America's Next Top Pilot?

I've been picking up some great oddball stuff from Don's as he tries to liquidate a large collection he's helping sell off for a friend.  My love of oddball sets is pretty well documented on this blog and finding a set of 1990 Top Pilot Warbirds was quite a boon.

Ever since Topps put out it's Air Supremacy insert set in Allen and Ginter this year, I've decided to take my oddball collection in a more militaria - political route.  More on that in the future.

I saw this set sitting on a stack of random pages in his shop and decided to pick it up.  Once I saw that the set had a P-38 Lightning in it I was sold.

The Top Pilot series was issued in multiple sets over many years.  The total set has 246 cards spread out into many different sub-sets.  I'm not sure how these were sold or distributed, but  each subset has a theme and checklist card.  Cards 18 - 48 are the Warbird series and contain a ton of great World War II fighters, bombers, and recon planes, both from the Allies and the Axis.  You can check out the whole checklist here.

Even as a guy who loves the old WWII planes a few of these are pretty new to me.  Maybe it's because a lot of the planes look so similar or that they tended to get overshadowed by more popular planes like the B 17 or that there were just so damn many.  The A20 Havoc and it's successor the A26 Invader fall into the category.

I really love these cards.  Not just for the great photography used, but the information and write up on the back.

The B 17 is one of those iconic planes.  It's been featured in movies and is always an airshow favorite. I remember putting together a model of a B-17 and just being in awe of the firepower when I was a kid. According to the interwebs there are still about 11 planes airworthy.

The B-24 Liberator is another plane that kind of plays second fiddle to the more popular B-17 even though more were produced and used during WWII and other than it's split tail could be confused with the B-17.

The B-25 Mitchell is another iconic aircraft.  Probably best know as the bomber that bombed Japan after Pearl Harbor on the Doolittle Raid.  There are suppose to be over 100 Mitchells still airworthy and one made it's way up to Alaska for the big air show they have up here ever couple of years, Arctic Thunder.  I also got to see it on the tarmac in Ketchikan when I was flying down for work this summer.  Very cool to see one in person.

The Marauder is another one of those planes that fell through the crack for me.

The B-29 is another iconic plane.  With it's sleek and shiny design it's hard to miss, plus it's huge.  Of course the planes are better know for being the model that dropped the first two atomic bombs on Japan.  From what I could find only one plane is still air worthy.

I remember reading an article on the Buffalo, can't remember where though.  I think the gist of the story was how politicians can gum up the works.  The Buffalo beat out the Wildcat, the next card, as the first mono-wing plane to be used by the US navy, but supposedly that was because the Brewster Aeronaut Corp greased some hands, if you know what I mean.

The only reason I know anything about the Corsair is that I use to watch reruns of the Black Sheep Squadron when I was a kid.  That and the plane has a unique bent wing design.

Oh be still my heart!! My favorite fighter plane of all time.  The fork tailed devil.  I really liked modeling, that is building models, when I was a kid.  I'm sure if I had time and less hobbies I probably would still really enjoy it, but one of the first kits I ever got was for a P-38.  This plane was awesome.  Four .50 cal machine guns and a 20mm cannon in the nose, she could also pack 2 bombs or drop tanks and ten rockets.  It was a force to be reckoned with.  Plus the 39 had all sorts of variations, much like today's Topps Baseball cards.  There's a cool P-38 Association that has all sorts of great photos and facts and a list of surviving aircraft.

Don't know much about this guy here either.

The P-40 just has really cool lines.  I always thought it looked like the sports car of fighter planes.

Ah the iconic Mustang. Second on my list of all time favorite fighter planes.  Still an incredibly popular plane at air shows and there are over 200 still registered with the FAA.

The Black Widow wins as the bomber with the coolest design.

The Flying Boat, the PBY-5 Catalina is just one of those great oddballs.  Also Jimmy Buffett owns and flies one, or at least he use to. Yikes I take that back Buffett has a Albatross and a Goose.

