maltadefender

Thanks, Steve. Cockpit Green is in on the Spit and I've started painting both pilot figures. I reckon that in October-November, Dundas would have dug out his old Sidcot suit from his time in Hawker Hinds. Blooming cold at ground level at that time of year, let alone at 25-30,000 feet.

On the topic of John Dundas… well, he was quite a boy! John Charles Dundas was born in 1915, the grandson of Scottish Liberal politician John Dundas and the great grandson of the 1st Earl of Zetland. At the age of 12, John won a scholarship to Stowe school and went up to Oxford at the age of 17. He graduated with a First in Modern History before going on to study at the Sorbonne and the University of Heidelberg. After his academic life was over, Dundas became a journalist for the Yorkshire Post. One of his peers remembered Dundas for his scraggy appearance - in particular his frayed trousers, ink-stained hands and his habit of spilling beer over himself when drinking. It was also noted that he was popular with the newspaper's female staff. In July 1938, at the age of 23, Dundas was commissioned as a Pilot Officer with 609 Sqn RAuxAF - the West Riding Squadron, which had been established by his godfather at RAF Yeadon (today's Leeds Bradford Airport). At that time, the squadron was manned by part–time civilians and was equipped with Hawker Hind light bombers. Dundas embodied the Auxiliary movement - a well-heeled and well-connected young man, whose day job as a journalist saw him accompany Neville Chamberlain during the Munich Crisis and conduct a face-to-face interview with Benito Mussolini in Rome. Hard to imagine a local 'paper sending its staffers on such junkets today! In August 1939, 609 Squadron was re-equipped with Spitfires. In May 1940, 609 left Yorkshire and arrived at RAF North Weald to help defend the Dunkirk evacuation. As was the case among the 610 Squadron pilots I detailed in my 70th anniversary GB builds, casualties were high - a third of 609 Squadron's original members becoming casualties during Operation Dynamo. In July 1940, 609 Squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop to defend the south coast of England. There was also an advanced flight based at RAF Warmwell. On 21 October 1940 the squadron became the first to achieve 100 confirmed enemy aircraft kills. Boasting 9 'aces', pilots F/L Frank Howell (8 confirmed kills),P/O David Moore Crook (6 confirmed kills), P/O John Curchin and John Dundas, who had 9 confirmed kills and held the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Of interest is that two Spitfires that flew with 609 Squadron during this period, X4590 and R6915 are now preserved at the RAF Museum, Hendon and Imperial War Museum, London respectively. The latter aircraft is one that Dundas flew and scored kills in - he was also wounded in the leg while flying R6915 on October 7 1940. The Squadron Diary records: "Fg Off Dundas R6915 was hit by an explosive shell and received numerous small pieces in his leg. Landed safely at Warmwell and walked casually to Sick Quarters." Meanwhile on the other side of the Solent, there stood Helmut Wick... Helmut Paul Emil Wick was born on 5 August 1915 in Mannheim, the youngest of three children of a civil engineer and his wife. Owing to the demand for his father's skills and expertise building roads and bridges, Helmut spent most of his childhood traveling throughout the German Reich during the Kaiser's reign and onward into the post-war years before settling in Berlin in 1935. Upon graduating from high school in 1935, Wick applied to the officer candidate course of the new Luftwaffe. Scoring well on the suitability tests, he was accepted into the German military on 6 April 1936 at the officer candidate school in Dresden. After completing compulsory Reich Labour Service, Wick swore the oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler on 16 April and was assessed as "well suited to become an officer" on 13 July. On 1 January 1939, Leutnant Helmut Wick was transferred to 1. Staffel of JG133, which was later renamed JG 53, where he first flew the Messerschmitt Bf109 under the tutelage of Werner Mildews. Under Mölders' guidance, Wick became a Schwarmführer (flight leader). On 31 August 1939 Wick was given orders to transfer to "Jagdgeschwader Richthofen Nr. I". At the time there was no such unit; JG1 certainly existed but the "Richthofen" name had been incorrectly put on Wick's order - and this meant JG2, at that time the 'Top Guns' of the Luftwaffe. Only Wick noticed the clerical error, and his query meant that he could now choose between JG1 and JG2. Wick went to JG2 - the "Richthofen Geschwader". After a halting start to his wartime career, stymied by engine failures and a lack of parts, by Wick had 10 flourished in the Battle of France, ending the campaign with 14 confirmed and two unconfirmed victories over Fairey Swordfish bombers on 19 May. Wick rose quickly in rank and in profile, both in the battle zone and as a public figure back in Germany. During the early days of the Battle of Britain his successes reached 20 confirmed kills, being promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant and becoming the leader of 3.JG2 on 21 July 1940. On 20 October 1940, Wick was granted command of JG 2 "Richthofen" by the personal decree of Hermann Göring. At 25 years of age, he thus became the youngest Major and Geschwaderkommodore in the Luftwaffe. By 28 November 1940, Wick stood as the most successful fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. His score stood at 55 - one more than Mölders - after shooting down the Spitfire of Archie Lyall from 602 Squadron in the early afternoon. Upon his return to JG2's base in Cherbourg, Wick ordered the aircraft refuelled and re-armed. He took off once more, with Erich Leie as his wingman, at 4:10 p.m., heading for the Isle of Wight. Spotting a flight of Spitfires, Wick climbed hard before intercepting from the most favourable attack position. In a diving attack, Wick shot down and killed Pilot Officer Paul A. Baillon of 609 Squadron, flying Spitfire R6631. However, the attack on Baillon was not without cost. Polish pilot Zygmunt Klein, flying a Spitfire from 234 Squadron, claimed hits on Wick's Messerschmitt, as did Pilot Officer Eric Marrs. The attack disintegrated into a melée, during which another GJ2 pilot, Rudolf Pflanz, saw a Spitfire shoot down a Bf 109, whose pilot bailed out. Pflanz then shot down the Spitfire, which he observed to crash in the sea with its pilot still inside. That Spitfire was X4586, flown by John Dundas. Whether or not Wick's aircraft had been hit by either Klein or Marrs, Dundas was the man who finished the job and was heard to shout: "I've finished a 109—Whoopee!" It was to be his last transmission. While celebrating his 12th 'kill', Dundas was himself caught by Pflanz, who fired into the Spitfire and saw it crash with its pilot inside. Only later did Pflanz find out that it was Wick whom he saw bailing out. Upon Göring's personal order, the Kriegsmarine was dispatched to rescue the stricken pilot but no trace of him was ever found. Helmut Wick and John Dundas both fell into the waters around the isle of Wight; both being victims of the sustained, exhausting fury of the Battle of Britain.

