Biggin on the Bump - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I

 I know many scale modellers tire these days of seeing yet another Spitfire but with it being the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, I thought I'd press my luck with you all and build the first of the Merlin variants. This will at least be an interesting change for me, in that my most recent Spitfires have been the late VE-Day and  the even later Malayan Emergency Griffins. 

For my base model, I am using Airfix's 2025 re-release of the 1/48 scale Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I (A05126B). I picked this up with a Hurricane in one of the recent Battle of Britain (BoB) themed bundle offers for Airfix Club members, so you may see the Hurricane unboxed very soon as well, as I loved a themed project build. Unfortunately, the schemes provided in this kit include no BoB decals. The kit comes enabling the scale modeller to build a very early twin blade August 1938 Spitfire based at RAF Duxford, or two 3 bladed Spitfires: one in July 1940 French markings and the other in the colours of a 1942 RAF Middle East Training School aircraft. I will, therefore, be picking out my own scheme for this build, naturally taken from smack in the middle of the Battle of Britain.

I feel most fortunate to have lived my early formative years in Biggin Hill, known to many of the pilots of the Battle of Britain era as 'Biggin on the Bump' as the airfield is on located on a hill. Biggin Hill had a number of Squadrons based at the airfield during this period, including 32, 72, 74, 79, 92, 141, and 610, so I've had quite a decision to make!  I've decided in the end on an aircraft from 92 Squadron which arrived at Biggin Hill to replace an exhausted 79 Squadron on 8 September 1940.  In my Biggin Hill manual 'The Bump' which I've cherished since acquiring it at the time of the 40th Anniversary in 1980, its author, Nicholas Wright, recounts that " the '92nd Foot and Mouth' - had a reputation as a hard hitting, hard living and hard playing band of young men with an apparent disregard for military discipline and an unorthodox approach to their role as fighter pilots. Nevertheless, it was not the time for polite military niceties, and in the prevailing circumstances their approach proved effective - their casual nonchalance belied dedication, and a jealous spirit of high professionalism. Their stay at Biggin was to be protracted and very soon they were to become the best-known squadron in Fighter Command."

I also have an idea on a pilot which I'll share later. 

So ... let's now get on with the build which kicks off with the cockpit. What I've come to enjoy so much about these larger scale kits, having only recently ventured away from 1/72 scale, is the additional detail you get to see. I know I could go of a set of aftermarket resin or PE bits, I am of the mind that I can get close to as good a look with what comes in the box and a fine paint brush, especially when most of this interior will be difficult if not impossible to view once it's all enclosed in the fuselage and beneath a canopy.

One addition I'd love Airfix to consider adding, even if just to the decals, is a set of harnesses for when the pilot is not installed. I just think this adds a little bit of quality or  je ne sais quoi to the finish. Having sprayed the key interior parts with SMS Interior Green and a very glossy Silver and then hand painted the finer detailing of instruments and seat with Vallejo acrylics it was time to pull them all together.

As for the ease and quality of construction at this early stage, I would say everything was going perfectly well until it came to fix the two halves of the interior cockpit together. For me, the holes in the walls for the control column and rudder pedal bar construction were not large enough such that using far too much pressure to squeeze the two halves together, I broke off both connecting lugs and fired the control column handgrip into the jaws of the carpet monster! Fortunately, using super glue and a keen eye, I secured the now floating 'steering construction' in place, rescued the handgrip from the carpet monster and reattached it to the column - "nothing to see here" as they say! I then affixed the rather basic instrument panel decal, something I always like to do as late as possible for fear of damaging it when gluing everything in place; an approach I was particularly pleased I followed on this occasion too! N.B. at the risk of repeating myself, I would much prefer Airfix provide a harness decal in place of an instrument panel, especially when they produce such detailed mouldings of this which would look just as good as the decal provided with a bit of careful dry brushing.  

I note that I am now going to have to decide on open or closed cockpit - closed will require me to remove a slither of plastic from above the side entry flap - and if open, whether I want the side entry flap open or closed - open will require the careful removal of the moulded flap. Thinking ahead to how I want to final display this model, I'm leaning towards Open / Closed and no, that's not just because it's the easy option!

While I’ve needed to use a little filler along the wing joins and cowling, the fit is generally great. I do, however, miss locating pins on the wing halves as mine did wonder a bit even when clamped but I think I’ve gotten away with it.

