Dave_R Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Hi all, Having completed my first group build for the BoB GB, I now feel ready for another entry. Inspiration was slow coming, but I had a spare Airfix Spitfire Mk1 and some decals and bits left over from an Airfix Gladiator - so here goes.... On November 30th 1939 the Soviet Union invaded Finland. This was seen around the world as an act of aggression and there was general support for the Finnish cause and in particular 8,760 Swedish volunteers went to fight the Soviets. Amongst these volunteers were a group known as the the Swedish Voluntary Air Force. The British government became aware that this unit was being organised at an early stage through Diplomatic and Air Force contacts. As a propaganda and diplomatic gesture the British Government decided to supply this volunteer force with the most advanced fighter then available, the Spitfire. 12 serviceable Spitfires were selected and on the 14th of December they were flown to Malmo via Denmark. RAF support crew and Supermarine and Rolls Royce engineers followed in a Sunderland. Once there the RAF pilots began the conversion training of the Swedish pilots and the ground support crew began training their counterparts. The engineers began the fitting of skis to the aircraft. As there was no time to develop any kind of retraction mechanism for the skis, engineers simply took the existing skis from Swedish Air Force Gladiators and replaced the Spitfire’s wheels with them, and removed the undercarriage doors. Obviously this adversely affected performance both in terms of drag and the maximum safe G, but this still left the Spitfire with a major performance advantage in speed and firepower over the Gladiator if not in manoeuvrability. The necessary work was completed and by January 7th the newly formed Flygflottilj 19 had deployed to Kemi in Finland. The unit returned to Sweden having made a significant contribution to the defence of Finland. (Apologies for the v. poor photography, but I can't find the battery charger for my DSLR - so this from my phone. The charger will turn up and better photos will follow.) The Spitfire bits. The Gladiator bits I'm going have to be quick with this, especially as I have another idea I want to have a go at. Dave. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptormodeller Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Lets hope you can finish it! Like the back story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 With that back story you're off to a great start Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted November 17, 2015 Author Share Posted November 17, 2015 Hi all, OK, cockpit done nothing fancy - just the basics, it won't visible anyway. Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Sure that's up to the job Dave. Hardly be seen anyway as you say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Update:- So far just another Airfix Spitfire - but watch this space.... Big bits all together and ready for a rub down. Underside ready for primer. Topside ready for primer. ......and primed ....and some sky blue that looks a bit Swedish. Satisfying progress so far, I think there's enough time to complete this - and my next build which will soon be unveiled 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Last weeks progress, masked-up Humbrol white primer from a can and brush painted camo (masking-up or freehanding a complex pattern like is a bit beyond my airbrushing skills) Decals next. Dave. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Update, The Sea Defiant has had priority recently, but there's not much further to go now - some gluing, some stencilling and some finishing and it's done. Dave. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Any news Dave? Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_R Posted November 29, 2015 Author Share Posted November 29, 2015 Hi all, I've just finished the final photos and after I've had something to eat I'll be putting them up . Dave. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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