Hi. Thought you might like to take look at my attempt. Airfix aren't the best kits to build, and this one was no exception, lots of the parts need "Customising", as they never fit properly. I'm sure those of you that have build Airfix kits will be able to relate to this. This aircraft was flown by New Zealander Flt Lt Alan Deere D.F.C. of 54 Squadron, Hornchurch during the Battle of Britain. Although Airfix have their details Wrong, as "Deere's" aircraft was actually regisration P9398 (and NOT 9390, as supplied ). But I didn't find this out until sometime after I'd finished the kit. Still, Hope you like it. Mark.
Hi Mark, Excellent kit mate. I cant pluck up the courage to go to large scale yet, perhaps one day! Thanks for your post and sharing your Spit. Cheers Mark
I can remember building Airfix aircraft kits when I was a kid. It's a wonder anybody ever got past them and continued in the hobby. There fit was challenging, to say the least. I have the Airfix 1/600 HMS Warspite and HMS Hood. I'm halfway through the Warspite and the fit is problematic, at best. The Hood looks even worse.
Originally posted by adrian roberts@May 19 2005, 12:35 AM Mark nice one - the finish looks especially good; matt but not streaky. Did you airbrush it? Adrian [post=34594]Quoted post[/post] Adrian (and All) No, hand painted. Then "Weathered" around the panel edges and rivet heads etc (In a Silver/Aluminium mix), to give a chipped paint effect, using a "Dry Brush". Then "Washed" over Front to Back (In certain areas, with a weak Black/Clear Smoke mix), to give an overall slightly dirty look. (This baby's been "Lived In". ) I stopped short of giving it a "Semi-Gloss" laquering, purely because I personally don't like the look. Although I supposse it would have been more in keeping with how the aircraft actually appeared. Mark.
That Spit brings back memories. That kit first came out in about 1974 - I remember being thrilled to bits when it appeared in my Xmas sack and even more thrilled when my Dad had finished building it for me (I was only 11 at the time!). Its pilot - Al Deere - died of cancer around 1996, but before then I had the privillege of corresponding with him while I was doing the research for an article that appeared in Aeroplane magazine. I think the kit cost about £1.65 back then, quite a hefty sum. Airfix also brought out an Me109, Hawker Hurricane, Ju 87 Stuka and FW190 in the same scale, and I think they now retail for around the £40.00 mark - such is inflation!!!!
Forgot to mention: you may already know this, but Alan Deere was the first Spitfire pilot of WW2 to shoot down an Me109 (in this a/c I believe) on May 24th (my birthday!) 1940. At that time, 54 Sqn was the only fighter squadron in the RAF to have its aircraft fitted with the new Rotol constant speed propellor (others still having the two-position, variable pitch prop -which they retained until august, 1940). This fact gave Deere and his Spitfire the edge over the Me109, and secured his victory - but it was one that perhaps might have eluded him if he had been flying with another squadron at that time, as the Me109 still retained, at certain altitudes, certain performance advantages over Spits fitted with the earlier prop - particularly in climb below 20,000 feet.
(adamcotton @ Nov 16 2005, 07:03 AM) [post=41621]That Spit brings back memories. That kit first came out in about 1974 - I remember being thrilled to bits when it appeared in my Xmas sack and even more thrilled when my Dad had finished building it for me (I was only 11 at the time!). Its pilot - Al Deere - died of cancer around 1996, but before then I had the privillege of corresponding with him while I was doing the research for an article that appeared in Aeroplane magazine. I think the kit cost about £1.65 back then, quite a hefty sum. Airfix also brought out an Me109, Hawker Hurricane, Ju 87 Stuka and FW190 in the same scale, and I think they now retail for around the £40.00 mark - such is inflation!!!! [/b] Adam, you're a lucky dog...I wanted to meet Al Deere in New Zealand, but he died before I got the chance. His book is great. Fine model, as well.
At that time, 54 Sqn was the only fighter squadron in the RAF to have its aircraft fitted with the new Rotol constant speed propellor (others still having the two-position, variable pitch prop -which they retained until august, 1940). This fact gave Deere and his Spitfire the edge over the Me109, and secured his victory Just reading about Deere and the rescue mission at Calais in May 1940. In Air Battle Over Dunkirk by Norman Franks. As I don't know much if anything about aircraft does this mean the air-screw actually moves whilst the plane is in the air? I mean rotates in it's socket or whatever it's called. Hence the word "screw"? Sorry if I sound stupid, me & planes don't get on.
Yep, pretty much. the angle of the blades can change. Its pretty simaler effect to the gears in your car. Coarse settings are like high gears the good for economy and top speed, buit little uise far acceleration and low engine speeds. Orginally props where fixed in pitch at quite a course angle. BOB actuallty started with these dawn of time propellers, whcih put the aircraft at a serious dissadvantage in a dogfigt, where speeds, can go all over place. Then you get the two postion props came out which there was no contest with the orginals, performance is dramtically improved accross the range. The varable pitch prop allows all angles on the blades allowing the engine to rev at its most econimical (for cruising), or its best power (for dogfighting). Not only that their normally automatic so it one less thing for the pilot to do. He rams the throttle up to full, sticks the prop in automatic and contrates on getting on the tail of the enemy. The prop then change angle to keep the engien revs inthe best band. HTH Kev
