lmagna

I could certainly be wrong OC, but the picture looks like an almost primitive forward operational field, possibly in N. Africa or France. Almost certainly not in the UK. Under those circumstances working outside on the flight line would probably be much more common. The tent in the background is probably "home" and is the most advanced structure in a hundred miles! Based on all of the cups laying on the ground this table may have been the mess hall as well.

Another interesting variant would be the North American Eagle Project. Another project with an unfortunate end.

I think that the G2 was a little more purpose designed and although designed to carry a 1000KG bomb load I can find no evidence that it ever did unlike the earlier versions was not considered a multi function aircraft and was almost exclusively used against tanks. Here is a little more history: By 1942, the need for a new ground attack aircraft was ever present. The ageing Ju 87 was proving to be obsolete, and the new Henschel Hs 129 was underpowered and ill-protected. Hans-Ulrich Rudel, a Stuka ace, proposed a pair of 37 mm cannons be added to a Ju 87 D. Thus, the "Kanonenvogel" or "cannon-bird" was born. The Ju 87 G was most famously piloted by Rudel himself, who destroyed a countless amount of Soviet tanks and equipment. Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the only person to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, one of Germany's highest awards. The highest-scoring ace of World War II, Erich Hartmann, also held the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds – but his Oak Leaves were not gold). Rudel survived the war and later, pulling from personal experiences, Rudel's input was used to design and develop the current day A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft. I found the link to the modern day A-10 particularly interesting if true. The two aircraft share a number of things in common., including special ammo, the Stuka used 12 rounds per gun of tungsten carbide cored ammo, and a armored cockpit not used in prior models, I have always had a kind of love affair with the A-10. Time to take my seat and watch the paint fly!

A few more photos of the boat on its stand It is probably too late at this point Dave, but did you ever consider displaying the boat like they sometimes carry them on the trailer? Of course sometimes they travel flat as well

Good to see you back again Jack. So sorry to learn why you were gone. I too have been there, more than once unfortunately. They do become a major part of our life over the years and their passing is painful.

I still have boxes and more boxes filled with books, fiction and non-fiction! But like you, these days I mostly go digital when looking at anything new to read. I also recently acquired possibly about 100 books in audible. About half of them are on cassette so I will have to buy a player but I am told it is an interesting way to "Read" books.

I was thinking "The Purple People Eater"

My feelings exactly. Mostly coffee, tea, juice now and then if I think of it and water occasionally. I find my way to a mixed drink every few months or so but place almost all beers in the same category as diet anything for some reason. We have a chain restaurant out here called "The Blazing Onion". Expensive but good! Only problem is that it is also noisy. At least it was before Covid. Haven't been out for a while I'm afraid. For home I am like Jack. Juicy burger with plenty of onion, mushrooms, and green stuff. You can keep the katsup and tomato but I do like a number of different kinds of cheese so long as it is not the "American" processed stuff.

Nice comfortable study. I wish I had that much space to have my books out. It is missing a ship on the wall somewhere though.

Can you imagine what the muzzle blast from four 8" guns would do to an exposed fabric covered aircraft from that close?😞 Greg Do you know what the function is for the two smaller derricks on each side of the catapult? It seems like they are positioned over two rectangular hatches, but are they also for some aircraft handling duty?

Interesting design. You cannot fully use the main forward battery while launching, retrieving, or handling the aircraft. I wonder who's bright idea that was?

It's Wendy's boyfriend! (Sorry to those of you outside of the US. It's another burger chain.)

You misunderstood the qualifier Jack, "American"! Other countries have higher standards applied to the term! Actually I am waiting for dinner right now and their menu is kind of looking pretty good.

American Gourmet https://www.carlsjr.com/en

I have the predecessor to one of their kits, the USS Houston. Like a number of their other kits it was originally manufactured by Blue Water Navy and taken over when BWN went out of business. Mine is the BWN vintage. I have not built it but have purchased additional items much as one would for any plastic model. What is included in the kit seems to fit nicely when test fitting. I think it will make as good of a model as the Trumpeter USS Indianapolis, and with the PE and 3D stuff I bought even better. All of course depending on the skill of the builder, (me). In some cases their selection is the only game in town if like me, you are really interested in certain ships outside of the constant reissue remake stuff.

Glad to see that Covid didn't alter your plans for this year Sam. Looking forward to following your summer progress.

Now you have truly burst my bubble. I was thinking you were my Superman and it turns out you were just doing your David Copperfield impression!

Nice work Per Those things are almost impossible to get built let alone make them look right! It seems you did both in 47 seconds!

Great progress Joshua This looks like it is going to be a very impressive build.

You can tell it is an Italian plane by the chains on the props. (Told to me along with a number of other derogatory Italian jokes by my second generation Italian father when I was young.)

Great job Denis. A fitting tribute to a great plane.

I agree with pretty much everyone else on the finish EG. It defiantly looks like raw polished metal. My only comment would be in the form of a question rather than a suggestion. Is there any way or do you intend to do some panel line accents so that you can break up the long uninterrupted length of polished silver? Right now it is looking a little like a Royal Naboo starship instead of the more broken and discolored surface of an operational F-104 Especially the heated skin areas just aft of the arrester hook. Like I said just a question. I wouldn't even be able to get the finish you have so far.

I was thinking that I might have to do somethings like that but I now have a better offer. I am told that the ale is good and the pies are warm over at the Saucy Shrimp and that it has the same view as the cold shipyard. Winter is coming and this IS a ship you are building not some overnight armored beast!

That is why you still see VWs around today and almost no one has even heard of a Renault Douphine!

Nope, nothing like that OC. Very PG 13.