Next up we have a series of British fighter/bombers.  I'm not up on my British planes, but I'm glad to see them included in the set.

Of course the one British fighter I know is this guy, the Spitfire.

I was also pleased to see that the set included enemy aircraft, although none of the larger bombers.

And of course if you're going to have enemy warbirds you should include a Japanese Zero.

And there you go.  Wow that's a lot of cards. I hope you enjoyed the show.  I've been contemplating going after the other sets, but to be honest I think I found the best one.

Being a Brewers Fan is hard

I'll be honest I really thought this year might be the year.  The Brewers were in first place of the NL Central for most of the year.  Of course the part of the season that counts is when they melted down, but I'm use to that.  While it was hard watching my team implode there are still things I love about being a Brewers fan.   The main one is picking up awesome cards for pennies.  

Point in case are these two great Jimmy Nelson rookie cards out of Panini's Immaculate Collection.  I picked up both of these cards for under $2 each.  That total doesn't include the shipping, but even then these cards were still steals.  

Jimmy really didn't have that great of a year after he got his first win when he got called up.  He ended up going 2-9 in 12 games and finished with a 4.93 ERA.  But he's the only rookie Topps or Panini bothered to feature in most of their products this year.  That's one of the bad things about being a Brewers fan we really get no love in the card market.  

But this Rookie Inscriptions card is so cool in hand.  I'm sure glad I didn't pay $200 for a box of this, when I can pick up cards for about $2 a piece on ebay.

I also picked up this Immaculate Swatches card.  

And I also picked up a Rookie Auto from Topps Chrome

Lets hope Jimmy has a better year next year.

Almost the Easiest World Series Contest on the Web - The culling.

Wow what a great start to the playoffs.  Some epic games and epic meltdowns, but at least it made for some entertaining baseball for a guy who has no vested interest in any of the teams.  That being said I was able to pull out a few of the prizes I'm giving away for the winner of the contest.  I'll most likely add a few more when I find them.  But up first are two great mid-90's Pinnacle sets.  I picked these up from Bosco's warehouse sale late last year and have been saving them especially for this contest.  They have some great names in the sets and of course they are packaged to look like condom boxes.

Well we lost about 3/4 of your field with the wild card game and divisional series.  When the smoked cleared we had 14 left and we have at least one pick for all 4 of the final teams.  So at least someone will have correctly picked the winner of the World Series!!

Alex Markle - Dodgers over Angels, 6 games, 9 homers.

Greg Zakwin - Dodgers over Angels,  7 Games, 7 homers

defgav - Detroit over St Louis, 5 games, 12 HRs, pimped

JediJeff - Nats over the Orioles in 6 games - 7 dingers

Need More Cardboard -  Nationals over Tigers in 5, 8 homers

night owl - DODGERS over Tigers, 6 games. 9 home runs.

Corky - The Angels over the Dodgers in 6 games with 7 homers, pimped

Daniel Wilson - Detroit over Dodgers, 7 games, 8 home runs

Play at the Plate - Dodgers over Orioles in 6 games 13 homers.

Matthew Scott - Nationals over Tigers in 7 games. 7 homeruns.

John Hazen - Baltimore over the Nats 7 games 8 homeruns

Al Kawamoto - Detroit over Washington 6 games 9 HR

Nachos Grande - Dodgers over Orioles in 5 games. 8 HRs

hiflew - Orioles over the Cardinals in 6 games. 9 HRs.

Tony L.- Dodgers over Orioles, 7 games, 8 homeruns. pimped

The Lost Collector - A's over Nats, 6 games, 6 homers.

Josh D. - Royals over Dodgers. 7 games. 6 HRs

The Angels In Order - Angels over Nationals, 6 games, 4 HR.

