Spitfire Mk.Vb 1/48 - 122 Squadron - AB986

[KelT]

My second model. I seriously thought aircraft would be easier than the sailing ship I built as my first model. How wrong can someone be.

Kit :  Airfix 1:48 Spitfire LF.Mk.Vb (Airfix Club)

Paints: Tamiya Fine Surface Primer (White), Vallejo Medium Sea Grey (Underside), Tamiya XF-71 Cockpit Green (Interior), Mixed Grey (Vallejo Medium Sea Grey (7)/ Vallejo Black (1)) upper surfaces, Vallejo Olive Grey upper surfaces, Model Master RAF Sky Type "S", Model Master Insignia Yellow.

Extras used: Self printed decals. Lot's of sweat, a little blood and almost a few tears.

WIP Thread: WIP

 

This was a practice kit simply to test out and improve my brush painting skills before my third more expensive model. My original intention was to build it as per the box but then I discovered that the Fleet Air Arm had a Mk.Vb delivered which was intended for trial to carrier conversion. Since I want to try and make a study of the FAA 1939-1945 I figured that this was a good opportunity to make that particular aircraft. There are mistakes, idiotic ones such as having both ailerons down, stupid ones such as following the kit instructions instead of the photograph and using the wrong propeller and quite a few I think I'll keep to myself thank you very much.

I have to be honest, when I see boxes of models in the shop they don't really excite me. The thought of building them doesn't do much for me either. What does get me excited about a model is learning about the particular aircraft's history and of the men who flew it. Although this build didn't start out that way it quickly took on life after I'd begun.

So for those of you who are interested - in spoilers for those that are not - here is AB986 and some of her pilots.

 

Spoiler

Delivered from the manufacturers on 10-10-41 AB986 spent her life bouncing around various RAF squadrons before succumbing to a couple of burst tyres on take off and subsequently being struck off charge. She was almost four years old at her end.

Likely her first sortie into combat was also the first for her pilot at that time Pilot Officer Warren E. Schrader of 165 Squadron. P.O. Schrader remembered the following account of the mission:

 

 

"After 165 Squadron had worked up, it was posted to Gravesend in Southern England, to help cover the Dieppe landings. This was my introduction to the real shooting war and I remember being more nervous than I ever had been in my life. I flew as No.2 to the C.O. and he shot down a couple of German aeroplanes. I just followed looking round nervously the whole time. Apart from Dieppe we did convoy patrols and sweeps over Europe, France mainly."

 

P.O. Schrader was to fly AB986 many times including two sorties during the Dieppe Raid on 19th August 1942. As a New Zealand pilot his aircraft, AB986, was decorated with a silver fern just forward of the cockpit at that period in her life. Although W. Schrader never joined combat in AB986 he went on to have a long life and illustrious career, including the testing of the first prototype 'G' suit, eventually becoming a Wing Commander of 616 Squadron the only Royal Air Force squadron to fly jets in combat in World War 2 and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross by the end of the war. He passed away in February 2009 aged 87.

 

Schrader never painted victory markings on his aircraft saying "I don't see what that would have added to the sum total of human knowledge". He finished the war with a total of twelve enemy aircraft destroyed and was the most successful RAF pilot of March-April 1945. If you get a chance you should read his story in Classic Warbirds Issue #7 Pg 14 and continued into his later career in Classic Warbirds #5 Pg 53. Warren was a natural pilot who lived to be in the air.

