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Good evening this is my Arma Hobby HurricaneMk1 of  S/L Robert Stanford TUCK Squadron 257 in October 1940

Humbrol Brush paint

Aeromaster decals

 

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Build thread here :

 

Patrice

 

 

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Messerschmitt Bf-110 C Zerstörer

2N+AP 9.ZG76 still coded to 6.ZG76  

France August 1940

Just prior to forced landing Clapham, Sussex after action with No. 602 Sqn. Spitfires

 

Eduard 1/48 

 

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Build log can be found here:

 

 

Ray

 

 

 

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'Two Spits from Hornchurch'

 

Eduard 1/48

K9953 of 74 Squadron, flown by F/Lt Adolph Malan in June/July 1940

N3162 of 41 Squadron, flown by P/O Stanley Lock in August/September 1940

Build thread:

 

 

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Cheers

 

Dave

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3 "B"s from 19, 504 and 603 Sqns - 15 September Battle of Britain Day

 

Spitfire X4324 XT-B of 603 Squadron (City of Edinburgh) was flown by Plt Off Peter Pease who was shot down by Bf109s when attacking a flight of He111s in the afternoon.  Tragically he was killed.  The picture of this aircraft was on the front of my copy of Dr Price's 'Battle of Britain Day'; which gave me the idea to do these three aircraft.

 

xt b

 

Hurricane P2725 TM-B of 504 Sqn  (County of Nottingham) was flown by Sgt Ray Holmes.  He rammed a Dornier 17 and both crashed in Central London.  Sgt Holmes survived the war and was reunited with the joystick when bits of P2725 were dug up in the 2000s.  Ironically, the Dornier has already been abandoned by the crew and was on auto pilot.  

 

tmb

 

Spitfire X4179 B-QV of 19 Squadron flew from Duxford as part of the Bader Big Wing.  It was relatively new with about a month in service and the Ian Allen book on Fighter Command states that it was flown by FS 'Grumpy' Unwin who shot down 2 x Bf109e on the day (this might be open to debate).  It  was eventually written off in 1943 with an OTU.

 

qv b

 

The models were the current 1/72 Airfix Spitfire and the Arma Hurricane. They were painted in Tamiya RAF Dark Green and Vallejo BS Dark Earth which seems to give the right colour proportions.  The underneaths were all Sky, but I used Xtracrylic on the Hurricane, Tamiya Sky on one Spitfire and Vallejo Sky on the other.  All had differing hues! The markings were a mix of Airfix and Arma Kit markings with Xtradecal squadron codes and Ventura serial numbers.  I did not do much weathering as the Spitfires were nearly brand new in Service and I am sure 504 Sqn kept their aircraft spotless.  I don't think RAF aircraft would have weathered much during the BoB, they would have either been shot down, SOC-ed or Cat-ed back to a MU before much fading and chalking etc. 

 

huu1

 

all three hurr 3

 

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Grumman Martlet MkI, BJ519, No 804 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, RNAS Skaebrae, Orkneys, October 1940

 

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The Grumman F4F-3 was ordered by the French government at the end of 1939. As the export variant, known as the G-36A, 81 aircraft were destined to equip the French navy's new Joffre class aircraft carriers. First flying in May 1940, the aircraft unfortunately never made it to France, instead being taken over by the British.

 

The G-36A was powered by a nine-cylinder Wright R-1820-G205A radial engine giving 1200hp with a single two-stage supercharger. The aircraft would have originally been armed with six Darne 7.5mm machine guns, two in the fuselage and two in each wing, and all the original 81 aircraft were fitted out with French specifications for instruments and controls. It fell to Blackburn Aircraft, Brough, Yorkshire, to modify the aircraft to British requirements. Blackburn actually handled every subsequent Grumman order for the Royal Naval Air Service. Aside from cockpit instrumentation, British gunsights and catapult spools were fitted. Four 0.5in machine guns were fitted, two to a wing. Efforts were made to install British radio equipment, but it was found US equipment was better so it was used instead.
 

The new single-seat fighter was named Martlet MkI, and first entered service in August 1940 with No 804 Squadron FAA, stationed at RNAS Hatston on the Orkney Islands, where they protected the fleet anchorage at Scapa Flow. The MkI didn’t have a wing folding mechanism, so was based initially at shore stations.

 

No 804 Squadron was formed in November 1939, equipped with Gloster Sea Gladiators from part of No 796 Squadron. Transferring to HMS Glorious in April 1940, the squadron provided air cover for ferrying the Gladiators of RAF 269 Squadron for the ill-fated Norwegian campaign. By May, 804 was transferred to HMS Furious at Campbeltown. Between May and September 1940, the squadron returned to Hatston, being re-equipped with the Grumman Martlet MkI in October 1940 when they moved to RNAS Skaebrae in the Orkneys.

 

804 Squadron was one of two Fleet Air Arm squadrons to operate under RAF Fighter Command control during the Battle of Britain. There is no direct evidence I can find that 804 operated their Martlets during the Battle, but since they re-equipped with the type during the period I claim a use of my Modellers' Licence!

