Larry,
Did you ever get answers to your question on the JM-1P? Photo-recce is also one of my major interests. Current plans: PR Hurris and Hudsons, Saint-Exupery's F-5 and the JM-1P. The only photo of the latter I know of may be found on Bing Images, copyright USN aerofiles.com, showing a JM-1P in mid-war 3-color scheme. On the nose, in white, are what I think is the 'last three' of the BuNo: "78?". Last number hidden by cowling, wooden ya know! The BuNo range would be 66780-66789 (10 A/C), which narrows the research range considerably. Joe Baugher's website gives the ranges for all JM-1s, 225 aircraft, also places with aircraft cards, I'm hoping the Navy History center could help, if they only have to pull ten cards. If any of these were converted to -1P configuration, I'm sure it would be noted on the card.
All the best, John G.
Hi John,
Thanks for the reply. No, I never got any answers to my questions, which is not surprising as photo-recce aircraft are not a popular subject. Since most PR aircraft were unarmed, they couldn't shoot down enemy aircraft and the pilots couldn't become aces. That, apparently, is what most model builders are interested in. Even if I got a confirmed photo and/or marking info on a JM-1P, without real info on the camera location(s), I can't really build a model of one.
You mentioned the Navy History Center as being helpful in research. I went to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola years back, trying to do research on the JM-1P, along with other naval recce aircraft (TBM-1CP, TBM-3P, SBD-2P & others). The "researchers" there started pulling out copies of Squadron's "Aircraft In Action" books. I realized then that they would be of ZERO help and eventually gave up.
Heck, even many of the surviving reconnaissance aircraft have been "modified" back into a fighter or bomber version, so they could paint it up as a "hero" plane. And that is not just people who own warbirds, it's also the USAF Museum, the Naval Air Museum, and other worldwide museums. The ONLY place I could do serious research into recce aircraft was the San Diego Air & Space Museum. But even they were limited on the material they had in storage.
There used to be model conversion companies (Cutting Edge, Airwaves, True Details, etc) who actually made resin conversions for recce aircraft, but there hasn't been anything released recently, and the 2 of the 3 I mentioned are LONG out of business.
Sorry for the depressing ramble, but I have pretty much given up hope on finding enough info on the JM-1P that would allow me to build an accurate model of one.
Larry