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- Sep 4, 2019
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- First Name
- Andrew
Hi all
So this has crossed the finish line and in doing so passed a number of milestones for me:
All in all I’m happy with what follows given where I started from experience wise, although if I could match the overall paint job of the 109 with the quality of the canopy of the Spitfire I really would think I couldn’t have done any better (although that would be an odd looking plane!).
Most importantly of all Junior is really pleased with it. As it will sit in his bedroom his opinion is the most important one.
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 wars more famous combatants is sorely lacking…….
ACW as usual.
Andrew
PS the build blog can be found here (LINK)
PPS Thanks to Ron and Stona for their input on the background to this engagement.
PPS I hope you will forgive me but the engagement this depicts is a few weeks outside the official time period but it’s the only kits I had in the stash.
--------------------------------------------------------
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 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 Sorry but I couldn't find any other information on this aircraft.
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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dundas_(RAF_officer)
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/fallen-alumni/flight-lieutenant-john-charles-dundas
Major Helmut Wick, Geschwader Kommodore, Jagdeschwader 2 ‘Richthofen’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Wick
https://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 they don’t 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 has crossed the finish line and in doing so passed a number of milestones for me:
- Only the 2nd and 3rd planes I’ve completed in well over 35 years.
- First planes done using an AB.
- My first builds reflecting specific real-life items rather than generic builds for our wargaming.
- The first recreation of an actual real-life situation.
- The first time I’ve added aerial “wire”. I used monofilament fishing line (4lb breaking strain to be precise). It does look a bit too thick though, so I’ll use something thinner next time.
- And the first two kits I’ve completed in I don’t know how long but that’s another story…..
All in all I’m happy with what follows given where I started from experience wise, although if I could match the overall paint job of the 109 with the quality of the canopy of the Spitfire I really would think I couldn’t have done any better (although that would be an odd looking plane!).
Most importantly of all Junior is really pleased with it. As it will sit in his bedroom his opinion is the most important one.
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 wars more famous combatants is sorely lacking…….
ACW as usual.
Andrew
PS the build blog can be found here (LINK)
PPS Thanks to Ron and Stona for their input on the background to this engagement.
PPS I hope you will forgive me but the engagement this depicts is a few weeks outside the official time period but it’s the only kits I had in the stash.
--------------------------------------------------------
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 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 Sorry but I couldn't find any other information on this aircraft.
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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dundas_(RAF_officer)
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/fallen-alumni/flight-lieutenant-john-charles-dundas
Major Helmut Wick, Geschwader Kommodore, Jagdeschwader 2 ‘Richthofen’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Wick
https://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 they don’t 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).....
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