WWII: Which US Fighter would you most like to have as a miniature?

**Oberst Hajj** · 12-03-2009 22:27

I'm going to limit this poll to the high speed aircraft... 430mph +

1. P-51 Mustang
2. P-47 Thunderbolt
3. P-38 Lightning
4. F4U4 Corsair

**Oberst Hajj** · 12-05-2009 05:34

I think this one is going to be a heated contest. I mean, it's really hard to pick from any of these iconic planes. I mean, who would not want a P-51 flying around the table? But then, in the Pacific theater, how could you not have a F4U4 mixing it up??? Finally, I had to go with one that would let me fly it in both theaters as a work horse, the P-38 Lightning. They were the first planes over Berlin after all.

**Gravitypool** · 12-06-2009 04:41

Despite i know everyone screams for a Mustang, it's a plane that doesn't appeal much to me. The corsair on the other side... the first time i saw one in person i thought: Man, shouldn't it be awesome to pilot this beauty?

**Zeppelin** · 12-06-2009 08:02

The Corsair for me, it has always been my favorite fighter.

**Baron** · 12-06-2009 10:02

All of them, but the Lightning is a favorite of mine so I had to vote for it.

**Greywolf** · 12-06-2009 22:23

Originally Posted by RedBaron

All of them, but the Lightning is a favorite of mine so I had to vote for it.

ditto just love the look of this plane.

Cheers
GW

**costampede** · 12-07-2009 10:42

The P-51 would be nice, but I have always liked the P-47 Thunderbolt

**nachinus** · 12-07-2009 12:13

I voted for the Mustang, but the corsair would also be great.

**CappyTom** · 12-07-2009 17:01

I didn't see Curtiss P-40 Warhawk but I do like the F4U4 Corsair. Really enjoyed Baa Baa Black Sheep with Dirk Blocker, Robert Conrad, Robert Ginty, and John Larroquette. So give me a squadren of corsairs and Pappy Boyington and I will rule the Islands in the south pacific.

Tom

**Jureweah** · 12-07-2009 19:53

Hard chosse again. Corsair and Warhawk are my favourite US Fighters, but in Europen teather the most used was the Mustang and I prefer the European theater... however my vote is for the Corsair (maybe the best fighter in the WWII and really cool).

**Doug** · 12-08-2009 02:00

I ould like to see some of the earlier aircraft such as a Flying Tigers P40 (I think that right)

**Oberst Hajj** · 12-08-2009 07:33

Originally Posted by Doug

I ould like to see some of the earlier aircraft such as a Flying Tigers P40 (I think that right)

Originally Posted by Jureweah

Hard chosse again. Corsair and Warhawk are my favourite US Fighters, but in Europen teather the most used was the Mustang and I prefer the European theater... however my vote is for the Corsair (maybe the best fighter in the WWII and really cool).

Originally Posted by CappyTom

I didn't see Curtiss P-40 Warhawk but I do like the F4U4 Corsair. Really enjoyed Baa Baa Black Sheep with Dirk Blocker, Robert Conrad, Robert Ginty, and John Larroquette. So give me a squadren of corsairs and Pappy Boyington and I will rule the Islands in the south pacific.

Tom

All three of you have already gotten your wish. The P-40 is in the Series 3 miniature set.

**Poliorketes** · 12-08-2009 10:18

4 great planes, but for me the "Gabelschwanzteufel" P-38 is an all-time favourite

**Scoop** · 12-09-2009 10:19

Ha, never heard of this one - but the lightnig IS a very beautiful plane. Love it in silver with the zebra stripes.

**Jmac** · 12-09-2009 13:46

I had to go for the P-47 Jug. Something about a plane that can take massive punishment and keep flying appeals to me.

I saw a cartoon once of a P-47 with a 109 behind it blazing away, the P-47 pilot is shown thinking, "He'll hit one of his own ricochets soon, then he's mine".

**AlgyLacey** · 12-09-2009 14:34

I'd go for the Jug too: - versatility

And talk about tough! - I once talked to a guy at Duxford who reckoned he'd flown one into a tree.

He said the main spar and leading edge of the wing moved back six inches and up three but it got him home.

**The Blue Baron** · 12-15-2009 07:24

Corsair for the pacific theatre. That was an easy choice...

**Eliminator** · 12-15-2009 12:30

depending on which front you were on...all are great planes and it makes my decision a hard one so i will choose the mustang...

**HardRock** · 12-15-2009 16:02

I went for the Mustang, I'm a freak about Mustangs. I do like the other choices and will want them all, but the Mustang first. In a couple of weeks, I'll be starting what I call my Mustang year, I'm turning 51.

Henry

**Jager** · 12-25-2009 06:02

The big question with the P-51 and P-47 are which models, razorbacks or bubbledomes. Unlike most zooms I talk to, I prefer the older models with the razorbacks for both these plane. In the end though, I went with the Corsair, (hey many built in Akron, have to go with the hometown boy

**CyberMaxX** · 12-28-2009 14:37

It's the Chance Vought F4U-4 "Ensign Eliminator" for me.

