Sqn. Ldr. Basil Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton's Typhoon ride!.....Normandy, 1944

[spanner570]

Whilst piloting his Spitfire during the B.o.B., Basil Stapleton was the man who actually shot down Franz Von Werra. How about that Mucker!

Stapleton's career is well worth a quick read.....

This kit was kindly sent to me by member Lee W, along with an FW190 as part of an Airfix 'Dogfight Double'

Cheers Lee. I hope I can do the kit justice and also repay your generosity some day.



Sorry chaps, but in my haste to start, I forgot to take any sprue shots.....Again!

It will be short build......

Being a founder and enthusiastic life long member of the 'If it ain't seen, it don't get done.' Club, I was well chuffed to find the pilot is sitting in nothing more than an upturned goldfish bowl for a canopy, so absolutely now't can be seen of the cockpit. So I just painted the top half of the pilot and glued him to his seat....Yes, I know. I'm a complete waste of space, but I can wear the badge.

The kit has the 'in wings' cannon workings which required big holes to be cut in the wing surfaces. I just snipped these off and glued the cannons to the leading edges.

Initially, I'm building the aircraft in 'Flying' mode.






A coat of light sea grey 'pot paint' brushed on and ready for the camouflage markings.



Cheers.
Ron

 

[spanner570]

Camouflage marked out with a pencil and then a first brush coat of Dk. green paint applied.....

Looks a bit blue-ish, but it really is grey as per previous pickie.





Cheers.
Ron

 

[scottie3158]

Ron,
All looking most fine.

 

[yak face]

Nice one matey , looks to have gone together no probs . Gerald looks nice and snug in his cockpit , as you say its a tiny opening and nothing can be seen . Looking forward to the chucking ,
regards F von Werra

 

[flyjoe180]

Don't forget Gerald's magnificent moustache Ron

 

[spanner570]

Nice one chaps!

Thanks Jim.

Tony. It went together well. At this stage, being in flying mode there were only a dozen or so bits to stick together. To build an all bells and whistles version would take a fair bit of time as there are loads of internal bits. Some of which look very fiddly and require major surgery to the wing surfaces to enable them to be shoe horned in.

Joe, yes, one terrific 'muzza' for sure!

Update.....
Final, and luckily only a second coat of Dk. Green brushed on to give a result I'm happy with..








Under carriage thingies filed a bit and push fitted in place. Once any chucking is complete, I need to prise these out to give the aircraft a set of legs.....

The rough holes aft of the cannons are reamed out before the wings are assembled ready to attach the ordinance rails.

All the same shade of grey, honest.



Cheers.
Ron

 

[spanner570]

Leading edge painted. There are yellow decals for this, but it was easier to paint them on.




Under side decals on. These are one piece and go directly over the wheel thingies. To change to fitting the full u/c., you have to cut around them and discard the now redundant two pieces of flat plastic. These you replace with a couple of hanging down ones per wheel well.....
I will do this after a bit of 'Chucking'


Cheers.
Ron

 

[spanner570]

Decals on and all finished.
Big prop made from a bit of clear plastic. I thought it looked way too big, but it is the correct size.
Nice kit, brush painted then chucked.....



















"Crazy Limey! Frightening ma' boys like that!"
Flying over a liberated village...A good wheeze, what!

Sneaking in fast and low.....




Hit the Deck!














Wheels down....

Cutting out the holes.















Cheers all and thanks for looking.
Ron

 

[Andy the Sheep]

Wonderful scenes, Ron.

 

[Andy T]

Brilliantly made, chucked and snapped, as always!

 

[scottie3158]

Beautiful photography.

 

[spanner570]

Andrea, Andy and Paul.

Bit of a mishmash of photos, but I'm chuffed the model passes muster.

Thanks boys.

 

[AlanG]

Excellent work yet again Ron

 

[Airborne01]

Superb concept and execution Ron!
Steve

 

[Jim R]

An excellent model, beautifully built and painted, superbly photographed and my congratulations to the best chucker in the business - AKA Mrs Ron.

 

[Tworrs]

You've done it again Ron, fantastic result.
Great photos!

 

[stillp]

As per usual, an excellent model, creatively photographed.
Pete

 

[spanner570]

Thanks ever so much boys.

Really nice comments.

Bit of a cop out using an old 1/72 diorama for a few of the shots, but hey ho......

Thanks again.

Ron

 

[papa 695]

Great work and chuckery Ron.

 

[JayCee]

Brilliant as always, Ron. I recognise the village it is flying over. I wonder where from? .
John.