From 165 squadron AB986 went to 93Sq, 312Sq, 132Sq, 122Sq, 234Sq, 345Sq, and finally to 53OTU. I managed to secure two images of AB986, the first during her time with 165 Squadron the second was taken during her time with 122 Squadron. Camera shy she may have been but this isn't her first time as a model, Francis Chapman did an excellent job of reproducing her time with 165 Squadron and W. Schrader, his work can be seen here. (F. Chapmans Model)

 

 

165 Squadron

 

Not having the skills to replicate Mr. Chapmans excellent model I decided to build her during her time with 122 Squadron when she was flown primarily by P.O. M.J. Edwards and later by Flt/Sgt Frank Ellis Livesay, neither of whom I was able to find further details for. At this point she sported an unusual paint scheme with the "B Scheme" camouflage banding sweeping diagonally from the top of her fuselage to the bottom and rearwards towards her tail on her port side. This is unusual since the "B" scheme was stopped in production Spitfires on the 14th January 1941, nine months before AB986 was delivered. It is still more unusual since the aircraft in the earlier photo above shows her with the "A" scheme so quite why she was repainted in this manner I have no idea. I have been unable to find any other photo's of the "B" Scheme being used at that period which possibly makes AB986 unique. In the photo below she also has her serial number painted in white/yellow/sky on her tail fin rather than the usual position over the Sky band wrapping her fuselage. I enquired about this anomaly on an WWII aircraft forum but nobody seemed to have an answer as to why.

 

122 Squadron

 

The only other instances I could find of a Spitfire having it's serial on the tail like this were these three:

 

 

The first was part of the Czech Air force, the second was part of 312 squadron, a Czechoslovak manned fighter squadron. The third aircraft is from 412 a Canadian manned squadron. It would seem likely that AB986 had her tail painted during her time with the Czechoslovak manned 312 squadron and probably the "B" scheme camouflage also. The aircraft didn't actually fly any sorties during her four months with 312 and would appear to have been surplus to requirements.

 

So all in all AB986 had quite a quiet life but it could all have been very different indeed. Just after manufacture she was given by the RAF to the FAA where she was to undergo trials for catapult launch and carrier landings. As the pilot was landing to hand her over she damaged her undercarriage and so was promptly returned to the RAF without being included in any trials. Another aircraft took her place AB205 and after successfully completing tests she was the first Spitfire conversion into a Seafire and a very different life.

 

The accident which diverted AB986 from a life at sea could appear to be carelessness but its seems unlikely considering her pilot at the time a Lt J. M. Bruen.  Already a very experienced pilot John Martin ( or "Bill" as he was known) went on to become an Ace. Only recently transferred to 778 squadron he was given the job of delivering AB986. Among his experiences prior to that task he had been involved in the battle against the French over their ships stationed at Mers-el-Kebir in 1940:

 

 

Following the ratification of the Armistice by the French government, the status of the Marine Nationale, and its powerful fleet of modern capital ships, was a cause of great concern to the British government. There was a real worry that the vessels would fall into the hands of the Germans, and thus increase the threat to Britain's maritime supply routes.

Many French vessels lay at anchor in the naval base at Mers-el-Kebir, near Oran, under the command of Adm Marcel Gensoul. At dawn on 3 July, Gensoul received an ultimatum from the British. Either he rallied his ships to the Royal Navy, or he could sail and disarm them in the French West Indies or in another neutral country. However, should he refuse, the Royal Navy's Force 'H', which included the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and the battleships Resolution and Valiant, stood by to intervene. Following an outright refusal from the French admiral, the British attacked the vessels in the harbour in the late afternoon.

 

At St Denis du Sig, Cdts Murtin and Hugues were availed of the worsening situation near noon. They had ignored the order issued to them several days earlier to disconnect the controls of their aircraft, thus rendering them unserviceable. This meant that the Hawk 75s of both GCs 1/5 and II/5 could be operational just as soon as they were armed and fuelled. By 1400 hrs, sufficient aircraft were ready to perform a patrol overhead Oran, although the order to take-off did not come until 1800 hrs when nine Hawk 75s from GC 4/5 left St Denis du Sig. The pilots had orders to threaten and harass any intruding aircraft, but to open fire only as a last resort.

 

The sky over Mers-el-Kebir harbour was devoid of aircraft, but a little way out over the Mediterranean, the fighters came across a formation of 12 Blackburn Skua fighter/dive-bombers from Ark Royal. They watched each other for a while, and after a brief exchange of fire they separated. More fighters took off soon afterwards as additional covering patrols were flown over the harbour, and some of the Hawk 75s from GC 3/5 intercepted Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers heading for the French battleship Strasbourg. The pilots manoeuvred in an attempt to drive them back, but the Skua escorts of 803 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) intervened.

