Author Archives: atcDave

About atcDave

I'm 5o-something years old and live in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I'm happily married to Jodie. I was an air traffic controller for 33 years and recently retired; grew up in the Chicago area, and am still a fanatic for pizza and the Chicago Bears. My main interest is military history, and my related hobbies include scale model building and strategy games.

Theme Build 6

Trainers Another theme I likely have little need to introduce. But you all know, I will anyway… Every nation needed aircraft designed for training. This isn’t quite the “duh” comment that, well, that it actually is. In the early days … Continue reading

Posted in Theme Build | 8 Comments

Sd.Kfz.234/2 Puma

A late-War armored car saw service from 1943 to the end. Let’s take a quick look at the Wehrmacht’s ultimate Armored Car.

Posted in Armor, Germany | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Douglass SBD-3 Dauntless

The US Navy’s famous workhorse of the early War period was just entering service as a combat ready type the summer before the US got into the War. Let’s take a look at one from the transition period just before … Continue reading

Posted in Bomber - Naval, USA | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Hawker Typhoon Mk Ib

This big fighter was best known as a ground attack aircraft with the 2nd Tactical Air Force, the scourge of German tanks, and trucks, tents, guys on motorcycles… But the Typhoon started as a high altitude fighter. Let’s take a … Continue reading

Posted in Britain, Fighter | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

M20 Armored Utility Vehicle

This light armored vehicle was in broad use with US and allied forces from the middle of 1943 to the end of the War. Let’s look at a common, and often unrecognized vehicle.

Posted in Armor, USA | Tagged , | 8 Comments

A Little Refresh

I’d been wanting to tidy my space for a few months. It had gotten dirty and disorganized. So here is my little clean-up. Some new shelves, more paint racks,. But mostly just rearranging. After 5 years I had some ideas … Continue reading

Posted in Administrative | 4 Comments

Theme Build 5 – Complete

Spitfire That took a lot longer than expected! As I mentioned at the start, the Eduard kit all of these planes were built from, is an involved and sometimes tricky build. Combine that with a few busy months and this … Continue reading

Posted in Theme Build | 8 Comments

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe

A different look appeared for the last Merlin Engined Spitfire produced during the War. Let’s take a brief look at the end of the line.

Posted in Britain, Fighter, New Zealand | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Curtiss Tomahawk Mk IIb

Here’s a type we all know well. Right? Let’s take a look at a familiar type, that gets more than a little confusing in knowing where it actually fits into the grand scheme of things!

Posted in Britain, Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Messerschmitt Bf 110C

The first major production of Messerschmitt’s famous “Zerstorer” was in extensive use from the start of the War. Let’s look at an example that fell, along with the type’s reputation, during the Battle of Britain.

Posted in Fighter, Germany | Tagged , , | 20 Comments