Old Collingwood

35 minutes ago, kpnuts said:

Looking great (one thing I've never been able to do a decent build of) I take my hat off to those who can.

Thank you again,    the Eduard kits are considered the  top shop build  of the spit, and do go together really well.

OC.

20 minutes ago, kpnuts said:

That's looking amazing (I toyed with the idea of getting the airfix 1/24 scale but since I've never built a decent plane decided not to) this on the other hand looks great.

Thank you so kind,    yep its a nice kit  - has its issues that need fiddling  like the fuselage halves  joining, and the engine units  fitting them over the wing is a pain,  they need filing/sanding  and then a bit of filler.

But over all  it is a nice kit.

OC.

Thanks EG,    I think I will have to use a bit of artistic license  choose a  squadron  use  the right  unit numbers  but be a bit flexible  with a frame serial, at least  it will be  90%  correct.

OC.

Just to add more confusion  -  after contacting a Spitfire  reference library,  I found another squadron that was on base same time my dad was there  - 274sqn   with Spit  IX's   they had  codes  JJ   and in mid 44  they were asigned  V1  Flying bomb duties  over south England,  in mid 44  they  were  part  of No.11 Group; Air Defence of Great Britain; Allied Expeditionary Air Force.

OC.

Thank you for doing all that - it is mutch appreciated  bro, I am not stuck on that  aircraft in the pic  - still flexible  as long as I display a  Spit IX  that was at RAF West Malling  when my dad was there  - I will be happy, tracking down the  decs  for that is another things  as they are not  in the kit for that  airfield/

I know its "nit picking"   but I want to get it right for me dad   - show him I  do care and  listen to him.

OC.

3 minutes ago, popeye the sailor said:

getting closer to the finish line........look'in really good!  

Thank you Denis  - yep  wont be too long I dont think.

OC.

43 minutes ago, Egilman said:

It's actually a Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron my friend...

 

I always assumed 402sqn   based at West Malling  was RAF, thats what I have been searching for  West Malling Spit IX  squadrons,   I know the squardon had many different a/c types  over the years  and  times at Malling  including  the Spit IX.

It is a bit confusing  trying to track down reliable facts of  Spitfire IX  aircraft  that would have been at RAF West Malling  from early 44 - 45,   this was the time frame  (I think)  my dad was stationed there, he certainly worked on othe marks of spit  (I chose the IX  as I brought the kit.    I have done the normal Wiki  searches  and googled his base  to find all the Spitfires that would have been there  during those years, but there is a lot of less than reliable info  out there.

I am sure I will  find markings for one my dad would have worked on  -  "keep digging OC"

OC.

I  have realised  something  - the undersides in late Spits  - Mk IX  and  newer  had  Sea Grey  paintwork  not  Sky,   I have Sea Grey  in Tamiya rattle can  but its a Laquer  type again  where as the Sky was brushed on Acrylic, hope that will be ok   spraying the laquer   over the top of tha Acrylic?

OC.

1 minute ago, Egilman said:

Is that maple leaf on the fuselage cause it's a Canadian squadron?

To be honest  I think  that had some Canadian pilots   over here  flying  (my dad  use to tell me about some)  and Free French  - Dutch, the aircraft were squadron  owned but the above pilots could fly them.

OC.

1 minute ago, Canute said:

Hey, there's Popeye on the cowling. Nice.

Its a cool looking plane I think.

OC.

Something very special about a Duke   same with  Aprilia's.

OC.

58 minutes ago, Edwardkenway said:

Wont like that OC, hope you get everything sorted as fast as possible. 

Yep its anoying  we cant use  upstairs or downstairs  main lights, we have to  use lamps  and  temp  battery  operated lights  like on the stairs  bathroom etc.    the electrician didn't want to wait around  we could tell he was  very anxious about being at our house  incase  he/we  caught something   goodness knows how long we have to put up with it for  - it isnt a problem during the day.

OC.

I did a bit more research  on this West Malling IX   and decided to build a 402sqn   version   as they were on the Field when my dad was there  - good chance he worked on one.

Pic  curtosy of this persons fine artwork  -

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/55138-megalaxs-4k-spitfire-vb-ix-skins/

OC.

Whats next  we all  "Shout  - we Need to have another build  you cant stop there"

OC.

No progress  today,   our power went  just after midnight this morning  I was up trying to fix it  through the night  as it affects everything our gas bolier  needs electric to work - that  wouldn't come on,  our internet runs off the electric  (doesn't take batteries)  and of course no lights   so all I could do when not trying to fix the problem  was  to edit pics on my laptop  trying not to run out of battery.

Anyway it was still off  12 hours later  our landlors got hold off an emergency electrician  whom came out  (imagine the difficulty social distancing in a small house  - poor bloke sufferes from ashma)   he checked it  and the fault was with the lighting circuity  so he isolated it  and got the rest - sockets,  heater, internet  to work.

Dont mention the fridgefreezer   - you can imagine  12 hours off.

Wasn't very enjoyable  I had to catch up with some sleep  this eve  - hence  why nothing has been done on the Spit, it will  though  tomorrow.

OC.

Really good work.

OC.

Very fine work  - really nice   glad she has a good home too.

OC.

I love the camo affect   - how did you get the demarcation soft  between the two colours?

OC.

Looking good mate.

OC.

Hello again, had me dinner   (pastie  and chips)   anyway,  I  masked the side of the fuselage  then put down about Five layers  of brush painted  Sky.

OC.

Looking great mate.

OC.

Hi All,   while waiting for my mossie to have here corrective treatment, I decided to carry on  with my Spit  starting by putting a few coats of Sky on the undersides, I will  start this after dinner  - see you then.

OC.

8 hours ago, lmagna said:

Nice recovery OC. No one will ever be able to tell what it looked like last week!

Thanks Lou,     yep  its  getting there  bit by bit   wont be long till I can join the wings  - just a few  little things to do next.

OC.

Yep  I was at the airshow  this side of the pond  last year  RIAT19   and we had  the US  Viper display team  throw around an F16  till they broke it,  they had to abort the display  and land.

My pic.

OC.

5 minutes ago, Egilman said:

Well earned my friend a journey to be enjoyed and a tribute to be respected.....

Thank you for those kind words EG  - means A lot.

OC.