Primed and RAF Sky underside sprayed we’re now getting close to the aircraft and pilot reveal.

This 1940’s Spitfire, in its Temperate Land Scheme camouflage, had neither yellow leading edge markings nor a sky tail band, both of these being added during 1941, and so the masking and painting here is going to be much simplified! 

For the upper surface camouflage I've tested out my new stock of AK lacquer paints and yes, they are lovely and I think a better colour match than my first experience with SMS’s lacquer RAF colours. 

This Masking Putty is great stuff but I do find it tricky sometimes to control!  this 92 Squadron Spitfire has the type B camo format and not a style much used in model kits from my experience as I really had to think as I applied the shapes.

Finally, I’m sure you want to hear who will be flying this Spitfire.

Well, my Spitfire’s pilot will be 24 year old  Sergeant Peter Raoul Eyles (565889) of Hook, Basingstoke who in September 1932, at the age of 16, joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice. He passed out in August 1935 and later applied and was accepted for pilot training. Completing his training at RAF Shawbury 11 Flying Training School, he joined 92 Squadron at Tangmere on 23rd October 1939.

October 1939 is a significant month as it was on 10th October that No. 92 Fighter Squadron was reformed as a night fighter Squadron at RAF Station Tangemere, equipped with Blenheim aircraft and with an establishment of 21 Officer and Airmen Pilots, 2 non flying officers and 209 other ranks. 

I love the comment in the Squadron’s new Operations Record Book of the day which on 21st October reads “Information received that ten Pilot Officers and three Sgt Pilots are being posted to the Squadron direct from 11 and 13 FTS. Children though they may be it is hoped by some Devine providence they will have flown twins”. Devine providence did intervene as all had flown twins! 

Decals and ancillary bits and bobs are the order of the day today.


First up the wheels and having previously struggled with the insanly weak fitting Airfix provide for their 1:48 scale Spitfires - or at least for the majority I've built - I now reach for the drill, superglue and fuse wire to provide some much needed bracing. I dare say that if one was to glue these in place, clean plastic to clean plastic and let them properly cure, they may have enough strength, but I like to leave undercarriage until the end of the build when access to the joining edges is restricted and overpainting is hard to avoid such that getting a clean accessible surface to bond to is neigh on impossible. Wiring the wheels in place seems to work every time for me in such cases.



Sergeant Eyles's Spitfire has now been given its squadron markings. While not exclusively, the aircraft he seems to have flown most is N3248 QJ-P and with Xtradecal providing just the decals I need, I thought I'd make use of Hannants services, also ensuring that I have the correct size roundels and fin markings. On opening the decals, I noticed that Xtradecal had provided with their QJ-P markings the aircraft number N3239 and not N3238, i.e. one digit higher than I was expecting. This in itself is interesting as N3239 was also one of the aircraft flown by 92 Squadron during the early days of 1940 when Eyles was flying N3238 before moving to 602 Squadron in August, but it is N3248 and QJ-P that I've found most frequently reported together. Either way, as it's just you and me who are now aware of this I've not bothered raiding my spares box for a figure "8", life's too short for that!

And what of Sergent Eyles?

It appears that Sergeant Peter Eyles was, as one would expect, a capable pilot. He had just one spill that I've found to his name, which was when on 9th March 1940 his Bristol Blenheim tipped up on its nose while being taxied over a bad patch of ground after landing from formation flying practice at RAF Croydon, Surrey. The aircraft was apparently damaged but repairable and Sgt Eyles uninjured. His first operational 'success' occurred over Dunkirk on 2nd June 1940, when having been operational on Spitfires for less than a month, he was recognised for causing damaged to an He111. This was one of the squadron’s busiest days over the French coast in which the squadron accounted for fourteen enemy bombers and four fighters without loss, bringing its tally to over 50 machines. This just goes to show how active the RAF really were over Dunkirk contrary to the observations of the troops on the ground.



I'm reasonably pleased with how this Spitfire is coming together. There's just one area of painting I wish, had I spotted it earlier, I'd gone back over and this is at the join with the starboard wing, but I'm thinking that if and when I add those typical Merlin exhaust stains it will be less visible. Meanwhile, it is sitting trying out in its just delivered state. Therefore, after studying a few more reference photos of the time, I'm just left with having to decide on how much weathering to apply, pull a base together and a couple of figures to add ... oh yes, and then there is the rest of Peter's story to tell.