 

Sous-Lt Tremolet's Hawk 75 was damaged by future ace Lt J M Bruen and his observer Lt R M Smeeton. They were in turn driven off by ace Sgt Chef Legrand, who then downed Skua L2915/A7C. The latter machine's pilot, Plt Off T F Riddler, and observer, NI Chatterley, were both killed. However, on his return to base Legrand (whose tally now stood at nine destroyed) realised that his Hawk 75 had also been hit, and he had been saved from death by his dorsal armour plate.

(Excerpt from P-36 Hawk Aces of World War 2 By Lionel Persyn, Kari  Stenman and Andrew  Thomas)

 

Lt Bruen went on to have an eventful career with the following record:

 

Air Ace with 4 destroyed enemy aircraft, 4 shared destroyed, 2 damaged, 2 shared damaged, 1 shared damaged on ground. He had a long career with the Fleet Air Arm including  a position as Chief Instructor in Fighter School [HMS Heron (RN Air Station, Yeovilton, Somerset)] in 1943. He managed to survive the war and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Order and was Mentioned In Dispatches for his service in Operation Torch in 1943. He passed away in 1967 at the age of 57.

 

His son Bernie Bruen was himself a hero commanding an eighteen man team of bomb disposal divers during the Falklands war. You can read some of his war poetry here: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/Bernie_Bruen_poetry.html.

 

Bernie came from a line of heroes as I quote:

 

Bernie's Grandfather, Arthur Thomas Bruen, was too old to fight in the Great War; so in 1915 he drove his Clement car from his home in Invernesshire to Dover, where he put it on a cross-Channel ferry and embarked for France. Enrolling in the Red Cross, he used it as an ambulance in the front lines for the next six months. He was then inducted as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps and remained at the Front until 1919, being used as 'trouble shooter' wherever there were supply problems. His brother, Eddo, commanded the Battleship HMS BELEROPHEN at JUTLAND and HMS RESOLUTION throughout the rest of the First World War, ending up as an Admiral.

 

Bernie's Father, Commander 'Bill' Bruen DSO DSC RN, commanded the Fleet Air Arm's 803 Squadron during the fight to supply Malta GC in the Second World War. He was the youngest man to do so and earned a fearsome reputation as a legendary Fighter Ace. Admiral Sir Donald Gibson, when head of the Fleet Air Arm, once said of him, "He was the best damned Pilot the Navy ever had." His cousin, Francis; was an electrical officer in the RN and also a DSC.

 

Bernie himself was the last commanding officer of the renowned HMS GAVINTON and became the first man to 'hunt' and find (by high definition sonar) an unknown, enemy sea-mine 'in anger'; and this in a ship that was thirty years out of date. For this action in the Red Sea Clearance of 1984, he was made MBE. He went on to command the Navy's first Maritime Counter Terrorism Team and, at the age of forty, qualified Airborne.

 

AB986 carried some incredibly brave heroes of WWII in her time. Her final trip down the runway resulted in disaster on the 1st of April 1945 just a few weeks before the end of the war. The accident was reported as follows:

 

This aircraft was damaged at 0940hrs whilst taxying downwind. Both tyres burst under heavy braking and the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot Sgt MM Michel (French) was unhurt.

 

During her life there is no record of her ever engaging in direct combat with the enemy in fact it seems she spent much of her time on the ground at various squadrons being surplus to requirement.

