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Post by Calum on Aug 30, 2010 14:50:06 GMT 12
Here's my latest. Not my best by any stretch of the imagination and I had more trouble then I should have had with the kit. Build there is [url-http://anzacmodeller.freeforums.org/1-48-tamiya-mk-1-spitfire-al-deere-kiwi-i-t507.html]here[/url] But it's another Kiwi aircraft for my collection. Anyway here's the details Kit: Tamiya Spitfire Mk 1 Decals: Hornchurch v Luftwaffe Battle of Britain 70th AnniversarySeat Ultracast Paint: Tamiya RAF Dark Green Acyclic (green) Dark Earth (decanted from the rattle can), Black is Gunze Tire Black, White is Tamiya XF2, Silver is AS12 again (decanted from the rattle can) Gloss: Tamyia Clear thinned Mr Color levelling Thinner Wash: Promodeller brown Flat: Testors Dullcoate and Vallejo ModelAir flat Other weathering : Tamyia Weathering sets , artists Pastel Chalks and pencils.
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Post by Damon on Aug 30, 2010 15:31:24 GMT 12
Hi Calum, I think it looks great! Must go together well with the Cobber Hurricane you built.
Damon
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 30, 2010 16:15:20 GMT 12
Wow, that's a lovely job. Nice work Calum.
Did the aircraft really have Kiwi I written on it, as if he knew he was going to write it off and have II and III, etc? I'd have thought the first one would be just Kiwi.
I'd check in Brendon's lovely book to confirm but the cat is sitting on me so it's easier to just ask.
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Post by smithy on Aug 30, 2010 19:52:50 GMT 12
Great work Calum, that looks brilliant!
I'm with Dave though. I know the Southern Expo sheet has N3180 as "Kiwi I" on the Kiwi insignia but I'm not sure this is correct. Morris lists this merely as Kiwi and not Kiwi I and I'm inclined to agree. If you do decide to change it not a major.
One thing I would think of adding is a gas identification patch. This was a square yellow patch of gas sensitive paint (usually with a thin red outline which was supposed to turn completely red if gas was detected) and was often painted on the left wing or just aft of the antenna on the top of the fuselage. The RAF (and the British forces for that matter) were particularly concerned with the Germans using gas hence the inclusion of the patch. Later on, the patch was painted in the same colour as the camouflage top colours so was thus unseen.
Once again, good job!
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Post by Calum on Aug 30, 2010 23:34:19 GMT 12
Thanks guys
Smithy, I think I'll leave it as is. From what I've read not every aircraft had the patch. Plus although I have some of these as decals I don't want to gloss and decal that spot as getting everything to tie in may be a problem.
It's good enough for me.
The decal sheet does clearly say that they (the researchers) have seen photos with Kiwi I on it and that it was as depicted on the sheet. I just went with them as I have don't know any better
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 30, 2010 23:53:11 GMT 12
Fair enough Calum. I wasn't trying to pick faults, I was just curious. For the record the photo in Brendon Deere's book and the coloured profile in the book show it as just KIWI without the number 1 added.
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Post by Calum on Aug 31, 2010 8:49:08 GMT 12
Dave, not a worry, I understood you weren't finding fault.
It’s interesting that the photo you have doesn't show a 1 but the decal researchers were adamant that it did have a 1.
IMHO it's more likely there wasn't a 1. After all I'm sure he expected to Fly Kiwi for a long time and wasn’t thinking of having a 2,3, or 4.
The sheet has Kiwi 2, 3, and 4. maybe I’ll do one of those one day.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 31, 2010 11:09:31 GMT 12
I'm fairly sure Brendon Deere's book and Al's own book states he only had three before he realised the Kiwi was bad luck.
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Post by Calum on Aug 31, 2010 16:32:06 GMT 12
Interesting. If I get time tonight I'll scan the instructions and post up.
