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Showing results for tags 'W7449 MG-J'.
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Hello everyone After building three R.A.F. heavies - Lancaster, Halifax and Liberator - it's time to move on to the Stirling. My choice once again has a local connection to N.E. England - Stirling I W7449 MG-J of 7 Squadron. Sgt Peter Coulson Whitwell, R.N.Z.A.F., but born in Hartlepool, was rear gunner in this aircraft on November 24th 1941 on a mission to attack a convoy off Borkum when the Stirling was attacked by Bf-109s. All three gunners were in action for 25 minutes, and between them claimed two as destroyed and one damaged. Whitwell was awarded the D.F.M., but was sadly killed in action in November 1942 on his second tour of Operations. I'd had an Airfix kit in the stash for yonks, but the prospect of it filled me with a strange sense of dread. So luckily Italeri have come to the rescue, so it's time to clear the decks (literally - it's a LONG aircraft) and crack on. I know th kit has some issues with the external rivets and panel lines, but It's going to be more or less OOB, with some scratch building to add some interest to the cockpit interior as it will be quite visible through the large canopy, as well as using Eduard's photo etch cockpit set and canopy masks. First up, the flight deck with Eduard bits added and dirtied up a bit: I then bit the bullet and started on drilling out all the windows for the Mk.I, which Italeri have left flashed over from their Mk.IV version. What a pain in the proverbials that was, and not my favourite task at the best of times. It seemed like there were dozens, but I think they came out (pun intended) okay: The main cockpit sections have gone together pretty well, again more or less OOB, with the glazing in place, masked and the fuselage interior painted: I've added a map and book for the Navigator's table, as well the bracket for the sextant on the fuselage wall, and the curtains for the windows. The Eduard etch for the cockpit side walls has been added, and then some more bits and bobs for the cockpit walls to liven things up a bit: I'm busy with the bomb aimer's compartment at the moment, and I'd decided to add some interest to the underside of the pilot's floor. Photos were hard to find, but fortunately 12Jaguar has come to the rescue - top man! Anyhow, more soon... Cheers Simon