Lican Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Good afternoon. I present to you my recently finished model:Manufacturer: TamiyaScale: 1/48Aircraft: Tamiya № 61035 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb (early)Markings: Spitfire Mk.Vb (early) W3257/FY-E, 611 Squadron, Flt/Lt Eric Lock, Hornchurch, Essex, july 1941Aftermarket: Montex № K48202 Super Mask Spitfire Mk.Vb TamiyaColors: - Gunze Sangyo H 72 Dark Earth Semi-Gloss/R.A.F. Aircraft WW II - Gunze Sangyo H 73 Dark Green Semi-Gloss/R.A.F. Aircraft WW II - Gunze Sangyo H 74 Sky (Duck Egg Green) Semi-Gloss/R.A.F. Aircraft WW II Biography of the pilot: Eric Stanley Lock born on Bomere Farm, in the village of Bayston Hill, outside Shrewsbury in 1919, Lock was educated at the Public Elementary School in Bayston Hill (1924–1926), at Clivedon School in Church Stretton (1926–1928), at Shrewsbury Boys High School (1928–1929), and finally at Prestfelde School in Shrewsbury (1929–1933). After leaving school, he was employed on the family farm, Allfield, and in Bayston Quarry until 1939. Developing a love for motor vehicles, motor cycles and flying as a teenager, Lock joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as an AC2 Airman u/t Pilot (No. 745051) on 17 February 1939, and was promoted to Sergeant the following day. He undertook his initial peacetime training mostly on weekends and some week nights with 28 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School (No. 28 E&RFTS) run by the company 'Reid & Sigrist' at Meir, outside Stoke-on-Trent and made his first solo flight within the month. No. 28 E&RFTS was disbanded on 31 August 1939 and Lock was mobilized the following day, but immediately sent on leave with full pay until 29 October 1939. His wartime training commenced on 30 October 1939 when he was posted to Course 1, 4 Initial Training Wing (No. 4 ITW) at Bexhill-on-Sea. He graduated on 8 December 1939 and was posted the following day to Course 17, 6 Service Flying Training School (No. 6 SFTS) at RAF Little Rissington. Lock was awarded by pilot badge ('Wings') in March 1940, but he did not graduate the course until 18 June 1940, and was granted a commission (No. 81642) the same day. He was immediately posted to No. 41 Squadron RAF, then based at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire. By the time of his arrival on the Squadron, Lock had not flown a single hour in a Spitfire and his first solo in the type took place on 21 June 1940. He spent the ensuing six weeks learning to fly the aircraft and consequently did not make his first operational sortie until 9 August 1940. In time, Lock became the RAF's most successful Allied pilot during the Battle of Britain, shooting down 21 German aircraft and sharing in the destruction of one. After the Battle of Britain Lock served on the Channel Front, flying offensive sweeps over France. Lock went on to bring his overall total to 26 aerial victories, one shared destroyed and eight probable in 25 weeks of operational sorties over a one-year period—during which time he was hospitalised for six months.Included in his victory total were 20 German fighter aircraft, 18 of them Messerschmitt Bf 109s. In mid-1941 Lock was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Lock earned the nickname "Sawn Off Lockie", because of his extremely short stature. Within less than six months of becoming one of the most famous RAF pilots in the country, he crash–landed in the English Channel after his Supermarine Spitfire was damaged by ground–fire. Lock was posted missing in action. 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 very nice looking spit, great job on the cam and finish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 This one tick off all the boxes - Great model, great presentation, great research! Cheers Hans J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lican Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Thank you. Of course he would describe all the subtleties of the color of this prototype, but he does not let know the English language Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 What an excellent, informative post. Thank you very much. That's a very skillfully built and painted model too. I was surprised to see the underneath so free from oil stains but that's just a matter of taste really. How did you make the instruments look so good, decals or brush? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Hi Lican, That is a beautifully built and painted model. The interior is nice and the weathering looks about right for a well-used aircraft. My only concern would be, for me the squadron codes are too dark. On photos of the brown & green Spits (whether from Ortho- or Pan-chromatic films) the codes always seem to stand out really starkly, a pale grey (whatever colour the RAF called it that week) if not almost white. You can see this in your photos of F/L Lock you posted above. After all the idea of these codes was to identify the plane from a distance. Cheers Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lican Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 1. Squadron code, photo light, how the code really looked like the question remains I did the color that was in the base, but not after aging. 2. Board - photo, from the Edward for Spitfire Mk.I 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lican Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 If you look at the photos, there are a lot of questions. The arrangement of spots, it is seen that Kapod in one color and dalge in another, the color of the cockade and the code match. In a word, this photo and my model, the difference is great. There is no modeler who will give that okrs and marking the plane, this is a fact) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lican Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 It is important for me that I immortalized the pilot in history, this is the main thing. Although the British less give him attention than the Russian from the end of the world) He is a great pilot, a bright memory to him and hundreds of other pilots from all countries who fought against the Germans 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Lican, I agree deciding colours from Black and white photos is difficult. Added to which the colours on the real planes don't always seem to be exactly what the RAF orders said they should be. But you have built a lovely model, and as you say a fine memorial to the pilot. Cheers Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lican Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Many forget their heroes, while others remember and honor them in treasure in a common victory. Remember this. They gave you life, a bright memory to all who protected us. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazey Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 That's a beautiful model and a fitting tribute to the pilot. Regards, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilZR Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 An excellently documented and presented project. Sets a standard for other modellers. I am not going to comment on any colour issues, as there are so many subtle issues. Eric Lock was one of many talented fliers, where luck eventually took its toll. Look forward to seeing more of your work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali62 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 great model, well done Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve27752 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) Looks great, I love it. I have just noticed that in the first two photo's Eric is wearing a German 10-30 B series Schwimmweste pilots life jacket (Mae West). This vest was also popular with Guy Gibson amongst others. Edited March 17, 2017 by Steve27752 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbolt Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Beautifully done Spitfire. My only criticism would be your depth of field is far to shallow on the photos - it gives the feel that the model is a lot smaller than 1/48th scale as in some shots there is very little of the model in focus. Close the aperture down at least another 3 stops and the pictures would look a lot better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lican Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Thank you. But here's the problem, I'm a modeler and not a photographer.))) And thanks for the advice. Illumination of my room does not give such an opportunity.)т I wanted to know your opinion as here with a photo, what needs to be corrected? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 A highly interesting background story of Flt/Lt Lock and a beautiful model. What more can you wish for? Kind regards, Joachim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbolt Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 9 hours ago, Lican said: Thank you. But here's the problem, I'm a modeler and not a photographer.))) And thanks for the advice. Illumination of my room does not give such an opportunity.)т I wanted to know your opinion as here with a photo, what needs to be corrected? You don't need to a photographer, your photos are good they just need a bit more in focus. I don't know what camera you are using so I can't suggest what sort of aperture to use, but just use try a smaller one till you get most of the model in focus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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