Search the Community
Showing results for tags '74 sq'.
-
Like many I’ve been looking forward to this GB since I spotted it. As a child the “David and Goliath” aspect of the battle raised it above comparable events straight into mythical status, helped of course by the classic 1969 film, along with many others. The battle is up there with Rorkes Drift, Arnhem and Thermopylae, but has the added bonus that it was in the air. What made it stand out from those listed was the fact that the battle was using new types of planes, tactics and technology in a unique scenario, and on a scale and intensity not seen until then. I had no clear idea of what I was going to build at first, I mainly dabble in 1/700 ships, and although Operation Medium was an anti invasion operation, a model of HMS Revenge wasn’t going to be right for this, the 80th anniversary Of the Battle of Britain ( if you haven’t read about Operation Medium, it was a classic RAF/RN op, involving a stealth battleship, go on, go and have a look....). I had a look round the merger stash, a couple of Hellcats, a Barracuda and a few Seafires definitely didn’t fit the bill, so I had an excuse to buy a new kit! Drifting around tinternet got me nowhere, I think I looked at just about every kit that could fit into the timescale (really came close to buying a 1/72 Condor), and so I decided not to look for a kit, but a person or story, I was looking for inspiration... I then started hunting on the web, with no goal in mind. Just reading stories, re-discovering events, being amazed by new finds and generally getting into the mood. It was whilst I was looking at a list of RAF squadrons and their codes that something caught my eye. 74 squadrons wartime code was ZP. These are my wife’s initials, intrigued I started looking into the pilots, and the squadron in general. Now I’d heard of Sailor Malan, and I think I’d heard of John Freeborn, either of who would be more than worthy subjects of a build, but I was still unsure. A bit more digging around lead me to a pilot who was an ace, had been drawn and painted by Kennington and Orde, served with 74 squadron throughout the Battle, and went on to be it’s CO. John Colin Mungo Park DFC and Bar. I’ll cover more about his service in another post but for me, he kind of sums up the experienced RAF Pilot at the time, the fact his story is tragic leads a poignant edge as well. But more on that later, on to the kit. Now that I’d done a 180 from potential off the wall builds to a Spitfire, which kit? To be honest, it took me no time a all to decide on the kit. The latest Tamiya 1/48 had caught my eye when it came out and this all seemed to be the perfect excuse to grab one and do it some (in)justice! So that’s what, and why, I’m going with this, ZP E of 74 squadron RAF August 1940 . With some research materials This could be a long build as I never seem to get the time to build anything, but hey, we’ve got till October! Good luck in the GB all and thanks for looking in! Geoff
- 47 replies
-
- 17
-
- 1/48 Tamiya
- spitfire
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with: