Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary GB

rooster513

I have a new tool Airfix 1/48 Hurricane on order. Hopefully it'll be here this week and I can get started. Not sure of the markings yet. Your cockpit is looking really good BrandonD! I'll be watching closely and learning

Oh and lewbud, I'd talk to the guys over at Airfix about giving you some kind of kickback...I have a feeling they are gonna get a lot of business from this GB! LOL!

As long as the kickback was in kits, it would be a deal!  They've got a new tool Wildcat that looks freaking incredible.  Can be built with wings folded or extended.  I don't normally build the losers, but their new Val looks like it will end up on my shelf as well.

That looks very good, Craig.  Coming along nicely!

The RAF used a color called "Interior Green."    It's available from several manufacturers.  I use enamels, so I use Model Masters and also still have some from WEM's Colourcoats.

Here's a link to a UK site that discussed the issue.

www.britmodeller.com/.../index.php

I think that the color you picked looks fine.  There were no doubt some variations, and even MM and WEM's interpretations are somewhat different..  

I've made a little progress over the last couple weeks.  I'm not sure if the intereior color is correct though.  Airfix calls for the use of Humbrol paint.  The instructions number is 78.  When I go to the Humbrol site and plug that number in, it show the paint is RLM 78.  Since I have Vallejo RLM 78, I decided to use it.  I think it's a little more gray than green.  I decided to stick with it.  Maybe someone can steer me in the right direction for the next time.

Ah shoot!  Looks like I inserted the photos in the wrong order.

Craig

I have a new tool Airfix 1/48 Hurricane on order. Hopefully it'll be here this week and I can get started. Not sure of the markings yet. Your cockpit is looking really good BrandonD! I'll be watching closely and learning

Oh and lewbud, I'd talk to the guys over at Airfix about giving you some kind of kickback...I have a feeling they are gonna get a lot of business from this GB! LOL!

BD that is gorgeous! I am waiting for one of the local shops to get those kits in so I can snatch one up.  I had the old tool original Airfix kit many years back that I build as IR Gleeds mount. But it was damaged in a move and did not survive. I had been wondering which kit to get as a replacement. Now I know after seeing yours here.

The new tools by Airfix are really good.  Yours is coming along very well

I missed the beginning of this due to the fact that I was on vacation and helping the girlfriend move (wah wah I know - I am not complaining) but I was able to get started on my Hurricane today.

It's the new-tool Airfix 1/48 kit, and it looks like a winner so far. The cockpit is mostly together, and I shot it with Tamiya cockpit green. I won't be modeling it with the gun bays open, but Airfix did a pretty good job on them from the looks of it, and if you want one with the gun bays open for a diorama or something, I recommend it.

So this is where it sits right now. Nothing too exciting, but I wanted to get on the board.

-BD-

Ok, just used up a bunch of my evilbay bucks and ordered the 1/48 Bf 109E-4.  So please sign me up for Eduards 1/48 Bf 109E-4.  I will be doing the following bird.  

W.Nr. 5819, Obstlt. Adolf Galland, Geschwaderkommodore JG 26, Audembert, France – Dec.1940

I have gotten on a Bf  kick as of late and need to do another.

I have to finish up the Bf 109 GB and then will tackle this one.

moose

moose421

I just found you GB.  I have a question.  I see that most of the aircraft are Allied.  Is this open to the Axis side as well?  I am thinking of getting a Bf 109E-4.

moose

Moose, both sides are welcome.  What kit and scale, and I'll update the front page.

Thanks, Andy.  If you do try it, I use a cheap plastic protractor to keep the horizontal stabilizers set at right angles to the vertical fin.  

At the bottom of the protractor, you can see the perpendicular lines.  Hold the protractor at the spot where the horizontal and vertical meet, and make your adjustments before the glue fully sets.

Mostly it works.

Really nice progress Checkmate. I like the idea of gluing the stabilizers before closing up the halves Too often I make a mess with the glue, I may have to try that. Keep up the great work!

Some work on the wings.

The landing gear legs had a couple of ejector marks on each one.  I filled these with superglue and sanded them off (hopefully).  They are pretty simple, with only a brace to glue on.

I masked around the area for the intake and painted it black.  Also painted the inside of the intake black, then test-fitted the two together.

Here's the intake with the prop.  I painted the prop black, then masked the blades.  I shot another bit of black over the masks to seal things, then a coat of white to back up the yellow tips.  The nose cone will be red, so I undercoated that with white, too.

Since the edges of the top wings will also be visible through the landing gear wells, I painted them in the undersurface color of Eau de Nile.

And that's progress for now!

Tally ho!

Made some progress on the Airfix Hurricane MkI.

First, I've had to change the plane I'm building.  Further research shows that my original choice from 145 Squadron was equipped with a rather long and pointed de Havilland nose cone--which I don't have.  I ordered one from Hannants, and when it arrives will build it.  But for now, I've settled on "Widge" Gleed's plane, as shown on the boxart.  I've got some Xtradecals for it, too.

First thing I usually do with planes is to attach the horizontal stabilizers before closing up the fuselage.  This lets me glue them from the inside, with lots of glue, so the silly things don't fall off during construction--most times.

