[No particular Hurri... Airfix Hurricane IIB]

As you all know, assembly usually starts with the cockpit - except in this case, there isn't really much of a cockpit! So I've added a bit of fairly generic sidewall detail and radios etc, and added sides to the rather basic L-shaped seat to make it more bucket-like, and a head-rest as well. Not much of this will show once it's all put together, but I like the challenge!

[Northern Ireland 1/48 aircraft builds.]

Several lovely builds - thank you so much for sharing. There are times when I think that going up a scale from my usual 1/72 might be fun, but then I'm aware of the extra costs involved, not to mention the storage space needed! But I really enjoyed looking at what you've done, not least because of my own on-going project based on RAF Warmwell (just down the road from where I live in Dorset).

[No particular Hurri... Airfix Hurricane IIB]

I seem to recall that your version was going to be AE- , so one of 402 Squadron's aircraft that was handed over to 175 Squadron in March 1942 and of course had the new squadron's codes added! I suspect that your build might be somewhat easier than mine. Are you building the Arma kit?

[Starter Set Spitfire is now finished!]

Hi Dominic

Randall is correct in saying that in pictures code letters that are actually grey/sky can look almost (or completely!) white. This is the case here, because they are definitely 'Sky' in reality. I need to have a look at the menus on my camera - it might be that the auto-white balance is overcompensating. But thanks for the nice comments - glad you liked the build.

And Hi Randall as well. Glad you liked it too. And for all its problems, the internet does allow us to access the backstory (as you brilliantly phrased it) which to me is such a valuable extra dimension to my enjoyment of building the model.

[Starter Set Spitfire is now finished!]

Those of you who were kind (or bored…) enough to look at a previous post (Spitfire Starter Set) that I put up might recall that I am working on and off on a project to build Airfix versions of the aircraft that flew from RAF Warmwell during WW2. After a spell of wrestling with rigging on a variety of biplanes, I decided to return to the project and have a therapeutic build of a Spitfire 1a in 1/72 scale, this one being a starter kit that I’d bought for very little money from a discount supermarket store.

Apart from anything else, I wanted to see what could be produced from a budget-priced kit with a bit of care and a few after-market extras. You might also recall from previous posts that one of my sources of enjoyment in kit building is to research actual aircraft (and pilots) and so this one became Spitfire Mk 1A R6597, built and first flown at Eastleigh on 7^th May 1940. It was sent to 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron, and given the code letters UM-V, and it became the aircraft mainly flown by P/O Arthur Roy Watson. Here’s a picture of P/O Watson by his aircraft:

On 28^th November 1940, having taken off from RAF Warmwell to intercept an enemy bomber force and its escort, he was shot down in combat with Me109s. He baled out but fell to his death after his parachute snagged on the aircraft and failed to develop. So this build is also to honour the memory of just one of the very brave young men who made the ultimate sacrifice.

In my previous post, I put up a few work-in-progress pictures, so here’s the finished Spitfire!

One of the after-market products utilised was the figure of the pilot which was made by PJ Productions, and another was the sliding part of the canopy, this one made by Barracudacast and obtained from Hannants. The original canopy was carefully separated into three sections with a very fine blade razor saw, with the front and back sections being used on the model. Here are a few close-ups to show their use!

You'll notice that I carefully removed the cockpit door and put it in the open position, so that you can see more of the pilot and the cockpit detail. The decals were a combination of the roundels supplied with the kit and a set of Early Mark Spitfire stencils made by BarracudaCals (also from Hannants) and some generic code and serial numbers from various sheets.

Painting was brush-applied Vallejo Model Air, and the decals were sealed in and the model finished with brushed-on Windsor & Newton Galleria Matt Acrylic varnish, which – joy of joys – is at long last a more or less matt finish (so thanks to whoever recommended it in a reply to a question that I posted a while ago.)

I really enjoyed all the research, and the build itself was straightforward and indeed therapeutic. Now for the Hurricane IIB…which will be rather less straightforward.

[No particular Hurri... Airfix Hurricane IIB]

I've more or less finished the Spitfire that I was building as part of my RAF Warmwell project (I'll post some pictures perhaps tomorrow...) and I've started to have a think about the Hurricane IIB which will be built as HH-A of 175 Squadron as flown on Operation Jubilee (Dieppe). It's a rather old mould 1/72 Airfix kit (I can't find a date anywhere on it, or on the box) but I wish the Tyneside riveter that went mad on the exterior had spent some time instead on the interior! Quite a bit of sanding and scribing to do, I think. Still, it'll be an interesting challenge after the blissful ease of the Spitfire.

[My collection so far.]

Hi randall

Good choice to get a Warmwell aircraft! As you know, because you've read the book, 402 was a Canadian squadron, based at Warmwell between November 1941 and March 1942. Main claim to fame appears to be that they were rushed to Manston to be involved in the failed attempt to hit the German warships involved in 'The Channel Dash'.

And of course the AE-* Hurricane IIBs of 302 Squadron were handed over to 175 Squadron and given the code letters HH-* which is what I shall be building. What a small world!

[Latest acquisition]

Ah well Randall, I shan't be holding my breath!

As you quite correctly imply, if the models build well (or at least well enough to please the builder) then that's a reward in itself.

[1/24 Airfix Hawker Typhoon Mk.1B 'Car Door' - N0.609 Squadron RAF Manston, Kent, England, April 1943]

Loving the engine detail - little wonder it took rather a long time. Thanks for sharing.

[Latest acquisition]

Some new acquisitions to enable continuation of my RAF Warmwell project. I’ve made a kind of policy decision to try to confine myself to Airfix products – who knows, someone at Head Office might decide to reward my loyalty with a freebie!

