The Official 1942 70th Anniversary Group Build

I am done the 1/72 Airfix Spitfire VB

There's a bit of a story behind it too.

This aircraft belonged to 411 (DB markings) squadron RCAF, who flew in support of the Dieppe Raid.

This serial number AD263 received category C damage and the pilot F/Sgt S.A. Mills was wounded during the battle but still managed to return to base.

This serial number was also known as Miss ABC II.  The story goes the during the battle of Britain an idea came up to "buy a spitfire".  Locals would collect donations to put towards new aircraft.  Apparently one night during a raid the manager of the London cinema pushed a wheelbarrow up and down the aisle asking for donations.  "The more you give, the less raids there will be".  The result was this aircraft along with 3 others.

Of course the reason for picking 411 squadron was also personal.  When I joined the army reserves, basic training was out of the now closed CFB Toronto.  This was home to a helicopter squadron, you guessed it, 411 squadron.  After WW2 it went through a number of changes until its final disbandment in 1996.

Records weren't the greatest, so I don't know for sure is DB*X is actually the right code for AD263.  Even went through the flight records for the squadron but came up empty.  For me its good enough.

My first model with a story and history to it.

Yeah the kit decals were terrible. They didn't want to release from the backing paper even after 5+ minutes of straight soaking and are a bit on the thick glossy side, once on the model they almost became immovable unless you doused them with water and microset. The NK-K silvered badly even over future, I'm working them with microsol and a hair dryer to try and tame them a bit.

Lookin' good...

I notice a couple of decals look like they could use some solvent. That's the only thing I see, and it would only be noticable in bright light.

Thanks, Budd

Markings, prop, and wheels installed. It hasn't been hit with dullcote yet. Next update will be the finale...

Nice!  I'm getting ready to do my first three color camo job on a P-40 during the next few weeks, and I hope I do anywhere near as well.

Thanks all. Yes I masked the pattern with Tamiya tape then went back over bleeds and readjusted some of the lines with thinned MM Acryl and a fine wide brush.

Great results with the camouflage, Mike.

Very nicely done Mike! So let me get this straight, you airbrushed the camo pattern (with a mask I peresume) and then went back and hand brushed touch ups?

Looks a lot better than my first (and only so far) camo job! Mine came out looking cartoonish.

Thanks, and would you believe this is my first ever camo job?

Nice work on the camo job! Looks very good.

Back from the paint booth. There's some touch up's that need to be done in places before I can move on to markings and the landing gear. The bottom is RAF sky, and the top is RAF dark earth/dark green all MM Acryl.

EDIT: Several hours later the touch up's where there were bleeds etc.. were done with a brush and the whole thing was gloss coated. All it needs now is markings, landing gear, some light weathering, and the prop to finish it up.

Here is the touch ups done. I used a fine wide brush and thinned paint to re adjust some of my camo lines and you can't really tell where the brushed paint ends and the sprayed begins.

stikpusher

Yes, and I have had no luck so far of finding a photo from Coral Sea that shows one way or the other. The Squadron numbers on codes had been been removed some time earlier for OPSEC reasons. I would like to know the souce(s) of Eagle Strike's reference for this sheet. If it is a VT-5 TBD, Yorktown airgroup was also putting the aircraft number on the tail as well...

stikpusher

   ...  Ordie, this kit has been issued many times and is still fairly easy to find on ebay and such... This particular one has been in my stash for well over 10 years when I found it at a shop that specialized in carrying old kits. I have no doubt that Revell will issue it again sometime soon as they seem to be doing with all the other old Monogram 1/48 kits. This one is one of their best from that time. Too bad it did not come with the twin .30 mount as well.

I was completely unaware of its existance ... I bought my TBD right after the GW kit came out, while I was buying (stashing) PTO Navy kits, the first binge I went on after picking up my Kitty Hawk kit at Hobby Lobby (an impulse buy, and my first 'modern era' purchase - seems like a lifetime ago for some reason, but has only been six months, LOL!)).  Remember when I was all bothered about SBD kit availability, which culminated in my first buy on ebay?  Yeah, I already had the GW TBD kit by then, a pity.  Your sprue (parts) shots look like your Monogram kit is indeed a good one.  If it gets reissued, and I want to build another TBD, I'll sure pounce on it.  Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy following your build.

corvettemike - Can't wait to see it in paint ...