 

It is difficult to determine the exact markings of the aircraft from the black and white images but I have attempted to reproduce them the best I can. During the period the photograph was taken 122 squadron were based out of Kingsnorth and so she would have sported the normal colour scheme of that period which was: Dark Green and Ocean Grey on all upper surfaces, Medium Sea Grey on all lower surfaces the spinner and 18" band being in Sky as were the squadron code letters. In fact here is a coloured photograph of 122 squadron taking off. The lead aircraft is not in fact AB986 but her replacement since she left the squadron a month or two before the photo was taken. You can see that this aircraft has the "A Scheme" markings and the serial number in the more usual place on the fuselage:

 

 

Unfortunately I didn't have any Ocean Grey but as luck would have it neither did the RAF. All aircraft were to be painted in the new scheme with Ocean Grey replacing the previous Dark Earth. Ocean Grey was a complex mix of colours including Night, White, Blue and Yellow and demand for the paint must have been enormous following the Order so many squadrons improvised creating their own blend of Grey using a mixture of seven parts Medium Sea Grey and one Part Night. This blend was often mistakenly referred to as Dark Sea Grey but in fact Dark Sea Grey was another already officially produced colour. After the initial surge and the supply of Ocean Grey finally met the demand further aircraft were painted using Ocean Grey and the "mixed grey" went out of use. However on the 2nd of October 1943 the "Mixed Grey" was re-instated as an official colour.

 

Since I have Medium Sea Grey and Flat Black ("Night") I chose to complete the model in Dark Green and Mixed Grey, with Medium Sea Grey on the under surfaces.  Quite why the aircraft has the type "B" scheme is a mystery but it does make it somewhat rare if not unique in its guise.

References:

Spoiler

Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-1945
Camouflage and Markings - Supermarine Spitfire
http://www.relishmodels.co.uk/modelling-with-a-theme/modelling-with-a-theme-part-1.html
http://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/piloter/summary/95-schrader
http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersB6.html
Classic Warbirds Issue #4
Classic Warbirds Issue #7
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1323397
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/spitfire.htm (Internet Archive Version)
http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p019.html
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/Bernie_Bruen_poetry.html
http://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/piloter/summary/95-schrader
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/nzer-who-commanded-jet-fighter-squadron-dead
P-36 Hawk Aces of World War 2
http://www.bcar.org.uk/new1945-incident-logs
http://www.discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8390565

 

 

 

 

Finally but most certainly not least. A huge thank you to everyone on BM who shares their work thus helping new modellers like myself. I have to be honest I had to stop looking at and commenting on the work of others during this build as it was too intimidating and I was guilty of putting myself under too much pressure. Now this aircraft is complete I can once again enjoy the incredible work you all put forward.

 

Special thanks go to those who followed my WIP thread offering advice, help and greatly appreciated support, AB986 would have probably ended up in the bin without you. Thank you.

 

 

[CedB]

Great stuff, especially for a second model - interesting WiP and a nice result; well done that man!

I know you know about the ailerons mentioned at the end of the WiP; easy mistake  

I especially like the exhausts - very effective IMHO

[Rabbit Leader]

This is a lovely build. Well done. The colours look quite good to my eye (although I’m no colour barometer) and you’ve managed a nice smooth finish which is not easy to achieve at times. One suggestion if I may - ailerons work in opposite directions so if the port aileron is up, then the starboard one should be down. In all honesty, they are more noticeable in the neutral position when parked, so if you are to deploy these off neutral they would be just be a smidgen off. 

 

Time to pat yourself on the back and crack on with the next one. 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

[PlaStix]

I really am impressed with how your Spitfire turned out despite all the issues you had with the paint early on. What a fantastic result. You should be very proud of this one. Very well done. 

Kind regards,

Stix

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Great Spitfire KelT  ... Dont worry about your ailerons. I built a model and forgot to paint the instrument panel coaming. Didnt realize it till after the canopy was on. 🙄

[Poupichoups]

Whaaaaat ! This is your second model... Are you serious ? This is a very good work 😮

Quote

I have to be honest, when I see boxes of models in the shop they don't really excite me. The thought of building them doesn't do much for me either. What does get me excited about a model is learning about the particular aircraft's history and of the men who flew it. Although this build didn't start out that way it quickly took on life after I'd begun. 

