Japanese Fighter in North Carolina???

[sandiego89]

Well good on him! and thanks for the ground work Vagabond.

I should show this thread to my wife, and mention I've been thinking about some larger scale models.....suddenly she won't mind the 1/72 scale stuff!

[Vagabond]

Photo from Google - by Michel Heijnen of Zeb's P-40 replica displayed at 194 Gilliam McConnell Rd, Carthage, NC 28327 - Gilliam McConnell airport in Carthage NC.



Google Map coordinates for the P-40 at Carthage, NC Airport:

35°20'26.8"N 79°26'12.2"W

Zeb mentioned that his 109 replica was at the future James Rogers McConnell Air Museum:

http://carthageairmuseum.org/Index.htm

Menards - You are absolutely right and I apologize for my comments posted previous to my actual visit.

I made sure to look around with respect to property and chose to drop a note in the mailbox as a means of inquiry and introduction, rather than just knocking on the door. As you said, I was met by one of the nicest people I've ever met and had a delightful and inspiring time.

[Lon Moer]

Hey Guys,

I drove down today and met the man behind the mysteries!

I'll post my photos and details of the visit as soon as I can.

The Oscar replica is his THIRD replica project having built first, a P-40 and 2nd, an Me-109.

An amazing guy!

Did you tell him why you happened to go to his place?

"A bunch of random people on the internet found your place on google earth and I'm here to investigate ..."

[Vagabond]

Did you tell him why you happened to go to his place?

"A bunch of random people on the internet found your place on google earth and I'm here to investigate ..."

Yep - That's basically what I told him.....

[Lon Moer]

nvm

Last edited by Lon Moer on Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[DoraNineFan]

A lot of misinformed people posting about deep south pit bulls and shot guns. Show up un-announced to a southern man's property in a respectful manner with a genuine interest in what they are doing, not only will they chat your ear off for as long as you are willing to let them, they just may also cook you a meal or two while you are there. Some of the nicest people you will every meet live down south off the beaten path. Key words...be respectful! It goes a long way!

As a Southerner, I stand by my statement. Now what you say is true under the right circumstances. But not only do I know what gittonouttahere means, I know how to pronounce it correctly and I've heard it used.

[Pogo]

As an old Texan, I'll have to say be respectful either way, and your day should come to a close pleasantly enough. A little mutual respect and common courtesy goes a long way in most all yer doin's.

What a grand thread this is! And thanks again to Vagabond for performing a splendid service to us WIXers - Cheers to you, sir!

[Pogmusic]

What awesome work. The only thing that really stands out is the canopy. Great detail for a replica. Good on em.

[marine air]

He’s done nice work and kept the s ale pretty accurate. I’m willing to beg, literally beg , for him to do a full scale replica of a Brewster F2A Buffalo as used by the Marines at Guadalcanal and Wake Island. I think if he were to do it in 100% scale, it would have a nice place in a pro museum if he were to sell it.

[Warbird Kid]

WOW! I've known about that P-40 replica for a little while now and remember reading an article on him building it, and now we seem to know where all the magic happens! Wonderful detail! And exciting to see all of his creations, and more at a new air museum. So lets see, he's built a:

P-40N
BF 109E
KI-43

I'm guessing a Hurricane or Spitfire may be next! Or maybe something more exotic and rare!

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Wed Mar 18, 2020 2:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[phil65]

"What a grand thread this is! And thanks again to Vagabond for performing a splendid service to us WIXers - Cheers to you, sir! "

Where should we send Vagabond next ?

Great job,
Phil

Last edited by phil65 on Wed Mar 18, 2020 6:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chris Brame]

Where should we sent Vagabond next ?

How about Blacksville, WV?


viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42100&hilit=virginia

Be sure to read through the whole thread - petered out in November 2015; WIXers Nathan and cooper9411 were interested in going to check it out but...? Owner Fred McCoy would be about 92 now.

[Spitty]

Heres a guy I know here in Australia doing something similar..
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012270510876

[Vagabond]

Hi All -

As a coda to the NC Oscar/Zeb Harrington story, I drove down to Carthage, NC today to see the P-40 Replica displayed there. I found it, now pretty worse for wear as kids have climbed on it and busted it up a bit.

I also found some AMAZING murals in Carthage and posted those as well. Turns out that James Rogers McConnell, the 4th of the 7 original founders of the Lafayette Escadrille was from Carthage, NC and the town certainly remembers him! Monument from France at the Gilliam-McConnell Field and a huge mural in town.

Also the airfield has a monument to Carthage, NC native Lt Robert "Hoyle" Upchurch - killed in China in 1944 and his remains returned in 2006.

Check out the gallery here:

https://www.vgbimages.com/AirMuseums/Gi ... arthage-NC

Teasers:

[Vagabond]

WOW! I've known about that P-40 replica for a little while now and remember reading an article on him building it, and now we seem to know where all the magic happens! Wonderful detail! And exciting to see all of his creations, and more at a new air museum. So lets see, he's built a:

P-40N
BF 109E
KI-43

I'm guessing a Hurricane or Spitfire may be next! Or maybe something more exotic and rare!

Zeb did say he's always wanted to build a Spitfire. I asked him to do a P-47 for Mrs VB - make one heck of an anniversary gift!

Guys - that F-84 is about 7 hours North of me at the moment so don't hold your breath! I'll put it on my "Next time I'm in Northern WV or Pittsburgh" list. One never knows...