A legend in both history and design.
Why begin with a preface? One: to set the stage. The better the preparation, the smoother the project goes. Two: I have learned a lot about sharing from being a part of the forum here and it is always better to lay out the facts right from the start. I hope at least to provide entertainment amongst the other great projects seen here. The days are shorter and the nights are colder even here in Los Angeles. Time to get busy.
I have never built a Spitfire model. So, I shot the lock off my wallet for 5 USD on a 44 year old kit from Hasegawa. The kit is 1975-80 issue one box with 26 parts on three sprues (two light gray plastic, one clear plastic), with decals for RAF 19 Sqdn. at Duxford or 54 Sqdn. at Hornchurch, 1940. At Rebel Alpha online, I found Xtradecals for an aircraft stationed at RAF Drem in East Lothian, Scotland with the 602.
The Scottish connection is personal as my family is from Lothian and my grandfather was a Lance Corporal in the 1st and 93rd. So, the reason, the “call” if you will, begins to make itself heard, like a piece of music.
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia
L1004
LO.Q/Kedoying
A. Johnstone, DFC/Squadron Leader
602 Squadron RAF
RAF Drem
East Lothian
June 1940
Even though this is colorized, the information carried over specific to the Mk.I Spitfire is tremendous—the aircraft cockpit is nicely revealed:
Flying Officer Leonard 'Ace' Haines of No 19 Squadron is pictured at Fowlmere on his Supermarine Spitfire, Mk 1 in September 1940