I'm thinking that as I'm looking to have this displayed in a small scene/vignette, I'll will do some weathering, else I'd probably be tempted to leave it in museum fresh condition.

I've looked out a few archive pictures (see below) and as the Mk.I had no protective walkways on the wings it would appear that the paint wore quite badly.

As N3248 was delivered to 92 Squadron in March 1940 and by the time of the Battle of Britain it would already have had close to 6 months of serious wear, I thought - with trepidation - I'd attempt to create something similar on my model. And this is how it has turned out ... 

I also added exhaust and gun smoke stains, a few oil spill marks and grime to a few panel lines.

I'm still waiting on the base I want to use so this is just a taster. I have however painted a set of ModelU figures. This is their 1:48 scale "WWII RAF Photographer scene" figures which I selected for my little vignette inspired by all those photos I've come across, while researching this build, of pilots photographed with their mates in front of their aircraft. I feel this makes a change to the more usual scenes of pilots scrambling to their machines or views of their aircraft being rearmed.

Here’s my Airfix 1:48 scale Spitfire Mk.I tribute to the few. 

Completed in the colours of Spitfire Mk.Ia N3248 QJ-P of 92 Squadron stationed at RAF Biggin Hill and flown by 24 year old pilot, Sergeant Peter Eyles during the Battle of Britain. 

Finished with AK acrylic and lacquer paints, Xtradecal aftermarket decals, ModelU RAF Photographer and Pilots and a Coastal Kits diorama airfield hardstanding base. The scene is intended to depict Sergeant Eyles on the right and fellow pilot, P/O Hill (who coincidentally flew N3248 in the weeks prior to Eyles) having their picture taken in front of Eyles's Spitfire N3248 QJ-P. I was inspired to create this scene having seen many similar photos in the WWII archives.

On the 20th September 1940, 92 Sqn were ordered to patrol at 5000' over Gravesend. The Squadron Operations Record Book records the events as follows: "Weather was fine, but layers of cloud from 4-9000ft. Ten aircraft took off in the am and intercepted formation of ME 109s who surprised Blue Section from behind and above. P/O HILL crashed and burnt out in DOVER AREA and SGT EYLES crashed in the sea. S/LDR SANDERS destroyed a ME 109 and another was damaged by P/O WADE"

Both Hill and Eyles were reportedly shot down by Luftwaffe fighter ace Major Mölders of JG51  increasing his tally of aerial victories to 40, the first fighter pilot to reach this number during the war and was awarded the 2nd Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Before his own demise on 22 November 1941 he became the first pilot in aviation history to down 100 enemy aircraft!

I never thought my hobby of making models would ever be as moving and thought provoking as this one has been. 

Hawker Hurricane IV RP

Reading the “Boy’s Book of Airfix” by Arthur Ward I was surprised to read of Airfix in 1957 releasing the Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV RP (Pattern No. 1396) a version of the Hurricane I’d never actually come across before. I just could not resist the challenge of tracking one down, a model kit moulded before I was even born, this is going to be fun and a privilege model to build!

They didn't go into many parts back in 1957 so I'm going to have to take my time and savour this one!

From what I read, the Mk IV had a wing configured able to mount two 250 or 500 lb bombs, two 40 mm (Vickers S guns, two 40 mm Rolls-Royce B.H. type guns, two SBC (small bomb containers), SCI (smoke curtain installation), two 45 or 90 gallon drop tanks, or eight "60 pounder" RP-3 rockets. This kit comes with the eight rockets.

Laying out all the parts, as few as there are, all are thankfully present with the exception of the propeller shaft. Oh yes, the propeller is also broken, but this was a common problem with the bagged kits, a requirement Woolworths placed on Airfix back in the day. 

Checking the parts list again I’m missing not only the propeller shaft but also the canopy! My seller has refunded me so I’m going to see if I can continue without.

Having a very old built Airfix Hurricane in a ‘spares box’ I spit the fuselage and ‘borrowed’ the propeller but the canopy is a totally different size, so I’ll come back to that later.

All the main parts fitted and primed. I have a possible solution for the canopy but it will need a bit of modification as the rise between the tail and cockpit is one only Eddy the Eagle would be thrilled to see; more on that later.

