Airfix AX50182

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Battle of Britain A-scheme camouflage pattern paint mask including 30'' letter codes (in mentioned scale) recommended for AZ Models, Eduard kits, ARMA Hobby, Hasegawa, Revell, Airfix, Academy, Hobby Boss, Smer, kit

More

Re-printed! Heinkel He-111 collection Part 3. (8) B3+BL 1/KG54; +F KG55 with mission marks along fuselage, black undersurface, both Battle of Britain; 1H+BB Stab 1 KG26 Norway 1942; 1H+GP 8/KG26 Italy 1943; A1+AC II Gruppe Stab KG53 Russia 1943; NI+JE Scheppegruppe 4 Eastern Front overall white uppersurfaces; A1+KM 4/KG53 Russia 1944 RLM 76 `clouds', black undersurface; TM+KI glider tug Ukraine 1943; All standard RLM 70/71/76 except as noted

More

Czechoslovak pilots in Battle of Britain Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, NN-D W9323, 310th Sqn, S/Ldr Alexander Hess, RAF Duxford, March 1941. Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, PO-M V7610, 76 Sqn, RAF, P/O Karel Mrazek, RAF North Weald, Nov 1940.

More

Camouflage & Markings. Armour in Theatre No 4 - Tanks in the Great War 1914-1918. No 4 of this ongoing series of Armour in Theatre examines the development and employment of the first tanks. Toe volume covets the antiriot of the Great War, the evolution of the tank with a special and understandable emphasis on the developments with Great Britain. Special treatment is given to two important tank battles of the conflict - those of Cambria 1917 and Amiens 1918

More

Camouflage & Markings 2: The Battle For Britain-RAF May to December 1940

More

Building the Supermarine Spitfire The iconic Supermarine Spitfire, the most strategically important British single-seat fighter of World War II. The Spitfire, renowned for winning victory laurels in the Battle of Britain along with the Hawker Hurricane, served in every theatre of the War and was produced in more variants than any other British aircraft. The Spitfire was designed by Reginald Mitchell of Supermarine Ltd., in response to a 1934 Air Ministry specification calling for a high-performance fighter with an armament of eight wing-mounted 0.303-inch machine guns. The airplane was a direct descendant of a series of floatplanes designed by Mitchell to compete for the coveted Schneider Trophy in the 1920s. One of these racers, the S.6, set a world speed record of 357 miles per hour in 1929. Designed around a 1,000-horsepower, 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled Rolls-Royce PV-12 engine (later dubbed the Merlin), the Spitfire first flew in March 1935. It had superb performance and flight characteristics, and deliveries to operational Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons commenced in the summer of 1938. A more radical design than the Hurricane, the Spitfire had a stressed-skin aluminum structure and a graceful elliptical wing with a thin airfoil that, in combination with the Merlin's efficient two-stage supercharger, gave it exceptional performance at high altitudes. The version of the Spitfire that fought in the Battle of Britain was powered by a Merlin engine. Faster than its formidable German opponent the Bf-109 at altitudes above 15,000 feet and just as manoeuvrable, Spitfires were sent by preference to engage German fighters while the slower Hurricanes went for the bombers. More Hurricanes than Spitfires served in the Battle of Britain, and they were credited with more 'kills,' but it can be argued that the Spitfire's superior high-altitude performance provided the margin of victory. Meanwhile, Supermarine was developing more-capable versions of the Spitfire driven by progressively more-powerful Merlin's. The eight 0.303-inch machine guns gave way to four 0.8-inch automatic cannons, and by war's end the Spitfire had been produced in more than 20 fighter versions alone, powered by Merlin's of up to 1,760 horsepower. Though outperformed by the German Fw-190 on that aircraft's introduction in 1941, the Spitfire restored parity the following year and eventually regained the advantage. It remained a first-line air-to-air fighter throughout the war. Spitfires were used in the defence of Malta, in North Africa and Italy, and, fitted with tail hooks and strengthened tail sections, as Seafires from Royal Navy aircraft carriers from June 1942. Spitfires helped to provide air superiority over the Sicily, Italy, and Normandy beachheads and served in the Far East from the spring of 1943. Fighter-bomber versions could carry a 250 or 500lb bomb beneath the fuselage and a 250-pound bomb under each win One of the Spitfire's most important contributions to Allied victory was as a photo-reconnaissance aircraft from early 1941. Superior high-altitude performance rendered it all but immune from interception, and the fuel tanks that replaced wing-mounted machine guns and ammunition bays gave it sufficient range to probe western Germany from British bases. n late 1943 Spitfires powered by Rolls-Royce Griffon engines developing as much as 2,050 horsepower began entering service. Capable of top speeds of 440 miles per hour and ceilings of 40,000 feet, these were used to shoot down V-1 'buzz bombs.' During World War II, Spitfires were exported in small numbers to Portugal, Turkey, and the Soviet Union, and they were flown by the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe. When production ceased in 1947, 20,334 Spitfires of all versions had been produced, 2,053 of them Griffon-powered versions. Fighter versions of the Spitfire were withdrawn from RAF service during the early 1950s, while photo-reconnaissance Spitfires continued in service until 1954. In Model Aircraft 'Extra Special' #6, the biggest book of this series some 22`Spitfire build projects will be included, in a 'how-to' format, and continue this fantastic series modelling guides from MA Publications, the new name in scale modelling.