 

The AZ Models kit was kindly given to me by Ed @Procopius and I’d like to dedicate this little build to his generosity. As a kit, it suffers all the usual short-run foibles, but with care and patience makes into an attractive example of a Grumman Martlet. Finished with spare transfers as the kit ones suffered a bit of a misprint, and painted with ColourCoats enamels. I realise I forgot to unmask the belly windows before the photos were taken. I’ll do them again another day!

 

The build thread is here, shared with a Fairey Fulmar build of No 808 Squadron.

 

 

EDITED to replace images.

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It would appear that the only bomber versions of the Ju 88 to serve during the battle of Britain were the A-1 and A-5, but until Revell recently released an A-1, most kits were of the later A-4 version, including, allegedly the ancient Airfix one which is the subject of this build, so I decided to do a conversion.

 

Fortunately, Airfix made it a lot easier as they seem to have erroneously moulded the engine nacelles, cowlings and props of the A-1, the A-4 having props with much wider blades and modified cooling which changed the layout of the front face of the cowling, and resulted in a prominent bulge under the nacelle. Consequently all I had to do was shorten the wings and reshape the tips, modify the rudder so it was no longer the balanced type, and replace the later type canopy which had the bulged rear section needed when extra guns were added. I also added a bit of detailing to the cockpit and a set of resin main wheels, resin replacement exhausts and some more accurate bombs. Otherwise it was OOB.

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The markings come from the Xtradecal BoB sheet and it is said to be an aircraft of Stab I/KG77 based at Laon-Athies in France which was shot down at Hertingfordbury in Hertfordshire on October 3rd 1940. It may have carried "formation" bands on the wing and tail at the time, but I have left them off. Some sources show a white disc on the spine for the peilgerät RDF aerial but my Kagero book says it was not fitted on the A-1 so I have not bothered. I believe Revell have included one in their new kit though!

 

I make no claims for accuracy, this is just my approximation to a Ju88 A-1.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited by PeterB
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Airfix Hurricane Mk1. 1/48 scale

This is one of the defending planes of 605 squadron in the 15th August northern raids. It was flown by P/O Kenneth Schadtler-Law. UP-O, P2717

I think you can guess why I chose this plane. 

Ken was South African.

On this raid he short down one of the raiders into the sea. In doing so he was hit and had to land in a field which resulted in the plane turning over and he

injured his head.

Thanks to Rabbit Leader for the 'O' Decal.

I have attempted to just give a little bit of Exhaust effect as I over did the first try and had to repaint the sides. 

 

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Hurricane image 11

 

Hurricane image 10

 

Hurricane image 9

 

Hurricane image 8

 

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303 Squadron, Hurricane Mk.I, RF-F, V6684, September

Kit: Airfix A05129, 1:48 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Tropical

Finish: Mr Color Dark Green (C-23), Dark Earth (C-369), and Sky (C-368). Vallejo Model Wash 75.516 Grey. MSI Micro Flat.

Decals: Techmod 48025 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I

 

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The build log:

 

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This is a Bf 110D Dackelbauch which escorted the Heinkels in the Northern raids on August 15th.

The 'E' code is home made. This plane was lost in the raid, shot down into the sea off Northumberland. The pilot Fw. Klaus Ladwein survived into captivity. The gunner Karl Lenk is MIA

 

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Fairey Fulmar MkI, N1868, 7L, No 808 Squadron Fleet Air Arm, Wick, Scotland, August 1940

 

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The British Air Ministry issued a specification in 1934 calling for a light bomber capable of being used as a dive bomber. In the end, the Hawker Henley was the selected design - although it was only used as a target tug, but that's a whole different story.

 

Fairey's P.4/34 prototype was later found, with some modifications, able meet a later Admiralty specification for a fleet observer and defence fighter. As the rather hide-bound organisation it was at the time, the specifications called for a two-man crew, with a pilot plus observer. It was understood that pilots were not capable of flying the plane, making observations, and finding their home aircraft carrier on their own. I am only partially joking.

 

The Fulmar first flew in April 1940. It was an all-metal design, derived very much from the Fairey Battle light bomber, and was rather heavy for an eight-gun fighter. This wasn't all that surprising, considering the nature of a carrier-based aircraft with folding wings and catapult equipment, carrying two people. The Fulmar proved to be easy to fly, with few vices, rugged and reliable. A single Rolls-Royce Merlin VIII of 1,080hp gave the plane a maximum speed of just under 250mph and a service ceiling of 21,000ft, plus a useful endurance of around four hours. Armament was eight 0.303in Browning machine guns, grouped four to each wing. Lack of a defensive armament for the observer was criticised at the time, and it became a regular thing for observers to carry a Very pistol or sub-machine gun on sorties. I have read an effective defence was to throw a bundle of toilet paper wrapped in elastic bands into the slipstream, apparently guaranteed to throw a pursuing fighter into confusion!

