Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary GB

Here's the MESSERSCHMITT BF 109G-10 at the USAF Museum.  Even though this aircraft didn't take part in the battle of Britain,  but where's a close up on the engine.

Those three fighters look pretty sweet!

Airfix has the following out already.  It contains the new mold Spitfire and Messerschmitt, but still the old metal wing Hurricane.

It's available from Hannants in the UK.  I received mine in about ten days in the US.  There are also some new BoB decal sheets showing up at Hannants now, too.

And I ran across this website yesterday.

http://www.battleofbritain.tv/TheFew.html

Nice collection there Reasoned, one of my local hobby shops had that Revell/Monogram 1/48 Heinkel HE 111 for what seemed like forever.  Then when I decided to pick it up on one of my visits, it was gone.  Every now and then they would had some kits that are out of production, but at a great price.   I have one of those Pro Modeler Heinkels I got off ebay.  

Just came across this GB, what a great idea!  The BoB is one of my favorite subjects to study, have numerous books and of the course the classic movie "Battle of Britain".  I have been hoarding/collecting all the pertinent A/C of the conflict (all 1/48):

Of special interest is the middle subject not found in many collections, 1/48 CA Boulton-Paul Defiant.

The 1/48 CA Hurricane MK1 is a fabric wing variant.

If those are all new tools (and it looks like they are), that's a great deal.

Yeah I would love to pick this up, at my local hobby shop.  Looks like the Heinkel is a new tool.

That looks like an awesome kit Dan.

Yeah I'm wounding how my two Spit's will fit together,  my next trip to my local hobby shop I'll be picking up one of the squardon's books on the Lancaster.  Also came across a Airfix new release,  1/72 Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Gift Set.   You get Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IA,  Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3, Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, Heinkel He 111 P-2.  Not bad for $49.99 USD.   September 18, 2015 arrival date.

No problem Dan, I'm looking forward to starting my new tool Airfix Spit as well.  I can't wait to see how it compares to the old one.  Only 19 days to go lads!

For some reason I thought the group build already started, I can put a hold on the construction. 

Brandon, roger that on the Stuka.  There's a reason they call them famous last words.

Whoa!  Easy there Big Dan!  This little shindig doesn't start until 10 July.  If you want the Spit to be part of the build, stop where you are and wait until the 10th.   If not, we'll enjoy the build and whatever is started after the 10th will count.  

Great work everyone, some excellent builds coming together.  Started work on my AirFix Spitfire, painted the cockpit and the floor Model Master RAF Interior Green.  Then started on the pilot with MM RAF Trainer Yellow.  I put a Tamiya bottle next to them as I size comparison.  Both my Spitfire's and Lancaster are 1/72.

Thanks, lewbud. To your question - I plan on completing both the Hurricane and the Stuka. I'll start the Hurricane when I get back from vacation on the 10th, and I don't anticipate it taking too long. Famous last words? Haha.

-BD-

It's a done deal Brandon, I take it the Stuka went down in flames?  Less than a month to go gents!

Go ahead and put me down for the new-tool Airfix 1/48 Hawker Hurricane Mk. I. It's in transit and should be here by Wednesday.

-BD-

Nice lookin' plane Scott.  Thanks for your input.

I received my Airfix 1/72 Mk Ia in the mail the other day.  First thing I noticed was how small in was.  Gonna have to wear the ole Optivisor the whole time I'm working on this kit.  There is some nice detail though.  Lookin' forward to starting the kit.  Hopefully it will go quick and easy.

Craig

Nice!  An earlier starting date sounds good!  Thanks.

Starting earlier sounds great to me.

Here is my last Spitfire.  Now maybe I need one in 1/48 scale?

Gentlemen,

Apologies for being away.  Welcome aboard Plastic Junkie, model crazy, Dan the man, and Gmorrison.  The front page has been updated.  The start date has been moved back to July 10 to better coincide with the historical record.  The end date will remain the same to give stragglers time to finish.  Dan, you made a unique and totally appropriate choice.  Has Airfix upgraded the BBMF with all new tools?

Hey Craig,  I too built the Airfix 1/72 Spit OOB a few years ago and loved it.  I'll try to post a pic this weekend.  I also have developed a love for the Spitfire, especially the early variants and am leaning on building the Tamiya 1/48 kit.

Scott

You're welcome, Craig.  Always glad to promote the cause of the Spitfire.

Thanks for the input CMK.  I checked out your progress in the Aces GB.  Nice!  I'm lookin' forward to the build.

Craig

Yup, built a number of these, and am currently doing one for the "Aces" GB.

It goes together pretty well.  With a couple of caveats:

1.  the instrument panel will need to be filed/sanded on the left (port) side of the gunsight, or the fuselage will not close properly around it.  The problem area is mostly around the curve from the top down the side. ( The photo below is the cockpit from the old, old Airfix Spit, on the left; new cockpit on the right.  New mould is much improved!)

2.  The wing to fuselage joint is too tight.  If you glue the top and bottom of the wings together, then try to mate them with the fuselage, the assembly will not quite fit.  The problem seems to be on the right (starboard) wing.  I filed things down on the fuselage wing root to make the assemblies fit together.  On the other hand, the join is so tight, you might not need to use filler.  The photos above and below are not from my current Spitfire;they come from the "Spitfire" GB a couple years ago.

3.  The rear edge of the clear canopy will need to be filed down a little to get it to fit right.  It's just a hair too big.

4.  There are a number of places on the inside of the fuselage, where ejector pin marks need to be filled and sanded.

Here was my finished product.

I love Spitfires. 

If I think of anything else, I can post it.  In the meantime, you can check the "Aces" GB.  Right now I'm at the point of attaching wings to fuselage, but haven't posted photos yet.

Here's a link to the page where I started.

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/29/t/163108.aspx?sort=ASC&pi240=9

Not familiar, Craig, but I love the box art!

I had originally hoped to build my 1/48 Eduard Profipack Bf 110 for this build.  Unfortunately, do to the short run time of this GB and the slow speed at which I build models, I will build something a little simpler.  I picked up a 1/72 Airfix Spitfire for this build.  I've never built an Airfix kit, so this should be fun.  Hopefully I can get a few models finished before the start date.  Anyone familiar with this kit?

Craig

In the period after France signed the armistice, Hitler was hoping to avoid a clash with Britain.  He actually respected them at some levels, and as late as July 6th had sent a peace proposal  based on 'partitioning of the world'.  

Records show July 10th as having the first significant raid, when 70 German aircraft bombed South Wales docks.  On  the 16th, Hitler passed Directive no.16, which decided an invasion was necessary, but a softening up of the RAF would be required first.

I'm sure there must of been some skirmishes prior to the official start date(s).  The RAF had lost 509 fighters (435 pilots) in trying to help out their allies, and needed time to rebuild.  Home defense consisted of 331 Spitfires and Hurricanes, along with about 150 2nd line fighters - Blenheims, Defiants, and Gladiators.         - numbers quoted from Len Deighton's book -

I have read that for several weeks prior to July 10th, the Luftwaffe had already been attacking shipping in the channel.   Also interesting to note that the move to forward airfield was slow, a lot of infrastructure had to be repaired or rebuilt.   Some further reading about actions prior to can be found here:

en.wikipedia.org/.../Kanalkampf

regards,

Jack

I'm cool with any start date, whether it be June or August.  

What was the date of the first recorded "kill" or dogfight?  

Peter's Victories were over the Dunkirk beaches.