ICM P-51 D - Anderson's 'Old Crow' 357th FG

As a 'practise' build before starting the new-tool Airfix and Eduard P-51s this is my ICM 48th P-51 D in the well-known markings of 357th FG ace Cpt. 'Bud' Anderson, as based at Leiston, Suffolk during October 1944. I read somewhere (I think) that this kit is very much a 'copy' of the Tamiya P-51 and while I don't know about that, it did go together far more easily than the ICM Bf 109 F I built last year! I made a mess of the windscreen which didn't fit too well though  - I attempted to drill out the blast barrels but made a mess of that as well; note they line-up asymmetrically in the wing leading edge. The finish is a 'weathered' version of RAF dark green, while the decals are from Kagero ‘Topshots’ - but they broke up disastrously on application. I still need to source some prop stencils and maybe add a coat of matt varnish, although I would suspect this machine was kept well polished! All in all this is something of a save....

 

Merle Olmsted's 'The Yoxford Boys' describes this machine with the following caption: "... It was received at the 8th Air Force depot at Wharton in the first week of September, 1944, just off the freighter from Newark N.J. It would have arrived at Leiston a week or two later, where it was apparently immediately painted in RAF green and Anderson flew it like that until winter came on, when his crew stripped it back to bare metal. It was eventually scrapped in November, 1945."

 Note that 8th AF P-51s did NOT have a wire antenna running from tail to cockpit..

‘Old Crow’ on René Francillon’s beautifully illustrated 368-page A-4 hardback published in French by Lela Presse - almost certainly one of the best - and least known - P-51 references...

Union flag 'Black Jack' RAF Typhoon display air show ZJ 914

 

Typhoon display ZJ 914 flying the flag... https://youtu.be/xYSXnE_mi0Y

...and this great shot was posted on Facebook by Bryan Nimmo....

Airfix Beaufort new tool build and reference pics (1)

 

A collection of IWM Beaufort images to assist hopefully in the build of new tool Airfix Mk 1  - just as soon as mine arrives....

Beaufort L4516 of No 22 Squadron with an array of torpedoes at North Coates in early December 1940. This aircraft was lost later in the month when it crashed on take-off.

Mark XI aerial torpedoes being taken out on trolleys towards a Bristol Beaufort Mark I, L4516 'OA-W', of No. 22 Squadron RAF at North Coates, Lincolnshire. Shortly after this photograph was taken, L4516 was destroyed when it stalled after a night take-off from North Coates and hit the ground near Marshfield, detonating the mine it was carrying.

RAF Valley Hawks

 

Some awesome images from SAC Barnard of @RAF_Cosford while supporting @RAF_Valley on tasking, capturing the resident @BAESystemsAir Hawk's & a @RoyalNavy Merlin...

Though the question is... which of his shots is the best???

VOTE 👇 pic.twitter.com/6DZi75nEIa

— RAF Photographer (@RAFPhotog) May 8, 2021

Picture frame ‘models’ with Airfix 72nd fighters

Here's an interesting way of displaying single-seat fighters by Ken Anderson and David Ulke. Beats sanding, filling and filing..

Shuttleworth drive-in airshow - first of 2021 - Hurricane at Shuttleworth 03 May

 

Season Premiere highlights!
Thanks to all who joined us for our first drive-in air show of the year this weekend, it was great to see so many of you enjoy some fantastic flying. Looking forward to the season ahead!

Images by Phil Chaplin, Darren Harbar and Nick Blacow pic.twitter.com/ylKmnTp8nu

— Shuttleworth (@ShuttleworthTru) May 4, 2021

Still buzzing from my first display at @ShuttleworthTru yesterday. Here’s the view from onboard for a couple of the flypasts towards the end of the display pic.twitter.com/qrMTwLP2kO

— Hurricane Heritage (@HurricaneR4118) May 3, 2021

more Royal Air Force Phantoms - RAF Wattisham, 16 April 1980 and Claes Sundin, 'Luftwaffe fighter aircraft' profile book, No. 10

 

Well, the blog is ticking over - only just. Since the turn of the year I've been hard at work on another publication covering the Luftwaffe aces. Not only working on my own book, but helping out Claes Sundin too with his 'Luftwaffe fighter aircraft' profile book, No. 10, which has just arrived here..another lovely book from Claes!  

But, fear not, with summer 2021 around the corner, there is plenty of model building on the horizon as (early) retirement beckons. After 28 years of night shifts and 3 am starts in my current job, the pandemic has led me to think that I need to start doing more of the things that I want to do, rather than spending days away from home at a time. Life is too short to waste time doing things you don't want to do!

And thanks to those who have purchased my Casemate 'Luftwaffe Aces' books ! I appreciate it very much. Another book is on the horizon. 

Models coming soon here; the new Special Hobby Emil, some P-51s and a Revell (ICM) Gladiator..and some F-4s!

Royal Air Force Phantoms at RAF Wattisham, 16 April 1980

RAF Wattisham was the scene for exercise 'Elder Forest', in April 1980, one of the biggest military exercises of the decade, in which the air force played out a response scenario to an enemy attack on the UK which included conventional and chemical weapons. ( Hence the hazard suits and decontamination of the Phantom )