Sepcat Jaguar GR.1

I’m on a roll! After just 3 half days at the workbench, my 3rd build of 2023, Italeri’s Sepcat Jaguar GR.1, is done. 

I’ve finished it in the colours of XX733 “Pink Spitfire” of RAF 6th Squadron, flying from Thurrait Air Base in Oman in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, when it took part in 39 missions against Iraqi forces. 

For a kit based on 30 year old tooling it is amazing quality and was great fun to build. It also comes with decals, paint instructions and ordinance for 4 different squadrons/aircraft. I was inspired to go for the Desert Storm variant after both coming across a No.6 squadron pin from my air cadet days and having both a Tornado and Buccaneer lined up for the same operational colour’s, the former having been built a while back. 

I was hoping this would have lasted me a little bit longer but it was just so much fun

C-47 Skytrain

My latest scale model build and second of 2023 is Italeri’s C-47 Skytrain. I’ve had it in my stash since doing a Pegasus Bridge D-Day diorama some years back when I had a plan to have it flying overhead with paratroopers leaping out in support of the glider troops below. This never happened due to my short attention span and me having moved on to my next build! 

Having just read over Christmas the interesting book “The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy” I was inspired to dust off the C-47 and build it as D8 of 94th TCS commanded by Major Joseph A Beck II and then discovered was based at Station 462 Upottery, of Band of Brothers fame, here in Devon! 

This was a really nice kit to build. Very simple but lots of nice detailing. I’ve since seen that Airfix have recently re-released their 2014 moulding and this comes with decals for another of Upottery’s aircraft … how can I resist! 

Hope you like it.

SS-100 Gigant Transporter & V2

Revell’s SS-100 Gigant Transporter & V2 and 1/72 Special Armour’s A-StoManhänger "Liquid Oxygen Tank for V2 Rocket" mounted with a few British and German figures for effect. I acquired this unusual selection of kits from fellow modelling club member, Roy last year and it’s been really rewarding to complete something a little different. 

I’ve built and finished these complementary kits to reflect a moment during October 1945 when a total of 3 V-2 rockets were launched from a test site at Cuxhaven, Germany, by German POWs under the British supervision, into the North Sea as part of ‘Operation Backfire’. The explosive material in the warheads was steamed out and replaced with sand and for tracking purposes, these rebuilt missiles were painted in a black-and-white checkered pattern, similar to the early Peenemünde rocket schemes that were first tested 3 years earlier. 

In June 1945, General Eisenhower approved Operation Backfire, the British initiated Operation put forward by J. C. C. Bernard, A.T.S., Personal Assistant to Major-General Cameron, head of the British Air Defense Division. The objective of the Operation was to provide the knowledge and skills of guided ballistic missiles, to ascertain the German technique of launching long-range rockets and to prove it by performing an actual launch. Following the successful conclusion of the tests, the War Office in London issued a 5-volume report detailing these operations. Operation Backfire resulted in one of the most comprehensive evaluations and documentation of the total V-2 weapons architecture, not only by the Allies, but also the Germans!

If you’re interested in reading more, then check out this amazing article with photos and links to the 5-volume report. http://www.v2rocket.com