Andrew's 1/72 Airfix Spitfire and 109 'Dogfight Doubles'
Apr 23, 2023 16:28:24 GMT -5
chromdome35, mustang1989, and 1 more like this
Post by adt70hk on Apr 23, 2023 16:28:24 GMT -5
Hi all
So this was one of the most significant builds I completed whilst I was AWOL, for a number of reasons:
All in all I’m happy with what follows given where I started from experience wise at the time. I had tried to recreate a blue stand to represent them in the sky but failed to achieve the effect I was after, although I have now worked out a way of giving a much better sky effect.
You will notice that that Airfix badge stands slightly proud. It’s deliberately not pushed home as Junior thought it would add, and I quote, a “3D effect to the base.”
Below you will also find a summary on this particular engagement. Please feel free to comment on any inaccuracies in my research or indeed if you fill any gaps. I’m slightly ashamed to say that my knowledge of the war's more famous combatants is sorely lacking…….
ACW as usual.
Andrew
PS - apologies for the rather busy background.
Mods - hope this is ok here given that it also contains a German aircraft.
--------------------------------------------------------
The planes
Spitfire Mk1a – serial no. X4586
29/09/1940 – first flight
30/09/1940 – delivered to No. 39 Maintenance Unit @ RAF Colerne
08/10/1940 – delivered to 609 Squadron. Squadron and plane ID ‘PR-O'
28/11/1940 – shot down by a Bf109 SW of the Isle of Wight 28/11/1940
Messerschmitt Bf 109-E4
Werknummer 5344
28/11/1940 - shot down by a Spitfire SW of Isle of Wight 28/11/1940.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find any background info on this plane as I had with the Spitfire.
The pilots
Flight Lieutenant John Charles Dundas
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dundas_(RAF_officer)
www.chch.ox.ac.uk/fallen-alumni/flight-lieutenant-john-charles-dundas
Major Helmut Wick, Geschwader Kommodore, Jagdeschwader 2 ‘Richthofen’
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Wick
military.wikia.org/wiki/Helmut_Wick
The engagement on 28/11/1940
The Airfix instructions have the following to say on the encounter:
"Aces became abundant on both sides [in the Battle of Britain] and two who met in the skies over the English Channel in November 1940 are represented in this set. Helmut Wick was the Luftwaffe’s top scorer amassing a total of 56 kills* by the time of his death in November 1940. His victor was Flight Lieutenant John Charles Dundas**, 12 kill ace with the RAF, flying a Sptitfire Mk1a with 609 Squadron, but he too was not to survive the engagement, with Dundas being downed moments later by Wicks’ wingman*** ."
*From what I’ve read Wick and other German ‘Experten’ were not above inflating their number of kills, albeit they were still impressive figures.
**All of the reports I have come across state that Wick may possibly have been shot down by Pilot Officer Eric Marrs instead, albeit none actually say why.
***Dundas was not shot down by Wicks wingman, Oberleutnant Erich Leie, but by another member of the JG2 Stabsschwarm, Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz. According to Wikipedia (all caveats apply!) Leie got separated from Wick in the early stages of the engagement.
What is not in dispute though is that neither pilots’ bodies were recovered. RIP.
Enjoy......(I hope).....
So this was one of the most significant builds I completed whilst I was AWOL, for a number of reasons:
- At the time only the 2nd and 3rd planes I’d completed in well over 35 years;
- First planes I'd done using an airbrush;
- My first builds reflecting specific real-life aircraft/vehicles rather than generic builds for the wargaming Junior and I sometimes do;
- The first recreation of an actual real-life situation.
All in all I’m happy with what follows given where I started from experience wise at the time. I had tried to recreate a blue stand to represent them in the sky but failed to achieve the effect I was after, although I have now worked out a way of giving a much better sky effect.
You will notice that that Airfix badge stands slightly proud. It’s deliberately not pushed home as Junior thought it would add, and I quote, a “3D effect to the base.”
Below you will also find a summary on this particular engagement. Please feel free to comment on any inaccuracies in my research or indeed if you fill any gaps. I’m slightly ashamed to say that my knowledge of the war's more famous combatants is sorely lacking…….
ACW as usual.
Andrew
PS - apologies for the rather busy background.
Mods - hope this is ok here given that it also contains a German aircraft.
--------------------------------------------------------
The planes
Spitfire Mk1a – serial no. X4586
29/09/1940 – first flight
30/09/1940 – delivered to No. 39 Maintenance Unit @ RAF Colerne
08/10/1940 – delivered to 609 Squadron. Squadron and plane ID ‘PR-O'
28/11/1940 – shot down by a Bf109 SW of the Isle of Wight 28/11/1940
Messerschmitt Bf 109-E4
Werknummer 5344
28/11/1940 - shot down by a Spitfire SW of Isle of Wight 28/11/1940.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find any background info on this plane as I had with the Spitfire.
The pilots
Flight Lieutenant John Charles Dundas
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dundas_(RAF_officer)
www.chch.ox.ac.uk/fallen-alumni/flight-lieutenant-john-charles-dundas
Major Helmut Wick, Geschwader Kommodore, Jagdeschwader 2 ‘Richthofen’
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Wick
military.wikia.org/wiki/Helmut_Wick
The engagement on 28/11/1940
The Airfix instructions have the following to say on the encounter:
"Aces became abundant on both sides [in the Battle of Britain] and two who met in the skies over the English Channel in November 1940 are represented in this set. Helmut Wick was the Luftwaffe’s top scorer amassing a total of 56 kills* by the time of his death in November 1940. His victor was Flight Lieutenant John Charles Dundas**, 12 kill ace with the RAF, flying a Sptitfire Mk1a with 609 Squadron, but he too was not to survive the engagement, with Dundas being downed moments later by Wicks’ wingman*** ."
*From what I’ve read Wick and other German ‘Experten’ were not above inflating their number of kills, albeit they were still impressive figures.
**All of the reports I have come across state that Wick may possibly have been shot down by Pilot Officer Eric Marrs instead, albeit none actually say why.
***Dundas was not shot down by Wicks wingman, Oberleutnant Erich Leie, but by another member of the JG2 Stabsschwarm, Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz. According to Wikipedia (all caveats apply!) Leie got separated from Wick in the early stages of the engagement.
What is not in dispute though is that neither pilots’ bodies were recovered. RIP.
Enjoy......(I hope).....