I would recommand you to watch some movies if you haven't already. Like Tora-tora, Battle of britain, Midway... And also to read some magazines. I don't know which magazines you have in Australia but here in France with have some that are quite good like "Aero-journal". You can learn many things on different aircrafts and after that you want to build them 😂

[Hairtrigger]

Very fine build....  I bet your sailing ships are splendid..   Have you done the Christian Radich?

[RMCS]

Lovley job

[KelT]

Thank you everyone, it does mean a lot to hear your comments and advice. Especially as they are so kind.

 

@Rabbit Leader  I cannot feel stupid enough about the ailerons believe me but in this particular case they were not neutral while parked as can be seen in the reference photo I posted in the spoiler section of my post. It was following that photo which had me place both ailerons in the down position without thinking of the bigger picture.

 

@Poupichoups Good advice and considering my aileron error I am hesitant to admit that I spent several years in the RAF, making the mistake even more idiotic. I was also fortunate enough, during the Gulf war, to be able to crawl over nearly all the aircraft on the bases museum looking, of all things, for spare parts. To be honest aircraft just don't excite me for the machine themselves yet crawling through all those old museum planes and feeling the history oozing out of them does stir up many emotions. To be honest the story I included above about the aircraft holds a lot more of an emotional bond than the plastic model itself, I really enjoyed researching it all and learning about these brave men in those difficult times.

 

@Hairtrigger  I have to confess I've never heard of the Christian Radich and even worse I'll admit that sailing ships hold less of a draw for me than aircraft. My first model was the Airfix Cutty Sark which was bought for a surprise Christmas present and was what got me started hacking away at bits of plastic. I did enjoy building her for the experience but never felt inclined to research her history (beyond what was written on the box) as I do when I am doing an aircraft kit.

 

@PlaStix  Thank you so much for your help, advice and support, your twin Spitfires thread has been constantly open in my browser as my only reference although I come nowhere near your skill level. I will get there though and much of that is down to your leading the way.

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by KelT

[Bell209]

Second model?! OMG, that's good!

[Newbie(kinda)]

'Practice kit'? 'PRACTICE' kit? Good God, I don't even want to think about what you'll achieve when you do a REAL build! But seriously, lovely finish and  a really interesting history of this aircraft. I want to track down your WIP, as I have this kit in the stash!

[BerndM]

Lovely Spitfire and for the second build fantastic. Learning about the aircraft and the men who flew and serviced them is a great boost for the inspiration.

Can you fix the ailerons without damage ?

[bigbadbadge]

Hi KelT

Fabulous model you have created.  I saw the paint woes you had and your patience levels must be very high indeed.  You have done very well and we all make mistakes . This is only your second model and I personally can't wait to see the next ones.

Thanks for sharing.

All the best 

Chris 

[Spitfire31]

Amazing Spitfire, especially for a second kit – hard to believe.

 

I agree with the others about the impression of the exhausts – among the most authentic looking I've seen.

 

Interesting to note that you've already discovered research as a rewarding activity, even to the point of pushing modelling down the priority list. Ask me how I know…

 

For your next Spitfire, you might make some detail research of the dimension of the yellow propeller tips (there's a thread here on BM that's very illuminating) and also the geometry of the main landing gear.

 

Impressive modelling, and I'm not being polite. 😉

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

[speedbird340]

For a second model that is brilliant stuff! You can be super proud of that build. I can only imagine what your future models will look like if you continue like this. Museum quality stuff soon!😎

[KelT]

Again, thanks to everyone for your kind comments.

 

@Newbie(kinda)  The kit was actually very impressive, I don't have anything to compare it to of course but I was amazed and actually a little caught out by the precision of the fit. Even for someone who has never done one before I found it to be excellent quality. The only dubious design flaw is the undercarriage fitting, it doesn't give the impression of being a very strong support, I used this thread of one of Plastix's impressive builds as my guide but I didn't trust myself to drill out the wheel struts. In the end superglue seems to have been enough. At the end of my WIP I included an amazing colour photo of the aircraft detailed in the kit that is worth checking out if you are looking for a reference.

