Aircraft of the 405th Fighter Group, WWII
IPMS 2001 National Convention Display
Detail Pictures
About the Project
The idea behind the project was developed in September 2000 by members of the IPMS Capt. James J. McKinstry Memorial Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers’ Society, U.S.A. The idea was to build a club project for the IPMS National Convention held in Rosemont, Illinois July 4-7, 2001, and enter the project in the model contest.
The club chose to use markings made available by AeroMaster Decals for the 405th Fighter Group during WWII. There were 24 different aircraft in the AeroMaster set. An additional 2 models were made possible with custom made decals from SuperScale International.
Fifteen modelers built all 26 aircraft. Time spent building the models averaged 25+ hours for each aircraft. Chris Kowall built the backboard for the display, which featured copies of photographs used for the original AeroMaster decal research and an original painting of 509TH Fighter Squadron P-47, “CHIEF-SKI-U-MAH”. The base was designed and constructed by Trent Tidmore.
To view the project outline (5 pages), please click on the link below to open the document in a new tab, or click the “Download” button to download a copy of the PDF. (NOTE: Original contact information in the document has been sanitized.)
The contest featured almost 2100 model entries and the 405TH FG display placed 2nd in its category.
After the Nationals
Ten of the models built for the project have been given to a pilot or crewmember who was assigned to that particular aircraft.
On August 12, 2001, the display was featured at another model contest in Crystal Lake, Illinois. This time members of the club were on hand to answer questions about the Thunderbolt and the markings applied to the models. 509TH FS Thunderbolt pilot Mike Titre answered questions about the 405th FG in WW II.
(Photo taken at McHenry Community College, 12 August 2001.)
The following table lists all the models, sorted by the name of the builder. Click the thumbnail for a larger image of the model, which relates some of the background on the aircraft and pilot of each. The ‘Details’ link in each entry will open a new page with more background detail of the aircraft, pilot, and crew (if known), as well as higher resolution pictures of each model.
All models are Hasegawa kits except for the Balls Out Donald Duck model, which used the Academy kit.
All decal research and all photos of the models are credited to Norris Graser.
| Builder | Aircraft | Photo | Aircraft Detail Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Curda | Touch of Texas, bubbletop |  | Details |
| Norris Graser | Chief-Ski-U-Mah |  | Details |
| Mike Hanlon | Wham Bam IV |  | Details |
| Lee Lygiros | Peg O’ My Heart |  | Details |
| Dan Paulien | Nemanie II |  | Details |
| Mike Polk | The Bug |  | Details |
| Charlie Scardon | Sierra Sue |  | Details |
| Charlie Scardon | Turtle No 9 |  | Details |
| Dick Smith | Little Lulu |  | Details |
| Cody Tidmore | Jinx |  | Details |
| Trent Tidmore | The Mole |  | Details |
| Tom Curda | Honey-Bucket Joe! |  | Details |
| Tom Curda | Kansas Tornado II |  | Details |
| Norris Graser | Chowhound 2nd (red cowl) |  | Details |
| Paul Hackman | Balls Out (Donald Duck) |  | Details |
| Paul Hackman | Little Tommy Gunner |  | Details |
| Mike Hanlon | El Texano |  | Details |
| Steve Kumamoto | Pilots Dream IV |  | Details |
| Steve Kumamoto | Squirt VI |  | Details |
| Scott Olson | Stinky |  | Details |
| Dan Paulien | Balls Out (Bull) |  | Details |
| Charlie Scardon | Little Joe II |  | Details |
| Charlie Scardon | Nut Cracker |  | Details |
| Dick Smith | Chowhound 2nd (Black cowl) |  | Details |
| Phil Smith | Touch of Texas (Razorback) |  | Details |
| Bill Soppet | Whoooo |  | Details |
IPMS - Capt. James J. McKinstry Chapter 
I have a Revell P-47D kit, 1:48 scale, Thunderbolt Razorback for “The Bug”. I am trying to find a source for a set of decals to adapt the plane to the markings for “Little Lulu” of the 510th Fighter Squadron. The father (Lt Col Bruce Parcell) of a good friend of mine was KIA on 7/24/1944 while flying “Little LuLu” in combat over France. I want to present his daughter and only child with a model of his Thunderbolt. IPMS member Dick Smith displayed a model of “LL” with the authentic decals. I’m wondering where he found that particular detail set.
A set containing Lulu can be purchased through ngraser@comcast.net or Thundercals@yahoo.com..
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