tonyot Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 (edited) Hiya Folks, Well I`ve finally got around to finishing my Pacific Coast Models Spitfire Mk.XIV after deciding which scheme I wanted to finish it,..and eventually opted for the aircraft flown by Sqn. Ldr, James `Ginger' Lacey at the time he commanded 17 Sqn in Singapore during 1945, just after the war had ended. First a bit of background; As commanding officer of No. 17 Squadron in India and flying Merlin engined Spitfire VIII`s, Sqn. Ldr. James `Ginger' Lacey claimed his last aircraft on 19th February 1945 by shooting down a Japanese Army Air Force Ki 43 “Oscar” using only nine 20mm cannon rounds. Lacey was one of the few RAF pilots on operational duties on both the opening and closing day of the war and his final tally was 28 confirmed, four probables and nine damaged, which was displayed under the cockpit of his Griffon engined Spitfire Mk.XIV, with which 17 Sqn was re equipped for the proposed invasion of Malaya. With the war coming to a close before this invasion could take place Lacey led the unit to Singapore instead when the colony was re occupied and in 1946 he took 17 Sqn to join the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan, still with Spitfire XIV`s,....although after a failed attempt to strip them to bare metal they were repainted in overall Med. Sea Grey with Dark Green sisruptive camouflage on the upper surfaces,.....but digress!. Here are some photos of Laceys `real' Spitfire Mk.XIV, from the time in Singapore....it has often been replicated in Dark Earth and Dark Green with white SEAC bands before,....but it was in fact a faded but very well kept and clean (hardly any exhaust staining or dirt) Ocean Grey and Dark Green with Medium Sea Grey undersides aircraft which had the original European style RAF national markings over painted using Dark Green which was blended into the existing camouflage where possible and note the white codes thinly outlined with black, the 17 Sqn Gauntlet insignia on the nose and Laceys scoreboard and command pennant under the cockpit,...the spinner is often depicted as being black but it has also been said to be blue too and judging from available photo`s it does seem to match the blue sections of the Sqn. Ldr.s pennant.; And here are some other unit aircraft from around the same time,...some had SEAC bands applied and some `may' have had the Dark Earth/ Dark Green camouflage,..although faded Day Fighter green grey colours with painted out markings do appear to be more common; And some other aircraft; And now the model; The PCM kit seemed to come and go from sale very quickly and unfortunately has not been available for some time now,....so I`m glad that I got mine when I did. The construction was mixed media with plastic main parts supplemented by resin and brass and it went together quite well really although the wing centre section was quite a struggle to match to the fuselage, especially along the undersides,.....but a bit of fettling here and there did the trick! Colour wise,...the model was brush painted using my dwindling stock of Polly Scale acrylic`s,.......and Humbrol enamel Trainer yellow was used to try and replicate some of the outer wing leading edge colour showing through after this had been over painted on the real aeroplane along with the European style RAF national markings. Polly Scale US Sea Blue was used to replicate the blue spinner with Humbrol enamels used for the interior, propellers, wheels etc. Anyway,....without any more waffling on,....here is the model; DSCF2411 by Tony OToole, on Flickr DSCF2410 by Tony OToole, on Flickr DSCF2408 by Tony OToole, on Flickr DSCF2409 by Tony OToole, on Flickr DSCF2412 by Tony OToole, on Flickr DSCF2420 by Tony OToole, on Flickr DSCF2421 by Tony OToole, on Flickr DSCF2426 by Tony OToole, on Flickr It really is an excellent kit and I wish that I could have afforded to snaffle away a couple more while they were available,....oh well!! In case anybody is interested,.....here is another Supermarine classic that I`m working on at the moment too,....the Airfix 48th scale Walrus,...if anybody is using the Xtradecal sheet on this aircraft beware,....the wing roundels are too large! These are smaller and from an old Swordfish kit; DSCF2433 by Tony OToole, on Flickr And in 32nd scale the FLY Hurricane Mk.I,....which is going to be in SAAF markings; DSCF2431 by Tony OToole, on Flickr So plenty of model on the go now,...I`ve got the elves working overtime once more lol! All the best, Tony Edited November 6, 2021 by tonyot 52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Great job on that Mk.XIV, I like the SEAC markings and that one stands out as it is in the European camouflage colours which was only seen later on in the war, nice one, makes me want to build another one myself. Cheers Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 The Spitfire looks lovely (but that's only to be expected), as does the Walrus. I expect the Hurricane to be rather special too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil.C Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Spit looks cracking Tony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom.boom Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Pls, more about Hurricane Mk.I 1/32 Fly! Btw, great looking models! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camper1 Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 It's about time you finished that Spitfire,have you been slacking? Very nice all of them Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Lacey has been one of my heroes since I read "Ginger Lacey, Fighter Pilot" when I was at school - it was the 25th BoB anniversary edition so that's showing my age! Apparently 17 Sqn were to have the bubble top variant but Lacey told the supply chain to take them away & "Give me something that looks like a bloody Spitfire" Almost forgot, a great looking Spit. Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Beautiful Spitfire 👍 ... great history to go with the build. The other two are looking real good so far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick b Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Good to see you back in the saddle Tony and producing excellent results as usual... Did the Lacey markings come with the kit? I have one of these in the loft but couldn’t be bothered to go and look! 😀 Mick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted January 30, 2018 Author Share Posted January 30, 2018 1 minute ago, mick b said: Good to see you back in the saddle Tony and producing excellent results as usual... Did the Lacey markings come with the kit? I have one of these in the loft but couldn’t be bothered to go and look! 😀 Mick Cheers Mick, Glad you like it mate. The kit does include the decals for Laceys Spit but they are based on a modern(ish) warbird which was painted in the wrong colours (DE/DG) and also with SEAC stripes,......all wrong. There is another SEAC scheme and some nice European theatre ones too,.....I almost opted for a 2nd TAF one in late war markings using spares box decals and I wish that I`d bought another,..haha! All the best Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted January 30, 2018 Author Share Posted January 30, 2018 3 hours ago, Buzby061 said: Lacey has been one of my heroes since I read "Ginger Lacey, Fighter Pilot" when I was at school - it was the 25th BoB anniversary edition so that's showing my age! Apparently 17 Sqn were to have the bubble top variant but Lacey told the supply chain to take them away & "Give me something that looks like a bloody Spitfire" Almost forgot, a great looking Spit. Pete Cheers Pete,.....yes Lacey did say that about the bubble top Spits,.....he swapped them with 11 Sqn who had some high back `real Spitfire`s' if I remember correctly!! He seems to have been quite a character,..... and as an ex NCO he was probably a bit of a stickler. Cheers Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenko Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 (edited) Really nice Tony.......Spitacular Think you might be on a roll, Cheers Dick Edited January 30, 2018 by jenko 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 My only complaint is I can't like your post three times The Spit looks good, as does the Walrus, but the Hurricane is the one I want to see more of 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macgregor Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Lovely, a thing of beauty! Mac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Great work again Tony. Good to see you in the larger scales... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 A beautiful and well researched Griffon engined, high back Spitfire – what more can one wish for? Check. And, a good story to go with it. Check. IMHO, the Griffon engined high backs are the best looking Spits (the Mk XIX in particular, of course). Superb work, Tony! Kind regards, Joachim P S I assume there's a control column locking bar in the cockpit, since the elevators don't droop, eh? ;-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 That's beautiful Tony! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 She's a beauty Tony Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitz23 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 What a beaut! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 I've just remembered Lacey's comment when his squadron was given P-47s on arrival in the Far East - "The only way you could take evasive action in one was to undo the straps & run around the cockpit!" A legend. Pete 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 11 hours ago, Buzby061 said: I've just remembered Lacey's comment when his squadron was given P-47s on arrival in the Far East - "The only way you could take evasive action in one was to undo the straps & run around the cockpit!" A legend. Pete Heard that one before,....but didn`t realise that it was Lacey!! He was only a little bloke too, must have felt lost in a Thunderbolt! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Hi Tony Whata great character Ginger Lacey sounds and what a cracking aim too to finish that aircraft off in just 9 rounds at speed. Love the background and great model as usual. Looks fab. I have the AAmodels conversion for the Revell MKIX to build a 32nd scale MkXIV to do one day. The shagbat and hurry are looking good too. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 That is flipping nice Tony, very much so indeed. I've decals for this aircraft in 1/72, somehow, I don't think it'll have the same impact as yours though. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 How have I missed this?? Can someone just shrink me down to 1/32 scale and teleport me into Tony's modelling cabinet! That thing's so good I reckon I could start her up and taxi it around a bit, might even manage a wee jump into orbit with a bit of luck. Once again - this is modelling at it's very best. Cheers.. Dave. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Superb Tony, I'd say you've nailed that 'well kept but lightly weathered look on it'. I can never tire of looking at Spitfires! Cheers John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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