Which kit for a "RAF Westhampnett/Tangmere" warbird? ?
Discussion
Having moved to a little village with a fairly punchy BoB history, I suppose I really should apply my Warhammer gained skills (those few that exist!) to building a nice kit or two of a plane that would have flown from the area...
I'm no historic aviation buff, but would like to make something broadly accurate!
So, anyone able to give me a hand on what to make?
Ideally, I'd like something of a reasonable size - perhaps 1/32?
Also something that's a pretty modern kit (in terms of engineering), and has a goodly amount of detail to enjoy.
Have a full hobby room setup - airbrush, reasonable plastic and resin modelling skills, happy (and keen) to play with some photoetch...
Budget? Perhaps £100 for something worthwhile?
First thought was a Tamiya kit (remember them being superb quality when I built a few MotoGP bikes/race cars several years ago - but they don't seem to do anything that would have actually flown from those airfields?
I'm no historic aviation buff, but would like to make something broadly accurate!
So, anyone able to give me a hand on what to make?
Ideally, I'd like something of a reasonable size - perhaps 1/32?
Also something that's a pretty modern kit (in terms of engineering), and has a goodly amount of detail to enjoy.
Have a full hobby room setup - airbrush, reasonable plastic and resin modelling skills, happy (and keen) to play with some photoetch...
Budget? Perhaps £100 for something worthwhile?
First thought was a Tamiya kit (remember them being superb quality when I built a few MotoGP bikes/race cars several years ago - but they don't seem to do anything that would have actually flown from those airfields?
From what I can find through Google (as mentioned, no aviation buff at all, so any errors entirely on me through ignorance!):
602 Squadron flew Mk1 Spitfires there.
Douglas Bader then commanded Tangmere Wing of Fighter Command later in the war.
Seems they started out with mkIIa and mkIIb. Then shifting to mkV and mkVa (cannon and gun variants?).
SoE operated Lysanders (seemingly modified for STOL?).
Then Meteors post War from what I can find...
602 Squadron flew Mk1 Spitfires there.
Douglas Bader then commanded Tangmere Wing of Fighter Command later in the war.
Seems they started out with mkIIa and mkIIb. Then shifting to mkV and mkVa (cannon and gun variants?).
SoE operated Lysanders (seemingly modified for STOL?).
Then Meteors post War from what I can find...
Also seems that Hurricanes were flown there too - Nos 43 and 601 Squadrons were there at least in August 1940.
Blenheims of the Fighter Interception Unit were there too - some being destroyed in what seems to have been a pretty chunky bombing raid targeting Tangmere.
https://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/articles/tangme...
https://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/articles/dougla...
Blenheims of the Fighter Interception Unit were there too - some being destroyed in what seems to have been a pretty chunky bombing raid targeting Tangmere.
https://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/articles/tangme...
https://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/articles/dougla...
lufbramatt said:
The new ICM Gloster Gladiator in 1/32 looks very nice indeed and comes with decals for a 72 squadron aircraft, which appear to have been based at Tangmere.
Awesome! Looks like a great plane to build... Also think I've decided on the Tamiya 1/48 MkI Spitfire (hopefully with the ground crew). Looks like one of the people modelled could be done as Douglas Bader.
Any 'super detail' kits available for that Tamiya kit, or is it pretty well detailed already? If it's going to be on the ground, I'd quite like to have the engine cowling open...
Awesome, thanks.
I'm very close to the museum, unfortunately it's closed for another couple of weeks (from memory, there was a sign on the gates when I walked past with the dog a little while ago - I'll walk past again this weekend and check).
Paint masks are even better than decals for me - always struggled with decals, but masking and spraying with the airbrush is quite fun...
Plenty of reading and planning to do!
I'm very close to the museum, unfortunately it's closed for another couple of weeks (from memory, there was a sign on the gates when I walked past with the dog a little while ago - I'll walk past again this weekend and check).
Paint masks are even better than decals for me - always struggled with decals, but masking and spraying with the airbrush is quite fun...
Plenty of reading and planning to do!
Thanks Krupp and Eric - more reading and planning!
I've seen and read that plaque, it's bordering the extant concrete runway at the boundary where the new houses have been built last year. It is indeed Hangar Drive, if you look on Google maps it's to the Eastern end of where the hangars are still visible as the photos haven't been updated since the houses were built.
I've seen and read that plaque, it's bordering the extant concrete runway at the boundary where the new houses have been built last year. It is indeed Hangar Drive, if you look on Google maps it's to the Eastern end of where the hangars are still visible as the photos haven't been updated since the houses were built.
lufbramatt said:
Eric Mc said:
They are hosting their 3rd model show at Tangmere on 3 May.
https://www.thetouristtrail.org/events/general/sca...
I'll be there running the Airfix stand https://www.thetouristtrail.org/events/general/sca...
There's a fairly large model of what looks like a Spitfire out the back, on top of an old container...
Likely very ropey, but I am tempted to ask if they want to sell it - we've a tree I got hacked down to a 4m tree stump, and am planning the chainsaw meister to come and carve it into a sculpture this spring, with one idea being a stylised vapour trail with an impression of a Spitfire at the top... (the other leading idea is an effigy of Merlin...)
Likely very ropey, but I am tempted to ask if they want to sell it - we've a tree I got hacked down to a 4m tree stump, and am planning the chainsaw meister to come and carve it into a sculpture this spring, with one idea being a stylised vapour trail with an impression of a Spitfire at the top... (the other leading idea is an effigy of Merlin...)
Merlin took me for a walk around the airfield today. Somehow ended up at the Gribble Inn for a cheeky pint...
As there was a bit of interest in the current airfield, thought I'd take some pics:
Here is the strip between the new houses on Hangar Drive.
About ten feet deep, running the full length.
And here's the memorial to the Halifax crew, nicely tended with some bluebells coming through just in front.
As mentioned, out the back of the museum there's a cool Spitfire model seemingly discarded... But bigger than I remember, but I want it!
As there was a bit of interest in the current airfield, thought I'd take some pics:
Here is the strip between the new houses on Hangar Drive.
About ten feet deep, running the full length.
And here's the memorial to the Halifax crew, nicely tended with some bluebells coming through just in front.
As mentioned, out the back of the museum there's a cool Spitfire model seemingly discarded... But bigger than I remember, but I want it!
Not a problem in the slightest!
As said, I'm no aviation buff really (got a reasonable idea, as per the doggo's name, but wouldn't call myself an enthusiast).
But, I am a big believer in getting to know and 'empathise with' local history. Hence wanting to have a few things around the house that pay homage to the village.
Going to wait until the model show (have a big backlog of wargaming models to paint for some competitions/games) and peruse the museum and possibly have a chat with lufbramatt/Eric if they're about.
As there was interest in the current state of the airfield, more than happy to oblige - if the weather is decent tomorrow I'll let Merlin take me around the greenhouses to see some of the other still extant features.
As said, I'm no aviation buff really (got a reasonable idea, as per the doggo's name, but wouldn't call myself an enthusiast).
But, I am a big believer in getting to know and 'empathise with' local history. Hence wanting to have a few things around the house that pay homage to the village.
Going to wait until the model show (have a big backlog of wargaming models to paint for some competitions/games) and peruse the museum and possibly have a chat with lufbramatt/Eric if they're about.
As there was interest in the current state of the airfield, more than happy to oblige - if the weather is decent tomorrow I'll let Merlin take me around the greenhouses to see some of the other still extant features.
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