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1/48 Bf 109-E3 Subject Stab III / JG I France, June 1941 Pilot Grupen Adjudant Maj. Reinhard Heydrich (yes, that SOB) Balkankruz and chevron done by airbrush with Microdesign Photoetch stencil from https://www.ebay.ie/str/miracleworldofhobby This was a new departure for me in airbrushing markings as opposed to using decals, It does require some practice. Next time I think I will lay down white, spray in the black and then mask off the markings. I think in my case, the jury is still out on airbrush vs decals, but with a bit of practice it worked out OK and was not overly hard. Kit Eduard Weekend addition 84157 After market decals (Techmod) via trinitymews https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/accurahobbykits. Techmod Decals 48013E With regards the subject, I got a bit of flack on facebook. One person went so far as to say that Heydrich was not part of the 'clean' Luftwaffe I built the model out of historical interest, and perhaps a morbid sense of historical content - he was a reserve Major in the Luftwaffe - flew in the Poland campaign as a turret gunner - flew then in Norway campaign, then in France and against the RAF in a Bf 109. Flew finally in combat in the USSR. I first became aware of it after reading 'Hitler's Hangman: The Life of Heydrich' by Robert Gerwarth. Peer reviewed from University press if memory serves me correctly Incidentally he would fly to his families holiday home and arrived at the Wansee conference in a plane he piloted himself in 1942. I did not post it to engage in a historical debate, I did out of an interest in the hobby and a matter of historical fact. If the model was a WHIFF I would have stated so. And if you use Deluxe Plastic magic cement be careful with oil washes, hit the gloss coat with turpentine before doing a pin wash, and had to re-glue a lot of parts - at least that was my experience.

My entry into the battle of Britain G/B is my second attempt to build a diorama showing a crashed luftwaffe aircraft from a picture found in the superb Luftwaffe crash Archive series by Nigel Parker and published by Red Kite. I did a crashed 1/48 eduard Bf 110 for the Bf110 single type G/B earlier this year and found it to be very rewarding and even my Wife ,Jenny took an intrest in it . I have chosen the Eduard 1/48 kit as it will fit in with my first diorama but would have liked to have a go at one ofthese in 1/32 . I now know that 1/32 scale sheep are alot easier to find and also cheaper !!! Here is the main photo i will be useing for refrance with the objectve to create the diorama to be as close to the photo as skill and affordability alowe. I have chosen this aircraft as it has some intresting damage and i think has been staged by the Airministry or RAF for propaganda purposes . I will explain my reasons in a later post. Some useful info like the number of .303 strikes will help (15 ) as its easy to go over board on battle damage . though i can find no pictures of the other side of this aircraft. Another inportant thing for me is the pilot Ff. Ltn Heinz Schnabel was only slightly wonded as i wouldnt enjoy the project if it involved a dead airman. I hope the sheep will help tell the story and also provide some humer. I know i could have used the Eduard 109 E-4 but ipicked up this E-7 trop from MJW models for little over £10.00 posted and i'm pretty sure i can get an E-4 out of itfrom all the parts. Chose the w/end version as i dont like Eduard colourd etched seatbelts . Bit of a suprise to find some little fabric belts so hope they work well. Now im thinking this isnt working out too expensive untill i realised that life would be so much easier if i got the two Eduard resin sets for engine and cowling guns as this area will be centre of attension for the project. think the two together came to arond £ 30.00 inc postage , dwalfing the price of the main kit . I think the cowling parts will be worth the money alone. nice and thin so easy to bend and shred. Costs started to sky rocket when i whent to market to buy the sheep 10 sheep and 4 lambs cost £24.00 Ok from the photo's i can see around 30 sheep so i have had to make a compromise These are not toy sheep but serious sheep for serious modellers Hang on iv got a sheep stuck up my nose !!!!!!!!! May use these two home guard left over from first crash Now need to find two 1/48 sheep dogs , a farmer and some white 6 decals with the correct shaped 6. These are my reading materials for the next few months Roll on the 10th Alistair