Radpoe Spitfire

Hi Roberto, I appologise for "hijacking" your thread, but does anyone out there who has the Tamiya Kit No. 1 (P) RFU decals& photocopy of the decal instructions they don't want please? If you have, can please PM me I know this should go into wants but I can't afford the kit, but would use them for a future project. Many regards Rad. OH and all the best for Xmas & the New Year.

If it was on or around D-Day, it is possible that the Scammel wore 5 point white stars like American vehicles, which were a cognition mark for all allied vehicles in the theatre

By my own admission, while I have seen it on modern post-war aircraft when they've recieved a batch of new aircraft, in wartime any change would be sparodic. However in mitigation, I am in the proccess of a down-size house move- which is like trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. ( a litre into a 500 ml one for those who prefer metric ) To those who have done this I admire, to those for who it is yet to come- its murder trying to get that much loft insulation past her indoors.

H,mmm interesting questions. I'd have to do some serious digging for the first one, but for the second one, then going on the asumption that trend of sqns matching aircraft numbers to codes i.e. EE227/G was YQ-Y, so if it was EE225/G, its likely the codes were YQ-W. However looking back on what I've written, there's a fly in the ointment.......................I'd completely forgotten the sqn's transition from Spitfire to Meteor was gradual resulting in the Meteors filling slots left by Spitfires . To find out the correct code letter to serial number will have to be by elimination. So to my knowledge EE216/G was YQ-E, EE222/G -YQ-G, EE227 -YQ-Y so that's 3 for starters. There is a well known Photo of 616's Meteor I's & III's lined up at RAF Manston, which shows the side profiles of the aircraft. Hope that is of help. Regards Rad.

I don' see Fw 190's on the list!

Nice Idea Will, Although I haven't built many Falklands related kits, ( I've a couple on display at Aeroventure) it was the first real conflict close to heart for me personally, as a close friend serving in the RM at the time was down there. Slightly digressing, Doncaster Aeroventure may have something planned event wise, yet to be confirmed - but does have a dedicated display including Gazelle XX411, shot down in San Carlos, Seaking, Scout & a Centurion BARV among many other artifacts. Regards Rad.

Hi Vitor, All I can say is the Spitfire looks amazing!!! It's also nice to see your pride in your aviation heritage which is more than evident in the quality of the build, at first I thought 1/32 or 1/48, but......in 1/72 Its stunning!!! Well done & thank you for sharing. Regards Rad.

Talking of these Emhar Bedfords, other than the different bonnet, does anyone know if there are any other differences, as I've fancied converting one to a wartime GS truck. Regards Rad.

I'm sorry for the delays involved getting these phot'os done---------they have been taken, but I'm in the middle of moving house and to my annoyence my wife's packed the ScanDisk they're on . What is frustrating is I've paid attention to the manufacturer's marks on the castings, some inside the turret & rear engine detail. Please bear with me as I wanted to download them today as my home PC will be off air for a couple of weeks, but will in the meantime hunt for the disk & get them done asap. Regards Rad.

Hi Silver Fox, I agree its a brilliant read, made even more so as I know one or two vets mentioned.

Hi Howard, thank you very much for the offer of brigade markings & info, I will PM you my address as I would make good use of them. I don't have a specific SRY vehicle in mind, but they are my home town's armoured regiment, with many of its crews coming from Retford. However, I do have a soft spot for the Firefly as a Tank & have always fancied building one as an SRY vehicle since seeing photos of the regiment using them in a book " By tank into Normandy" written by veteran Stuart Hills. Incidentally, the first British (& Allied) tank to enter Gemany in 1945 was from the Sherwood Rangers reconnisance troop and the driver was from Retford, knew my Father-in-law, unfortunately, to my shame I forget the man's name at present. Many thanks again Rad.

Hi Steve, I got a reply & he gave late May 1940 as the time when 92 sqn changed its codes. Hope that's helpful. Regards rad.

Hi steve, Just posted the question, so will get back with an answer asap. regards Rad

I got my Hobbyboss Vb today & despite all the knocks I like it even more-so in the flesh, but no doubt once the most obvious error is sanded off the tailplanes, the proof is in the pudding & time will tell building wise.

I know there is a couple of 1/35 Sherman Firefly kits about, but do any of them depict a post D-day Sherwood Rangers vehicle? Failing that are there any after-market decals for the same regiment please? Many thanks Rad.

Hi Julien, Only saw your PM the other day, but yes I would like to submit my photo's as soon as time lets me & I get them downloaded off the disk. Although it is in reality a Grizzly I've taken plenty to whet a sherman fan's appetite..................hopefully

If the cockpit is anything to go by & with the high standard of restoration of the HeIII, then we are all in for a real treat when they've finished the Ju88.

Hi Stonar, while I understand the initial order to change fighter codes was on security grounds, I cannot vouch for when 92 changed to QJ, but believe both Sqn's carried QJ throughout the battle as 616 carried these codes from Oct 1939 & did not begin to use YQ until after the Battle of Britain,i.e. Sqn Ldr Len "Buck" Casson's Spitfire Mk II "Pomereo II" wore QJ-X in Late 1940 / early 1941 & his Mk Vb wore YQ-X when he was shot down on 9th Aug 1941. For some obscure reason the order to change codes was not passed on to 616 for quite some time. There are ways to tell the difference between the two Sqn's codes prior to & during the battle though. On early ( Mk1/1a) 616 sqn Spitfires both the codes & serial no's where painted in grey, but code sizes were not standard. As 616 was an auxilliary unit the original painter's regular employement was with a Doncaster coach building company. when tasked with the job, he had no specification to go on,so literally painted them to what he saw right. As a result you will find 616 codes on early Spitfires are slightly thinner, and shorter or taller than the standard size codes use by 92 Sqn. I am a member of another historical aviation forum, one member of which is a prominent BofB historian/authority, if you'd like I could post the question on there to see if I can clarify this for you. I hope this is helpful. Regards Rad.

I don't want to sound dozy, ( it is 5:45 am, I'm at work & can't accesss the LSP site on this PC) but the cockpit phot- is this one of the Ju88's currently being restored in Norway?

Hi Kev, I know you're doing one of Johnson's Mk IX's, but if you ever fancy one of his lesser know aircraft, there is his 616 sqn mount, Mk Vb YQ-U, aka "the Manchester Civil defender" of which ther is a well known photo.

O I've got to admit, every time I've read this, it brings a tear to my eye & a lump to my throat. Blue skies, Flt Lt Eggin, Blue skies Sir.

Hi Mark, sorry I can't help with the serial, but what scale are you using? I only ask as I've got the Revell 1/32 kit, but will be building it as a 100 Sqn Hawk. If you are interested, then you're welcome to have the spare decals I don't use. Regards Adrian.

GW, I say this from us all if I may.... you are welcome, the model is beautiful, poinient and couldn't have been timed better.

The model may sound pricey, but how many of these magazine kits ever get finished? Play your cards right & do a good job so if you do decide to sell it potentially pay a fair dividend.

Talk about doing a double-take!!!! That is one very realistic model, which due to the use of accessories and good photography makes it much more special. Working to standards like this really shows a master of his art at work. Well done that man, and thanks for sharing. Regards ,Rad. Ps with what happened with Red4, makes this thread more touching at the moment-a wonderful tribute to Flt Lt Eggin- someone who inspired & who we all should aspire to.