WGS NW Australia 1943 - custom 1/200 RAAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VCs (Skytrex)

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I don't know if there any Spits left in Burma, but I can tell you as of tonight there is a flight ready for action in Brisbane Australia!



My WGS project #6 for 2013 brings to the gaming table four Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VC fighters of 1 Fighter Wing, RAAF. These are metal Skytrex Action 200 miniatures, available here http://www.skytrex.com/266/action-20...craft-british/. The model comes with a separate tail wheel which can be inserted into a pre-drilled hole and glued in place.
They were standard Mk.Vs (see Skytrex stock photo below) until I took to them with epoxy putty, a hobby knife and sandpaper to add tropical Vokes filters to the nose on each aircraft (see thread http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...Spitfire-Mk-VC).



The Spitfire Mk.V was entered service in early 1941. The most numerous Spitfire type produced it was basically an up-engined version of the Mk.II, slightly faster, higher ceiling and better climb rate. The most common armament load-out was two 20mm Hispano cannon and four .303 machine guns all in the wings. Unfortunately the Mk.VC versions sent to the Middle East, Burma and the Pacific were fitted with the aero-dynamically challenged Vokes filters, which caused a deterioration in performance wiping out the improvements over the earlier marks. As such I am keeping the Mk.II stats for the Mk.VC except for the guns which are CCB/CA.





These Spits are painted dark green/dark earth camouflage with sky blue undersides and white wing leading edge identification bands.





1 Fighter Wing was deployed to the Darwin area in early 1943 to defend northern Australia against Japanese air raids. The CO was Squadron Leader Clive 'Killer' Caldwell DFC Australia's leading ace at the time with 20+ victories. The three squadrons were 54 Squadron RAF, and 452 and 457 Squadrons RAAF. I will completing one of these aircraft as Caldwell's mount (white spinner) and the other three as 457 Squadron Spitfires (black spinners).





I am very pleased with the results, the filters look great. Unfortunately I now find myself short of letter ID and underwing roundel decals due to the pace of construction over the past month. I'll scrounge some more tomorrow

These Spitfires will see their baptism of fire at Cancon next weekend, if I can convince a couple of players to take them up for a spin.

[Jager]

Looking great, Carl; I doubt you'll have any problem finding takers. May some problem crewing the Bettys, when they see what's waiting for the.
Wish I could join you there for the game; my Jensen's Gate is down for maintenance
Kar

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Looking great, Carl; I doubt you'll have any problem finding takers. May some problem crewing the Bettys, when they see what's waiting for the.
Wish I could join you there for the game; my Jensen's Gate is down for maintenance
Kar

The dreaded tyranny of distance! At least Cancon is *only* a 1200km drive for me from Brisbane to Canberra.

These four were my last January project - 20 aircraft in 20 days - a good way end this month's production.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Very nice Carl, and as the old addage goes "A Flight in the hand is worth two in the bush" or even buried in Burma.
Rob.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Very nice Carl, and as the old addage goes "A Flight in the hand is worth two in the bush" or even buried in Burma.
Rob.

Thanks Rob. I'm particular chuffed the epoxy putty Vokes filters turned out OK, not having previously worked with the material. It was a nice surprise not to have to chip them off and start again.

[Doug]

Good work Carl

[Carl_Brisgamer]

After six months I finally got around to putting identification codes on my RAAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VC Tropicals.



CR-C is the Spitfire flown by Australian Ace Clive Caldwell, CO of 1 Fighter Wing. QY-G is a No.452 Squadron RAAF machine and ZP-V and ZP-T are No.457 Squadron RAAF aircraft.

The letters are white Shed decals.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

What! Oh yes Carl. Damned good show old bean.

They really put the icing on the cake.
Rob.