1/87 Scale Red Ball Express Dio

[Jim R]

Hi Paul
Branching out Plane looks fine to me. I'll be most interested in seeing how you do a spinning prop.
Jim

 

[minitnkr]

Office, interior & pilot painted, starting on plane. Tac Air OD top & Sky Grey bottom.

 

[Mini Me]

Good looking bird.......that 3350 was a first in the T-bolt if I remember correctly. Hell of a powerplant once they got the "bugs" worked out. Rick H.

 

[minitnkr]

Mine will have the later 'paddle blade' prop.

 

[Mini Me]

The "need for speed" was ever present in those days

 

[minitnkr]

I think it even had water injection for that 'little extra'.

 

[JR]

The VN dio w/gun trucks & huey gunships, "Buzzing the Groundlings" Dzohn.

Was this in the " other house " Paul ?

 

[minitnkr]

Yes Dzohn, but I posted some of my MM stuff on here soon after joining. See ....Some of My Previous Work.... in the Completed Dios section.

 

[minitnkr]

First attempt at prop in flight. Didn't notice the bug till posted.

 

[Mini Me]

Not bad at all..........I'm wondering if a neutral grey for the prop blades might tone it down a bit and still give you the illusion of movement you are after. My years on the flight line showed me that the faster the prop spins the more faint the colors become...even the bright colors on the blade tips almost disappear at full throttle.....just some mutterings 'bout the good old days Rick H.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Paul
Spinning prop looks good.
Jim

 

[GerryW]

Nice effect of the spinning prop - airfix tried a similar thing years back - anyone else remember it?

 

[minitnkr]

Some notes I made when thinking about this dio after Dzohn's comments on my first attempt. There were several express supply routes in place within France & Belgium during 1944 & 45. The initial Red Ball from St. Lo to Paris and eventually on to Hirson, the Red Lion Route from Boyeurs to Brussels, the White Ball Route from LeHavre to Paris & Reims, the Green Diamond Route from Cherbourg to Dol, the Little Red Ball from Carentan to Paris, and the ABC Route from Brussels to Antwerp, Liege, Charleroi,etc.

 

[scottie3158]

Paul,
An interesting change and nicely done.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Paul
Common sense says that there were lots of supply routes. The logistics of supplying a rapidly advancing army along a wide front are mind-blowing. We always hear of the Red Ball Express - maybe, as you say, because it was the first.
Jim

 

[minitnkr]

Progress on LaFrance wrecker. Windshield, fuel tanks, pioneer set, dashboard, steering wheel, shifter, handbrake lever, front winch & bumper assy., rear winch & load bed details and added some paint to better see where more attention is needed.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Pepe Le Pew is coming on nicely Paul. Great stuff!

 

[Mini Me]

Are you using a Corbitt chassis with modified cab for this build.....the fenders look a little foreign to me, are they a Roco item from another kit? BTW, yer track and trailer are on their way. Rick H.

 

[minitnkr]

Another pic w/superstructure fastened. Rick, thanks, Corbit chassis w/reshaped fuel tanks into tool boxes & cut up load bed, new style ROCO cab w/old style ROCO hood & grille reshaped, modified old style ROCO M54 fenders and a couple new style ROCO M35 front bumpers welded up for a push/pull assy.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Paul
That is excellent. A real mix and match job.
Jim