Considered by many to have been the ultimate Spitfire, this 1/72 F Mk.22 from Airfix has the optional markings of No.603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh.
Last year I spent an enjoyable few days in that very city, so whilst there I decided to visit RAF Turnhouse and try and blag my way onto the Station, using my planned Airfix model and the fact that my late father was in the RAF Regiment, as an excuse to be there in the first place!
Eventually I was introduced to the Station Adjutant, one Flt. Lt. Tommy 'Lego' Bricklea. He was most helpful and said I was in luck, the Spitfire was due to fly off in a few days time, in short hops down south to an airbase where it was going to have a top to toe service. I was allowed to take a few pictures. I mentioned to 'Lego' that my father served some of WW2 at Hawarden Airfield nr. Chester ( Now Aerospace Broughton).
Bricklea informed me that PK, as her specialist ground crew called the Spitfire, was going to use Broughton as a stop over on her journey south. I told him I lived almost on the flight path of stuff coming out of Aerospace. He laughingly replied he would tell the Spitfire pilot, that shortly after take off from Aerospace, bank left and to look out for a lunatic wearing a fluorescent jacket running about in a field, waving!
"Yeh right" Thought me.......
I thanked 'Lego' for his hospitality and headed back to Edinburgh and a few pints of heavy in Wethersp***s
The model turned out to be a cracking kit. Perfect fit, no filling, superb decals and brush painted in No.603 Squadron colours using two coats of Vallejo Model Air Alooominum acrylics. No weathering, her ground crew think too much of her to let one speck of muck or oil onto her beautiful body!....... :blow-kiss:
P.K. in a quiet corner by the huts...
'Lego' Bricklea kept his word.
Adios PK, and thank you!
I scampered back across the fields to home. I had left another camera with the wife - Just in case!
"Did you hear that beautiful Griffon engine?" I asked.
"Hear it?, I could smell the bl***y thing! I tried to take a couple of pictures for you."
Here's what she took. Bless her.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers.
Ron
P.S. No superimposed images were used and no animals hurt during the making of this epic saga of bull ****!
Last year I spent an enjoyable few days in that very city, so whilst there I decided to visit RAF Turnhouse and try and blag my way onto the Station, using my planned Airfix model and the fact that my late father was in the RAF Regiment, as an excuse to be there in the first place!
Eventually I was introduced to the Station Adjutant, one Flt. Lt. Tommy 'Lego' Bricklea. He was most helpful and said I was in luck, the Spitfire was due to fly off in a few days time, in short hops down south to an airbase where it was going to have a top to toe service. I was allowed to take a few pictures. I mentioned to 'Lego' that my father served some of WW2 at Hawarden Airfield nr. Chester ( Now Aerospace Broughton).
Bricklea informed me that PK, as her specialist ground crew called the Spitfire, was going to use Broughton as a stop over on her journey south. I told him I lived almost on the flight path of stuff coming out of Aerospace. He laughingly replied he would tell the Spitfire pilot, that shortly after take off from Aerospace, bank left and to look out for a lunatic wearing a fluorescent jacket running about in a field, waving!
"Yeh right" Thought me.......
I thanked 'Lego' for his hospitality and headed back to Edinburgh and a few pints of heavy in Wethersp***s
The model turned out to be a cracking kit. Perfect fit, no filling, superb decals and brush painted in No.603 Squadron colours using two coats of Vallejo Model Air Alooominum acrylics. No weathering, her ground crew think too much of her to let one speck of muck or oil onto her beautiful body!....... :blow-kiss:
P.K. in a quiet corner by the huts...
'Lego' Bricklea kept his word.
Adios PK, and thank you!
I scampered back across the fields to home. I had left another camera with the wife - Just in case!
"Did you hear that beautiful Griffon engine?" I asked.
"Hear it?, I could smell the bl***y thing! I tried to take a couple of pictures for you."
Here's what she took. Bless her.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers.
Ron
P.S. No superimposed images were used and no animals hurt during the making of this epic saga of bull ****!
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