maltadefender

My Bucc will be XW533 - 'A' – of 208 Sqn. Based at Muharraq (otherwise known as Bahrain International Airport) during the Gulf War, which saw considerable action during February 1991. The overwhelming majority of Buccaneers in the Gulf wore ‘nose art’ and XW533 was one of these, carrying the names 'Miss Jolly Roger/Fiona/Glenfaclas'. I’ll be using the Airfix 1/72 kit: And the Model Alliance decals: Choosing which Bucc to build was a relatively straightforward process. My enthusiasm for the Buccaneer comes from its wartime performance during Operation Granby, when this fine-looking old jet was the only thing capable of laser designating targets for the Tornado bombers that had been forced up to higher operating altitudes in the face of considerable losses. In addition I lived in Bahrain – which became a constitutional monarchy in 1999 and is now known as the Kingdom of Bahrain – from the end of 2005 to the middle of last year. As a result I’ve flown in and out of Bahrain International Airport more times than I care to remember, and can scarcely believe it was capable of any military role. These days the airport – which is more like an overgrown flying club! – is best-known for being able to squeeze you on a flight at hardly any notice at all (arriving at check-in 23 minutes before take-off for Heathrow is my record, although it has been bettered). Bahrain is not a very war-like nation at all. In fact, after Kuwait was invaded, the running joke among the locals was that ‘Saddam took Kuwait in a day... that means he’ll take Saudi in an hour and Bahrain by fax.’ I can hardly credit what the local population would have made of the racy ladies who were daubed onto the Buccaneers and other British aircraft. For the most part one assumes that they never saw them, as it’s rare indeed that any aircraft overflies the mainland either on the way in or out of Muharraq, which is actually an island in itself. Yet among for those locals that did see them either sneaking admiration or outrage would be the most likely reactions! Personally I love nose art, although the absence of it during the invasion of Iraq suggests that perhaps a little more regional sensitivity was being shown. It was probably the last hurrah of an art form that has brought cheer to airmen in war for decades, and as such I’m happy to add Miss Jolly Roger to my collection. With British bombers struggling for accuracy over Iraq, a call was sent back to RAF Lossiemouth on 23rd January 1991 to find out how soon Buccaneers could be made available. The answer was three days – although that would entail pulling aircraft back to Lossie, retrofitting such essentials as Mk.XII Mode 4 IFF, Have Quick II secure radios and AN/ALE-40 'Chaff/Flare' Dispensers. At 04:00 on Saturday 26th January 1991 the first of the 'Sky Pirates', Buccaneer S.Mk.2B's flew a nine-hour non-stop flight from Lossie to Bahrain. Wing Commander Bill Cope (the Buccaneer detachment commander) was called before the waiting TV and radio reporters on and asked why these curious-looking old girls were now arriving in the Gulf – to which he replied: "My old grandmother is getting on a bit, but you wouldn't want to mess with her!" XW533 arrived the following day, 27th January, and flew her first mission on 5th February. In total she flew 11 successful sorties, one unsuccessful and two scrubbed missions before returning to Lossiemouth on 17th March. In total she accounted for putting three bridges, six airfields, one hardened aircraft shelter and one ammunition dump out of action. As with all Buccaneers, XW533 was hastily repainted in the ARTF (Alkali Removeable Temporary Finish) "Titty" Pink paint scheme. I’m planning to build her in-flight with empty wing racks as though returning from the hunt. A little artistic licence is required because the sorties were flown at 28,000 feet, diving to 20,000 feet in a 40-degree dive to release her load. The Bucc wasn’t altogether happy at these altitudes and much preferred being at 100 feet or less, so I’ve decided to build her ‘beating up’ a patch of desert. Waffle over with, build will follow soon.

Flight Lt. E.J. 'Jumbo' Gracie, Hawker Hurricane Mk.I R2689 56 Squadron, North Weald August 1940 * Kit manufacturer:Airfix * Scale: 1/48 * Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk.I (Rotol prop) * Extras used: Scratch built stand, AeroMaster decals * Paints and colours used: Xtracolour Dark Green/Dark Earth/Sky. Tamiya Flat Aluminium, Smoke, Flesh, Field Blue. Revell Matt Black, Matt White, Yellow, Leather, Brick Red, canvas. Molak Sea Blue (spinner). All brush-painted, varnished with rattlecan. Photographed in my back garden! Hurricane Build Thread

I'm calling 'Jumbo' done... albeit now sitting all alone on his plinth! I scrapped the Messerschmitt. That ratty canopy finally did for the little German - it needed so much shaving, sanding and straightening that by the time I got it to fit the aperture in the fuselage it was crazed and misted-over to the point you could barely see through it. Revell - must try harder I'm afraid. That said, on to the good bit... I think that this is the nicest model I've ever made. The proportions are right to my eye and it's really satisfying. If I was building it again I'd probably paint after assembly and give myself the chance to rectify the gaping chasm on the upper wing/fuselage join, and while I'm pleased with my first-ever radio wires I wouldn't have put them on before the lacquering if I'd known about the ensuing fuzziness. Lesson learned. I'm also rather pleased with how the painting came out - my best hand-painted camouflage and weathering by far. Thanks to everyone who's had a squizz at the thread, I hope it's all been worthwhile!!