More

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Battle Of Britain Aces 1. Hurricane Mk.I P3395 JX-B of No 1 Sqn. flown by Flt Lt AV Clowes, November 1940 2. Hurricane Mk.I P3878 YB-W of No 17 Sqn. flown by Plt Off HAC Bird-Wilson, 24 Semember 1940 3. Hurricane Mk.I V7467 LE-D of No 242 San flown by Sqn Lrdr DRS Bader, September 1940 4. Hurricane Mk.I P3901 RF-E of No 303 'Pollsh' Sqn, flown by Fig Off W Urbanowicz, September 1940 5. Hurricane Mk l P2961 LE-A of No 242 Sqn, flown by Flg Off W L McKnight, December 1940 6. Hurricane Mk.llb,HA E, 'Death Warmed Up', flown by P/O Bill Hollis Hallett, No.261 Squadron, March 1942. Hollis was killed together with five other officers when a bomb exploded at the Hotel Point de Vue, Rabat, where many Ta'Qali pilots were billeted 7. Hurricane Mk.I W9145 DX-L of No 24s Sqn, flown by Sqn Ldr JWC Simpson, December 1940 8. Hurricane Mk l, N2359/YB-J, of No17 Squadron based at Debden during the Battle of Britain, September 1940. The winged Popeye motif is carried on the port sidevonly 9. Hurricane Mk.I P2798 LK-A of No 87 Sqn. flown by Flt L11 R Gleed, August 1940

More

Combat Chronicles of the Northrop P-61 'Black Widow' (soft back) Dramatic first-hand accounts by the pilots, radar observers, and gunners who saw combat aboard the first dedicated U.S. night fighter in World War II fill this unique volume, the first in Squadron/Signal's new Combat Chronicles series. Combat Chronicles books bring you action-packed, eye-witness war stories, interviews, and first-hand reminiscences from the front lines. In this premier volume we hear from the crews who rode the 'Black Widow' into battle all over the world. The outbreak of war in Europe in September 1939 and the Battle of Britain in 1940 left no room for doubt that the United States needed quickly to come up with a specialized night fighter to confront the totally new face of air combat. Northrop was able to come up with designs for a new, specially designated night fighter and a contract for what was to become the P-61 'Black Widow' was signed on 11 January 1941. After the first production aircraft rolled off the assembly line in October 1943, the P-61 went on to operate in the European, Pacific, China-Burma-India, and Mediterranean Theaters of the war. Experience World War II as it was seen by the men in the cockpit of this history-making radar-equipped night interceptor. Illustrated with 152 photographs, 112 pages.

More

Supermarine Spitfires in Soviet Service. Along with British Hurricanes, the Soviet Air Force (voyenno-vozdushnyye sily"VVS) also managed to fly another aircraft of the Royal Air Force as a front-line fighter"the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb. In the West this airplane is feted as the winner of the Battle of Britain, and is also a national symbol of World War II. In the skies of Russia these fighters became participants in 1943 of the bloodiest battles over the Kuban. Two front-line fighter aviation regiments of the Soviet VVS"57th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (GIAP) and 821st Fighter Aviation Regiment (IAP)"were re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb. It was the 57th GIAP that first entered combat with the enemy in these fighters, in May 1943. Earlier the regiment was known as the 36th IAP, and was formed in Baku in 1938. Pilots flew the regiment's first combat sortie under the command of Major Aleksandr Alekseevich Osipov on 27 November 1941 as part of the 72d Fighter Aviation Division (IAD) (later the regiment was subordinated to the 237th IAD). The regiment fought in the Southern, Crimean, and North Caucasus fronts until 15 November 1942. It is possible to make 3 full profiles. - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb 57 GIAP Kuban 1943 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXe 26 GIAP Leningrad 1944-1945 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc MJ858

More

Pacific Curtiss P-40s "Wairarapa Wildcat", NZ3078 S/Ldr. Herrick, RAAF, USAAC - P-40M-5 NZ3072 "Wairarapa Wildcat" 1943 - P-40N 42-105202, Lt. Robert M DeHaven, 7th FS, 49th FG, New Guinea, January 1944 - P-40N A29-607, Sqn Ldr John Waddy, August 1944 - P-40M-5 NZ3078, Sqn Ldr M. J. Herrick DFC and bar. Squadron Leader Michael J Herrick served in the RAF as a night fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain where he was credited with four victories, plus one damaged. In October 1941, Herrick was seconded to the RNZAF initially as an instructor in New Zealand. He was posted to No.15 Squadron flying P-40 Kittyhawks, first in Tonga then Espiritu Santo in February 1943. In April, the squadron moved to Guadalcanal. Herrick's first combat with the Japanese took place on 6 May when he and his wingman shared in the destruction of a float-plane. This was the first enemy aircraft shot down in the Pacific by fighters of the RNZAF. Herrick shot down an A6M Zero on 7 June when 12 No.15 Squadron P-40s, along with 88 other allied fighters, fought around 50 Japanese fighters. Herrick was with No.15 Squadron on it's second tour in the Pacific Theatre in September 1943, again flying escort missions and covering convoys. By November 1943 Herrick was commanding No.15 Squadron flying missions to protect the beachhead on Bougainville but on one of these missions, he was wounded in the foot and consequently returned home to New Zealand. By January 1944 Squadron Leader Herrick was back in Europe flying Mosquito night fighters with No.305 (Polish) Squadron. He was shot down and killed on 16 June 1944.

More

Vickers Wellesley by Ian White. Created on the drawing boards of the Vickers (Aviation) Company by Barnes Wallis using the geodetic form of construction he devised for Britain's R.100 airship, the Wellesley was designed to fulfil an Air Ministry specification for a reliable, general purpose bomber and torpedo-bomber, that was required to carry a heavy load over long distances. Originally conceived as a biplane, but converted to an all-metal geodetic monoplane by Barnes Wallis, and powered by the highly reliable Pegasus radial engine, the Wellesley was built in reasonable quantities to begin the re-equipment the embryo Bomber Command in 1937. Following testing at Martlesham Heath, the first production Wellesleys were delivered to the RAF early in 1937 and within one year formed the equipment of six UK squadrons. The Wellesley's flying qualities were such that it was chosen to equip the RAF's Long Range Development Unit, under whose guise it undertook a record breaking flight from Cranwell to the Persian Gulf and back to Ismailia in July 1938 and a second from Ismailia to Darwin, Australia, the following November, when the aircraft covered a distance of 7,157 miles without refuelling. By the outbreak of war the Wellesley was rendered obsolete in the European theatre, but was supplied in large numbers to re-equip the RAF's squadrons in the Middle East and East Africa. It was in the latter theatre that the aircraft showed its true metal. Supported by dedicated ground crews and the ever reliable Pegasus engine, the Wellesleys of Nos.14, 47 and 223 Squadrons battled the Italian Regia Aeronautica and the Italian Army in the Sudan, Abyssinia, Eritrea, Somaliland the Red Sea from June 1940 to November 1942. Despite being decidedly obsolete by the early months of 1943, the Wellesley was employed on transport, anti-submarine and convoy protection duties in the Eastern Mediterranean until March of that year, when the small number that remained were finally retired.

