Matcham11 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 This is one splendid build. Love everything, cockpit, roundels, engine(The best part of it!) and several other things. Well done! I like the fact that I have seen this one at Duxford too! Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowbar Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Very good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Well,she's certainly looking the part all right. And Captain Boogaloo is absolutely spot on,not many peeps know,but both Ray and Mark were both very keen modellers and always pretty eager to chat models and modelling. They were extremely interested in any model of one of their aircraft. Two of the nicest gentlemen anyone could ever wish to meet,can't wait to see your figures of them Tango. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 Hello everyone! I thought I'd give this post a bump as I am very near completion now, work has kept me busy of late but now I have some time I am hopefully going to get this build finished. I am still working on the figures and to be honest I am not happy with them yet, I want to do it right as Ray and Mark deserve nothing less. I have some custom made decals for the nose art now as well and will be posting some pics when I have them on. Not long now! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Hi, I saw MH434 on the WIP list, and the memories came flooding back. I first became aware of Ray Hanna when he was leader of the Red Arrows and then at Duxford when he flew MH434 for Adrian Swire. Watching him display MH434 was almost spiritual, and he always displayed to all of the crowd not just the middle, his son Mark also showed the same skill and artistry befor his tragic death. I was never fortunate enough to meet Ray or Mark but I have a story which illustrates the sort of man Ray was. Many years ago I was an Air Cadet gliding instructor and we used to have the occasional visit from one of the ex- instructors who worked for Slingsby's and travelled around the country demonstrating their gliders. He told us of an occasion when he met Ray Hanna at an air display and asked him if he was returning to Duxford after the display, when the answer was 'yes' this guy said that he knew an old chap who had flown in WW I and lived close to the proposed route and thought he would love to see a Spitfire. Ray asked him to point out the exact spot on the map, which he did and they went their own ways. Acouple of days later this guy (sorry I've forgotten his name) saw the old chap who told him that he'd had a private display from a Spitfire. It seems that Ray had circled the village until people came out to see what was happening, the did 5 minutes of aerobatics before flying away. What a fantastic gesture. It's good to hear people's personal recollections oh the Hannas. Love the build by the way, I'm-planning to make mine as MH 434 there's no other choice for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 I was never fortunate enough to meet Ray or Mark myself, but everyone I know who did meet or know them always spoke of how decent and kind they were as well what great pilots they both were. That is why I am taking so long to get this project done, because I want to make my own personal tribute to them and to say thanks for all those great flying displays that made me stand an inch taller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longhorn Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Looking forward to seeing this finished! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Thanks! Good news! I finally got the nose art decal on tonight!!!! Here is how she looks now............ I have just finished up some of the last parts to go on and then she'll be done. I am still plugging away with the figures of Ray and Mark, but I don't have enough bottle to show them off yet.......... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somnas Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Just went through the thread from start to present day, coming together nicely! /Erik 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Such a worthy subject and looks like it will be fantastically re created. Really looking forward to the finished product!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 It' really coming alive now with the decals on, I'm also really looking forward to seeing the finished article. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks everyone! I have been plugging away at the figures and I had to reposition the nose art decal as it was not lined up correctly. This has taken a massive chunk of time as once the decal lifted, it took paint of as well. Needless to say repairs have been underway and as of this morning I now have a glossy panel to apply the spare decal-phew! All that's left now is decals for the prop blades to apply, then the aerial mast, canopy mirror and pitot tube. Wearthering will be minimal as this model shows 434 as she was in May 1995. So some very light inks here and there and then a final coat of varnish, very close to the fnish line! Thanks for watching! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Reading this thread has also prompted me to dig out one of my favourite Spitfire books titled 'Spitfire: The world's most famous fighter' By Jeremy Flack first published in 1985. It has lots of pictures of MH 434 ( and the Hannas) before the rebuild and this is how I plan to depict her, which is how I first saw her. The fake cannon and the machine gun apertures are there but the cannon acces panels are flat. The codes are the same but the Z on the port side did not overlap the door, don't ask me which is correct I don't care because that's what she looked like, which is what matters to me. There was also no nose art, just kill markings Still looking forward to the finished item. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Hi John! I think you'll find that 434's codes before the 1995 rebuild were correct in the Z not overlapping the door. As far as I can tell, the only time the Z did overlap was directly after the rebuild. Later in 1995, the airframe was repainted with the Z moved further back so that it did not overlap. You can see both paint schemes in the 1996 book "Spitfire-Flying Ledgend." I also have the DVD "A Spitfire's Story" which tells of 434's history from WWII up to 1995. In the film, you can see 434 as I have painted her, with her first engine start up on 17th May 1995. Which is the era I wanted to capture, when I first saw her. If you haven't got the DVD, it's well worth getting as it's a brilliant documentary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Szczudlyk Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Great work with this kit.I'am looking forward to see more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Hi Tango Thanks for the info. I'm going to the Duxford show in a couple of weeks, I might well look up the video there, was it originally on TV? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Hi John, the documentary was originally aired on TV in 1996, I am not sure they sell it at Duxford these days, but you can still get a copy here: http://www.flyingmachinestv.co.uk/products/a-spitfires-story I managed to find a copy of the book you mentioned the other day and it is a great visual resource! I can see how you want to build your 434 now! I think that will look brilliant! I have been working on my figures and went to spray a final coat of flat varnish when I realised that I had run out of the stuff! So it's off to the model shop on Saturday morning to get some more. Still, nearly there now............ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I'm off to Duxford for the displays on 13&14 with a Gold Pass for Sunday, a birthday present from Mrs Biggles whose coming with me. Unfortunately MH434 is not listed on the flying programme for either day so I'll have to be content with two Lancasters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) Well, after two years...................she's done! I'll post some more pics over on ready for inspection, just wanted those who have been watching this one to see it first! Thanks to everyone who stopped in and joined me on this thread. Edited September 7, 2014 by Tango 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Wow, looks brilliant. Love the detail on the engine. Its a smashing tribute and well worth 2 years!! Well done Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Fabulous job Tango,fabulous job. Our man would most certainly have been bending your ear most robustly over this one. BTW,you've seen this "lawnmower" clip before no doubt. You-know-who driving you-know-who giving another famous you-know-who a bit of a heart attack(nearly) :winkgrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 Ha! Ha! Thanks Miggers! Hadn't seen that clip for a long while only Ray would do that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Here you go then Tango,you know the Spit,but who's the pilot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 He's very good! I would say that's Ray Hanna himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 It was obviously when Mh434 was owned by Adrian Swire. The pilot could be Ray Hannah 40 odd years ago or Neil Williams, another superb pilot who also used to fly her, I wouldn't like to bet on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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