GREG DESTEC Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Here is my initial entry to the GB, Airfix 1/72 B P Defiant Mk 1 & Bf 109E dogfight double, so to speak. I am building them in flight and will make a display stand with the 109 bearing down on the Daffy. The Defiant will be in the markings of 141 Squadron and the 109 will be from III/JG51. These two squadrons were involved in a very brief engagement on 19 July 1940 and was a clear indication that the Germans had got over the surprise of the Defiants sting in the tail. I will add a bit more info as the build progresses. This is a placeholder for the time being as i have two other projects ongoing in other GB's. A couple of pics....... TFL, Cheers Greg 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 You spoiled my head count! Looking forward to seeing what you do with these, especially for 141 Squadron which was only down the road from me in West Malling. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Not wishing to hog your thread, but here’s my rendition of MPM's Defiant, L7000 TW-P, No141 Squadron, West Malling, July 1940. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 (edited) On 7/10/2020 at 9:10 AM, Heather Kay said: You spoiled my head count! Looking forward to seeing what you do with these, especially for 141 Squadron which was only down the road from me in West Malling. Ooops! Sorry about that 😀 Did a wee bit of research about the Defiant's participation in the Battle, and found out that on the whole it wasn't their finest hour. However they certainly did their bit so to speak. After the 19 July 141 were moved to Prestwick, in Ayrshire as part of 13 Group. Looking forward to getting started, and good job on your MPM version, it looks really good 👍 Cheers Greg Edited July 11, 2020 by GREG DESTEC Spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 Right, chocks away! I am starting with the Defiant as i have been doing a bit of background reading. I have the aircraft of the Aces series of paperbacks with the one that covers Defiant, Blemheim & Havoc Aces, and i also picked up Defiant Mk 1 Combat Log on the Kindle. The latter covers May to September 1940 so is very relevant to the BoB. Not surprisingly the book is short at 80 pages and is really a compliation of ORB and actaul Combat reports from the period in question. My Defiant will be from 141 Squadron, the second Squadron to become fully operational on the type. After a quite start to their career doing standing patrols and Convoy cover 141 ran in to trouble on 19 July south of Folkstone when having been too late to intercept a raid on Dover Harbour they were redirected to Cap Griz Nes. The formation of 9 aircraft were bounced by Bf 109;s from III/JG51 and lost 4 aircraft in the 109,s initial pass. Without the hard won experience 264 Squadron had gained over Holland & France 141 suffered 6 aircraft lost in their first combat with the enemy. Another Defiant was written off in a forced landing returning to base. 10 men dead most of them the air gunners. 141 were taken out of the front line and regrouped in Scotland as part of 13 Group. 264 Squadron had their patrols cancelled the same day but were to continue in the Day fighter role until late August when they too were withdrawn from the Battle. Despite all the heavy losses the Defiant continued to be of service and was to see better results in the nightfighter role until it was superceeded by the Beaufighter and Mosquito. My model will be built in tandem with a 109 in JG51 markings. On the fateful day in July the Germans didn't get away unscathed losing one 109 to 141's guns. As for my model well its underway, and has been very straightforward so far. As i will be building it wheels up it will take even less time as the undercaridge assembly is quite detailed in the lowered position and takes up a reasonable part of the build. Here is what i have so far... TFL Greg 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Hi Greg. Good to see you have got this one underway. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 12, 2020 Author Share Posted August 12, 2020 Well, as those of you who have built this before may know, this kit is flying together. I have not had to break out the filler at all and all assemblies have fitted perfectly (or as well as i can manage ). The photos speak for themselves, i hope, so i'll move on to those. Decals are from an AM set i got for my last Defiant build, and went on very well with decalfix. Im starting the 109 shortly as this one will be ready for its stand/base soon. TFL Cheers Greg 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 22, 2020 Author Share Posted August 22, 2020 Time for another update. The Defiant is essentially complete bar the small fragile bits that i will add once it is mounted on its base. I have made progress with the 109 which has been very straightforward apart from getting the smaller parts off the sprues without breaking them. So far i have broke the radio mast and one of the tailplane supports. However i managed to get them back together with a lot of patience. Also for anyone wishing to include the pilot, he won't fit unless you shorten his legs. I had to chop mine off at the boots. Some photos, TFL Cheers Greg 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Hi Greg. Looking good. I very rarely find that pilots fit without some major surgery! Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 1 hour ago, PlaStix said: Hi Greg. Looking good. I very rarely find that pilots fit without some major surgery! Kind regards, Stix Cheers mate 🍺 The 109 is nearly done, so more progress to post shortly 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Hi Greg, both the Defiant and the 109 look good! Great painting job on the Defiant. For the 109, are you going with the box art or something else? Airfix call their kit a 109 E-3. Has it got the earlier more rounded canopy? The 109 on the box art is definitely an E-4, as far as I am aware. Almost there! JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 20 minutes ago, jean said: Hi Greg, both the Defiant and the 109 look good! Great painting job on the Defiant. For the 109, are you going with the box art or something else? Airfix call their kit a 109 E-3. Has it got the earlier more rounded canopy? The 109 on the box art is definitely an E-4, as far as I am aware. Almost there! JR Hi Jean, No Airfix have not supplied the earlier E-3 style canopy on this kit. Annoyingly it is provided on the 1/48 kits. I am going with the box set markings and scheme as they are reportedly for 3/JG51 who were responsible for the decimation of 141 Squadron during BoB. I will post photos soon as my 109 is now at the same stage as the Defiant. I now need to build a base for the two models. Cheers Greg 👍 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Although it's listed as an E-3 the real aircraft that boxing of the Airfix kit represents did have the later E-4-type canopy fitted. It was retro-fitted to some E-1's and E-3's. Cheers, Stew 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 14 hours ago, Stew Dapple said: Although it's listed as an E-3 the real aircraft that boxing of the Airfix kit represents did have the later E-4-type canopy fitted. It was retro-fitted to some E-1's and E-3's. Cheers, Stew Thanks for that Stew! Cheers Greg🍺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 Pictures of the 109, as promised TFL Cheers Greg 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Oh yes! I love this 109! Sterling work. JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 42 minutes ago, jean said: Oh yes! I love this 109! Sterling work. JR Thanks Jean, Much appreciated. Still got all the wee bits to add but will wait until it's so ready to go on the stand. Cheers Greg 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Your 109 is looking superb Greg! I'm looking forward to seeing them on display! Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 1 hour ago, PlaStix said: Your 109 is looking superb Greg! I'm looking forward to seeing them on display! Kind regards, Stix Thanks Stix 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Fast work Greg. Well done. I would have had my Bf 110D up by now if it wasn't for my decal making going wrong. Should be back on track by Wednesday, so watch your six on Thursday..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Good news it went right today. 😈 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 On 8/28/2020 at 10:43 PM, GREG DESTEC said: Pictures of the 109, as promised Greg, Just catching up with this thread. The 109 really looks quite special. Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 9 hours ago, Ray_W said: Greg, Just catching up with this thread. The 109 really looks quite special. Ray Thanks Ray 👍 Getting them both ready to add to the base now. Cheers Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 Playing with the base/layout now. The frame is a photo frame from Asda, which will receuve some polyfiller to create a sea like textured surface. Hopefully i should make some progress over the weekend. TFL Greg 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 That's going to be an impressive display Greg. What a superb job you have made of the the two combatants too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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