Post by acklington on Jan 1, 2022 21:57:23 GMT 1
I made a determined effort to finish three models before 2021 passed into history, with the third kit being completed just in time on New Year's Eve.
Here is the first, a 1/72 Airfix Spitfire IIb, made up from the spares box of earlier Airfix Spitfire kits, mainly using the Mk.Vb version. This Spitfire P8234 was the only Mk.IIb (canon armed) to be based at RAF Ouston, from December 1943 until the War's end. It was with 13 Group Communications Flight and they did not carry code letters or other unit markings. It was newly painted in the late-war style camouflage of Ocean Grey and Dark green over medium grey. 13 Group's remit covered all of northern England and southern Scotland, so it will have appeared at many northern airfields, perhaps on VIP escort duties, or maybe as a senior officer's 'personal' aircraft.
P8234, 13 Group Comms Flight, Ouston, December 1943 (17) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
P8234, 13 Group Comms Flight, Ouston, December 1943 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The second is Airfix's latest 1/72 Spitfire kit, the Spitfire Vc. As far as I can ascertain this was the only Mk.Vc ever based at RAF Ouston, for some six weeks in mid-1943 when the all-Belgian 350 Squadron moved in from RAF Acklington, before returning there. They did fully re-equip with the Mk.Vc but it seems that EE727 was the only one that made it to Ouston. In the Airfix kit there are two propellor/spinner options, and despite much searching of reference books and the internet I'm still completely confused as to which one would have been fitted to EE727. So with the aid of some blu-tack the following photos show both options! Can anyone put me out of my misery?
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (21) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (23) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, P8234, 13 Grp Comms Flt, Ouston, 1943 (5) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, P8234, 13 Grp Comms Flt, Ouston, 1943 (7) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The third model is the Xtrakit 1/72 Supermarine Scimitar F.1. I have posted photos of this model earlier, but eventually got round to fitting the four external tanks. This was not easy as I made them to clip on and off, as no external stores were carried during the 736 Sqdn Team's aerobatic displays. The four pylons in the kit sloped down too much at the front, so each had to be corrected and matched to the other three. The kit's decals (the red stripes on each tank) were an absolute nightmare as they instantly stuck like glue, and broke up if any pressure was applied to move them. So there is a lot of red paint in those 12 stripes!
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (15) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (23) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (25) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (28) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Thanks for looking, and best New Year's wishes and good health to all.
Here is the first, a 1/72 Airfix Spitfire IIb, made up from the spares box of earlier Airfix Spitfire kits, mainly using the Mk.Vb version. This Spitfire P8234 was the only Mk.IIb (canon armed) to be based at RAF Ouston, from December 1943 until the War's end. It was with 13 Group Communications Flight and they did not carry code letters or other unit markings. It was newly painted in the late-war style camouflage of Ocean Grey and Dark green over medium grey. 13 Group's remit covered all of northern England and southern Scotland, so it will have appeared at many northern airfields, perhaps on VIP escort duties, or maybe as a senior officer's 'personal' aircraft.
P8234, 13 Group Comms Flight, Ouston, December 1943 (17) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
P8234, 13 Group Comms Flight, Ouston, December 1943 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The second is Airfix's latest 1/72 Spitfire kit, the Spitfire Vc. As far as I can ascertain this was the only Mk.Vc ever based at RAF Ouston, for some six weeks in mid-1943 when the all-Belgian 350 Squadron moved in from RAF Acklington, before returning there. They did fully re-equip with the Mk.Vc but it seems that EE727 was the only one that made it to Ouston. In the Airfix kit there are two propellor/spinner options, and despite much searching of reference books and the internet I'm still completely confused as to which one would have been fitted to EE727. So with the aid of some blu-tack the following photos show both options! Can anyone put me out of my misery?
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (21) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, Ouston, mid 1943 (23) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, P8234, 13 Grp Comms Flt, Ouston, 1943 (5) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
EE727, 350 Sqdn, P8234, 13 Grp Comms Flt, Ouston, 1943 (7) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The third model is the Xtrakit 1/72 Supermarine Scimitar F.1. I have posted photos of this model earlier, but eventually got round to fitting the four external tanks. This was not easy as I made them to clip on and off, as no external stores were carried during the 736 Sqdn Team's aerobatic displays. The four pylons in the kit sloped down too much at the front, so each had to be corrected and matched to the other three. The kit's decals (the red stripes on each tank) were an absolute nightmare as they instantly stuck like glue, and broke up if any pressure was applied to move them. So there is a lot of red paint in those 12 stripes!
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (15) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (23) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (25) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XD220, 618, 736 Sqdn Lossiemouth, Acklington B of B, 15 Sept 62 (28) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
Thanks for looking, and best New Year's wishes and good health to all.