Here is the finished product, but first some back-story.
I found a book at Amazon called Battle of Britain Aircraft. It consists of articles written by Ray Rimmell and published in Scale Modeler magazine back in 1982. It was re-issued in 1990, so it’s a bit dated. However, it contained some information about this specific Gladiator.
No. 247 Squadron was formed at Roboborough in Devon on 1 August, 1940 (from the earlier Sumburgh Fighter Flight, based in the Shetland Islands), became operational on 13 August, and was the only Gladiator-equipped frontline unit during the Battle of Britain. Aircraft “N2308” was one of twelve Gladiators received by 247 Squadron (some profiles available on the web misstate this as “N2306”).
The squadron was expected to defend Plymouth during the day, but did not engage in any combat until 28 October, 1940, when it intercepted a Heinkel He 11 at night, but was unsuccessful in bringing it down. No. 247 Squadron was re-equipped with Hurricanes in December, 1940.
The camouflage scheme was developed by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough in 1939 for biplanes, and consisted of Dark Earth/Dark Green, with Light Earth/Light Green applied to areas that were considered to be “in shade.” Some sources indicate that 247 Squadron aircraft were merely painted in the Dark Earth/Dark Green scheme, without the countershading.
I followed the instructions that came with the Xtradecal Battle of Britain set from 2010, and used the four-color option, with all paint being WEM Colourcoat. However, I did deviate from the Xtradecal paint diagram, and did the undersurfaces and tip of the propeller cone in “Eau de Nil,” rather than Sky—just ‘cause I thought it looked cool. Mr. Rimmell notes in his book that “very few photographs” exist for 247 Squadron. I only found one on the web, and it was too small to be much use.
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Thanks for looking at my entry into the Airfix Group Build. I’ve enjoyed very much seeing the ways you all have made both old and new Airfix kits very appealing.