A Couple Of Minutemen

[philp]

Finished a couple of Minutemen Missiles in 1/144th scale for the Hill Aerospace Museum.  These are being added to the display the club has done.  It is used by the Museum staff to figure out how to display the different exhibits they have and to show off to dignitaries.



The III is a resin copy of the Monogram Missile.  The mark I version was modified on a lathe by one of my fellow club mates, Barry, based on plans I pulled off the internet.



Decals came from a YF-16 and a fragile T-38 kit (stupid F.



Painted with good old Walmart Gloss White.

Here is part of the display in the Museum office.

[Daryl J.]

Very cool!  

Minuteman III story:   My room mate whilst attending Montana State University grew up with a Minuteman silo literally in their back yard.   He and his brother were bored one day so they got out bottle rockets and started shooting them off just at dusk.    The silo's flood lights came on instantly.    After a while they went back off.   Well, kids being kids, they figured out very quickly how long the lights would stay on and commenced launching bottle rockets over the silo at certain intervals....lights on.....lights off.....lights on....lights off....   :ar:  :ar:

Twasn't too long and a Jeep pulled up and they got talked to both curtly and courteously ordering them to stop.   It was sending alarms off all over the country that The Button had been pushed by the Russians and it was exciting too many officials all the way to Washington.      

Search Google Earth around Hobson, MT and you'll likey find the silo in the back yard of the former Henke Mink Farm.    These were controlled from Malmstrom AFB.    The silos by us were under the control of Minot AFB.     We always figured one day we'd see many long vertical columns of smoke...................


See....your model already stirred up some memories....
Thanks,
Daryl J.

[philp]

Very interesting story Daryl.

I also went to MSU.  My Dad was stationed at Malmstrom and I lived on the number 1 target in the US (SAC Headquarters) for almost 15 years.  We figured if the sh*t hit the fan, we would be among the first to know it.  Thank goodness that never happened.

[Shasper]

We had a Minutman on static over by my dorm last year, untill the AF determined that it wasnt safe anymore & pulled it down.

Shas B)

[Archibald]

Very cool!  

Minuteman III story:   My room mate whilst attending Montana State University grew up with a Minuteman silo literally in their back yard.   He and his brother were bored one day so they got out bottle rockets and started shooting them off just at dusk.    The silo's flood lights came on instantly.    After a while they went back off.   Well, kids being kids, they figured out very quickly how long the lights would stay on and commenced launching bottle rockets over the silo at certain intervals....lights on.....lights off.....lights on....lights off....   :ar:  :ar:

Twasn't too long and a Jeep pulled up and they got talked to both curtly and courteously ordering them to stop.   It was sending alarms off all over the country that The Button had been pushed by the Russians and it was exciting too many officials all the way to Washington.      

Search Google Earth around Hobson, MT and you'll likey find the silo in the back yard of the former Henke Mink Farm.    These were controlled from Malmstrom AFB.    The silos by us were under the control of Minot AFB.     We always figured one day we'd see many long vertical columns of smoke...................


See....your model already stirred up some memories....
Thanks,
Daryl J.

           

[Madoc]

Phil,

Cool stuff.

Looking at that museum layout photo, is that a Bolo in front of the C-5 and F-22?

Madoc

[Shasper]

Uhh Madoc I think thats suppost to be a F-35?

Shas B)

[dragon]

I have a bunch of 1/72 scale U.S. AIR FORCE decals (largest intended for a C-130 and smallest for an F-5) and multiscale dry transfer 45 degree gothic letters if you still have time to fix the decals.  I don't think I will use those.  Tell me if you are interested.  

[Jschmus]

Uhh Madoc I think thats suppost to be a F-35?

Shas B)

Yeah, but just to the left of the f-35 is a DC-3ish tail-dragger.  Could be either a B-18 Bolo or maybe the B-23 Dragon.

[Madoc]

Folks,

Well, you're right about the JSF but there's no way that'd be a B-23.  The fuselage is far too thick, the nose is wrong, and there's no tailgun position.

Madoc

[elmayerle]

Perhaps it's an AC-47?  I submit that one of those or a B-18 would be the most logical, not that reality always adheres to logic.

[upnorth]

Given the nose profile, I'd say its a B-18 hands down.

[philp]

Thanks for the comments on the Missiles, they have been delivered so I won't be updating the markings (thanks for the offer Dragon).

The models outside of the buildings that are not painted are planes that the museum would like to acquire.  Some, like the Bronco, have been but others are on the wish list.

I believe the plane you are commenting on is indeed a Bolo.  Pat carved the body and added some DC-3 wings, etc.




If you are interested in the rest of the models, start here http://www.ipmsslc.com/gallery2/v/Museums/...IM1488.jpg.html
It starts with pics of the actual buildings then goes into the buildings and models in scale.

[Hobbes]

I like those missiles. Well done!

Good idea of the museum to use scale models to experiment with the layout of their exhibits. Hadn't seen this before, but it's a logical way to make sure your new layout works before you start shunting planes around.  

[Nick]

I know that Duxford use scale models to plan their layouts. I looked thru the window of a office behind the hangars last year and saw a room full of models including a TSR.2!
On the desk was a scale plan for a hangar floor.

Nick B)