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Richard M · Last edited by Richard M on Mon 15 Dec 2008 12:10 pm; edited 1 time in total

During August of 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, two of the younger high-achiever commanders were asked to attend a front line General Officer briefing on Luftwaffe tactics for Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. They were Adolf "Dolfo" Galland, Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26, and Geschwaderkommodore Werner Mölders of JG 51. The Reichsmarschall was dissatisfied with the progress of the battle and asked his commanders what the pilots needed to win the fight.

Werner Mölders replied "I would like the Bf 109 to be fitted with more powerful engines."

Galland replied: "I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my squadron."

Hermann Göring was speechless with rage at Galland's answer. It was a comment he would not forgive or forget.

Shortly afterwards Spitfires from 603 (City of Edinburgh ) AuxAF Squadron based at RAF Hornchurch were heavily engaged over the channel by Bf.109’s from JG 26. During the combat, Sgt. Pilot Alfie Summers, flying a new Mk.IIa Supermarine Spitfire P7351 XT-A, became disorientated whilst trying to evade a pair of determined Bf.109’s after running out of ammunition. Entering low-level cloud he managed to lose the pair, however by this point he was so disorientated that when he emerged below the cloud he mistook the coast of France for the British coast. Running low on fuel he elected to make an emergency landing in a convenient field. He just made it and coasted to a halt by a hedgerow at the far end of the field.
Unfortunately he landed right next to a German Army unit, which was conducting an invasion training exercise. The surprised German soldiers emerged from the hedge, horrified and realising his mistake Alfie Summers jumped from his plane and attempted to set fire to it using flares. Before he could succeed he was over-powered by the soldiers and taken prisoner.

The Spitfire was recovered by the Luftwaffe and was prepared to be shipped to an evaluation unit to assess its performance. The Reichsmarschall, on hearing of the capture of an air worthy Spitfire thought he would exact revenge on Galland. He ordered the spitfire sent to Galland’s JG.26, with the order that it would be Galland’s personal machine.
“He wanted Spitfires – HAH! Here is his first, let us see what Galland will do with it!”

When Göring’s aides mentioned that it would surely be too dangerous to fly a captured aircraft against the RAF as it would be at risk of being attacked by both sides,
Göring replied
“If Galland is as good as he says, and the Spitfire as superior as he thinks, then he should not be in any danger from the combined forces of the Luftwaffe and RAF!”

The spitfire was duly sent to JG.26. When it arrived and on hearing Göring’s comments, Galland laughed and ordered the spitfire painted in his colours. He sent a message to the Reichsmarschall, thanking him for his first Spitfire and said he was looking forward to receiving others! Galland then flew the Spitfire with JG.26 on several sorties, and was delighted with it’s flight characteristics.

On 31st August he engaged a flight of Hurricanes and downed one and damaged two others. Two days later he fought a flight of Spitfires, again damaging two aircraft. The following week his flight was attacked with vigour by a combined force of Hurricanes and Spitfires, Galland’s Spitfire being damaged by several rounds in the wing and tail.
On landing he commented
“The RAF do not seem happy with me borrowing one of their aeroplanes!”

As a result of the damage sustained, P7351 was deemed un-repairable and was finally sent to the enemy aircraft assessment unit, who were somewhat dismayed at the state it was in. It was used as spare parts and was eventually destroyed in an air raid.

Best
Rich
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Best
Rich
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"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

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Richard M · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 10:06 am Post subject:

The components;

Airfix 1/48 Mk.I/IIa

Techmod 1/48 Adolf Galland Decals.

ICM 1/48 Luftwaffe Pilots and ground personel.

DMM 1/48 Luftwaffe Pilots.

Best
Rich
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Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Obi-Jiff Kenobi · Green Star Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 259

You've piqued my interest!
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TopGun · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 11:34 am Post subject:

This will be interesting
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hewman100 · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 11:44 am Post subject:

What an inspired idea Rich! I'm really looking forward to watching this.
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feanor · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:

Ayup Rich...

Interesting story. isn't this the one (vaguely) portrayed in the BoB film?
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thomasweir · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

A great back story Richard and some nice bits of Kit to build and display.

daniel7891 · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 13:25 pm Post subject:

A Great Story Rich, I'm looking forward to seeing this one
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Cheers

Daniel

Richard M · Posted: Wed 17 Dec 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

Some sprues shots of the Spitfire and ICM figures.

The parts are quite nicely molded, no flash, the sprue gates are huge, even on small parts though.

The figures are very finely molded, with seperate heads which should make things easier.

The decals are very nice, perfectly printed and in register, the only disappointment is the fragmented swastikas, but luckily I have another set for them.

Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

XN923 · Bronze Star Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 1176

One question for you Rich - did the Luftwaffe retain the 8x.303in armament or did they fit German MGs - or possibly cannon??

I've used some Techmod decals before and as you say they were nicely thick with excellent registration. It took some work to get them to settle down though, so make sure you have plenty of setting solution or Klear or whatever your favoured method is to hand.

TimJ · Posted: Wed 17 Dec 2008 17:18 pm Post subject:

Sounds interesting Rich. I look forward to seeing a yellow nosed, mottled Spit.
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Richard M · Posted: Thu 18 Dec 2008 10:43 am Post subject:

TopGun · Posted: Thu 18 Dec 2008 11:04 am Post subject:

Nice work on the instrument panel
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Richard M · Posted: Mon 22 Dec 2008 21:14 pm Post subject:

Some more work done. The instrument panel was finished and the rudder pedals and control column added.

The fuselage was then glued together, minus the seat and control panel initially. I drilled out the fuel filler cap in front of the cockpit and glued a piece of plastic card to the inside of the fuselage to blank it off - eliminating a very awkward seam.

I test fitted a piece of sprue in the fuselage to act as a spreader until the fuselage/wing join was OK and then glued it in place.

The seat with bulkhead and the control panel were then glued into the fuselage. The seat had a decal seatbelt from a 1/48 Tamiya Mosquito added, not quite right but what the heck, it was the best I had!

Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

thomasweir · Posted: Tue 23 Dec 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

Looking great

feanor · Posted: Tue 23 Dec 2008 12:50 pm Post subject:

Ayup Rich...

Nice Spit. Looking Good...as always...
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Airfix Member 022... Jolly Boy.

Remember: 'The Dude Abides'...

'It's GOOD to be the King !'

Richard M · Posted: Sun 28 Dec 2008 15:46 pm Post subject:

Bit more work done. The spreader eliminated most of the wing join gap.

The only problem being at the front of the wing, but a smidgeon of milliput should sort that out no bother.

The fit at the rear of the wing to fuselage section was as poor as I expected, on all the Airfix 1/48 spit's I've built I've experienced the same. Still, a bit of milliput and problem solved. You can see the plastic card I've glued in place to support the small flaps.

Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Mon 29 Dec 2008 15:40 pm Post subject:

Milliput applied and sanded down, no real problems.

I can add the last few pieces and mask everything up, the small flaps are a bit dodgy and needed thinning to get them to sit right. Apart from that, and the bit of filler, it really has gone together very nicely.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

jhl1908 · Posted: Mon 29 Dec 2008 16:11 pm Post subject:

Looking great so far, Richard

All the best from Jesper.

Ratch · Posted: Mon 29 Dec 2008 18:31 pm Post subject:

Scrubs up nicely

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