I found a possible donor canopy from what I believe was the Airfix kit of the Japanese torpedo bomber the Nakajima B5N1 'Kate' which was supplied with two canopies. It's a little too wide but after trimming does fit in height and length which I think is as good as I am going to get.

In addition to the canopy modifications I did also end up filling the wing to fuselage joins, gaps in which one could have driven a bus through and I dug out an old set of after market decals. I went for white squadron markings as per the originals and painted in a sky coloured band on which to apply individually cut aircraft numbers to match the artwork. I should probably have used white in the band to match the letters or perhaps sky letters to match the band, however, as I've a few new kits with this combination may be it's an OK combination. 

The original aircraft probably had painted yellow leading edges, but being absent from the artwork, but putting myself in the head of a child building this back in the 1950s, I decided to leave these off! 

I used SMS paints RAF colours and plans I found in another after market set of decals for the final camouflage paint work, neither of which I am totally convinced with, but against the backdrop of this being the recreation of a 1950s era young schoolboy's build and the bits I had to play with, I'm very happy with the final result.

British Forces Land Rover Patrol

What to do while the Jackal’s glue cures? Make a start on its Operation Herrick “brother”, the Land Rover of course! 

The parts for the Land Rover come on just 2 runners, so one less than the Jackal but this ‘… Patrol’ gift set is supplied with a number of British troops attached to a very distinctive brown plastic runner.  I’ve not yet had chance to look at them close up yet, but it will be very interesting to see what Airfix have provided, it being a long time since they’ve done anything new with figures. 

I hadn’t intended motoring so far ahead with this build but as I started  on the front area, I couldn’t help thinking I needed to press on at at least attach the screen, wings and grill else I’d never get any of these parts to line up with each other later. I’m finding the fit and moulding of this Land Rover to be far less positive and well fitting as the Jackal.  I do, however, think they will make a nice pair when complete. 

To me it’s hard to believe this Land Rover came from the same 2012 stable as the Supercat Jackal, but I am being hypocritical as the Jackal’s moulding is sublimely brilliant. 

When fitting the final walls and doors to this kit, I had to use a little tape to straighten the panels and prevent it looking like a cut and shunt insurance write off!

I thought I’d try a bit of camo netting on this as it seems to have been a regular feature from the archive photos I’ve seen. I still have quite a bit of work to do to make it look a little more convincing and obviously the all important doors and glazing to fit too. 

It should also start to look more the part once I get out the weathering powders as it’s looking far to factory fresh at the moment. 

I wasn't 100% happy with the camo netting feeling it needed the rags adding ... I may have over done it, but after spending 2 hours painting, cutting and applying little bits of masking tape, I'm preferring the look.

After this, I added a little light weathering and painted up a few of the supplied figures and for me, that's it done.

Although a bit raw in places, this kit does have a few nice touches ... for instance, mesh decals for the side windows and the drop down front armoured and grilled windscreen which I did attempt to attach but it would not fit over the wiper blades, so I left it in the down position. 

Supacat Jackal

My next build is taking me somewhat out of my 1:35 scale WW2 comfort zone and right up to date with this  1:48 scale Supercat Jackal. I bought this together with its sister Operation Herrick Afghanistan kit, the Land Rover Patrol, after I noticed my friend’s modern AFVs were getting more interest at a recent Scale Model Show than my WW2 collection. I guess it’s a generation thing! I am also putting on a small Armed Forces Day display at the end of the month and felt perhaps I should move with the times. 

The Jackal or MWMIK (Mobility Weapon-Mounted Installation Kit) is from a family of vehicles designed and developed by Supacat Ltd at their factory just up the road from me, in Honiton, Devon, for use by the British Army and Royal Air Force Regiment. So I feel, even more a good reason to build it, if I needed one! The Airfix kit has just 3 runners and no glazing, so I'm thinking this could be a quick one! 

I read that the vehicle's height-adjustable air suspension system can be lowered onto the bump-stops to provide a stable firing platform when stationary or raised to a maximum 380 mm ground clearance allowing it to clear large obstacles. The detail Airfix have put into this kit’s suspension is really excellent, and perhaps if it were to be re-released, having the option to build lowered in the firing position would be great idea. 

The fine detailing and fit is superb. I love the opening doors and rear “whatever’s” … I guess I’ll find out what these are later … but the hinges are very delicate so I’m sure I’m going to break one off before the build it complete.

