Scratch model builder

Wings of Gold, Winter 2002 by Shaw, Jim

Veteran USMC F4U pilot Phil VonVille is a premiere scratch model builder. He transforms simple materials into works of high quality art. "The Beast," a Curtiss Wright SB2C5 Helldiver, is a recent project, which is appropriate because he's a member of ANA's Helldiver Squadron of Columbus, Ohio where the WWII Curtiss Wright plant produced nearly 5,000 of the dive bombers during WWII.

Phil, who is a Life Member of ANA, said, "I've always loved airplanes and started building 10-cent kits when I was 15 years old." He was inspired to produce quality models by the kit store owner's promise to buy back the finished model for display with a commensurate amount of store merchandise.

"I was fascinated watching the big planes take off from the Columbus airport," he recalled. After high school graduation, with WWII still underway, he expressed his desire to fly to a USMC Gunnery Sergeant. The Marine advised Phil to join the Marine Corps, then apply for pilot training, even though Phil didn't have any college education. "They must have needed Marine pilots," Phil said, "because I applied and got everything I wanted after joining."

Phil flew F4U Corsairs in VMF-123 and logged three and a half "kills" of enemy aircraft. However, on 23 May 1945, at the age of 19, operating from USS Bennington during a napalm attack on Okinawa, 1 LT Phil Von Ville's life changed forever. At 75 feet altitude, he pulled back on the stick of his F4U-1D, released his bombs and was immediately hit by ground fire.

"I had always put in a little nose-up elevator trim on low level missions, just in case," said Phil. He was knocked unconscious, a jagged piece of metal stuck in his head, and his right knee cap was torn off. The cockpit filled with smoke and blood ran into his right boot. He regained consciousness at 6,000 feet. He cleared the smoke, used a belt as a tourniquet, radioed Bennington and was advised to ditch at sea. Phil replied he was bloody, didn't like sharks and requested one pass at the ship, which was granted. He couldn't lower the fighter's wheels but landed his crippled Corsair on the flight deck. The F4U was pushed over the side. A picture of his plane being quickly stripped and a letter listing its BuNo (82659) as removed from the inventory is in Phil's scrapbook.

The trauma of his injuries caused Phil to lose all body hair. His pleas to continue flying were rejected and after 22 months of flying, five in combat, he was released from active duty.

In the modeler's world there are two types of judging. "Standoff Scale" aircraft models are evaluated from a distance of 20 feet. Their silhouettes look good, but dimensions may not be precise in relation to their full-size counterparts. Phil builds to the more exacting "Precision Scale" requirements, which are judged up close. If two planes are about equal in points, calipers are used to measure chord lengths and other details to determine the winning entry.

Phil's 1/8th Precision Scale model F4U1D is exactly like the one he flew. It has taken first place in approximately 100 modeler competitions. It flies nicely, but with an ENYA.60 engine, it does not fly to scale. Phil used this smaller engine to avoid cutting the nose for a larger power plant and to maintain the correct look of this model.

The SB2C-5 was fashioned after one that Navy veteran LCDR Okey Roush, USNR (Ret.) once flew in his career. The "Big Tailed Beast" model is scratch built to 1/6th of an inch Precision Scale. It has a 99.5-inch wing span, 70-inch length, 23 -inch tail height, and the wing is tapered so its chord varies. It weighs 35 pounds. It does not have an engine yet or ballast for center of gravity considerations. Final weight will be about 45 pounds. Two cordless screw-drivers power the wing fold-spread system. In total, there are 14 servos to operate moveable parts. Ongoing detailing involves installing 20,000 rivets - actually, markings that look like the real rivets on an actual plane. A 75cc engine is being planned for the power plant. Phil estimates completion in a year.

Phil also loves PT boats, which captured his attention while doing R&R on Tulagi atoll where PT-159 was in `Squadron 9, "Kelly's Kids." Phil's scratch built PT159 is radio controlled for throttle, rudder, and smoke generation, and manually controlled for operation of the torpedo tubes, search-light and running lights. Because it is so heavy Phil transports it on a custom trailer.

It's fascinating to listen to Phil recount his experiences. His models are simply fantastic. Many have marveled at them, including me. They are awesome.

By CAPT Jim Shaw, USNR (Ret.)

CAPT Shaw is Executive Officer of ANA's Helldiver Squadron in Columbus.