92 Sqn Spitfire QJ-T X4422

[TheBeardedOne]

Hi all,

This is going to be my first build on Britmodeller. I've been lurking for ages and each kit that I build, I promise that I'll upload it but I don't get around to it. I figured this would be as good a time as any to start. Hopefully my pictures will upload from photobucket without a hitch, i've tried using the guidance in the Help section.

I had a little mooch around for inspiration and was planning on doing a Kenley-based subject because that's my local Battle of Britain aerodrome and I used to do my gliding with the ATC there. I was going to do a new-tool Airfix 1/48 Hurricane but due to me changing jobs in August I wasn't sure that I would be able to do such a kit justice with the time restraints. Thus I have chosen to build a smaller subject that I'm fairly confident that I can turn around before the deadline instead of failing to deliver. If I race through it, the Hurricane or a Luftwaffe subject could be my second entry.

I assessed the Battle of Britain relevant stash items (most of them tend to be in red boxes)

I opted for this winner

My subject is going to be Spitfire X4422 QJ-T of 92 Squadron in September 1940 using the Airfix 1/72 kit.

For a bit of back story I chose this because I used to spend my childhood summers in the river at Eynsford in Kent and around the village of Shoreham. I used to visit the little Battle of Britain museum there often and I remember people telling me about a Spitfire that crashed on Sparepenny Lane.

Now I know that this was Spitfire X4422, piloted by Flying Officer J. A. Paterson from New Zealand who crashed here, sadly losing his life after being attacked by Bf109s on the 27th September 1940. Paterson was previously shot down and bailed out on the 11th September, sustaining severe burns to his face. The articles that I have read about him suggest that his recent injuries may have been responsible for his fate on the 27th. He was only 20 years old when he died.

Today, there is a memorial to Flying Officer Paterson at Sparepenny Lane between Farningham and Eynsford which is worth a look and the museum is still in Shoreham. Paterson is buried in Star Lane cemetry in Orpington.

X4422 was also notably flown by John Fraser Drummond DFC, Geoffery Wellum's room-mate at Biggin Hill. Drummond was flying X4422 on the 24th September when he attacked the Bf109 of Fw Kuppa of 8/JG26 who made a forced landing on the Isle of Grain. He was also killed in the timeframe the Battle in a collision with a fellow 92 Sqn Spitfire on the 10th October during an interception.

Edited July 27, 2015 by TheBeardedOne

[Procopius]

This looks set to be a lovely tribute. Glad you're joining us.

[Ozzy]

Nice stash.

[stevej60]

Welcome aboard,and a fine tribute to join in the GB with,nice one!

[rob85]

Nice choice and I love a good reason and back story

Rob

[Cookenbacher]

This looks like a great tribute, thanks for the background story.

You'll love the Airfix kit, a true gem.

[TheBeardedOne]

Thanks for the comments, chaps.

After a few delays (a wedding, a hangover, a sickness bug and a recovery), I managed to make some progress.

That's the 'office' done before a bit of Clear and some weathering.

A bit of a close-up while I have the fuselage taped up.

This is where the project sits at the mo.

Excuse the leather tag at the top of the photo, it was a donation from a pair of shoes that were purchased last-minute for the aforementioned wedding. It's relatively thin and it cuts up quite nicely under a craft knife so I was toying with the idea of using it for scratchbuilt seat cushions/bomb-aimer mats on a later build

[Ozzy]

Nice progress, like the use of the sponge.