amateur Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 (edited) Following on from steam-engines, I have now found myself building 1/72 scale plastic model aeroplanes, over 55 years since I last built one. Why? Well my late father was in the RAF during WW2 and, before he died last year, had, unbeknown to me, promised our grandson that he would help him to build a model Spitfire. Our grandson was very upset at my father's funeral because he thought that he would not now be able to have his plane. Trawling through father's effects we found his wartime log book and in it were pasted the two photos below. Dad had learned to fly in Canada under the BCATP scheme and the photo of the Harvard is him flying in Saskatchewan in 1943 after he had trained as a flying instructor. After the BCAPT closed in 1944 he returned to the UK and continued training potential fighter pilots, so managed to obtain his only flight in a Spitfire Vb in April 1945 for "familiarisation". He never forgot it. So I tracked down a model Harvard (actually a Texan, the US version) and a Spitfire Vb and they are now being built to match the photos. The obsession has now bitten with a vengeance, because from the log-book I found that he had also flown the De Havilland 82c Tiger Moth, Boeing Stearman, Fairchild Cornell, Avro Anson, Miles Magister, Airspeed Oxford and the Wellington II. Models of which I have managed to track down. We are going to be busy! Edited March 14, 2020 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 A great tribute. Mind the sticking fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 hello, what a good post, look forward to further updates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Very interesting, good luck with the building and painting. I look forward to further posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 thats great hope the building goes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Interesting that the Spitfire is either No 53 Operational Training Unit or No 600 Squadron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumfelter Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Interesting hobby that I hope to got back into after a bungalow renovation. For inspiration take a look at www.britmodeller.com for some tips, works in progress and finished models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Interesting that the Spitfire is either No 53 Operational Training Unit or No 600 Squadron. 53 OTU, used to convert trainees to Spitfires from Harvards. Dad borrowed it for an hour - the only time that he flew a fighter. His job was to train students in aerobatics, night-flying and cross-country. At the end of the war he also gave refresher training to newly released POWs, including one W/Cdr Bob Stanford Tuck. Father remarked ruefully that Tuck could still fly rings around him, despite having been in a camp for 3 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 This thread just gets better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 (edited) Here is the Harvard. I haven't yet got the hang of applying the transfers. 😥 Edited March 13, 2020 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akka Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 That's a very nice job! The Harvard had a really nice distict sound to it, always made me look up when it went over. My boy has this picture on his wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 The old Boscombe Downe chase plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akka Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 👍that's the one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 (edited) The other intermediate trainer used in the BCATP Edited March 20, 2020 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 (edited) Cracking job! I have recently been working for a very nice man who used to develop air to ground missile launching systems for a company which now escapes me. He showed me into his ‘study’ where he makes model aeroplanes ; to say it was packed would be an understatement! He then showed me into a shed in the garden in which he said was over 300 models! I didn’t have time to count them but it was certainly an impressive collection. All his book shelves are filled with books of military aircraft. Interesting old boy. Edited March 21, 2020 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 My local model shop is like that, stuffed full of old stock Airfix and Revell kits and lots of completed aircraft. The proprietor (similar age to me) had bought up old stock over the years and now reckons he's got enough to see him out. I've not been in a model shop like that in over 55 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 On 13/03/2020 at 21:19, akka said: That's a very nice job! The Harvard had a really nice distict sound to it, always made me look up when it went over. My boy has this picture on his wall. hello, nice photo, where is this ? looks familiar ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 Also when grandson gets fed up of them they make cracking targets at about 10 yards free hand with a Webley pistol. Myself and my sons "a while ago" used to spend hours building them only to shoot them to bits at the bottom of the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 (edited) Hopefully he will look after these in memory of his much-loved Great-Grandpa. I have helped him build a Bf-109, a Spitfire XIV and an FW190, which he can shoot up if he wants. We will see! Edited March 21, 2020 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fern01 Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 I have been building this 11' 6" Thermalist glider for weeks now. I dreamed of doing so when I was twelve years old as it was the biggest one in the APS plans handbook. If any PW member would like to own it,install the R/C and fly it PM me I am in N Yorks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 I have plans to build a M-10 Achilles as driven by my Grandad from France to the Kiel canal. I was hoping to build a diorama of one of his stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 2 hours ago, kennett said: I have plans to build a M-10 Achilles as driven by my Grandad from France to the Kiel canal. I was hoping to build a diorama of one of his stories. I had to Google that to find out that it was a WW2 17pdr anti-tank tracked vehicle, based on the Sherman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 16 minutes ago, amateur said: I had to Google that to find out that it was a WW2 17pdr anti-tank tracked vehicle, based on the Sherman. It was indeed, with an open topped turret and not a lot of armour 😬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akka Posted March 21, 2020 Report Share Posted March 21, 2020 7 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, nice photo, where is this ? looks familiar ?? Salisbury cathedral👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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