Absolutely glorious, Rowan!

The pilot's now about as good as I can get him. A bit doll-like but he'll do for me I think... As for the 610 Squadron research, it appears that when the Blenheims were being hacked out of the sky over Sedan and the Meuse when the Germans made their lightning strike into France, Belgium and Holland, one of the few to make it back to Britain became 610's first 'kill' on May 15 1940 when they mistook it for a Ju88... fortunately the crew survived. Meanwhile Tom Neil, who was born in Bootle, remembered his failed attempt to join 610's sister squadron, 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron: "I tried to join 611 Auxiliary Squadron, the West Lancashire Squadron, while I was living in Manchester, about 35 miles away from their airfield. I went for my interview and they were frightfully toffee-nosed. They turned me down because I lived too far away and didn't have a car."

Stuck a few more pics up on 'Ready for Inspection' - she flies at last!

I'm glad it's done, still needs a bit of work on the decals but I've a few more pressing things to sort out first. She is, however, complete and flying over Falalop Island...

Well we're up to 22 so far... looking good! I love the idea of ships being brought into the mix - even old Warspite would qualify, but U class subs are a definite, as is the Airfix Air Sea Rescue boat. Perhaps military vehicles too? Austin Tillies and trucks in their 'stone wall' camouflage plus ack-ack guns aplenty. If we're looking at 2012 there are some key 70th anniversary dates to include in the process of finding a date for the GB, most of which fall in the first half of the year. I'll come back on Mon or Tues with suggestions. Meanwhile our prospective builders are: Maltadefender MadNurseGaz Nick Belbin Jazzy Jase Philip Mish Deon Enzo Matrix wyverns4 robw_uk English Electric H Deacon Rusty Erwin CliffB Madam I’m Adam Doug Rogers Paul R Shar2 markmarples Mentalguru

I think that would be brilliant - U class were massively important.

We're limping to the line, long after the supporters have gone, like two back ends of a pantomime horse still limping round the Serpentine a week after the London Marathon finished. Well, my modelling skills are limping, but I'm afraid John Wayne here doesn't have that luxury... Thanks to Enzo Matrix the final piece of the puzzle is in place, I just need to decal, finish and mount her up on her Philippine plinth...

Yes in theory, that's absolutely right to meet force with force but in practice it is another matter. The losses inflicted on the Luftwaffe during the summer of 1940 were, in the overwhelming majority, inflicted by 11 Group - which was operating at a Squadron level with the twin advantages of flexibility and situational awareness. The Big Wing fought for itself, or rather for the rationale of the men who came up with the concept. By the time the Big Wings were assembled the raids had, with very few exceptions, been and gorn and hopped it. Unfortunately for Dowding, Park and the immediate future of Fighter Command those exceptions were poigniant and became spectacular when presented well. There is, for example, a compelling argument to say that had Bomber Command elected to throw its resources at pinpoint raids by Mosquitoes rather than the attritional raids by its 'heavies', greater damage could have been caused to the Reich's industry and, as a result, to its morale than was ever brought about by the wholesale attacks upon German cities... and this damage would have been brought about faster and for far less cost. Similarly one need only look at the raison d'etre of the SAS, the Taliban or the Viet Cong to see the value of situational awareness, flexibility and local knowledge. Going back to Fighter Command, however, I do throw in Sholto Douglas and I think that those three men behaved disgracefully in the winter of 1940-41 for their own personal satisfaction. As a result of their actions not only were the achievements of 11 Group in the summer of 1940 denigrated but also they played havoc with the supply of adequate materiel overseas when the war had long-since left Britain. The 109 was an excellent fighter in all respects and was born of a technological understanding far in advance of either the Hurricane or Spitfire. Being bettered slightly in the turn can only be measured against the advantages of altitude, tactics and all-round manouevrability that 109 pilots enjoyed and it is testament to Mitchell and Camm that 'gut feel' gave weapons of such quality to men of such quality in defence of Britain, Malta, Egypt, Australia and Burma.

