Scramble! Airfix Spitfire in 1/72

[speedgraflex]

Part 1

Kit Data from Scalemates

Airfix Spitfire Kit 02081
Scale: 1/72
Release/Tooling: 1959
This Product: Late Sixties (‘68-?)



Spitfire FU-N MH779 of 453 Sqn, RAAF, being prepared for take-off from Ford, England, June 6, 1944.

The Subject

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX FU-N MH779
453 RAAF Squadron in Europe (1942-46)
Pilot: F/O J.A. Boulton (RAF)
Pilot: W/O Roderick “Froggy” Lyall (RAAF)



Profile art courtesy EagleCals/Jerry Crandall

Special thanks to Stickpusher for aircraft and pilot identifications. You are an Ace!

Ready to Strike : The Spitfires and Australians of 453 (RAAF) Squadron over Normandy by Adam Lunney

453 RAAF Squadron

453 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on May 23,1941.

The squadron arrived in Singapore in August 1941 where it was equipped with obsolete Brewster Buffalo fighters. Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya on December 8, 1941, 453 Squadron was deployed to forward airfields at Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. It valiantly strove to support the ground troops by providing air cover and attacking Japanese troops and transport, but suffered grievously in doing so.

With three serviceable aircraft remaining, its fleet having already been replaced once, 453 Squadron withdrew to Singapore on December 24th. It fought on with six Buffaloes until it was ordered to evacuate. The ground crew left by ship the next day, bound for Java.

453 Squadron was given a second lease of life at Drem, near Edinburgh, in Scotland on 18 June 1942. It was reformed with new personnel, equipped with Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, and joined the RAF’s Fighter Command. Operating from a series of airfields in the United Kingdom, 453 Squadron rapidly became a capable multi-role fighter squadron. It provided defensive air patrols over Britain and surrounding waters, escorted bombers over enemy-controlled Europe, and conducted offensive strikes on both land and sea.

After the invasion of western Europe in June 1944 the squadron frequently staged through forward airstrips near the front line to increase its range and the time in the operational area. From November 1944 to March 1945, 453 Squadron remained heavily engaged in striking assembly & launch sites used by the Germans in V2 rocket attacks against Britain.

On May 2, 1945, the squadron escorted the aircraft that returned Queen Wilhelmina to The Netherlands after three years in exile in Britain. This was 453 Squadron’s last mission of the war. Germany surrendered six days later.

[speedgraflex]

Part 2

Aftermarket

Cooper Details Resin Spitfire Cockpit Detail Set
EagleCals Spitfire Mk.IX Decal Set
Eduard PE Spitfire Mk.IX Cockpit Set
Hawkeye Designs Resin Mk.VIII/IX Prop & Spinner

Part 3

Mojo?

I was waiting for two new premium releases this year from Aviattic and Kotare. I am still waiting. I wanted to use the year end pressure to make something, and I kept circling the deck. I couldn’t decide what to do. I couldn’t make any decision—which as some tell us (Was it John Lennon?) “No decision is a decision,” and that was bugging me. I wanted to make a decision. I bought kits like I was squirreling away nuts. I bought parts. I made plans. I wrote introductory material for three projects. I studied WWI Sopwith Camel rigging for a month. I bought Sopwith Camels by every manufacturer in every scale. Squirreled away more nuts. I bought Squadron Signal books and carried them around in my messenger bag for further study. I joined Facebook Groups devoted to one aircraft design or type. I pretended to build kits.

Any of this sound familiar to anyone?

I’m sure it does.

You’re the only ones who get it, I’m sure. You know why.

We’ve categorized our reason for beginning or abandoning as “finding or losing our mojo.” At least, most often I see the word “mojo” used, usually when mojo is lost.

Mojo.

I don’t even know what that means. Let’s look it up. Hello, Google. Here’s one possible origin.

“”Mojo” first appeared in the 1920s in the southern United States from the Gullah word “moco” (magic), Gullah being Creole spoken by some groups of African-Americans. The ultimate root of “mojo” was the word “moco'o,” which means “shaman or medicine man” in the African language Fulani.

From “mojoland”

Not quite what I expected. Let’s try an online dictionary. Hello, Google. Ah.

a magic charm, talisman, or spell.
"someone must have their mojo working over at the record company"

magic power.
“the name has no mojo"

There it is again! Both origin and definition agree. Mojo is Magic.

[LyleW]

A good one! Pictures!

[speedgraflex]

A good one! Pictures!

Lyle! Happy Holidays! Here is a picture of one of the two pilots associated with the aircraft. This is incredibly useful because it depicts specific wear and tear areas. I was just reading about the bullet proof glass used on the windscreen itself which refracted light differently than the other panes due to the glass being sandwiched together as well as presumably coated.

[LyleW]

That is something....as my momma used to say. Quite the hunk of glass.

[BlackSheep214]

Nice. Should be a FU N kit to follow. See what I did?

[speedgraflex]

That is something....as my momma used to say. Quite the hunk of glass.

We are probably seeing a reflection of green from lighting and walls surrounding the Spitfire; even from unbalanced shop lights a heavy color shift would occur. See these outdoor shots?

[speedgraflex]

Nice. Should be a FU N kit to follow. See what I did?

Tom, I thought about calling this “Airfix Fun!” at one point. So, yes. Yes. I definitely see what you did! Cheers.

[Stikpusher]

I’m gonna enjoy following this one Bruce. Nice to see you back on here with a new project.

Interesting tale regarding the origins of mojo… as long as the moco is not the same as moco means in Spanish.

[speedgraflex]

Moco! Haha! Yes. Let’s hope not. Also thanks again for sleuthing the aircraft identifications as well as “Finding Froggy.” I owe you a pint. Cheers, mate.