Full-metal canvas

Air Classics, Sep 2000 by Thompson, Jim

ARTIST BRUCE CRANDALL AND AERO TRADER HAVE TEAMED UP TO OFFER AN UNIQUE COLLECTION OF AVIATION ART

Based at Chino Airport, California, Aero Trade-is well-known for its magnificent B-25 Mitchell restorations, Also based dt the same historic airfield is aviation artist Bruce Crandall who is also equally wellknown for his nose art on full-size Warbirds as well as his art on flight Jackets and other aviation related items. "Bruce and I have worked on numerous Warbird projects together," states Aero Trader's Carl Scholl. "One day we got around to the subject of aviation collectibles and, since we are both collectors, we came up with a new business plan."

Visitors to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington can gaze upon many aeronautical rarities and wonders. However, one of the rarest is the nose section of a Martin B-26. Marauder that is on display still in its original World War Two paint and markings. This relic is, of course, 8-26B USAAF s/n 4131773 Flak Bait which served with the 322nd Bomb Group, 449th Bomb Squadron, and compiled an impressive number of missions against the enemy - all of which are recorded on the forward fuselage. The rest of Flak Bait isin storage but the aircraft will be assembled and displayed in the new NASM facility which is being created at Dulles Airport.

The Marauder was one of our most prolific and successful combat designs during WWII yet today the type is virtually extinct: Besides Flak Bait, the USAF Museum has B-26G USAAF s/n 43324581 on display in Ohio while the Musee de l'Air has B-26G USAAF s/n 44-68219 on display,in Paris. During 1971, David Tallichet made the epic recovery of three B-26 Marauders from their final landing spot in Canada and returned the aircraft to Chino. One, 40-1464, was restored to flying condition and currently operates with Kermit Weeks at his magnificent Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida - the only flying example of Martin's classic bomber.

A few years back, Car! Scholl obtained the nose of a Marauder (unfortunately unidentified) from David Tallichet who, in turn, had obtained the relic from a Hollywood movie studio. Carl has been giving some thought of restoring-the nose section to its full WWII configuration but while he was looking at the nose with Bruce, they struck upon a plan to create a unique form of aviation art. Given the rarity of the Marauder, the pair decided to pull a mold from the nose section and then create a fiberglass "canvas" on which Bruce could create the completely accurate markings of Flak Bait. Due to the size (over twelve feet long), this is a "limited edition" project and

only a small number of Marauder noses will be created before the mold is struck.

As can be seen, the first nose was done as Flak Bait but Bruce can create any Marauder nose art for customers.

Once this was done, the pair moved on to other projects. A number of bombs have been done in a wide variety of markings - either chosen by Bruce from a

particular theme (Hiroshima, Doolittle Raid, Midway, etc.) or from a customer's idea. The bombs incorporate paintings, insignias, and patriotic slogans and really make for a great conversation item.

"We also came up with another unique form of art," states Carl. "I discovered a cache of original B-25 Mitchell cowlings. These are still in their original Olive Drab and Neutral Gray camouflage. Bruce has erected four different styles of art depicting scenes and insignia for the Doolittle Raid-on Japan. These pieces really look super and considering that them 'canvas' is from a WWII aircraft, they are also rare."

Other items being offered include a reproduction B-17 pilot's yoke mounted on a map of Germany-and then framed. Bruce is also taking original panels of B-25 plexiglass and etching scenes, insignias, and slogans from the Doolittle Raid. Bruce also continues his production of hand-painted flight jackets, nose art, and insignias.

Aero Trader is now Bruce's sole representative and further details of the entire range of very collectible art may be obtained by contacting Carl Scholl at Aero Trader, 7000 Merrill Ave., Box 19, Hangar P300, Chino CA 91710. Telephone (909) 597-4020, fax (909) 393-0074. E-mail aerotrader@aol.com.