I think I found sme of brendans photos on the web with captions that were confusing. I guess its possible he didn't get things correct.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 31, 2010 17:00:15 GMT 12
Brendon Deere's book Spitfire - Return To Flight says:
"Al Deere had three Spitfires marked as Kiwi. Kiwi 1 he had recorded seperately as P9390 and N3180. Both Spitfires were on strength of 54 Squadron at Hornchurch and he was flying N3180 when he provided cover for the rescue of Squadron leader White from France. P9390 was the aircraft lost at Dunkirk. Kiwi 2 was P9398 and he recorded this as 'crashed in Kent' after the head on collision with a Bf109. Kiwi 3 was R6981 and also was lost in Kent. His next three Spitfires did not carry the Kiwi logo as by that stage fellow 54 Squadron pilot George Gribble had suggested it wasn't bringing him a lot of luck. R6832 was next and then X4236 which was blown up by a German bomb at Hornchurch on takeoff, flipping the aircraft upside down. This was followed by X4276 which crashed in Yorkshire after a trainee pilot collided with his Spitfire, chopping off his tail."
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 31, 2010 17:02:38 GMT 12
So, though it is referred to as Kiwi 1 in order to understand where it came in the order, it doesn't seem to have carried the '1' on the logo. the photo isn't excactly crystal clear but it really doesn't look like a '1' after the Kiwi, and the professionally drawn side profile does not have it.
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allok
Squadron Leader
Posts: 113
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Post by allok on Aug 31, 2010 21:02:07 GMT 12
Nicely done Calum. Brendon Deere's book Spitfire - Return To Flight says: "Al Deere had three Spitfires marked as Kiwi. Kiwi 1 he had recorded seperately as P9390 and N3180. Both Spitfires were on strength of 54 Squadron at Hornchurch and he was flying N3180 when he provided cover for the rescue of Squadron leader White from France. P9390 was the aircraft lost at Dunkirk. Kiwi 2 was P9398 and he recorded this as 'crashed in Kent' after the head on collision with a Bf109. Kiwi 3 was R6981 and also was lost in Kent. His next three Spitfires did not carry the Kiwi logo as by that stage fellow 54 Squadron pilot George Gribble had suggested it wasn't bringing him a lot of luck. R6832 was next and then X4236 which was blown up by a German bomb at Hornchurch on takeoff, flipping the aircraft upside down. This was followed by X4276 which crashed in Yorkshire after a trainee pilot collided with his Spitfire, chopping off his tail." 6 Spitfires! Not sure if that's good luck or bad luck.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 31, 2010 21:33:27 GMT 12
He used most of his nine lives in the first year of the war. You should read his book, Nine Lives, it's brilliant.
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allok
Squadron Leader
Posts: 113
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Post by allok on Aug 31, 2010 22:06:42 GMT 12
He used most of his nine lives in the first year of the war. You should read his book, Nine Lives, it's brilliant. I intend to. A friend of mine is trying to locate a copy of it as we speak. I have also decided to have a go at one: ( forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=30887) Won't look as good as Calums though.
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Post by corsair67 on Aug 31, 2010 23:54:56 GMT 12
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Post by Calum on Sept 4, 2010 10:55:20 GMT 12
Finally got around to scanning the instructions Unfortunately I don't have access to any of the references they list Although this image which is apparently of Kiwi I does seem to show a I after the kiwi
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Post by smithy on Sept 4, 2010 17:13:06 GMT 12
Calum, the photo you posted is of Kiwi II (P9390) on the 5th July 1940 just two days before she was wrecked in a forced landing.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2010 17:42:35 GMT 12
I agree with Smithy, that's Kiwi II.
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Post by Calum on Sept 4, 2010 19:28:29 GMT 12
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Post by smithy on Sept 5, 2010 16:00:38 GMT 12
With all respect to Brendon, that photo is apparently dated 5th July 1940. It's why authors have been able to list it as P9390.
The only surviving photo of supposed N3190 that exists to my knowledge is the one from "Nine Lives" which was "enhanced" for publication and is actually listed in the Deere family scrapbook as Kiwi II.
So who really 100% knows?
My personal opinion is with Morris and others that say the first was called merely "Kiwi" and there seems to be reasonalbe evidence to suggest this.
But at the end of the day Calum it's your model and your call. I reckon you've done such a brilliant job that really it doesn't matter whether it's Kiwi or Kiwi I, it's a cracker of a build!
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