Spit / hurricane RAF question

[Guest]

Hi lads.

I have been toying with the idea of a 1/48 ICM Spit mk9 with crew diorama and decided that it would be a waste not to add a Hurricane for good measure (I must be bored!)

Now a couple of questions.

1. The Spit is in dark earth green but with invation stripes.I don't like these as they have to be masked and painted on.Lots of scope for error. Unless I do it freehand with a brush as was done initially.To the untrained eye it will purely look like bad painting!

I assume that the plane's side no would have stayed the same before and after the stripes were applied?

In other words, no stripes earlier in war, but the same plane ,same cammo?

2. Has anybody built the Airfix 1/48 mk1 Hurri? I have found Airfix to be a poor quality model and try to avoid them, but it is the only one I can get.

How are they to build? I might do wheels up landing or shot up one for the diorama.

3. Would Spits and Hurries operate from the same airfield? And I assume all aerodromes were grass back then?

Thanx

Theuns

[stona]

Hi Theuns,first the colour question,a MkIX Spitfire would never have been in the Dark Earth/Dark Green over Sky scheme. This was discontinued on fighters about a year before that Mark came into service. It would definitely have been in Ocean Grey/Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey.

Invasion stripes were applied in a hurry at short notice (for obvious security reasons) and were often far from perfect. They were also short lived,particularly on fighters. I'll check orders and give you some dates later, but they were quickly removed from upper surfaces and soon disappeared entirely. The aircrafts serial number never changed,thats's the small one usually infront of and below the horizontal stabiliser though they did sometimes get overpainted (with the Sky fuselage band typically). The squadron code (two letters) and aircraft code (single letter) could change if the aircraft was reassigned. This did happen. Also,more rarely,squadron code letters did change.

Most but not all aerodromes were grass,it's the reason why British fighters usually have smooth tyres. It was an attempt to prevent debris being thrown up against flaps,into radiators etc.

The Spitfire IX went into service late in 1942 I think it entirely possible that they may have shared airfields with Hurricanes (maybe not a MkI by now) but the poor old Hurricane was no longer a front line interceptor in the ETO being hopelessly outclassed by later marks of the Bf109 and in particular the Fw190. The Mk IX Spitfire was originally introduced as a stop gap to combat the Fw190. This explains why the different Marks don't follow a chronological order.

I've not built the Airfix kit you mention so I'm afraid "no comment" there.

Cheers

Steve

Okay,from notes. Stripes on upper surfaces removed at end of June (only 3/4 weeks after invasion). Removed from lower wing surfaces by September.Remaining stripes (lower fuselage) removed in December. Not everyone did this at the same time and this applies to fighters.

[Guest]

Steve my reply went missing so I'll try again.

Thanx for your info, interesting that the stripes were not on that long.

You were right re the grey/green,I saw it now.Pitty I like the brown/green.

It I don't like the Airfix kit (due to my limited skills) I will do the same idea but wit a ICM P-51b mustprang and academy 1/48 P-47 Jug.

Theuns

[ATTACH]20876.IPB[/ATTACH]

[stona]

That will make a nice subject. I love the dog in that ICM set. Here is a picture from a Belorussian(I only know him as Alexei) modeller of a Luftwaffe diorama. He has done a nice touch with the guy feeding the dog. I'm sure he wont mind me showing it to you guys.

Let us know how you get on with yours!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

That's a lovely diorama & a very good FW190-not sure about that bomb trolley though! Wouldn't want it going over any bumps even if they aren't fused!

Patrick

[Guest]

Wow, now that is tallent!

I try to only make it look slightly like the real one

Theuns

[stona]

Hi again Theuns,may I ask what squadron and whose Spitfire that was? The squadron code SJ isn't on my list!

Thanks

Steve

[Guest]

Steve all I can see is that is is Sqn J. Plagis with 15 +2 kills,Don't know if it will help at all.

I am leaning more to the USAAF idea now as the 1/48 ICM P-51 comes with grew and I can get a P-47 in Academy wich I like to build.

Also the painting on these planes are allot less difficult to do with my limited airbrush .

Here are the kits

Theuns

[ATTACH]20884.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]20885.IPB[/ATTACH]

[stona]

Okay, I know of this man. He was born in Hartley, Rhodesia, of Greek parents. His full name was Ioannis Agorastos Plagis.He had an illustrious carreer in the RAF. The aircraft in the kit is 5J*K (not SJ) serial ML214 and is from his time as the CO of 126 squadron.He did return to Rhodesia,now with Rhodesian citizenship and there was a road ,John Plagis Avenue, named after him in Salisbury (Harare). I wonder if it's still called that.

Sadly there is no happy ending as Plagis eventually committed suicide.I've attached a photo.

Thanks for the info.

Cheers

Steve

[ATTACH]20886.IPB[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

The 4 th time I'll try and reply now!!!!

Steve you are an encyclopedia mate!

NOTHING will be named after a white Brittish man in Zim anymore ! Not with uncly Bobby still ingarge.

I made up my mind now ,the planes will be the ICM 1/48 P-51 and the Academy P-47 all with oliy handed ground crew!

Theuns

[stona]

I fear you are probably correct about Zimbabwe. I've edited the squadron number in my previous post to 126 as I had typed 216 ...ooops! I like the sound of the two U.S. fighters in a diorama. Good luck with it.

By the way here is how 126 Sqdn. codes changed,if they didn't change aircraft they would have to have repainted the code.

UN Allocated April - September 1939

V Jun 1942 - Dec 1942

MK Dec 1942 -Mar 1943

5J Apr 1944 - Apr 1946

Steve

[yak face]

hi theuns, the dio will look great, cant wait. The academy thunderbolts are excellent,i built the p47d and it was a dream ,great fit,good detail ,good decals , the only thing i had to add was seat belts . Youll enjoy making it i guarantee. cheers tony

[Guest]

Thanx for the feedback lads.

I don't know what seems to be the hassle, but I have difficulty in replying.I do as per norma and it then says there are to few letters rty again- a real pain if I have to redo a few times!

I am thinking of a baremetal P-47.The only way to get it to look like alclad will be to do in silver and some pannels in aluminium paint.

This project will bee my next inm a month or two's time.

Later

Theuns

[Guest]

Well, well what do you know. As soon as I complain about the posting is goes through first time !

Theuns