Spitfire Squadron - Part 1

My WW2 Spitfire Squadron RAF airfield diorama is not intended to depict an exact day in history nor reflect a specific squadron nor location but to give the feel of what may have been going on across many airfields during the post Battle of Britain and pre D-Day period between 1941 - 1943. Because I have thrown so much into this diorama, I will not overwhelm you with too much detail in one burst but, as per Dickens, publish in instalments. While I say I have not looked to reflect a specific date in history, there will be some interesting factoids along the way which will time box this diorama into a specific season in a specific year, so stay tuned, and while all guesses are welcomed, I shall give nothing away until the end!

As a bit of background to this period, following the Battle of Britain, the RAF benefitted from a period of rest and replenishment before, early in 1941, being ready to go on the offensive. Fighter sweeps, ”Rhubarbs”, and bomber escort missions, “Circuses”, across the channel into France and other occupied territories, were initiated with the express purpose of forcing a response from Luftwaffe fighters.

The scene in the diorama opens with the RAF fighter crews relaxing by their dispersal hut while a pair of Spitfire Mk.IIa, or may be Mk.Va (Type A wing with 8 .303" Browning machine guns), return from a ‘Rhubarb’ mission, as another is refuelled and rearmed. If you look carefully, there are a couple of reminders from the Battle of Britain: the call to action bell and instruction sign on the hut, but the stress and fatigue from being constantly on alert and the frequent scrambles are in the past.

The scene opens with the RAF fighter crews relaxing by their dispersal hut

As for the models, I built two of the Spitfires from Revell’s 1:72 scale Mk.IIa kits which I found to be very nicely detailed and a pleasure to build. I also repainted an old Mk.1a from an Airfix Dogfight Double set that I had very faded and gathering dust in a cabinet. 

The refuelling truck was from an equally old Airfix RAF Refuelling Set which I decided to repaint to match the other service vehicles. The figures were from multiple sources, though mostly from Airfix’s 1:76 scale RAF Personnel. The Nissen hut was from a set I acquired from the Peco model railway manufacturer close to home here in Devon, and the bell, bucket, sign and chairs were all scratch built.

To be continued ….