I boxed on with the Defiant, last night with a mixed bag of results, the disruptive pattern went on not too bad, although I was a little perplexed at the colour coming from the Humbrol tin.
After letting it dry, I removed the decals from the cover film and examined them, while being around 40 years old they looked alright. So still a little worried about the final outcome I took the plunge and cut them out and let them soak.
Fuselage roundels went on a treat, so I moved onto the wing roundels...slight ripping occurred here, but still not a real problem as they were large enough to join back together on the aircraft. At this stage I should have stopped and said enough, however being the fool that I am I decided to carry on. Tail colours went on next, hassle free I might add, so that left the Serial Number, Squadron codes and aircraft ID letter. It was here that the plan went down the glug hole.Total disintegration of the decals ensured from this point on. I was very lucky just to get the Serial Numbers on, digit by digit, the Squadron Code was a complete loss, and I just managed to give the Defiant a ID Letter.
That will have to do for the decaling as I have no RAF spares, but it looks the part which is the most important thing...sob, sob. I must say I enjoyed putting this together and will be looking for a Fairey Battle and Westland Lysander to balance my Air power out...No Spits for this Kiwi!
That will have to do for the decaling as I have no RAF spares, but it looks the part which is the most important thing...sob, sob. I must say I enjoyed putting this together and will be looking for a Fairey Battle and Westland Lysander to balance my Air power out...No Spits for this Kiwi!
Nice airplane! this must "defiantly" give you some needed airsupport on the table.
ReplyDeleteGreets,
Nice Work
ReplyDeleteI'll have to take another look at mine :)
The Fairey Battle is also being re-issued by Airfix later this year :)
A case of death more than glory with the AASF (Advanced Air Striking Force) and the Sedan bridgehead (aka the "Dirty Dozen" of RAF 12 Squadron)
A case of the military twist of, the more impressive sounding the name (ex AASF) the more ineffective it is and more dangerous to join!
Thanks for the comments, too true about the AASF, thats one thing I like about "stiff upper lip", "Into the valley of death" thinking of the Brits at this period.
ReplyDeletePer Ardua Ad Astra
Looks great...
ReplyDeleteTogether with the Lysander (Airfix of course) they'll make a dashing pair over the battlefield until Jerry shows up.
Keep up the good work,
Dimitri
Hey Dimitri
ReplyDeleteDo not write off my Defiant!!!
Operation History states...
The first operational sortie came on 12 May 1940. Defiants flew with six Spitfires of 66 Sqn, and a Ju 88 was shot down over Holland. The following day, in a patrol that was a repetition of the first, Defiants claimed four Ju 87s, but were subsequently attacked by Bf 109Es. The escorting Spitfires were unable to prevent five of the six Defiants being shot down by a frontal attack. During the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk, the Squadron was forward based at RAF Manston one of the 16 Squadrons that No. 11 Group had available to cover the evacuation. On the 27th 264 Sqn claimed 3 He 111 and 2 damaged. On the 28th, shortly after take-off ten Defiants were attacked by about 30 Bf 109s - forming a circle, six German fighters were claimed for the loss of three Defiants. The Defiant was initially successful against enemy aircraft. Its best day was 29 May 1940, when No. 264 Sqn claimed 37 kills in two sorties: 19 Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers mostly picked off as they came out of their dives, nine Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engined heavy fighters, eight Bf 109s a Ju-88. One Defiant gunner was lost after he bailed out though the aircraft made base to be repaired.
They rock!