I think Overy's problem is that there are so many people raking over these old coals that there has to be an 'angle' to it. There are great works out there and, as importantly, there are the facts and recollections of the people who were there. We know that the 'Big Wing' wasn't working on offensive flights in 1941, it was too cumbersome. As a defensive measure it was useless and purely driven by Douglas Bader's colossal ego and Trafford Leigh-Mallory's careerist attitude. Both the principal fighters could out-turn the 109, and that's to do with the wing and other elements of the design.

Looking at 66 Squadron losses in the same period to the end of August, they're far fewer... perhaps some Spits got seconded: 10/7/40 (Coltishall): Pilot Officer C.A. Cooke unhurt, airframe N3042 damaged by return fire from Do17 11/7/40 (Coltishall): Sqn Ldr R.H.A. Leigh unhurt, airframe R3182 damaged by return fire from Do17 24/7/40 (Coltishall): Sgt A.D. Smith unhurt, airframe N3041 lost at sea 29/7/40 (Coltishall): Pilot Officer L.W. Collingbridge injured baling out, airframe N3042 lost at sea damaged by return fire from He-111 19/8/40 (Coltishall): Pilot Officer J.A.P. Studd died of exposure in Channel, airframe N3182 lost at sea 24/8/40 (Coltishall): Pilot Officer R.W. Oxspring OK, airframe X4052 force-landed, repairable 30/8/40 (Coltishall): Pilot Officer J.H.T. Pichering OK, airframe R6715 lost at sea

I'm getting quite into this one... it's a family thing after all. As it turns out there's to be a 610 Squadron meeting next month, so I think I'm going to try and get there. Meanwhile the initial delivery of Spitfires seemed to last 610 Squadron pretty well from September 1939 to May 1940 and they were: L1000, L1001, L1003, L1006, L1008, L1009, L1011, L1013, L1014, L1015, L1016, L1017, L1043, L1044, L1062, L1074, L1075, L1076 I'm still searching for the identity of N3029 and how she came to be a 610 aircraft in between stints with 66 Squadron, and in the meantime I've been looking up 610's losses in the Battle... which are many: 11/7/40 (Biggin Hill): Sqn Ldr A.T. Smith unhurt, crash-landing after convoy patrol, airframe DW-D (L1000) repairable 12/7/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt S. Ireland killed, crashed after losing control in dogfight, airframe DW-Q (P9502) write-off 13/7/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt P.I. Watson-Parker killed after crash on patrol, airframe (R6807) write-off 18/7/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer P.L. Litchfield missing over Calais, airframe DW-T (P9452) lost 20/7/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer G.K. Keighley baled out wounded over Lydden, airframe DW-S (N3201) write-off 25/7/40 (Hawkinge): Sqn Ldr A.T. Smith killed attempting crash-landing, airframe DW-A (R6693) write-off 25/7/40 (Hawkinge): Pilot Officer F.T. Gardner wounded, airframe DW-O (R6955) repairable 29/7/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer S.C. Norris unhurt, airframe DW-O (R6955) burst tyre/ground-loop on landing, repairable 8/8/40 (Hawkinge): pilot not recorded but unhurt, airframe DW-T (R6765) damaged in combat but repairable 8/8/40 (Hawkinge): pilot not recorded but unhurt, airframe (L1045) damaged in combat but repairable 11/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt J.H. Tanner shot down into sea over Calais, airframe DW-D (R6918) lost 11/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt W.J. Neville shot down into sea over Calais, airframe DW-X (R6630) lost 12/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer E.B.B. Smith baled out with burns over Romney, airframe DW-H crashed in flames write-off 12/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Flying Officer F.T. Gardner wounded, airframe DW-N (R6806) damaged port wing and crash landing repairable 12/8/40 (Biggin Hill): pilot OK, airframe (R6621) repairable combat damage 12/8/40 (Biggin Hill): pilot OK, airframe DW-K (P9495) write-off after landing due to combat damage 14/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt. B.E.D. Gardner wounded, airframe DW-M (K9947) damaged by 109s repairable 14/8/40 (Biggin Hill): pilot not recorded but unhurt, airframe DW-B (L1009) damaged by 109s repairable 16/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Flt Lt W.H.C. Warner lost at sea, airframe DW-Z (R6802) lost 16/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer D. McI. Gray unhurt, airframe DW-D damaged by 109s but repairable 18/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer C.O.J. Pedge unhurt, airframe DW-F (R6694) damaged by 109s and hit bomb crater on landing, repairable 18/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Flt Lt J. Ellis unhurt, airframe DW-W (R6993), hit by return fire from He-111 but repairable 22/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt D.F. Coffe unhurt, airframe DW-P (R6695) landed on fire and burnt out write-off 24/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt A.J. Arnfield broke ankle after baling out, airframe DW-S (R6686) crashed in flames write off 24/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer DE.S. Aldous unhurt, airframe DW-X (R6641) repairable combat damage from 109s 24/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer D. McI. Gray wounded, airframe DW-K (X4021) write-off after crash-landing 24/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer C. Merrick wounded, airframe DW-D write-off after crash-landing 25/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer F.T. Gardner baled out wounded, airframe DW-P (K9931) write-off 26/8/40 (Hawkinge): Pilot Officer F.K. Webster killed attempting to land burning aircraft, airframe DW-O (R6595) write-off 26/8/40 (Hawkinge): pilot baled out unhurt, airframe (P9496) write-off 26/8/40 (Hawkinge): Sgt P.Else baled out unhurt, airframe DW-M (R6970) write-off 28/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer K. Cox killed, airframe (P9511) write-off 29/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Pilot Officer A.C. Barker unhurt, airframe DW-O write-off after dogfight with 109s and crash-landing at Gatwick 29/8/40 (Biggin Hill): Sgt E. Alanton killed, airframe DW-E (R6629) write-off after dogfight with 109s There's a list of airframes used in the Battle of Britain on the 610 Squadron Association website, which is: K9818, K9947, K9970, K9975, L1037, L1094 (destroyed in mid-air collision 18/10/40), N3029, N3124, N3128, N3201, P9311, P9433 (later transferred to 131 Squadron), P9447 (shot down 11/11/40), P9451 (crashed 11/12/40), P9452, P9498, P9486, R6599, R6630, R6695, R6802, R6806 (transferred to 72 Squadron), R6807, R6808, R6891, R6918, R6965, R6970, R6976, R6993, X4011, X4028, X4063, X4064, X4065, X4067 (lost at sea 8/1/43), X4102, X4166, X4239, X4649 (destroyed in mid-air collision 11/12/40) And on we go...