With 9 aces in Greg "Pappy" Boyington's Famous VMF-214 Black Sheep Squadron this model it's just begging to be put into a complete squadron.

**Roger Wilco** · 12-29-2009 19:28

All the choices would make great models on the tabletop but the choice was simple for me, its gotta be the P-51 and only if its an earlier B model. The D is more easily identified and highly produced in numbers, but I think the B looks better and in its olive coloured livery and bright lairy personal markings.

(I'm going to sound like a wowser here but...)

As much as I would deeply love to have a Corsair or even a Hellcat on the gametable, I think Pacific games would just become a "so one sided affair" as I think (my opinion only) that game balance would probably be hard to maintain. If each were interpreted into the game mechanics to do justice to the originals I think they would be too hard to knock out of a game because the orginals were designed to absorb so much punishment and both would deal too much damage against their more agile but lighter weighted Japanese counterparts each time they fired. Corsairs and Hellcats were war winning designs but I don't think they would work in this game in its current format. I can just picture players with two Corsair models flying side by side sweeping back and forth across the table with an Immelman at each end firing at anything that gets in the way of the firing arc, could be a bit hard to defeat such a simple tactic using even the best Japanese aircraft of the time. Sorry can't see the fun in that.

**CappyTom** · 12-30-2009 04:28

Originally Posted by Roger Wilco

All the choices would make great models on the tabletop but the choice was simple for me, its gotta be the P-51 and only if its an earlier B model. The D is more easily identified and highly produced in numbers, but I think the B looks better and in its olive coloured livery and bright lairy personal markings.

(I'm going to sound like a wowser here but...)

As much as I would deeply love to have a Corsair or even a Hellcat on the gametable, I think Pacific games would just become a "so one sided affair" as I think (my opinion only) that game balance would probably be hard to maintain. If each were interpreted into the game mechanics to do justice to the originals I think they would be too hard to knock out of a game because the orginals were designed to absorb so much punishment and both would deal too much damage against their more agile but lighter weighted Japanese counterparts each time they fired. Corsairs and Hellcats were war winning designs but I don't think they would work in this game in its current format. I can just picture players with two Corsair models flying side by side sweeping back and forth across the table with an Immelman at each end firing at anything that gets in the way of the firing arc, could be a bit hard to defeat such a simple tactic using even the best Japanese aircraft of the time. Sorry can't see the fun in that.

I see where your coming from but if you look at the maneuver decks for the Hellcat and the Zero, the Zero only turns slightly tighter then the Hellcat and that's at slow speed. At least the Spitfire has that wide side step against the 109. I feel they wanted to make it even to use either plane.

Tom

**Roger Wilco** · 12-30-2009 15:58

Originally Posted by CappyTom

I see where your coming from but if you look at the maneuver decks for the Hellcat and the Zero, the Zero only turns slightly tighter then the Hellcat and that's at slow speed. At least the Spitfire has that wide side step against the 109. I feel they wanted to make it even to use either plane.

Tom

I think you are confusing two different aircraft here, the aircraft that comes with Dawn of War is the Wildcat, not the Hellcat.

Hellcats were developed in reponse to defeat the Zero after the USA were able to "capture" a near intact crashed landed Zero. They pulled it apart and saw that although the Zero was lightyears ahead in its construction and aerodynamics to any other aircraft on the planet, they did realise its weakness was its inability to absorb much punishment. The response was to build an overpowered, fast, strong aircraft that could mount lots of forward firing weaponry (6 x .50 cal) and field it in battle in larger numbers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F6F_Hellcat

**CappyTom** · 12-31-2009 04:10

Originally Posted by Roger Wilco

I think you are confusing two different aircraft here, the aircraft that comes with Dawn of War is the Wildcat, not the Hellcat.

Hellcats were developed in reponse to defeat the Zero after the USA were able to "capture" a near intact crashed landed Zero. They pulled it apart and saw that although the Zero was lightyears ahead in its construction and aerodynamics to any other aircraft on the planet, they did realise its weakness was its inability to absorb much punishment. The response was to build an overpowered, fast, strong aircraft that could mount lots of forward firing weaponry (6 x .50 cal) and field it in battle in larger numbers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F6F_Hellcat

You are right I stand corrected. I meant to say Wildcat. But the Hellcat was one of my favorite planes. Guess I'm getting old

. I was making a point about the maneuver cards and how close they are with each other.

Tom

**Roger Wilco** · 01-03-2010 14:10

Originally Posted by Col. Hajj

I think this one is going to be a heated contest. I mean, it's really hard to pick from any of these iconic planes. I mean, who would not want a P-51 flying around the table? But then, in the Pacific theater, how could you not have a F4U4 mixing it up??? Finally, I had to go with one that would let me fly it in both theaters as a work horse, the P-38 Lightning. They were the first planes over Berlin after all.

You can also use the P51D in the Pacific as it was the primary escort for US B29's over Japan in '45 plus it was flown out of Australia by the RAAF

**afilter** · 01-05-2010 10:02

Coursair all the way! Grew up watching the Blacksheep.

European theatre gets enough love anyway.