I’ve given it a bit of colour and fitted the wheels. For some reason, as the rest of the kit is wonderful, those wheels needed quite a bit of work to get them fitted, but fitted they now are. I also added some belts as I saw these quite visible in the archive photos. 

Next up will be decals, guns and a bit of dusty weathering. I’m also wondering whether to add camo netting that I’ve seen in some photos.

A little weathering, no netting and I'm now done with the Supercat Jackal. 

Panzer IV Ausf.H

I'm so pleased to be back building AFVs and in particular the next tank in my 1;35 scale German Panzer project, this one being the Airfix Panzer IV Ausf.. I know @Topcat_Ern did a great built of this one last May in the Normandy 1944 colours, so I thought I'd have another go at the whitewashed look of an Eastern Front version. Unlike that Panzer III that I recently built, which was white over German Grey, this Panzer IV seems to have had the site applied over Dark Yellow, which will be different.

This 2019 Airfix release is based on a 2018 Academy kit and looks really nice. It also has rubber tracks which I don't normally like, but with the armoured skits fitted, you'll not see too much of them.

The first task in the instructions is to drill all the clearly marked out holes for the ancillary bits and bobs later. It's surprising just how long this takes!

Fitting the chassis pieces is the next very simple task ... but I've halted at a decision point surrounding which rear plate to fit, as there two options with no explanation - intriguing! My Osprey New Vanguard guide on the Panzer IV has a drawing of an Ausf H with what looks to be the more detailed drive ends, so I’ve decided to fit the more detailed part G42 for no other reason than that. The same book was also used to decide on the correct ‘cast idler wheel’, the one with the narrower double set of spokes.

This kit seems to have a number of these random decision points. Oddly, such options would normally be easy to decide on as they tend to follow a final scheme; not however, as far as I can see, this one! The next decision point is the type of return rollers to fit. The two options look to be either rubber or steel tyred versions, the latter, I believe, being a rubber saving ‘upgrade’.  Checking through my 1979 collection of Bruce Quarrie “Panzers in Russia” WW2 photo albums, I came across a photo of a PzKpfw IV H and supporting infantry where the Panzer clearly has the rubber saving steel return rollers and so parts H60 & H62 were selected. 

With the wheels installed, superstructure constructed and dry fit to the chassis, it really does look a solid, well designed kit. The challenge facing me now is deciding on which version of bullet splash guard to fit! I’m thinking the more elaborate one with seemingly more protection. 

I've fitted that bullet splash guard with the extra raised section - all the better to protect the crew from projectiles making their way through the join between turret and superstructure. I understand that bullet splash was first seen as an issue for tank crews during WWI. It occurs when a bullet hits an armoured plate, does not penetrate, but fractures into tiny pieces of sharp metal that flies in all directions at high speed. I never stop learning with this hobby! 

Work on the Panzer IV now focusses on fitting tracks and building the body of the tank. There is really so much detail in this kit, it's fantastic. You'll see from the above picture that I decided to prime the lower drive train area. I did this before fitting it to the superstructure as I wanted to get good coverage in those hidden recesses between the wheels and around the tracks which I sometimes find challenging once mudguards etc. are in place.

Next, I move onto building the skirts and the turret. I believe, having fitted these to the Stug IV, that I can leave the skirts detachable as they should hang nicely off those spiked rails, which means that I can fit them later which is vital if I'm to be able to get to paint the detailing on those tools and spare wheels.

The construction is complete and I’ve really enjoyed building this kit; there’s just so much detail to enjoy. I’ve also found a 3DGizmo German Tank Commander that fits without surgery! I do like having a figure in my tanks.

I decided to apply the chalk white winter camouflage over just the dark yellow base coat rather than apply the addition camouflage colours of green and brown, as I felt these would just get lost. I then distressed the white surface with a Humbrol weathering brush and added grime with set of oils and finally a little snow effect to bring the temperature now to that of winter on the eastern front!

While the Airfix painting instructions suggest this Panzer IV was part of the 3rd or 20th Panzer Division, my research has identified it to more likely to be a tank of the 4th Panzer Division, 35 Panzer Regiment. Both the 3rd and 4th use the Berlin bear emblem, but it’s the official shield symbol that belongs to German 4th Panzer Division that clinches it for me. Quite interestingly, the addition of crossed swords below the emblem was apparently added in August 1943 after the Generalmajor and commander of the 4th Panzer Division, General Erich Schneider (1894-1980) was awarded the Knight's Cross.

