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Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop Tamiya 1/48 - T*M EP340


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The Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop project is done. The subject aircraft is the T*M EP340 belonging to 249sqn stationed on Ta' Qali (Takali), Malta in 1942. The recorded highlight for this aircraft has been a sortie on 13th of October 1942 where the Canadian ace pilot John McElroy has managed to shoot down a Bf-109 and a Re.2001.

 

Two days later, on 15th of October 1942, this particular aircraft - piloted by the Australian pilot Edwin Hiskens - was shot down by the German ace pilot Marian Mazurek. The loss of the T*M EP340 has been recorded as 'missing over sea', status of the Australian pilot as 'presumed dead'.

 

Enjoy the final pictures and let's remember those who have fought for our freedom.

 

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Very nice Spitfire indeed! The weathering looks apt, considering the field conditions it probably flew and fought in.

 

My only caveat would be the wire aerial, which looks great but is probably wrong. The Mk V and onwards had VHF radio sets with the antenna integral to the post, no wire…

 

Great modelling and the story adds a lot to the impression!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

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Thank you all for the kind words!

 

On ‎27‎-‎11‎-‎2017 at 00:25, Spitfire31 said:

My only caveat would be the wire aerial, which looks great but is probably wrong. The Mk V and onwards had VHF radio sets with the antenna integral to the post, no wire…

 

You explanation makes sense. Thank you! I have been in doubt about the antenna wire as I've seen pictures a Mk.V where the wire was:
- running from the top of fuselage, over the mast to the rudder and;
- running from both sides of the fuselage to the leading edge of the horizontal stabiliser.
- absent.

Not sure what to do though.

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Spitfire Vbs outside the UK sometimes were refitted with HF radios with the external wire, depending on what comms system in use in theatre at the time.

The wires from the roundel to the tailplane each side were for IFF , presumably depending if appropriate for the theatre.  Later marks IFF aerial is a pole under the main plane near one aileron.

Actually Spotting and interpreting these wires on photos is hard, particularly if the resolution isn’t great!

 

Your model looks great by the way.

 

Cheers

Will

Edited by malpaso
More info
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9 hours ago, malpaso said:

Spitfire Vbs outside the UK sometimes were refitted with HF radios with the external wire, depending on what comms system in use in theatre at the time.

The wires from the roundel to the tailplane each side were for IFF , presumably depending if appropriate for the theatre.  Later marks IFF aerial is a pole under the main plane near one aileron.

The picture gets clearer little by little. Thank you! :)

If it's not 100% wrong, then I'll leave the wire as is as I don't have any viable photographic evidence to what the actual aircraft had. Something to keep in mind though for the next time I'm going to be building a Mk.Vb or Mk.Vc.

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On ‎28‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 12:15 PM, malpaso said:

Spitfire Vbs outside the UK sometimes were refitted with HF radios with the external wire, depending on what comms system in use in theatre at the time.

The wires from the roundel to the tailplane each side were for IFF , presumably depending if appropriate for the theatre.  Later marks IFF aerial is a pole under the main plane near one aileron.

Actually Spotting and interpreting these wires on photos is hard, particularly if the resolution isn’t great!

 

Your model looks great by the way.

 

Cheers

Will

Same can be said about the Seafires in MTO !

Sincerely.

Corsaircorp

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