**Dan-Sam** · 01-17-2010 08:01

I prefer P-51D. I have a weak for this plane, becouse I won a modeler contest when I was on primary school

I understand that Pacific theatre has priority, but P-51's were flying over west part of Czechoslovakia in 1945 with Patton's forces and with B-17s. But F4U4 is nice plane too.

**Dimetri1** · 02-01-2010 22:08

All of them.

**sparty** · 02-12-2010 16:25

P-51 Mustang without question. It's just iconic. Can't have enough to be honest.

**SgtWaka** · 02-12-2010 17:06

Well wax my shoes! I think i voted the P-38, but i certainly meant to vote for the P-47. The Jug is the JUg is the JUg. What a lovely plane.

**bumblie3** · 02-23-2010 10:54

I like to see all of them available, but I voted for the Lightning as it did fight in both theatres and, anyway, I saw a couple close up when I was about 5, near the end of the war, I think at Sawbridgeworth, but I may be wrong, as I know that was an RAF station, so unless they had put down in an emergency, I am not sure why they would be there. But I remember being fascinated by the strange look of (to my eyes) twin bodies but only one cockpit. Apparently I asked my grandfather why two planes had been joined together.....

**richard m schwab** · 02-23-2010 13:48

There is a plane that flew in all major theaters. When i was a kid i read Robert Johnson`s book and fell in love with the ugly thing!
Rich

**The Juggernaut** · 04-18-2010 06:47

I'm a little late to the party here, but the P-47 is my favorite plane of all time, and I remember reading that it was flown in both theaters and was produced in higher numbers than any other US fighter.

I just love that huge, tough, and heavily armed plane, eight 50 cal. machine guns! from my research on it pilots claimed that enemy fighters would practically disintegrate once they got a bead on them.

People also like to overlook how fast the thing was, once it got that 4 bladed prop and the right motor.

There was even a squadron that stuck with it even when the P-51 came out, that has to tell you something about how awesome this plane truly was.

That said, I would still love a P-51 or P-38, but I am really hoping for a P-47D in miniature at some point!

**richard m schwab** · 04-18-2010 08:10

Conner!
The P-47 had the reputation of being more rugged and able to take more punishment than the P-51. It took one hit in the cooling system to put a P-51 out of action. The P-47 had instances if having cylinders shot away
and making it home. Robert Johnson made it home in a P-47 that was more of a flying sieve than plane!

Rich

**Propjockey53** · 04-19-2010 13:21

I have all of these 4 in 1/144 plastic model kits.. I just need the WoW stands for them..HINT HINT!!!

**richard m schwab** · 04-19-2010 18:04

Jeffrey!

Here i a great link from this site. Carl does some great bases using the Litko base system and custom decals. Send him a message on how he does it.
Rich

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?t=776

**Oberst Hajj** · 04-19-2010 18:09

Originally Posted by Propjockey53

I have all of these 4 in 1/144 plastic model kits.. I just need the WoW stands for them..HINT HINT!!!

The Flight stands offered via the Aerodrome Accessories link at the top left of the page work just fine for 1/144 scale birds

**Rollout** · 05-23-2010 00:05

I don't know why, but I love the P-47, too. The Mustangs and Corsairs are sexy, nimble, and hard-hitting fighters but just the thought of that Thunderbolt chewing up everything in front of it with 8 .50-cals, rockets, and bombs is too much awesome to ignore!

**Guntruck** · 05-23-2010 11:51

Got to be the Thunderbolt for me. Absolute brute of an aircraft, could take a fair amount of punishment.

Just come back from a day at Duxford, where the Fighter Collection's Razorback P47G is coming together nicely.

**flash** · 06-06-2010 06:27

They're all fantastic but I went with the Thunderbolt too.

**Strangely Brown** · 06-07-2010 03:27

P-38.

Series 5:

Bf110
P-38
Ki-45
DH Mosquito

Twins Basil?

mattcalaho · 07-09-2010 14:42

All of them!!!!!

**ara398** · 07-09-2010 20:42

Hmmm... tricky.

No I'll be selfish. Got plenty of 1/144 Mustangs and Tbolts, but missed out on the F-Toys P-38s and the Crown/Academy kit isn't much chop, so its the good 'ol Lightning for me!

Adrian

**bleeder** · 07-09-2010 21:27

The P-38 is such an awesome looking plane, but my bombers need an escort... Gotta go with the P-51. Really there is no other choice when it comes to must-have US fighters.

**KiltedWolf** · 07-09-2010 22:21

This is a close contest between the Thunderbolt and the Corsair, but being a Marine I have to go with the Corsair first!

Baaa,
KW

**KiltedWolf** · 07-09-2010 22:27

Richard, thanks for the link -- got me thinking!

Cheers,
KW

**Olt^Jones** · 07-10-2010 00:34

im in trouble 'cause i like either p51 and f4u4

i vote for corsair. i like the pacific theathre and when this plane entered in combat it gave to us air force a terrible boost to sky-victory.

**Goering Ace** · 07-11-2010 13:27

Man, can you make it any more difficult?!! I love all 4, but the Corsair and the P-47 are my two favorites. I'll have to take the Thunderbolt, because it's just such an amazing plane that can take such incredible punishment and keep on flying.