One final post from me on this Panzer IV is an embarrassing correction. Someone pointed out to me that I’d attached the Turret Schurzen upside down! Considering the number of Panzer IV pictures I had studied and the time it took me to decide the correct way to fit these, I was stunned and shocked to have made such a school boy error!

So, I carefully removed them from their brackets and using a cotton bud I removed the varnish I’d applied with thinner. I then soaked them, decals down, in a solution of DecalFix for a good hour. 

Carefully using a blade I was able to tease the decals free and rotate them to the correct way up. Unfortunately the bear is handed and so I had to swap them between parts. Now if anyone has used decal softener you’ll appreciate this is no easy task, as a well softened decal is as fragile and temperamental as wet tissue paper! 

Final corrected shots of the Panzer IV

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.XVIII

 Next up, another Spitfire! 

This is one I’ve been waiting for the right moment to build as it has a bit of a story. 

Today would have been my father’s 90th birthday. He passed Christmas 2021 and while I was up at my parents’ Cumbria home doing that eldest brother thing, I got a call from Airfix’s Michael Clegg asking if he could use two of my Sea King helicopters in a spread he was working on for his Workbench blog.

See here: https://uk.airfix.com/community/blog-and-news/workbench/mitchells-masterpiece-inherits-griffon-power

This not only helped take our minds off the  reason why I had had to dash north but also introduced me to a fact about one of my favourite aircraft which I had not previously known. 

One of the last fighter versions of the Spitfire, the Mk.XVIII flew on “Operation Firedog” in Malaya during the 1950s Emergency just my father was out there with the British Army, or at least en route. 

At the time I was talking to Michael Clegg about the Sea Kings he kindly offered to send me an Airfix kit in return for using my models and story. I naturally suggested the Spitfire would be the perfect one considering its significance:  my father having served in Malaya at more or less the same time, and for it being unveiled in the same article as my Sea Kings. Anyway, despite many a friendly follow up on my part, nothing ever arrived from Michael and so, I was fortunate enough to have sufficient  Airfix flying hours to ensure I secured a kit before it sold out, and it’s been in my stash ever since. 

It now seems only right to mark this, my father’s 90th birthday, to finally build it. 

Development of the Spitfire F Mk.XVIII the 'Super Spitfire' was started towards the end of 1943 and the first Mk.XVIII Griffin 65 powered Spitfire was delivered to the RAF on 28 May 1945. 99 aircraft were completed for the fighter/bomber role with the provision for wing mounted bombs and rockets. 

One of the first tasks when building this kit  is to drill out holes for either bombs or rockets. Airfix’s painting instructions, state they were in Kuala Lumpur in 1947, but it wasn’t actually until the end of June 1948 that 60 Sqn provided a detachment of their Spitfires to the Taskforce at Kuala Lumpur, which was also the first time they used rockets too which is what I’ve gone for. More on their use in the Malayan Emergency later.

Some will hate my approach with the cockpit interior. Being so beautifully moulded it seems horrifying not to paint and weather every nook and bump. However, having built the Spitfire FR Mk.XIV last year with pilot installed, I know you can see nothing at all of that interior once it's all put together. So as my new mantra is, only paint what you can see I've fitted the pilot in his seat and added a little of putty to his arm joints ready for one of my favourite bits, the detail brush painting. 

Meanwhile, here’s how and when the first Spitfire to be delivered was reported. 

JANUARY 1947 (OPERATIONS)  F/O QUILTER

“There has been little flying on the Squadron this month, principally because of a shortage of aircraft.  On the 15th our first Spitfire Mk.XVIII was flown from Seletar by the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Constable Maxwell DFC, DFC but apart from this one Spitfire there has only been our Harvard and another Harvard obligingly loaned by 81 Squadron. 

Our home field, Tenah, only became serviceable for limited flying as recently as the 29th, of this month when our two aircraft were flown over from Seletar. The flying we had managed to do previously had entailed our making the tiresome journey to Seletar by road everyday, thereby shortening our airborne hours even further.

Next month, fortunately, holds brighter prospects as several more of our keenly awaited Spitfires are very near completion and the Tenah runways should become closer to full serviceability.”

I feel my building of of TP222 is one of the Spitfires keenly awaited though it is still some way off being completed