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**** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB

#12 Aircraft in Foreign Service Discuss **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB in the Group Builds forums; User name: Florence Name: David Category: Beginner Kit: Tamiya Spitfire Vb Scale: 1/48th Accessories: Eagle Strike decals 'American Spitfires' #48058 ...

  1. #1
    Senior Member Florence's Avatar
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    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB

    User name: Florence
    Name: David
    Category: Beginner
    Kit: Tamiya Spitfire Vb
    Scale: 1/48th
    Accessories: Eagle Strike decals 'American Spitfires' #48058



    Despite my poor record at finishing on time I will attempt to model an American Spitfire Mk Vb coded MX*R of the 307th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group during the summer of 1942. This was one of the first USAAF units to reach England and was equiped with various marks of Spitfires. Some, such as this example, being transferred from RAF service. The decal sheet states this unit was based at Manston but my googling says first Atcham (June 1942) and then Biggin Hill (August 1942).




    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-boxart.jpg


    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-tam_spit5_parts1.jpg**** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-tam_spit5_parts2.jpg**** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-tam_spit5_parts3.jpg


    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-decalshhet2.jpg
    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-decalshhet1.jpg

    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-mxr.jpg


    1/48 is not my usual scale.
    Wish me luck.

    David.

    Last edited by Wurger; 03-08-2012 at 01:50 PM.
    "Nine out ot ten times he is 100% correct....."

    'There are two theories on how to win an argument with a woman. Neither one works.'


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    Senior Member ozhawk40's Avatar
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    Good Luck! Actually, with those Tamiya Spits, just cut everything off the sprue, throw the parts in the box, close the lid and give it a good shake. Voila!! Finished!



    Cheers

    Peter

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    Senior Member T Bolt's Avatar
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    Agree! Those Tamiya Spits are fantastic kits. I've made 2 Mk.1's and have a Mk.Vb on the shelve which I might build for the Spitfire marks GB. This will be an interesting one. Will be watching!

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    Siggy Master Wurger's Avatar
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    Good Luck !!! looking forward to the assembling.

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    Senior Member Crimea_River's Avatar
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    Benevolens Magister Airframes's Avatar
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    Great choice, and a very nice kit too. I did this one using the Airfix Spit MkVb many years ago. Note that the fuselage roundels still have the yellow surround, legacy of the RAF roundels which were over-painted, and this does not seem to be present on the artwork for the decals.
    Atcham was a training base in Shropshire, UK, the remains of which are now an industrial estate, and was where most US fighter units did their 'working up' before going to front-line duties.

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    Senior Member Nxthanos's Avatar
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    Nice choice, look forward to seeing it built.

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    Forum Mascot Lucky13's Avatar
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    Jan "Felicis Tredecim"
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    Senior Member Florence's Avatar
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    Note that the fuselage roundels still have the yellow surround, legacy of the RAF roundels which were over-painted, and this does not seem to be present on the artwork for the decals.
    Was wondering about that, thanks Terry. The decal sheet doesn't show the yellow surrounds but states that the RAF insignia have been overpainted with fresh Ocean Grey. Would the star have been painted straight over the roundel hence the yellow ring? The wing roundels are shown painted over as they are only replaced with a star on one side. The photo above of MX*R does show a ring around the fueslage star and am happy for it to be yellow. If they had the paint out to cover some markings why not over paint the lot? Still looking for more info.
    Also wondering about the yellow on the leading edge of the wings? From what I have read so far it seems it was an individual aircraft thing - some retained the RAF yellow leading edge and some were painted over. Any ideas?

    David.
    "Nine out ot ten times he is 100% correct....."

    'There are two theories on how to win an argument with a woman. Neither one works.'


  10. #10
    Siggy Master Wurger's Avatar
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    Here you are an example of the US Spitfire..





    And here a profile of the one of your choice.


  11. #11
    Senior Member Florence's Avatar
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    Thanks Wurgs. I hadn't come across a decent profile yet. Interestingly it shows the yellow surround and leading edges. More food for thought.

    David.
    "Nine out ot ten times he is 100% correct....."

    'There are two theories on how to win an argument with a woman. Neither one works.'


  12. #12
    Siggy Master Wurger's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Florence View Post
    Interestingly it shows the yellow surround and leading edges.

    David.
    I think it might be incorrect. Here you are a larger shot of the Spitfire and its caption I have found in Ventura Classic warbird 3 American Spitfire camouflage and markings vol.1 book.

    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-us-spitfire-mkvb-mxor.jpg

    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-us-spitfire-mkvb-mxor-text.jpg
    Last edited by Wurger; 11-22-2011 at 05:45 PM.



  13. #13
    Senior Member Florence's Avatar
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    I think it might be incorrect.
    Thanks Wurger. Never trust a profile hey. That is a much better picture. The surround is not so defined after all. Indeed an overpainted roundel giving that halo effect? Considering the timeline -

    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-usaafmarkingstimeline.jpg


    Came across these in a book 'American Eagles' by Tony Holmes and for the purpose of this discussion -

    **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-americaneaglesbytonyholmes1.jpg**** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-americaneaglesbytonyholmes2.jpg


    The first shots dated Ocober 42 clearly show the surrond around the star while the second pic dated September 42 shows no yellow surround but maybe a faint trace around the edge of an overpainted roundel. The aircraft are from different squadrons but same FG, same time and place. I hope all this makes sense.

    So were does that leave the leading edges? To yellow or not to yellow? That is the question.

    Another question if I may? Concerning the 307th FS insignia that is just visible in the first pic on the cockpit door - was it applied to both sides? Or just the door? Decal sheet says both sides but I suppose I am looking for confirmation.

    Thanks again for your advice and input,

    David.
    Last edited by Florence; 11-22-2011 at 08:24 PM.
    "Nine out ot ten times he is 100% correct....."

    'There are two theories on how to win an argument with a woman. Neither one works.'


  14. #14
    Senior Member Vic Balshaw's Avatar
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    Nice one David, good to have a Spit on the cards and a Tamiya at that.



    At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
    Lest We Forget


  15. #15
    Siggy Master Wurger's Avatar
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    Humm... these yellow rings were ordered and introduced in the 8th AF on 1st December 1942. By the time these could be or not. The 307th squadron seems to have them overpainted while the 308th one did or didn't , for instance. However a picture of Spitfire MXoM dated on August 1942 , shows the 2" yellow ring addeded to 30" USAAF cocarde substituted. But there is an image of Spitfire MXoD that shows the USAAF cocarde without the yellow ring too. Like the date of taking the MXoR shot, the picture is datad on July/August 1942. According to that it seems that the 307th Squadron had the RAF roundels replaced with the USAAF cocarde and overpainted the yellow remains at that time.

    Concerning the squadron emblem.... the WXoD had it painted at the port side only. So.. I think it was applied on one side only. As far as the yellow leading edges of wings are concerned.... Also I think these weren't removed. The MXoD had even still applied a foundation inscription that were quite popular painted on all founded English aircraft .

    Additionally ... here you are a profile of MXoR I found in the Ventura Publication book.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails **** DONE: Spitfire MkVb,31st FG,USAAF - Aircraft in Foreign Service GB-us-spitfire-mkvb-mxor_profile1.jpg  
    Last edited by Wurger; 11-22-2011 at 08:10 PM.



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