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1/72 Kosciuszko Spitfire IXC


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I started this AZ Spitfire IX as a way to jump start a difficult build in the P-38 STGB, and it brought the required good luck. Now it's finished and ready for inspection.

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I had to scrounge together decals from the kit, aftermarket, and home made in order to depict BS451, RF-M, "Joan" of 303 (Polish) Sqn. The "Joan" was written on the fuselage with a white-ink pen and betrays my poor handwriting abilities. Many profiles of this aircraft show the "Joan" as very small 'block' letters, but the only photo I could find shows it in a flourished cursive script, so that is what I attempted.

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Here she is next to two other 303 Spitfires in a growing collection.

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I managed to place the roundels over the walkway stencils this time. Baby steps.

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That's an excellent Spitfire, nicely finished and weathered and it looks very true to the original with those drooped elevators. Nice and very typical point!

Also very nice not to see stark black wash in the 'panel lines'!

I wonder what that light coloured 'wart' on top of the rudder is supposed to be, though. The Mk I/II had a (thin!) antenna wire post there, but not the later Marks and in any case, this one looks much too fat. I'd suggest just removing it, because it doesn't belong.

Splendid modelling!

Kind regards,

Joachim

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Thanks everybody!

sdk_uk, I found the kit to be more difficult than I expected, and I did a terrible job on the landing gear.

Joachim, thanks for the kind words, and especially thanks for pointing out the 'bump' on the rudder. I checked photos, and you're right, it's not there! Britmodeller does it again.

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Great looking Spitfire, really nicely weathered. Joe

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Hi Jerzy, Vol 2 of Wojtek Matusiak's 303 Squadron history mentions that Antoni Kolubinski and Flt Sgt Chudek made claims while flying BS451, and it was damaged on landing while flown by Sgt Bartkowiak, but was soon repaired. I haven't been able to find out its 'regular' pilot who, I assume named her 'Joan'. I trust your knowledge more than mine on this subject!

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Hi Cookie. Sorry I managed to miss this when it first appeared. You've done a great job on it. Very nice finish. Well done. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Edited by PlaStix
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I haven't been able to find out its 'regular' pilot who, I assume named her 'Joan'. I trust your knowledge more than mine on this subject!

I am not any specialist on Sqn 303, it mean that there are many people in my country, who knows it far better.

This name was wearing also BL 375, RF-J, a Mk Vb (I guess from below photo) of R. Górecki:

https://pl-pl.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899326490125581&id=487806154610952

Since "Joan" is an English name it was likely after current girlfiend...Or just because it was RF-J, and then next Spit Mk IX enharited the name, as a lucky one.

Cheers

J-W

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  • 4 weeks later...

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