Hi all, Is it really five years since we last did this? Wow! Hopefully there will be time and energy for at least a couple of builds, but this one was my birthday present back in February that was bought by my wife specifically for this GB. We live quite near the southernmost areas of the Battle, and the Solent is quite a key part of family life, so when Airfix came out with its recent Dogfight Double of the new tool Spit Mk.Ia and Bf109e in the markings of the ill-fated combatants John Dundas and Helmut Wick, it seemed like the right thing to get it. Of course the fatal encounter between the two took place after the end of the Battle, but both aircraft depicted saw service throughout so I hope I'm safe on that front! Here is the box and sprues: The one thing I will be adding is Propblur propeller blades - the rest will be my attempt at making them to an acceptable standard!

Reports in the local press suggest that Sir Sydney Camm's former home could face the bulldozer tomorrow - even though the property developers have been denied permission. Nothing was wrong with the property, they just want to wedge four rabbit hutch 'starter homes' onto the plot. There's a link here - I think it's disgraceful.

Very disheartening day. I can't get the top wing on. Dry fitted and fettled the V-struts to within an inch of their lives. Tested with the central (inverse) V-strut and all good. Glued the central strut in place to act as an anchor, let it dry and then glued the main struts. Only now the centra strut doesn't reach the wing and everything flops around. Three attempts, each time the same result. Horror show. I've taken it all apart and will have another bash tomorrow but I think it may be terminal. Haven't been beaten by a kit since I was 12 but this one has got me scratching my head. And if that weren't enough one of the horns on the elevator simply refuses to stay in place. Perhaps this little kit is trying to tell me something - like stick to monoplanes and 1/28!

Thanks, Wez. This one is going nicely, as Eduards generally do, but it's the warm-up act for the trio of Special Hobby Spad S.VIIs that I have in the stash. If this one goes OK then there will certainly be at least one Spad too. No real progress today - I've been mincing around this evening touching up paint and detailing exhausts and generally avoiding the whole rigging/alignment part of the equation!

Speaking of the Numan connection, I built the Monogram 1/48 as Gary's mount last year - then took it to a concert for him to sign! The first thing he said was: "It's lovely but you need a dummy gun on the port wing like I had!" His brother, former saxophonist in the Numan camp, enjoyed a long career as a commercial pilot and is an instructor for EasyJet staff these days. The build isn't up to the highest standards of the Forum but I'm very happy with it.

Progress report - the cockpit is done, fuselage closed up and bottom wing fitted. Since this pic I have tidied up the paint and filled in the cockpit surround and the lacing on the forward fuselage. Rigging holes drilled in the wings, tail and fuselage. On to the rest of the kit: woodwork painted and sealed with clear red. Roundels applied to the upper wing lower surface. The engine is gunmetal with dry brushed highlights. Overall I'm thoroughly enjoying this build. It's a little dot of a thing even in this scale.