Jeff S - KC Royals over Pirates in 7 games, 5 HRs. pimped

AdamE - Nats over Tigers - 6 games - 4 HRs

Steve D. - Dodgers over Tigers, 6 games, 8 home runs

Nick - A's over Dodgers, 7 games, 11 HRs

Red Cardboard - Cardinals over Orioles, 5 games, 5 HRs

Keith G - Angels over Nationals in 7 games 10 HRs. pimped

Marcus - Nats over Angels, 6 games, 6 homers.

Richard Nebe Jr - Nats over the O's in 6 with 8 homers, pimped

Ryan H - Orioles over Pirates in 6 games with 9 homers

yokonashiwa - Dodgers over the Angels in 7 games with 13 home runs

CaptKirk42 - Nationals over Angels in 6 games 12 Homers.

Brad's Blog - Tiger over nationals, 5 games, 10 homers,

mmosley - Nationals over Tigers, 6 games, 5 HR

Paul Hadsall - San Francisco over Detroit, 5 games, 6 HRs, pimped

Jupiterhill -  Royals over the Giants in 6 games, with 5 homers.

RAZ - Tigers over Giants in 6, with 10 home runs.

Dan - Nationals over Angels, 5 games, 4 home runs

Superduperman99 - Cardinals over Royals in 6 and 6 Home Runs

Shane Kroeker - Dodgers over Tigers in 7 games. 10 home runs

dgao - Cardinals over Angels in 6 games. 7 home runs.

irondequoit36 - Dodgers over Orioles , 5 games 11 home runs .

Fuji - Royals over Dodgers, 6 games, 8 home runs

Praline - Orioles over Giants 7 homers, 6 games

Mets Cardboard - Orioles over Dodgers, 6 games, 13 home runs

Wilson - Baltimore over San Francisco, 6 games, 10 HR, pimped

I also pulled this out to start the door prize pool.  A cool Score box set of 1991 Rookies.  Sure you probably won't recognize any of the names. But you get 40 glossy players cards and 5 magic motion trivia cards, oh those classic Score magic motion cards, so annoying.

Here is a list of the final 14. Like I said all 4 final teams are picked at least once.  

John Hazen - Baltimore over the Nats 7 games 8 homeruns

hiflew - Orioles over the Cardinals in 6 games. 9 HRs.

Josh D. - Royals over Dodgers. 7 games. 6 HRs

Jeff S - KC Royals over Pirates in 7 games, 5 HRs. pimped

Red Cardboard - Cardinals over Orioles, 5 games, 5 HRs

Ryan H - Orioles over Pirates in 6 games with 9 homers

Paul Hadsall - San Francisco over Detroit, 5 games, 6 HRs, pimped

Jupiterhill -  Royals over the Giants in 6 games, with 5 homers.

Superduperman99 - Cardinals over Royals in 6 and 6 Home Runs

dgao - Cardinals over Angels in 6 games. 7 home runs.

Fuji - Royals over Dodgers, 6 games, 8 home runs

Praline - Orioles over Giants 7 homers, 6 games

Mets Cardboard - Orioles over Dodgers, 6 games, 13 home runs

Wilson - Baltimore over San Francisco, 6 games, 10 HR, pimped

Thanks again for everyone who entered and who promoted the contest.  Good luck.

Almost the Easiest World Series Contest on the Web Official Entries Post

Wow I'm way behind. I blame my last work trip.  Being stuck in a remote Alaska village for a week didn't help me get this contest back on track.

 First I want to thank everyone who entered. By my count we had 43!! That's a great turn out and probably my best yet, especially when I didn't even tell you what you could win.  Well on that note, I still haven't found time to dig out the prizes, so you'll have to wait another day or so.  Also being so far behind we're already on the League Championships and sadly when I was working up this post noticed that most of the field is already gone.  I was kind of pulling for the Dodgers, but what can you do those Cardinals are a comeback team.

OK so this post will serve as the official entries post. If you notice I made a mistake let me know, I did just cut and pasted your entries, so they should be right. Also if you promoted the contest and don't see a pimped by your entry let me know so you get your bonus entry into the door prize drawing.

Official Entries -

Alex Markle - Dodgers over Angels, 6 games, 9 homers.

