recorded that in the first strike against Clark Field the Tainan Zeros could see the reflection of the sun from the bare metal B-17s from many miles out. There were still aircraft passing through Hawaii after the attack in bare metal and the Hawaiian Air Depot was instructed to paint them. New paint specifications and colors were in short supply and so they referred (loosely) to some experimental pre-war test specs and used whatever colors were available. As a result, a number of the aircraft that came out of the Hawaiian Air Depot sported colorful, non-standard paint schemes.

One such unit to pass through Hawaii was the 22nd Bombardment Group equipped largely with B-26 Marauders.  It did, however, retain one squadron of A-19 Vikings in the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron.  When the 22nd transferred to Australia, it left the 18th at Midway, primarily to practice the art of dropping torpedoes along with the 69th BS (Bombardment Squadron) from the 38th BG, also equipped with the A-19 Viking.  When the Japanese carrier force was spotted a PBY Catalina at 0530 on 4th June, 1942, the Vikings of the 18th RS and 69th BS were among the first bombers to strike from Midway, taking off at 0600, some armed with a 500 lb bomb each, the rest carrying torpedoes.

Cheers,

Logan
« Last Edit: September 25, 2013, 10:05:24 PM by Logan Hartke »

Offline lauhof52

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #409 on: September 25, 2013, 02:29:48 PM »
Thanks a lot, Logan! I appreciate it. Very nice story to introduce the Battle of Midway and an excellent A-19 you made here- love to hear more of it!! :-*

regards
Lauhof

PS. I think you meant 4th of June 1942 - slip of the pen. ;)

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #410 on: September 25, 2013, 10:12:11 PM »
Right you are!  Good eye!  Fixed.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #411 on: September 26, 2013, 05:37:19 AM »
By the way, in case anyone was wondering, the crazy 5-color camouflage is a real paint scheme from Midway, too.





John Ford's "The Battle of Midway" (1942) Digitally Restored


Go to 3:58 on the video to see the B-17s with the camouflage.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline Weaver

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #412 on: September 26, 2013, 07:53:50 AM »
That 5-colour cammo looks great!  :-*

I love the Vikings Logan - they're so credible that you really have to look twice and squint to work out just what's going on... :)
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

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Offline Logan Hartke

  • High priest in the black arts of profiling...
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #413 on: September 26, 2013, 11:43:59 AM »
That 5-colour cammo looks great!  :-*

I love the Vikings Logan - they're so credible that you really have to look twice and squint to work out just what's going on... :)

Thanks, Weaver!  It's one that I'd been wanting to do for a while and I thought it turned out alright.  It's just so crazy.

So, anyone remember when I made that torpedo for the Viking four years ago?  Yeah, didn't think so.  Anyway, it finally found its way onto a profile!  Yeah, I know, my pace is pretty slow, but all told I've done about 200 profiles now, so slowly but surely...



While a number of the USAAF Vikings from conducted a low angle bombing attack on the Japanese carriers, four came in at wave top level armed with torpedoes. While the Viking was originally modified to carry a torpedo for the Marine-Luchtvaartdienst of the Dutch East Indies, it would not see combat in this role until the June 4th, 1942 during the Battle of Midway. It was not an auspicious start.

The A6M Zeros protecting the carriers attacked the Vikings without mercy. None of the USAAF Vikings scored any hits on the Japanese carriers during the Battle of Midway, and most were lost in the attempt. One A-19, after being seriously damaged by anti-aircraft fire, veered into a steep dive straight toward the Akagi. Making no attempt to pull out of its run, the aircraft narrowly missed crashing directly into the carrier's bridge, which could have potentially killed Nagumo and his command staff. This experience may well have contributed to Nagumo's determination to launch another attack on Midway, in direct violation of Yamamoto's order to keep the reserve strike force armed for anti-ship operations.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline lauhof52

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #414 on: September 27, 2013, 01:51:54 AM »
That 5-colour cammo looks great!  :-*

I love the Vikings Logan - they're so credible that you really have to look twice and squint to work out just what's going on... :)

Thanks, Weaver!  It's one that I'd been wanting to do for a while and I thought it turned out alright.  It's just so crazy.

So, anyone remember when I made that torpedo for the Viking four years ago?  Yeah, didn't think so.  Anyway, it finally found its way onto a profile!  Yeah, I know, my pace is pretty slow, but all told I've done about 200 profiles now, so slowly but surely...



While a number of the USAAF Vikings from conducted a low angle bombing attack on the Japanese carriers, four came in at wave top level armed with torpedoes. While the Viking was originally modified to carry a torpedo for the Marine-Luchtvaartdienst of the Dutch East Indies, it would not see combat in this role until the June 4th, 1942 during the Battle of Midway. It was not an auspicious start.

The A6M Zeros protecting the carriers attacked the Vikings without mercy. None of the USAAF Vikings scored any hits on the Japanese carriers during the Battle of Midway, and most were lost in the attempt. One A-19, after being seriously damaged by anti-aircraft fire, veered into a steep dive straight toward the Akagi. Making no attempt to pull out of its run, the aircraft narrowly missed crashing directly into the carrier's bridge, which could have potentially killed Nagumo and his command staff. This experience may well have contributed to Nagumo's determination to launch another attack on Midway, in direct violation of Yamamoto's order to keep the reserve strike force armed for anti-ship operations.

