Scale Aviator International Magazine Issue 3 | Page 35
aviation museum, second, there is a Michigan
connection with the Schilling family, and third,
Schilling was commander of the reconstituted 56th FG
at Selfridge, Michigan near Detroit for a few years
after the war.
Although this project was a lot of work and required
a great deal of help and support to pull this audacious
journey off successfully, I am very glad we did it. A lot
of my interest in being involved with models and RC
airplanes in the first place is to honor all these great
veterans of that war.
More scale eye candy on Dave’s P-47. The
cockpit is well done and note the spring-loaded
pilot grab handles that retract just like on the full
sized jug.
My own late father and still-living 90 year old father–
in-law were both combat B-17 and B-24 pilots flying
out of England during the war. I have also met other
great men from that era including people like Russ
Kyler (P-47s, 56th FG) and Bill Getz (491st BG and
Second Air Division Scouting Forces in P-51Ds) who
flew fighters and bombers during the war, too.
My passion for scale aviation and appreciation for
the brave pilots and aircrews who served in combat
overseas has been a great way to meet wonderful folks
from all over the world who share the same passion
for modeling and flying scale aircraft of yesteryear.
Dave Gianakos
[email protected]
A closing photograph of the scale P-47 on the actual runway at Boxted Air Field. The overcast common in the UK creates a vintage look and one can almost imagine the full sized Hairless Joe setting
there with Dave Schilling in the cockpit. Even the intercooler doors are correct on this fine scale
model.
35