Greg Zakwin - Dodgers over Angels,  7 Games, 7 homers

defgav - Detroit over St Louis, 5 games, 12 HRs, pimped

JediJeff - Nats over the Orioles in 6 games - 7 dingers

Need More Cardboard -  Nationals over Tigers in 5, 8 homers

night owl - DODGERS over Tigers, 6 games. 9 home runs.

Corky - The Angels over the Dodgers in 6 games with 7 homers, pimped

Daniel Wilson - Detroit over Dodgers, 7 games, 8 home runs

Play at the Plate - Dodgers over Orioles in 6 games 13 homers.

Matthew Scott - Nationals over Tigers in 7 games. 7 homeruns.

John Hazen - Baltimore over the Nats 7 games 8 homeruns

Al Kawamoto - Detroit over Washington 6 games 9 HR

Nachos Grande - Dodgers over Orioles in 5 games. 8 HRs

hiflew - Orioles over the Cardinals in 6 games. 9 HRs.

Tony L.- Dodgers over Orioles, 7 games, 8 homeruns. pimped

The Lost Collector - A's over Nats, 6 games, 6 homers.

Josh D. - Royals over Dodgers. 7 games. 6 HRs

The Angels In Order - Angels over Nationals, 6 games, 4 HR.

Jeff S - KC Royals over Pirates in 7 games, 5 HRs. pimped

AdamE - Nats over Tigers - 6 games - 4 HRs

Steve D. - Dodgers over Tigers, 6 games, 8 home runs

Nick - A's over Dodgers, 7 games, 11 HRs

Red Cardboard - Cardinals over Orioles, 5 games, 5 HRs

Keith G - Angels over Nationals in 7 games 10 HRs. pimped

Marcus - Nats over Angels, 6 games, 6 homers.

Richard Nebe Jr - Nats over the O's in 6 with 8 homers, pimped

Ryan H - Orioles over Pirates in 6 games with 9 homers

yokonashiwa - Dodgers over the Angels in 7 games with 13 home runs

CaptKirk42 - Nationals over Angels in 6 games 12 Homers.

Brad's Blog - Tiger over nationals, 5 games, 10 homers,

mmosley - Nationals over Tigers, 6 games, 5 HR

Paul Hadsall - San Francisco over Detroit, 5 games, 6 HRs, pimped

Jupiterhill -  Royals over the Giants in 6 games, with 5 homers.

RAZ - Tigers over Giants in 6, with 10 home runs.

Dan - Nationals over Angels, 5 games, 4 home runs

Superduperman99 - Cardinals over Royals in 6 and 6 Home Runs

Shane Kroeker - Dodgers over Tigers in 7 games. 10 home runs

dgao - Cardinals over Angels in 6 games. 7 home runs.

irondequoit36 - Dodgers over Orioles , 5 games 11 home runs .

Fuji - Royals over Dodgers, 6 games, 8 home runs

Praline - Orioles over Giants 7 homers, 6 games

Mets Cardboard - Orioles over Dodgers, 6 games, 13 home runs

Wilson - Baltimore over San Francisco, 6 games, 10 HR, pimped

I'll should have an update post later tonight or sometime tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Almost the Easiest World Series Contest on the Web IV - Final reminder, I promise

Alright last reminder I promise.  Contest ends tomorrow at noon my time. That would be 4 pm eastern. I might still be out in the middle of nowhere, can't say, these reminders were scheduled days ago knowing I'd be gone on a work trip.

For all the details and to enter GO HERE.

And thanks for making another great contest.

Almost the Easiest World Series Contest on the Web - Almost Final reminder post

Yeah another reminder, but I'm gone and I don't want you all to forget.  Still plenty of time to enter, but the deadline is fast approaching.  You have until Sunday Oct 5th at Noon Alaska time, 4pm EST to get your pick in.

And don't forget to promote the contest on your blog if you have one for a bonus entry into the door prize drawing.

GO HERE TO ENTER.