Then I painted the inside of the fuselage, after filling up several ejector pin marks.  The landing gear wells are all open on this ancient kit, so the bottom of the cockpit floor shows through.

I used WEM Colourcoats Eau de Nile for the undersides, since that is what the Xtradecal sheet says.  It's a pretty vivid shade of green, and apparently got used in the confusion of the RAF's switch from black/white undersides to Sky, Type S, in June/July 1940.

Here's the cockpit floor and seat.  I'll add seat belts later, made from masking tape.

And another shot, of the underside of the floor.  Since it'll show through the gear wells, I painted it Eau de Nile.

Nice!

just one more...

another beauty!

Nice shots; good for reference.  Thanks, stik!

Here is a color photo from that time and place that I just came across and thought that you folks might enjoy

Probably was the cat, since you have one.  They are notorious thieves.  I had a 1/700 LCT go missing months ago and it hasn't turned up.

Now I keep the pieces in old plastic sandwich meat boxes that have snap on lids.

Hope your kitty returns the parts.

Very frustrating. My build got derailed unexpectedly when my cockpit floor/seat assembly went missing and hasn't turned up yet. I suspect the cat but she's not talking. 

I just found you GB.  I have a question.  I see that most of the aircraft are Allied.  Is this open to the Axis side as well?  I am thinking of getting a Bf 109E-4.

moose

Good start chaps, good start!

Here's my Tamiya Spitfire Mk.I. Started working on the cockpit a little last night.

I decided to get started on this thing today.  Haven't done much modeling lately.  I've hit a small wall on the other two GB's I've started.  I thought I'd try something fairly easy, then jump back to the other kits.  I'm at the point CMK is at.  This Airfix kit has some nice detail for the scale.  Hopefully it will progress smoothly.

Craig

Tenth July, and the Battle of Britain has now begun.

Here's the Airfix box from my contribution.

Here are the decals I plan to use.  Sorry about the glare; I was shooting through the plastic bag.

SO-E came from 145 Squadron.  Not too much information about it on the web but from this site:

 http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/145_squadron.html

"On 10 October 1939, No 145 reformed at Croydon as a fighter squadron, receiving Blenheims in November. In March 1940 it began to re-equip with Hurricanes and in May became operational over northern France. 

"On 16th May, Wg/Cdr. Ginger takes over temporary command of No.145 Squadron. No.145 has only recently arrived in France, and is currently based at Crepy.

"On 17th May, whilst leading No.145 Squadron on a sortie over St.Quentin, Wg/Cdr. Ginger single-handedly accounted for 5 enemy aircraft destroyed. In recognition of his outstanding dedication to the war effort the French Ministry of War has awarded him the Croix de Guerre (Cross of War). 

"On 31st May, Wg/Cdr. Ginger is promoted to Group Leader and posted to Group H.Q. 

"After covering the evacuation from Dunkirk, the squadron took part in the Battle of Britain until withdrawn to Scotland in mid-August, returning south in October.

"Stations
Tangmere 10 May 1940
Crepy, France - ca. 15 May 1940?
Tangmere
Westhampnett 31 July 1940
Drem 14 August 1940
Dyce 31 August 1940
Tangmere 9 October 1940"

I haven't found any information about the pilot for this specific plane.

And the plastic bin of parts, detached from the sprue.  Next day or so I'll spend cleaning them up for painting.

Tally ho!

Yeah Checkmate that's the website I saw. That ehanger website is pretty cool though! Thanks for taking the time to lend a hand, I really appreciate it! If I go with Billy Fiske's plane I'll probably go with UF-H, barring anyone here showing something different. Looking over the ehanger website brought another pilot to mind...James Nicolson, the only VC recipient in the BofB. There are just so many real hero's that could be represented. In this age of athletes and actors I think the word hero is used too loosely. Just my . However, I build way too slowly, so I'll have to pick just one and do the other ones another time Thanks again Checkmate!

-Andy  

According to this site

www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/.../00.shtm

it's UF-H.  Maybe this is the website you already found?

The aircraft illustrated by the model was apparently his usual aircraft (UF-E), but he was shot down in -H, with serial P3358, as you indicated.

Another website claims the same thing

http://ehangar.com/forum/ehangar-com-gallery/battle-of-britain-art-chronology/page-3

but it wouldn't load for me.

Tally ho!

I have been trying to plan out what I want to do for this GB and I've narrowed it down to a couple Hurricane options but need some help. One I'm interested in doing is Sgt. Ray Holmes of 504 squadron and the other is Billy Fiske of 601 squadron. I've just finished "The Few" by Alex Kershaw and would like to do a sort of tribute to the yanks who fought in the BofB (I know Ray Holmes wasn't American but I'd still be interested in depicting his plane) . But if I do Billy Fiske's I'd like to do it as the plane he was shot down in, which I've found was serial number P3358, but I haven't been able to definitely nail down what it was coded. I was wondering if anyone has come across this information? I know it will be "UF" something b/c of 601 squadron code but not sure what the last letter will be. One website said it was UF-H but not sure if that is right. Thanks to anyone who might be able to shed some light on this for me!

-Andy