First paint has gone on prior to building… it's a quirk, OK? It's how I was taught! Used Tamiya Flat Aluminium on the canvas sections and Tamiya Chrome Silver on the plywood parts. Barely a difference between them but that was what I was hoping for - just a hint of difference. I decided to paint the cockpit floor black, as the Nieuport 17 didn't have a cockpit floor, so picking out the actual structure in silver means that, on the off chance anyone looks in the cockpit and notices what's in there, it will be a reasonable match.

I like it - I'm a brush painter but I think the trick will still work!

Thanks Antoine

Well then, let's see how this goes! My first Eduard 1/48 WW1 model, following on from many 1/72s over the years and a handful of 1/28 Revells. Kit box and sprue shots: There are two versions in the box - N1531, Guynemer's fourth fighter, painted in plain aluminium dope with "Vieux Charles" written on black pennants hanging off the interplant struts. The second version, N1530, was the fifth aircraft and lacks Guynemer's iconic name for his aircraft anywhere in the livery, but has a green/brown camouflage on the upper surfaces of the wings. At this stage I am leaning towards N1531 because I feel that Guynemer's aircraft should have "Vieux Charles" on them somewhere. However my concerns at this stage are: 1) how to paint the tricolore on the aerodynamic nose cone. Looks like a trip to masking hell! 2) how to make the pennant look like a pennant However, while I try to figure these things out, I will get on with the basics. Rigging will be drill 'n' fill. I looked at using buckles but this is such a tiny model that it would be gilding the lily.

Been travelling a bit for work but the Easter weekend means I should get my old girls underway soon. Huzzah!

Well I'm definitely in with the Eduard Nieuport 17 to start with… my first 1/48 WWI kit, so I thought I'd go easy on the rigging requirement. Quite how to mask the tricolore spinner is another matter! If it goes well and I'm on time then one of the fleet of Special Hobby Spad S.VIIs I've got in the stash will follow on. Looking forward to dusting off the hairy stick collection!

Brilliant, thanks Troy and Edgar. Looks like I'm going on roundel hunt come what may!

I'm planning to build John Dundas's Mk.Ia X4586 as it was during the battle with Helmut Wick. All depictions that I've seen are for plain Sky undersides without roundels - but on 28 November 1940 would it not have had a black port wing and roundels?

If you want a nice walk you can go up to Ventnor radar station and look out over the sea. You can imagine being the chap on the bicycle in the movie Battle of Britain when the Stukas turn up. There's also a WW1 flying boat station near the beach at Bembridge that makes for another nice walk.

Five-and-a-bit years later... I know it's a long way from perfect but I'm learning and the end is in sight!

Ooh, yes please! I'm pretty sure to still have some Italian aircraft around then.

If it is CDL and the decoration is yellow, then it's at the off-white end of the spectrum. Not too lemony! This pic of Culley's Camel is about the right shade - and also makes me question if the top of the fuselage is white or it's simply reflecting the natural light. Not sure who does a good 'Sail Colour' acrylic - I usually stick to Humbrol CDL. I'm still kind of hoping to get away with pale blue - rather more fetching!

That's fine - think I've got my options sorted now!

My birthday present this year will be the recent Airfix Dogfight Double set of Helmut Wick (Bf109E new tool) vs. John Dundas (Spit Mk.Ia new tool) - specifically to enter this GB. Also I've got the old tooling Hurricane with 'Nick' Nicholson markings lying in wait. Looking forward to this one - although it only seems like yesterday we were doing the 70th Anniversary build! Is this GB excluding Bomber Command, then? I had rather fancied doing a new tool Blenheim 'barge buster'!

Thanks Chris - it's nice to be around again! I've got a pair of Eduard Camels for when I get up to speed on rigging - going potty in 1/28 so watch this space. Great to see you, catch up soon.

Thanks Beardie, The decals I've got for it have the moon and stars in yellow, outlined in black… a reasonable assumption. Full-on yellow often comes out dark in these pics. The large star up by the cockade is accented with red - again, a fair assumption I think. In some prints the upper surface comes out less sharply defined - it could be the same colour as the sides of the fuselage. Using the photo above I'd definitely go with white. I think I'll go with a pale blue for the sides, try and dig out as many versions of the photo as I can and take a view on the top surface. Yes it will be a challenge, but as I've got the Ruston 1000th Camel on my 'to do' list, it'll be a cakewalk next to that!

Hi everyone, Looking at doing this one in the next little while. I've seen several sources going for blue as the fuselage colour but keep coming back to CDL myself. There is a good quality print of it in 'King of Air Combat' but no mention of potential colours. If anyone has any ideas I'd be grateful.