P-51D Mustang "Carolyn's Vergeltungswaffe" - 1/144 Scale

[@trevor6126]

The pilot who flew this plane is Hess Bomberger. He will be 100 on Nov. 9, 2021 and is actually doing quite well. I was fortunate to be in the jumpseat to many airshows with him in the 90s when he flew the Mustang he bought in 1979 and flew until 1998, "Vergeltungswaffe". Happy Birthday, Hess! Paul Sawyer

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Woah! Very cool! I hadn't done my research and had no idea he was the pilot nor that it was nearing his 100th birthday when I posted another picture of the aircraft this week. That's an awesome coincidence and thanks for sharing. Stories like this definitely add some excitement to the "inanimate" objects that are sitting on my shelves

[@paulsawyer9106]

Born in 1921 and raised in Jeannette, PA, A. Hess Bomberger II, Lt. Col., USAF, Retired, learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training Program at the Latrobe, PA airport (now Arnold Palmer Regional Airport) the summer of 1941. He flew 65 hp Piper J-3 Cubs there and a Waco RNF and Meyers OTW at the Lancaster, PA airport before being appointed an Army Aviation Cadet in June, 1942. He flew 66 missions for 284 combat hours in P-47s and P-51s with the 361st Sq of the 356th Fighter Group, 67th FW, 1st Air Div, 8th AF from September, 1944 to May, 1945. He served with Colonel Donald Strait (later Maj. General), who was the leading ace of the 356th Fighter Group. Based at Martlesham Heath Aerodrome near Ipswich, Suffolk, England, he rose to Flight Commander with the rank of Captain, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, seven Air Medals and six other military awards. Other operational tours were in F-86Fs in Korea and F-86Hs stateside. The rest of his military career was in research and development at Wright and Eglin Fields. He retired in 1963 as Chief, Configuration Management in the T-38/F-5 Program Office at Wright Field. Bomberger has over 1,000 hours in the P-51, plus 3,500 hours in some 40 others from the Piper Cub to the supersonic T-38. Most of his P-51 hours were gained by flying his P-51 Mustang which he named “Vergeltungswaffe” after his wartime mount, and which was bought from racecar driver Johnny Rutherford in 1979. Vergeltungswaffe was seen with Hess at the controls to the delight of spectators at scores of airshows on the east coast for next 19 years until he retired from flying. He lives now in Gainesville, GA. About his P-51 “Vergeltungswaffe” he flew from 1979-1998 (and now flying as “The Little Witch” out of Stallion 51 in Kissimmee, FL)… One of the last P-51D’s made, it saw no combat. It was delivered to Bartow AAFld, FL 6 June 1945, and to Kelly AAFld, TX a year later. In Nov 1950 it was transferred to the RCAF Auxiliary (reserve) at London, Ont after two months of contractor maintenance at Burbank, CA. In 1953 it was stored at Ft. Macleod, Alb. Among some twenty sold by Crown Assets Disposal Corp in Nov 1960, it was apparently not claimed, and in Jan 1962 was sold for $2,500 at a Calgary sheriff’s sale. Bomberger’s Heritage Aircraft was the ninth civilian owner, a company formed with fellow pilot Jimmie Hunt. “Vergeltungswaffe” was equipped with an operating K-14 computing gunsight and was thought to be the only Mustang flying in the world at that time to make this claim. The paint scheme during Bomberger’s ownership duplicated, to the rivet, that of the P-51D-15NA flown in combat by him. Copied from black and white photos, true colors were taken from his combat helmet which were painted with the 1944 aircraft paint. “Vergeltungswaffe” is the German word for “retaliation weapon”. It is what the “V” stood for in the V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket. The coat-of-arms under his name is that of the barony in Baden, Germany from which his paternal ancestor came eight generations ago in 1722. Vergeltungswaffe’s ownership passed into the hands of Bob Jepsen but is now most recently in the hands of Ariel Luedi. Shortly after Bomberger sold it in 1998, it received extensive modification as a “Cavalier” two-seat version and now flies as “The Little Witch” out of Luedi’s base of operations at Stallion 51 Corp. in Kissimmee, FL.

[@ModelMinutes]

That was such a sweet build! Especially in that tiny scale. New sub right here - can't believe YT never suggested you to me before now

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Thanks for the sub and the feedback! Now Ive managed to find your channel as well

[@ModelMinutes]

@@ScaleModelAssassin Haha! I hope you enjoy my videos as much as I enjoy yours :D

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

I'm trying but they're so damn hard to get thru. Just kidding of course! Nice work!

[@ModelMinutes]

@@ScaleModelAssassin 😂 Edit: wrong emoji 😂

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

LMAO I saw the wrong one just in time and was a little confused. Emojis are promoting Valentine's day a bit early hahaha

[@dusanbolek8004]

This video reminded me how much I hate painted spirals on plane propellers. 🙂

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

haha I can sympathize

[@seconddegre4496]

*Wow ! Ithink your videos are great! You knew that I also do model airplane construction on my KZbin channel, but otherwise I watched almost all of your videos and I really like it!*

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Thanks! 👍👍👍

[@bigcharliesmodelgarage296]

Nice little build. Thanks for sharing.

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Thanks for watching!

[@modelaircraftyt]

Beautiful work for so little scale!

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

👍 thanks!

[@paulhargreaves1497]

"Wiring off the battery terminals"........gasp! I hesitate doing this in 1/48! Build 'em small while your eyesight allows it! Happy New Year from New Zealand

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Thank you! 🇳🇿

[@henrysanchez4810]

Very nice result, working with 1:144 is a challenge.

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Thanks! I agree. It was fun from a time and cost perspective, but obviously you dont get the same level of detail.

[@henrysanchez4810]

@@ScaleModelAssassin I just finished a 1:144 Mig 21 tough build..lol

[@shadjarvis]

Nice work!

[@canistanbuldan]

Nice job, Congrats

[@kusanagi533d]

Love your videos, keep on keepin’ on!

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Thanks, there's more on the way!

[@josecesar5952]

This is great work!

[@AllanGildea]

Wow! Fabulous. Happy New Year.

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Thanks and same to you!

[@swing.wing_singh]

Beautiful work in 1/144 scale. This must be so tiny

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

It is!

[@gordonyork6638]

Huzzah. You vid is great. My favorite scale.

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

👍👍 it was a quick fun build, I want to do more

[@BlackoutsBattalion]

What kind of tape is that, And how do you keep it from peeling off the paint?

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

The yellow tape is from Tamiya. I've had it peel the paint before (on accident of course), but its generally a light enough tackiness to not pull it up. Using a primer or a clear coat can help if youre concerned about the tape pulling up the paint.

[@pravshar6934]

where did you get this model from

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

Its from SprueBrothers.com. The product line is from Eduard and part of their "Super 44" series

[@aklapotherpotherpothikrebh603]

Plz need 1/144 f4u corsair

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

I'll probably get to it at some point. Got a few other 144 scale warplanes in my stash already. They're cheap, easy, and fun to build

[@jordankear6019]

Look It This P-51 Mustang

[@ScaleModelAssassin]

👍👍👍