JasonC Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Great video from the IWM archive which I'd not seen before. As per the blurb, the occasion is the 1955 Queen's Birthday flypast in Hong Kong, as well marking the retirement of the aircraft from service with the HKAAF. Colour throughout, and great quality considering the age. https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/2791 Highlights: - Starts with a pre-flight checks (some nice close ups), followed by take off. - Ground and aerial footage of the mixed 4-ship formation (PR.19 & F.24). - Flyby of four Harvards. - Aerial close up of F.24 VN318, which lowers and raises its undercarriage. - Landing and taxi to hangar. Spits that I can make out are Mk.24's VN485 (now at Duxford) & VN318, and PR.19's PS852 & PS854. J. Ok, so it's not quite WWII, but they're Spits! 5 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Am sure this has been here before. Still worth watching again though and noting odd underwing roundel absences on the F24s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 Ah, found it. Tony posted a similar topic in Real Aviation. Though I note that the IWM version linked above has additional footage, including the pre-flight checks. cheers, Jason 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Yo're right. There is a lot more to this version. Especially some pre flights light checking rads and flaps etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti_K Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Hello Jason, what a great film! Thank you for sharing. I spotted PS852 (Ex 81 Squadron, Flt Lt E.C. Powles) a couple of times and was of course excited as this particular Spitfire has fascinated me for years. Cheers, Antti 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Thanks for posting this Jason. I notice the F.24’s have no underwing roundels and the underwing serials look a little different to the way Airfix depict these on their latest 1/48 kit decal sheet. It’s nice to see this film in full and the close up images are really fascinating. Do we believe that PR.19 PS854 is the one with the all red spinner? I’m having trouble making that one out. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted January 12, 2019 Author Share Posted January 12, 2019 12 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said: Thanks for posting this Jason. I notice the F.24’s have no underwing roundels and the underwing serials look a little different to the way Airfix depict these on their latest 1/48 kit decal sheet. It’s nice to see this film in full and the close up images are really fascinating. Do we believe that PR.19 PS854 is the one with the all red spinner? I’m having trouble making that one out. Cheers.. Dave Actually one of the F.24's (VN318) has underwing roundels (the only one of the four Spits to have them). As far as I can tell it is indeed PS854 that has the all red spinner. Agree that the Airfix serial style seems a little off. I also see that Airfix have it down as '80 Squadron, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force'. 80 Sqn was the RAF unit that previously owned the Mk.24's; the HKAAF had no such squadron nomenclature to my knowledge. VN318 is interesting for a few reasons. It's the only one of the four Spits to sport underwing roundels, and also the only one with an individual aircraft letter (E). It also has the long cannon barrel fairings (see for example 10:35, and compared with VN485 at 5:52 & 6:53). Airfix seem to have got this correct, at least going by their artwork. Also worth noting that part of the crowbar seems to be red! See film at 4:00. regards, Jason 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted January 12, 2019 Author Share Posted January 12, 2019 Also interesting that the planning board for the flypast (2:27) suggests that a Hornet might be involved in the proceedings. Alas no sign of it in the film. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 29 minutes ago, JasonC said: 12 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said: Actually one of the F.24's (VN318) has underwing roundels (the only one of the four Spits to have them). As far as I can tell it is indeed PS854 that has the all red spinner. Yep - Spot on Jason. I’ve taken (as best I could) a screen grab of PS854 and the underwing serials of VN318. I didn’t notice the longer cannon barrels in comparison to VN485 so thanks for pointing that out. I’ve got the 1/72 Spit 22 in the stash and think that it’s quite possible to build this fairly OOB to depict ‘318. Its also interesting to see the Dark Green paint used inside the cockpit, looks nothing like the usual Humbrol 78 and the 1/72 Airfix F.22 instructions do suggest Humbrol 120 for these internal areas. Anyway - it’s all good stuff and I seem to notice more with each viewing. Cheers and thanks once again.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Sorry - just one last question, can anyone identity this Fuel Bowser shown at approx 01:57? I’d like to now the make and name of this vehicle if that’s known to anyone. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 That is a cracking bit of film. Makes you wonder how many more are hiding out there. Kai Tak looked a lot differe tn in 1955 than it did when I flew in there in the 80s! Julien 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 @JasonC VN318 is shaping up to be my next build and this film is an embarrassment of riches. Many thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 3 hours ago, TonyOD said: @JasonC VN318 is shaping up to be my next build and this film is an embarrassment of riches. Many thanks. No worries. Which kit are you building? J. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 7 minutes ago, JasonC said: Which kit are you building? Airfix 1/48 OOB. Currently on a very early Mk I so the result will be a contrast! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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