Yes, and I have had no luck so far of finding a photo from Coral Sea that shows one way or the other. The Squadron numbers on codes had been been removed some time earlier for OPSEC reasons. I would like to know the souce(s) of Eagle Strike's reference for this sheet. If it is a VT-5 TBD, Yorktown airgroup was also putting the aircraft number on the tail as well...

stikpusher

 From doing a little research, I have learned that the Lexington's air group never used black numbers, they stuck with white. The Eagle Strike sheet (not Aeromaster as I previously said) has black numbers. So I suspect that this is a VT-5 aircraft. Also the Bu. No. is 0325. That TBD survived to be the last TBD in the Navy inventory, being stricken in 1944. Unless 0325 recovered aboard Yorktown instead of Lexington at Coral Sea on the afternoon of the 8th.

I think you are right in your research, Stik.  Starfighter Decals' instruction sheet  for 1/700 Lexington Air Group says that by Coral Sea only VB-2 had its codes in black.  The rest, including VT-5, kept to white.  The sheet also notes that by this time, the "2" was removed from the codes; VT-2 omitted the " - " in the codes.

The sheet is pretty well research, citing five references for its conclusions.

The seam filling is done and all the raised panel lines have been re-done. If the weather cooperates (been raining all day) it'll hit the paint shop tomorrow.

Today's progress: I spent the day building up things that could be glued together now without having to paint yet.

first up, the outer wing panels

And then I attached the inner wingfold ribs to the lower wing half

Next I built and attached the scoop and attached the torpedo cradle to the lower wing half bottom

Then I attached the bomb aiming doors in the closed position to the fuselage halves

and finally I built the Mk.XIII torpedo and the main gear wheels

yes the torpedo pic did not focus well, but this close up of where I drilled out the bull nose on the tip of the torpedo came out good...

    BSY, yes the TBD is certainly more and better detailed than the Tamiya Ki-84. And they are both of the same vintage- mid 1970s or so. It was kits like this that forced Tamiya to step up their game.

    Sub, yes she will be a Coral Sea build, the TBD's grand moment of glory on May 7th, 1942.. but I suspect that the decal sheet I am using is mis-labeled.  From doing a little research, I have learned that the Lexington's air group never used black numbers, they stuck with white. The Eagle Strike sheet (not Aeromaster as I previously said) has black numbers. So I suspect that this is a VT-5 aircraft. Also the Bu. No. is 0325. That TBD survived to be the last TBD in the Navy inventory, being stricken in 1944. Unless 0325 recovered aboard Yorktown instead of Lexington at Coral Sea on the afternoon of the 8th.

    Ordie, this kit has been issued many times and is still fairly easy to find on ebay and such... This particular one has been in my stash for well over 10 years when I found it at a shop that specialized in carrying old kits. I have no doubt that Revell will issue it again sometime soon as they seem to be doing with all the other old Monogram 1/48 kits. This one is one of their best from that time. Too bad it did not come with the twin .30 mount as well.

stikpusher

I wish this sucker had been available when I bought my TBD - it woulda saved me a lot of money (yeah, I bought one of those Great Wall kits ...).

stikpusher

Well, I finally kicked off my TBD build today.

Woooo!! Coral Sea build, right? Looking forward to it!

Nice workin Spit Mike 

Stik i like the devastator!! and this old monogram seems really more detailed than the tamiya ki-84 you started in the jap GB!! what things must to see 

"Nice work, Mike.  I looked at your website.  You've got some nice looking models there.  Very impressive."

Thank you sir

Well, I finally kicked off my TBD build today.

This is everything I will be using. The basic Monogram kit, some PE seat belts from a Lions Roar generic set, other USN aircraft details from a Tom's Modelworks set, main decals from Aeromaster, and prop tips decals from Yellow Wings, and USN aircraft instrument decals from Pro Modeler...

I only did very basic construction and clean up today. 

The Engine

In the cockpit I added the Lions Roar seat belts on all positions.

and on the gunner's "turret" I added PE seat belts and the preforated elevation skate rail where the gun mounts.

more to follow...

Nice work, Mike.  I looked at your website.  You've got some nice looking models there.  Very impressive.

Thanks guys :) Bondo attack round 3. It's almost ready for rescribing and final prime.

I agree, excellent! I tend to shy away from seam work if I can away with it, because I just cannoy get it to look good!

 Looking good - very nice seam work, man. Wish mine looked that good.

Fill & sand round 2.....

I still have some work to do around the wing roots and a stubborn seam on the upper spine I near had a heart attack when i started spraying primer and discovered I hadn't taped off the cockpit so i need to do some minor touch up on the upper edges.