824 NAS Sea King HAS.2 ‘50’

My two 824 NAS Sea King HAS.2 are complete. This is actually one in the same helicopter, No.50 XV660, which sailed on 5 April 1982 from Devonport to join up with the Carrier Battle Group aboard RFA Olmeda in the first week of the Falklands War. 

All white markings and squadron emblems were overpainted en route to the Falklands where their role quickly changed from anti submarine to Jungley (troop and load lifting), hence the 2 versions. I am awaiting delivery of a set of torpedos for the landed Sea King. 

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc

My Airfix Spitfire Mk.Vc is complete. 

 

I bought 3 of these Airfix starter kits for a Christmas family group build and we finally managed to get together this week to have a go at them. 

The Supermarine Factory

They are lovely to construct, with most parts fitting nicely together; a very important requirement for any new modeller. The highlights were the canopy which needed no glue and the shadow stand. The only issues I would warn folk of, and feed back to the Airfix team, were: l the propeller fitting is too tight causing 2/3 builds to end with a slack prop! The paints supplied were awful with 2/3 builds needing new paints (I just ditched the supplied stuff which had dried out and went with some Hataka paint I use in my airbrush); the transfers were nicely printed but having to be positioned over raised wing mouldings (lovely detail) needed decal softener for them to sit properly. 

Needed replacement paints and decal softener  

So highly recommended for first time modellers (with the above caveats) and very enjoyable for me to get out the brushes and put down the air brush for the first time in years!

The new Spitfires take to the air

Airfix have provided decals with this kit for Spitfire Mk Vc AB174 RF-Q flown by Plt Off Antoni (Toni) Glowacki, No 303 'Polish' Sqn, August 1942. Toni was notable for shooting down five German aircraft on 24 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, flying his then ‘lucky Hurricane’ SD-A (VZ124) to become one of only three pilots to gain Ace-in-a-day status during the battle. On 7 November 1941, along with other Polish pilots who had been attached to RAF squadrons, Głowacki was transferred to No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron where he flew Supermarine Spitfire RF-Q (AB174). On 27 April and 19 August 1942, Głowacki had two probables over Dieppe, claiming Focke Wulf Fw 190s. He also shared in the downing of a Heinkel He 111.

---------------

The Kit:

Brand: Airfix

Title: Starter Set Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc

Number: A55001

Scale: 1:72

Type: Full kit

Released: 2020 | Initial release - new tool

Sea King HAS.2

My 1982 Falklands HAS.2 Sea King flown by 824 NAS is now complete all bar the addition of its engine cover which I’m going to have to add a hand painted squadron badge to.

This is No.50 in its glorious peace time colour scheme before all squadron markings were removed and its numbers and lettering reapplied in black. I have another Airfix kit on the bench which will not only receive this scheme but also a machine gun! 

Sea King AEW Mk.2a

My Sea King AEW Mk.2a, as flown by 849 NAS aboard HMS Illustrious in 1988, is complete.

The AEW was developed during the 1982 Falklands War after deficiencies in airborne early warning cost the Task Force dearly.

This kit was released in 2010 using Airfix’s 1969 tooling, a far cry from the detail and quality of the 2015 retooled Sea Kings I’ve previously loved building. 

Currently this is the only Airfix kit with the radar attachment, which interestingly was provided on a separate sprue so I could have just used this on the later kit. However, once started, I just wanted to finish it as Airfix intended, it is after all a vintage classic even if not badged as such. It even had a hole for the old fashioned stand that I couldn’t resist using 

B24 D Liberator

My latest US Navy Dunkeswell B24-D Liberator is complete. 

This is Minicraft’s 1:72 scale kit in the colours of B-13 ‘N' Berlin Express of VB-103 piloted by Lt. Chet Rief and Bruce Higgenbothem, and was one of the first Navy Liberators to arrive at Dunkeswell, Devon in 1943. 

US Navy Liberators went through a variety of camouflage schemes during World War II and Berlin Express can be seen here sporting the early tri-color camouflage scheme. 

Unfortunately Berlin Express had a short operational history, crashing on 3 December 1943.

 

---------

The kit 

Brand: Minicraft Model Kits
Title: Consolidated-Vultee USAF B-24D Liberator
Number: 11612
Scale: 1:72
Type: Full kit
Released: 1998 | Rebox

Battle for the Atlantic

Minicraft's 1:144 scale B-24 LIBERATOR & Revell's  1:350 scale  TYPE VII C U-BOAT 

B-6 “T” US Navy Liberator B-24J sinking U-243, a Type VII C U-Boat, in the Bay of Biscay on 8th July 1944. 

Revell provide decals for U-96, Buchheim’s inspiration for Das Boot, sunk on 30 March 1945 at Wilhelmshaven during a US air raid.

Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk.XIX

My New Year Spitfire build is complete. The Spitfire is a real gem when looking for a simple quick build, and it didn’t let me down!

I used Airfix’s post war PRXIX kit and additional decals to create the aircraft PM655 ‘6C.W’ of Photographic Development Unit, 2nd TAF, RAF Benson in 1948 and Eduard’s cockpit set.

________

The kit

Brand: Airfix

Title: Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk.XIX

Number: A02017

Scale: 1:72

Released: 2009 | New Tool