 

@BerndM Unfortunately it's not an easy job task to fix the ailerons or the incorrect propeller, I did try. They do irk me a little I have to admit but at the end of the day this kit was never intended to be perfect just something to make mistakes on before I built my next model. In that purpose it has severed extremely well, hopefully I don't have any mistakes left in me now. 🙂

 

@Spitfire31 I think I read that thread or certainly read something about it, I also read about the length of the yellow on the leading edge being fifty inches if I remember correctly but when I scaled it down it just didn't look right. To be honest in this particular build I cared less about accuracy and more about technique, I know I should have considered both but just the one aspect was overwhelming enough. I didn't know there was a problem with the landing gear though, the instructions did give angles and I kind of paid attention but mostly went with just using the wheel covers as alignment as I figured they'd give extra support to what seemed to be a too flimsy joint. Could you expand a little on what exactly is wrong with the undercarriage please I am always eager to learn.

 

Ah, I just re-read the description of the leading edge:

 

"4in wide yellow strips along leading edge of wing from approximately mid-way along each semi-span. 50in."

 

I read that as the yellow being 50in wide which didn't scale correctly but now I read it again I suspect it means that they begin 50in from the wing root, would that be right? There's just too much to learn sometimes but I will get there eventually.

 

 

 

[Spitfire31]

On 8/5/2018 at 1:07 AM, KelT said:

 

@Spitfire31 I think I read that thread or certainly read something about it, I also read about the length of the yellow on the leading edge being fifty inches if I remember correctly but when I scaled it down it just didn't look right. To be honest in this particular build I cared less about accuracy and more about technique, I know I should have considered both but just the one aspect was overwhelming enough. I didn't know there was a problem with the landing gear though, the instructions did give angles and I kind of paid attention but mostly went with just using the wheel covers as alignment as I figured they'd give extra support to what seemed to be a too flimsy joint. Could you expand a little on what exactly is wrong with the undercarriage please I am always eager to learn.

 

It's always difficult to judge angles from two-dimensional photos and I may be out of my depth here. It looked to me as if the main landing gear legs were splayed out quite a bit and the wheels appeared to have have negative camber, whereas the legs should be almost vertical and the wheels have positive camber, like so:

 

But then again, I might just have been fooled by the angle of the photos…

My comment about the yellow tips were about the propeller blades. The last word on the size of yellow prop tips goes to our sadly missed, all-knowing oracle Edgar in this thread: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234969246-yellow-propeller-tip-dimensions/.

 

The long and the short of it is that it's easy to paint the yellow tips too large – in 1/48th scale, they should only be 2.12mm deep in order to conform to regulations. A bit anal retentive, I know…

 

Kind regards,

Joachim

 

[KelT]

@Spitfire31  Thank you. I don't think the photos are lying what they show is how it is. The Airfix instructions gave the angle for the wheel legs at 93deg which is virtually vertical. Since the joint was such a weak one I went with laying the wheel cover against the aircraft body to give it a little more strength. I don't have any way of measuring it accurately but I'd say it gives more like 95deg a difference I didn't think would really show, I guess I was wrong. 

The negative camber on the wheels was something I wasn't even aware of or looking for I just glued the parts together as they fitted so that is a new piece of information for me. I shall look out for these things if I build another Spitfire and indeed on other aircraft in general.

 

For the yellow wingtips I admit to my guilt 😳. Having experienced lots of issues in other areas I was pretty much over it at that particular point and I didn't so much paint the prop tips as dunk them into the pot. A method which doesn't work very well by the way since the paint tends to run away from the edges. I do agree that 2.12mm is a little anal but then as the old saying goes, "take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves". The more of these little things, especially simple ones such as these you have brought to my attention, that we can get right the better the overall appearance. I don't think I ever want to worry about such minute details but why not get them right if it's an easy thing to do.

 

Thank you for the information and help.