Cloudman1961

Had Britain not declared war, would the western front ever have happened? And why were we silent after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, but decided to go to war over Poland? Answer - because Hitler made Chamberlain look like an idiot over the Munich crisis. Western Europe was in full appeasement mode. Had Japan invaded Eastern Soviet Union, we would probably have objected but little else. The same applies to further German expansion eastwards. The US was fully isolationist and didn’t start supporting the Western Allies with things like lend lease until late 1940/1941. They entered the War in the Pacific in response to Pearl Harbour, and the War in Europe because Hitler declared war on the US. It’s highly unlikely that the Allied countries would have done anything to support the Soviet Union had it been attacked by Germany from the west and japan from the east other than express concern. (In my humble opinion, of course.)

The tension in the world started in the early 30s - and people think it started with Hitler in 1939. Some suggest that the reality was that the World War started in when the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1933 (I think) and then the Spanish Civil War. Its certainly true that the war accelerated the development of aircraft and military vehicles. Consider 16 major spitfire variants and the evolution of the hurricane through to the Tempest. In 1939 the German panzers were primarily mk3s and some 4s, 6 years later they were building prototype monsters like the Maus.

RAF was established in 1918 wasn’t it?? So I think yes it would. But the whole issue of why Bomber Command was the only British WW2 unit that wasn’T recognised after the war wouldn’t have happened.

Think of the films we’d never have had! Great Escape, Dambusters, Where Eagles Dare... Casablanca!

I don’t think it has... A German friend of mine suggests WW2 should have Britain and Germany against France.

Thanks John, very kind of you!

I’ve been following the WIP thread. Lovely job on the finished item!

Nice job. Lovely looking aircraft.

Hi Everyone, This weeks update on progress on my Airfix 1/24 scale Spitfire Mk1. The intention is to display the model being maintained, but I want to share some photos in 'complete' condition before I start removing the engine covers and access panels. There's a few little things to complete - for example I don't want to fix the antenna mast and cable until I've stopped messing about with the underside (which is why it looks a bit odd in the photos!). Hope you like it...

Excellent job

You’ve done a great job. The Tempest was a great aircraft and you’ve done justice to it.

Still need to add flaps and a coat of matt clear.

Gone a bit mad with weathering the underside... Hmm... Too much??

Suddenly I'm moving forward a bit more quickly with painting. Underside... Camouflage, using Mr Hobby acrylics and Pmask type A camouflage mask... Roundels and squadron markings using Montex masks

Finished Underwing Roundel