Anyway, on a more serious note, the latest batch includes:

Hurricane IIB which will be built as HH-A BE687 as flown by 175 Squadron during Operation Jubilee (Dieppe in August 1942);

P38J Lightning, which will be finished as 42-67799 of the 429^th FS, 474^th Fighter Group;

and finally (obtained at rather too large expense!), a Lysander which will be produced as one of the 277 Squadron aircraft, specifically BA-E V9547

On the subject of the Lysander, I’ve very vague recollections of someone producing a resin (or it might have been 3D printed) underwing life-raft ‘pod’, but I can’t find any reference to it, so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know!

[1/76-72 French at Waterloo]

Further to which... found it, ordered it!

[1/76-72 French at Waterloo]

I'll have a lookout for some - thanks so much for the information.

[1/76-72 French at Waterloo]

I've already tried the matt vallejo varnish, but I'll give the sepia wash a trial when I've got a moment! Many thanks.

[My collection so far.]

There is a really excellent book titled "Reflections of RAF Warmwell" by Anthony Cooke. ISBN 0-9539052-1-7 It lists all the various squadrons - and the aircraft that they used - between 1937 and 1945, which of course covers the BoB, Dieppe and D-Day, and as well as RAF, includes the USAAF 474th Fighter Group. So plenty of scope!

[My collection so far.]

Interesting to see a Dieppe Hurricane II - one is getting towards the top of my list for my RAF Warmwell project - 175 Squadron was based at Warmwell and flew as part of Operation Jubilee in a bomber configuration. So I've ordered an old Mk II Airfix kit....

Thanks for posting the excellent pictures of your version. Gives me something to aim at.

[1/76-72 French at Waterloo]

Thanks for the rerponse Ratch - which raises another question, I'm afraid. Do you use any particular varnish to seal/hold the paint so that all that work you've done doesn't all chip and flake off if you start using them for gaming?

[1/76-72 French at Waterloo]

Just a quick question Ratch...

Do you produce the beautifully painted and presented figures as models in their own right, or to be used in War Gaming? Obviously the RAF and Luftwaffe personnel are more to do (presumably...) with setting up dioramas etc, but I just wondered - purely out of interest seeing how much time and effort must go in to producing them so beautifully - whether they then get bashed around in war games?

[Spitfire Starter Set]

Ready to make a start on the decals. Always one of my favourite stages of a build, as it's then that the aircraft seems to really come to life! Although looking at the Barracuda stencil decals, it's going to be quite a long job...

[Spitfire Starter Set]

It's time to make a start on the dark green. As usual, it'll be Vallejo 324 BS Dark Green on top of the Dark Earth ((029). Although applied with a brush, I used several thinned coats of dark earth to try to preserve as much surface details as possible.

I've tried to discover whether UM-V should be 'A' camouflage or 'B' - can't really tell from the rather poor monochrome picture that I do have, but I'll make a decision....

[Latest acquisition]

Well, if I'm going to build 'old school/old moulds' Vintage Classics, I thought I'd better see how it was done back in the day, so I found these available for not very much money. Reading them makes you realise just how lucky we are to have the accuracy and finesse and fit of new moulds, and also how fortunate we are to have the materials and tools and accessories so readily and relatively cheaply available as they are!

Having said that, there is much in them both which would still be of use to the current modeller (as opposed to the straightforward kit builder - although there's nothing wrong with that at all...)

[Spitfire Starter Set]

Hi Paul

To answer your query regarding Hannants sheet numbers:

RAF Sky Code Letters - Xtradecal X72189

Royal Air Force 4, 6, 8 and 12ins Black Letters, numbers and titles - Xtradecal X72157

The Spitfire Early Mark Airframe stencils that I shall be using also came from Hannants - Barracuda BC72377

Hope that helps

[Spitfire Starter Set]

Hi Randall

The roundels and fin flashes will be the ones that came with the kit - they are appropriate/accurate for 1940. The code letters (UM-V) and the airframe number (R6597) will be coming from various sheets obtained from Hannants, and I've also ordered a sheet of early-model Spitfire stencils from the same company, as being a starter set, it doesn't have the stencils included (so much for the OOB intention...).

I think building a very specific aircraft is part of the pleasure that I get from modelling. I'm not particularly driven by rivet-counting; I would ascribe to the view that "if it looks right, it's probably OK", but I just enjoy connecting with the narrative and the history.

[Spitfire Starter Set]

It's very therapeutic building a kit like this. Everything has fitted beautifully - barely needed any glue to get the wings onto the fuselage, and minimal seams to be sanded so minimal rescribing required! Ready to start painting, I think.

[Spitfire Starter Set]

Hi Randall

It will indeed be an aircraft as flown from RAF Warmwell. It's going to be UM-V in which P/O Watson was sadly shot down and killed - bit of a tribute really.

[Spitfire Starter Set]

I just fancied a bit of a relaxing break from old mould, rigging-required builds, so - as intimated in the Latest Acquisitions forum - I dug out a 1/72 Spitfire Mk Ia Starter Set.

But that doesn't mean it's necessarily going to be straight OOB. I've made a start on the cockpit. I've decided that the pilot needed a bit of an upgrade, so I've popped in a PJ Productions version, and I've also added seatbelt harness (made from painted masking tape).

Just because its a Starter Set doesn't mean it's simply going to get slapped together - I won't be using the supplied paint, for example. But my self-imposed challenge is to see how a bit of a care and attention can produce a satisfying model from a very cheap starting point. And if you're wondering what's happened to the moulded-on gun-sight, I've chopped off the solid plastic 'reflector' element - I'll replace it with something transparent towards the end of the build.

I'm enjoying this already!