I'm in on this one with a Fiat CR.42, my 1st biplane!

Late in the Battle Italy decided they wanted it and sent a load of planes to Belgium, they didn't have much success. They arrived at the end of september, took a month to get settled, did a few night time bombing runs which weren't very effective.

Found this online....

On 29 October (the last day within the official limit of the Battle of Britain) saw a change in strategy - a daylight raid with a large fighter escort on Ramsgate Harbour. Fifteen bombers from 43o Stormo with Maggiore M. Tenti as leader with an escort of 39 Fiat CR.42s and 34 Fiat G.50bis plus a gruppe of Bf109E and Fs were briefed and took off. Three of the bombers were forced to abort due to engine troubles and two of them returned prematurely to Chièvres while the third was forced to land at Ostend-Stene.

The attack was performed at a relatively low level as if performing the Italian equivalent of the Hendon airshow, in formation wingtip to wingtip. All of the Italian aircraft had gaily painted pale green and bright blue camouflage for a more exotic climate than Britain in late October, and made them stand out like peacocks among the ‘eagles’.

The anti-aircraft gunners were as puzzled as everyone else by this strange sight in the sky, and it was a few minutes before they opened fire. The Italian armada then turned right in one formation, content to have over-flown enemy soil in order to provide the Milan newspapers with appropriate propaganda and departed over Ramsgate - upon which 75 bombs were scattered at 17.45. During the attack five of the bombers were damaged and some of the aircrew injured. This would appear to have been as a result of AA fire.

One aircraft of 243a Squadriglia (243-3) is so badly damaged that it need to force-land as soon as it reached Belgium. While approaching, the machine-gunner 1o Avieri Giuseppe Monti panicked and tried to parachute but the aircraft was unfortunately at too low an altitude and he was killed near Courtrai when he hit the ground before his parachute deployed. The aircraft made a perfect belly landing close to the mill at Kuurne with the four remaining crew-members, Maggiore Corrado Ferretti (commander of 241a Squadriglia), Capitano Romualdo Montobbio (pilot), Maresciallo L. Bussi and 1o Avieri P. Autrello, slightly injured.

The rest of the aircraft all returned safely to Chièvres.

I'd love to know what the Luftwaffe top brass thought of their attempts

The kit looks nice, with painted PE bits and a fairly complex camo scheme, I'm looking forward to giving it a go (not the rigging though!!)

Pic from the box....

Sounds good Keith, is the aircraft you're building one that took part in the raid?

I don't know if it took part in the raid mentioned above Mish, but the BoB option in the kit was a bird that was involved in another daylight raid on Harwich, over the channel it had engine trouble and made a forced landing on a beach in Suffolk. The pilot P.Sgt Pietro Salvadori was captured and was very proud of his landing. When interrogated by the British, Salvadori commented that he was happy to be out of the war, was dissatisfied with the Italian officers, didn’t like Belgian weather, the Germans, or their food!

Very nice to see an Italian in the GB.




Serves him right ! We didn't invite him.

That's no problem then Keith.

This bird is in the museum at Hendon, it was moved around a bit for 20 years and was eventually restored in the 60's, it looks like the students involved only had B&W pics to go by when painting it so the camo pattern they painted was wrong. No interweb in those days, we don't know how lucky we are!

Good luck with this build Keith, certainly not the first aircraft that springs to mind with the BoB!



Good point Erwin, well made!

Well the Whif GB kind of took all my time for the last few months. I don't think I'd have time to do the CR.42 justice in the time left for this GB. So I'm changing my build to a shake & bake Tamiya kit.

It's a 109E from II./JG54 based in France, Autumn 1940. I haven't been able to find much info on this, but I figure a 109E in France in 1940 would have taken part in the battle!

Kit....



Scheme....



It'll be OOB with etched belts.

Sorry you couldn't get the CR.42 finished in time, I was looking foward to it being built.

Still look at the bright side, less rigging on a 109!

Deacon

To be honest Deacon, that CR.42 kit looks a bit daunting! Got the cockpit painted, added a milliput seat cushion and Lion Roar etched belts.

says Mein Gott!

Nice work Keith

Cheers guys, I'm still plugging away at this one. I've been given the all clear from SWMBO to proceed with this build unhindered (no cutting grass, trimming hedges, walking dogs, washing cars, no nagging basically!) so I should have it finished before the deadline. No pics, but the fuselage halves are together, wings and tailplanes are on and everything is primed ready for paint. Just about to pre-shade.

Got it pre-shaded, the prop and spinner is painted.

Got some paint on....



Not sure about the green, I used Hu30 for RLM71, but I think it should be darker....

Repainted the RLM71 with Hu116, I tried out the wet salt weathering method Arkady72 linked on his F-18 thread to see what it'd come out like, I don't think I've quite cracked it yet!

Most of the decals are on too. While decaling it I discovered there were decals for the instrument panel, I painted it. Doh! Next up is a promodellers wash and some exhaust stains.

Thats looking great so far. I'm impressed. Rather than throw my E3 in the bin, I'll use yours as inspiration!

Just catching up, looking good Keith

Another build finished, got the aerial wires on this morning.



More pics in the gallery.

Very nice indeed!

Wonderful build Keith

Cracking build there Keith.

Well done sir.

Deacon

Great build Keith, love the last pic in the gallery on the grass.

Thanks folks! I'm hoping to improve the wet salt weathering technique on my next build, a 1/72 Tomcat.