Cheers,

Logan


This is a really nice A-19, Logan! I love it :-*  With the coloring and the torpedo! Of course I do remember the torpedo version. You made a Dutch Viking with it and as you know it is hanging on the wall at my place. Is it possible you send this one to me without the blue background? The story of Midway evolves very nicely.

regards
lauhof

Offline Logan Hartke

  • High priest in the black arts of profiling...
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #415 on: September 27, 2013, 02:13:04 AM »
Thanks, lauhof!  I'm glad you like it!  Check your email and let me know if it works for you or if you want it modified.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline lauhof52

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #416 on: September 27, 2013, 03:49:59 AM »
Thanks, lauhof!  I'm glad you like it!  Check your email and let me know if it works for you or if you want it modified.

Cheers,

Logan

Thanks Logan, done! :)

regards
Lauhof

Offline taiidantomcat

  • Plastic Origamist...and not too shabby with the painting either!
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #417 on: September 27, 2013, 04:21:51 AM »
Hot Damn on that camo :-* Never saw that before! :o Learn something new everyday and it looks great on your profile, Logan  :)
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

-David Fincher

Offline Logan Hartke

  • High priest in the black arts of profiling...
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #418 on: September 27, 2013, 07:41:47 AM »
The story behind this profile is straightforward.  It needs no elaboration on my part.



The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

CAPTAIN RICHARD E. FLEMING
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

Quote
    For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as Flight Officer, Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron TWO FORTY-ONE during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Midway on June 4 and 5, 1942. When his squadron Commander was shot down during the initial attack upon an enemy aircraft carrier, Captain Fleming led the remainder of the division with such fearless determination that he dived his own plane to the perilously low altitude of four hundred feet before releasing his bomb. Although his craft was riddled by 179 hits in the blistering hail of fire that burst upon him from Japanese fighter guns and antiaircraft batteries, he pulled out with only two minor wounds inflicted upon himself. On the night of June 4, when the Squadron Commander lost his way and became separated from the others, Captain Fleming brought his own plane in for a safe landing at its base despite hazardous weather conditions and total darkness. The following day, after less than four hours' sleep, he led the second division of his squadron in a coordinated glide-bombing and dive- bombing assault upon a Japanese battleship. Undeterred by a fateful approach glide, during which his ship was struck and set afire, he grimly pressed home his attack to an altitude of five hundred feet, released his bomb to score a near-miss on the stern of his target, then crashed to the sea in flames. His dauntless perseverance and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.


Cheers,

Logan

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #419 on: September 27, 2013, 10:48:50 AM »
Logan, the Midways profiles are wonderful ... but the Hawaiian Air Depot scheme takes the cake! Love it  :-*
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline lauhof52

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #420 on: September 27, 2013, 04:17:35 PM »
Great profile Logan! and top to read the Citation! Keeping up the good work. :)

regards
Lauhof

Offline Logan Hartke

  • High priest in the black arts of profiling...
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #421 on: September 28, 2013, 03:10:28 AM »
Thanks taiidan and apophenia!  I'm glad you liked the camo!  A lot of US equipment in WWII got a coat of OD and called it a day.  There are enough examples of exceptions, though, and they aren't generally well-known.  That's one of the reasons I do profiles.  I like to bring attention to those.

Thanks, lauhof!  Fair warning, I'm probably going to have to put a hold on the Navy Vikings because I need to do some research, complete some new ordnance, and take the weekend off.  So, you might get a new profile tomorrow, but I think sometime next week is more likely.

Cheers,

Logan

Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #422 on: September 30, 2013, 08:49:48 PM »
Love the camo'd Vikings, especially the 2-tone on 1424!  :)

Offline Nexus1171

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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #423 on: October 09, 2013, 09:34:23 AM »
SB4U "Viking"

1.) I thought the 87's canopy was more curved like a fighter (slanted down in the back, and a turret sort of forming the aft glass section of the aircraft's canopy)?

2.) I'd think you'd want to use a different cowling (sometime more streamlined) or a bigger engine?

Offline Logan Hartke

  • High priest in the black arts of profiling...
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Re: Logan's Profiles - More new Vikings/Stukas!
« Reply #424 on: October 09, 2013, 10:32:24 AM »
The canopy is totally new, but based somewhat on the SBD's.  The actual Stuka's canopy actual went through 3 major production variants.  I doubt any of them would have been considered acceptable by the US.  Since Vought would have been working with the Stuka prototype, they'd have had a canopy that nobody much cared for and I think it would have been one of the first things to change.  Furthermore, I needed something looked more generic and less readily identifiable as a Stuka's canopy.

Regarding the engine, it's an R-1830, which would have been perfect for the mid- to late-1930s competing against the R-1820-powered Northrop XBT-2.



The Stuka's fuselage is actually quite small and narrow.  That would make incorporating most radial engines difficult on the airframe, and that's the only type of engine the Navy used on carriers.  Despite that, I have been looking at my options for increasing power available on the aircraft.

Cheers,

Logan