 

No 808 Squadron was formed at RAF Worthy Down, Hampshire, in July 1940. A brief period of patrols over the Irish Sea while based on the Isle of Man was followed by the squadron being assigned to the RAF Coastal Command station at Wick in the north of Scotland. No 808 Squadron came under the effective control of No 13 Group, Fighter Command, making it only the second FAA squadron to qualify for Battle of Britain honours. In September, the squadron was assigned to HMS Ark Royal, part of Force H in the Mediterranean. You can read more about the squadron on the Wikipedia page.

 

The kit was built from an Airfix boxing of a mould that has been around various manufacturers. I think it's currently available from AZ Models. It doesn't exactly fall together, but there isn't much that can go wrong with so few parts. I busied up the cockpit areas a bit, bought in a paint mask from Montex, and made up the camouflage and markings to match what is known of N1868 in the summer of 1940. I suspect the actual finish is more correct once the squadron had been posted to Ark Royal, but without any further firm information it will do.

 

The WIP thread, mixed in with a Grumman Martlet build, can be found here:

 

 

 

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Hi,

 

Over the years I have built quite a few Ju-87 Stuka, including both the Airfix first and second moulding versions. For this GB I have built their more recent third 1/72 moulding in its original incarnation as a B-1.

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It is a nice kit and went together very easily. The only odd thing about it is the markings. Up until July 1940 it belonged to III/St. G 51, but after the fall of France the Luftwaffe went in for quite a bit of reorganisation, and III/St. G 51 became II/St. G 1, carrying over their markings. So this machine of 6./St. G 1 carries a letter T which would suggest the 9th Staffel normally. Airfix say it is from 9./St. G 51 in August 1940 which I think is wrong in terms of date - the Xtradecals sheet has exactly the same machine but from 6./St. G 1 which seems more likely.

 

Anyway, it was a fun build and I hope you like it.

 

Pete

Edited by PeterB
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One more Hurricane, V6605 of No. 1 squadron RCAF. It was temporarily flown by 303 squadron pilot Zdzislaw Henneberg before returned and used by the Canadians for the rest of the Battle, surviving until a fatal training mission in september 1941, killing pilot Edward Locke. Henneberg, with 8 victoriea during the battle, was not destined to survive 1941 either: he disappeared over the Channel after being hit by AA over France in September that year.

 

The kit is OOB from Arma’s popular 1/72 Hurricane Mk.I, build here:

 

 

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And a Defiant, a childhood favourite.

 

The model depicts L7021 of 264 squadron, flown by different crews. After inital succeses against bombers, it eventually succumbed while engaged by JG26 (thanks to AndyL for this and the following information). At the time it was flown by Squadron Leader George Garvin and Flight Lieutenant Robert Ash. The llane was set alight, and although both managed to bail, Ash was found dead in his parachute. This happened August 28, 1940.

 

 

The kit used was the new Airfix 1/72, with a vac-form canopy and turret, plus QB barrels. Build here:

 

 

 

 

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And a last contribution from me, one of the invaders: an Me piloted by Heinz Bär. Bär had a modest background and joined the airforce to gain enough experience to become a Lufthansa pilot, having not enough means to take the easier route. He had bad timing and instead ended up flying combat missions from the beginning to the end of the war. He was shot or forced down multiple times, and while flying this particular plane he was shot down by Spitfires and ended up swimming in the Channel. 

 

ICM 1/72 Bf 109E-3, straightforward out of the box, build here:

 

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Edited by Torbjorn
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Here's my second completion of the Group Build and the year: the 1/72 Arma Hobby Hurricane I. This model represents P3039 RE-D of 229 Squadron in September 1940, flown by the Belgian Pilot Officer Victor Marcel Maurice Ortmans. A potted biography of 'Vicky' Ortmans is here.

 

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The Arma Hobby kit was mostly a pleasure to build, there are some really nice features and a couple of traps for the unwary, but thanks to the groundbreaking builds of @Procopius and @lasermonkey I largely avoided them except where I clearly hadn't been paying attention. It was built more or less OOB with the additions being the Eduard Superfabric seatbelts, the Peewit canopy mask set, the P-Model camouflage mask set ('A' scheme) and a small disc of clear acetate for the gunsight reflector plate which is, of course, entirely invisible in the pictures above...

 

The paints used were Colourcoats Sky (ACRN01), Dark Green (ACRN09) Dark Earth (ACRN10) Night (ACRN17) and Interior Grey-Green (ACRN28), the decals were from the kit (national markings) which in the BoB Edition set are printed by Techmod and were excellent, and Aeromaster (squadron and aircraft codes, serials and nose-art) from their Battle of Britain Hurricanes set, long out of print. The model was matt coated with Xtracolour Matt Varnish, and exhaust and cartridge ejector chute-staining were done with ground-up hard pastels and the slight oil-staining under the nose was a mix of black and brown Citadel washes thinned down with a bit of Klear. The final touch was adding the aerial wire from Infini Fine White Lycra rigging thread.

 

I'm pleased with how it turned out, and doubly pleased to have finished more than one model this year :) 

 

Ongoing build thread is here; two more Hurri's are in the works...

 

 

Cheers, 

 

Stew

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