Author Archives: atcDave

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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.

Welcome to Plane Dave

Posted on June 19, 2014 by atcDave

Welcome to my blog.  This started as I was thinking about keeping a photographic record of my model collection.  Originally, I was just thinking of a private document.  But the more I thought about it, making a public blog seemed … Continue reading →

Posted in Administrative | 7 Comments

Republic P-47M Thunderbolt

Posted on June 19, 2014 by atcDave

I always love the 56th Fighter Group.  They were the most successful Fighter Group of the 8th Air Force in air to air combat, and they were the only Fighter Group that hadn’t converted to Mustangs by war’s end; they … Continue reading →

Posted in Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Mitsubishi A6M5c Model 52 Zero-Sen

Posted on June 19, 2014 by atcDave

The Zero was certainly the most famous Japanese aircraft of World War II. The late, Model 52c Zero was much improved over the version used at the start of the war.  But it couldn’t compete with more completely modern types … Continue reading →

Posted in Fighter, Japan | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Matilda Mk III

Posted on June 19, 2014 by atcDave

British Infantry Tank This is the first non-aircraft subject I’ll be looking at.  It’s been exciting to me to have a number of  armor and vehicle kits come available in 1/48th scale the last decade.

Posted in Armor, Britain | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

Posted on June 19, 2014 by atcDave

My one project during my long break from 2010-2013 was a museum restoration project.  This was originally an r/c aircraft that was totaled in a flying accident.  The Yankee Air Museum bought the wreckage to restore for static display. After the jump … Continue reading →

Posted in Fighter, Museums, USA | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

North American FJ-1 Mustang

Posted on June 19, 2014 by atcDave

But not that FJ-1… My first project after a long break was a hypothetical.  What if the P-51 Mustang had found its way into the USMC?  Well for starters it would have been the FJ, and the Fury would have been the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fighter, Hypothetical, USA | Tagged , , | 8 Comments