More

Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary 2010 RAF (10) Hawker Hurricane Mk.I N3522 US-P 56 Sqn RAF Nth Weald June 1940; P2923 VY-R 85 Sqn RAF Debden July 1940 F/O A.G.Lewis; P3707 NN-A 310(Czech) Sqn F/Lt Josef Maly RAF Duxford Oct 1940; Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I/Mk.1 K9867 ZP-J 74 Sqn RAF Rochford May 1940; K9899 LO-H 602 Sqn RAF Drem July 1940; X4474 QV-I 19 Sqn Sgt Jennings RAF Fowlmere Oct 1940; N3277 AZ-H 234 Sqn RAF Middle Wallop Aug 1940; Gloster Gladiator Mk.I N2308 HP-B 247 Sqn Sumburgh Aug 1940; Boulton-Paul Defiant Mk.I L7026 PS-V 264 Sqn RAF Fowlmere July 1940; Bristol Blenheim Mk.IF FK-S 219 Sqn RAF Catterick/Redhill July 1940;

More

RAF 111 Squadron History 1918 - 2011 (9) Nieuport N.24 bis B3592 Reg. Grobby, 'Demoiselle', Palestine 1918; Gloster Gauntlet II K5265 B Flight RAF Northolt 1936; Hawker Hurricane Mk.I V6701 JU-F RAF Dyce 1941; Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc MH622 JU-F Italy 1944; Gloster Meteor F.8 WL118/L RAF North Weald 1955; McDonnell-Douglas FGR.2 Phantom XT874/O loaned to 111Sqn by 65 Sqn. 228OCU, RAF Leuchars 1978; BAe Tornado F.3 ZH554/HX JU-C coded for Flt.Lt.S.D.P.Connors DFC shot down 18-8-40; ZE791/HF JU-L coded for Sgt.W.J.Dymond DFM shot down 2-9-40, both 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain RAF Leuchars August 2010; ZE791/HF in special Squadron Disbandment scheme commemorating 25 Years of Tornado operation 2-4-2011. [111Sqn 111 Sqn]

More

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia/Mk.1 /Mk.1 Battle of Britain 1940 Pt 2 (10) N3162 EB-G 41 Sqn P/O Eric Lock RAF Hornchurch; EB-L 41 Sqn P/O Ted Shipman RAF Catterick; X4278 ZD-D 222 Sqn J.W.Cutts RAF Duxford; P7357 L.Z-I 421(Reconnaissance) Flt RAF Gravesend; L1027 LO-A Izal Get You 602 Sqn RAF Middle Wallop LO-P 602 Sqn RAF Drem L1004 LO-Q 602 Sqn Keydoying Sqn Ldr A Johnstone DFC RAF Tangmere; PR-E 609 Sqn RAF Middle Wallop; R6691 PR-J 609 Sqn Flt Lt Frank Howell RAF Middle Wallop; X4253 FY-N 611 Sqn Sgt Wilfred Duncan-Smith RAF Rochford;

More

Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane National Insignia Battle of Britain 1940

More