Forgot the '109': And the militaria...

Why the heck not? If it's on I'm in.

Here are some of my better shots from the day... You just can't trust the weather but we had a good time... went to see Sally B and the Lanc, came home happy from seeing lots of fighters!

Part 4: Colours and markings - Ahhh yes, as ever this is the contentious bit! I find it quite interesting that 610 Squadron and the Hurricanes of 32 Squadron operated in tandem around the triangle of Biggin Hill, Hawkinge and Gravesend early in the Battle, and both units were previously involved in covering the retreat from Dunkirk. Both units subsequently used ‘oversized’ roundels and code letters – and following the most recent research both units are now depicted as having undersides painted in something closer to ‘Sky Blue No.1’ than any of the other hues put forward in the 'Sky Type S' debate. My feeling is that, if the revised opinion on their colour schemes is correct, the June order to paint undersides ‘Sky’ was interpreted as Sky Blue No.1 either at Biggin or Gravesend (or both!) on 610 and 32 Squadrons, with every effort being made to make the national insignia and squadron codes as clear as possible. With this in mind – and my Dad’s recollection that ‘the colours seemed brighter’ on 610 Squadron aircraft – I’m going to build my Spit as N3029 with Dark Green/Dark Earth/Sky Blue No.1 colours. So, with the background work done, it’s time to get building...

Thanks Dave The 109 is a complete hound of a kit... rivets are all wrong, the fit and finish is appalling and it's just generally hopeless, but the outline's OK and the decals - while also a huge disappointment - have helped. This was the first time I've ever attempted to put wires on and I was feeling enormously chuffed with myself, then applied the matt coat and the cotton on the Hurricane went all 'furry'. I've dampened it down with Klear and matt black paint so it's better but still not as good as it was to start with - lesson learned. The wire for the 109 came courtesy of my wife's hairbrush and, being of such fine quality, survived the lacquering process quite happily!!

Hi Dean, Yes it does thank you so much

Hi all, I had the original issue of this one and it had a Vokes in there... does the reissue?

My kind of ugly!! That said, the mottling is such a completely mind-blowing proposition - and brilliantly done on yours. A day of your life well spent!

Thanks Mish! Weathering, wires, matt coats, lights... just need to be brave now and get those glasshouses done, then a bit of post-shading and we're there...

I've decided that the pilot should be in a pre-war white overall, a dashing young buck from Cheshire and pre-war 610 Squadron member. The first 1/32 Spit pilot in our family had a Graham Hill moustache but this time I'm aiming for the 'Flash' Gordon look:

I'm game to go halves with you on a sheet of 1/72 - or anything up to 1/13 of the cost of a sheet if there are a dozen people wanting to build pink ones!