Fairey Fulcrum Mk.I - No.600 (City of London) Squadron, Royal Auxilliary Air Force, 1938





I've got a bit of a pre-war thing going on at the moment so I thought I'd dress up the 'Fulcrum' (lol) with more colourful markings. I wanted to use rudder stripes which meant knocking up a couple of white outlined serial numbers and added a red and white engine cowling. On the first picture if you look at the 'red box' code letters on the spats you can see a bit of compression going on. Sweet!

All dressed up for the Lord Mayor's Parade 

Quote from: SPINNERS on February 20, 2025, 08:42:45 AMOn the first picture if you look at the 'red box' code letters on the spats you can see a bit of compression going on. Sweet!

Yes, it's a nice touch. 

I was thinking it was a Shrike, but then I don't know that eras' aircraft particularly well...

 

Quote from: SPINNERS on February 20, 2025, 02:43:36 AMall I had as a cash-strapped teenager in the 1970's was an 'M3' tinlet to choose from

Ah, the old Humbrol M3... I remember it well; it was about all we could get here, with the 30 as well...so  matt and semi gloss in the one camouflage scheme... well, at least they were both green!

Boulton Paul Defender Mk.I - No.303 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1940

The Boulton Paul P.83 was designed to Air Ministry Specification F.40/34 for a single-seat monplane fighter of wooden construction that could be built rapidly and in large numbers. As part of the Air Ministry policy of diverting production of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine to priority projects such as the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire the Air Ministry had specified that all F.40/34 submissions must use the Napier Falcon (a licence-built Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45) with a planned rating of 920 hp. The P.83 was a conventional low-wing monoplane but of wooden construction with plywood skinning over stringers in a semi-monocoque construction.

In the Spring of 1936, Boulton Paul commenced assembly on the first P.83 prototype at their new Wolverhampton facility and made quick progress. With their contemporary turret-fighter being named Defiant, Boulton Paul requested the name Defender for their new fighter and this was agreed with the Air Ministry. Making it's maiden flight on April 4th, 1937 (piloted by Boulton Paul's chief test pilot Cecil Feather) the Defender demonstrated good handling and an impressive rate of climb. Service pilots reported that the Defender could climb faster than both the Spitfire and Hurricane but that its top speed was somewhere inbetween the two. In June 1937 the Air Ministry placed an order for 240 aircraft and whilst official acceptance trials did not commence until July 1938 the first Defender Squadrons were formed in early 1939.

Quite a nice looking alternative to the usual Spitfires and Hurricanes, but it's obviously not a single seater Defiant, so what is it?

Little back story added (a bit rushed).

One-Nil to the A******, One-Nil to the A******, One-Nil to the A******

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 21, 2025, 11:09:04 AMQuite a nice looking alternative to the usual Spitfires and Hurricanes, but it's obviously not a single seater Defiant, so what is it?

An Arsenal VG-33, I think???

Quote from: major on February 21, 2025, 04:15:33 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 21, 2025, 11:09:04 AMQuite a nice looking alternative to the usual Spitfires and Hurricanes, but it's obviously not a single seater Defiant, so what is it?

An Arsenal VG-33, I think???

That would tie in with what Spinners was saying about the previous guess. Personally I was thinking French but could not think of what 

Gondor

Quote from: major on February 21, 2025, 04:15:33 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 21, 2025, 11:09:04 AMQuite a nice looking alternative to the usual Spitfires and Hurricanes, but it's obviously not a single seater Defiant, so what is it?

An Arsenal VG-33, I think???

Possibly, but the cowling looks a little on the chubby side to me    although that could simply be the camouflage making it look that way.

Quote from: major on February 21, 2025, 04:15:33 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 21, 2025, 11:09:04 AMQuite a nice looking alternative to the usual Spitfires and Hurricanes, but it's obviously not a single seater Defiant, so what is it?

An Arsenal VG-33, I think???

Correct!

Parani Aviation Company YG/X 'Condor' - 8th Fighter Regiment, Parani Army Air Force, 1945






Another re-purposing of the Italian SAI Ambrosini SS.4 - a 3D model built by Veltro2K at my suggestion back in 2015 and probably my best skin made from scratch.

I like that.....a lot   

It's not pretty but the MiG-3 is rather rakish!

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 26, 2025, 05:53:36 AMI like that.....a lot   

Then go to Post #1513 

Thinks: Is that even possible?

Quote from: SPINNERS on February 26, 2025, 08:44:39 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 26, 2025, 05:53:36 AMI like that.....a lot   

Then go to Post #1513 

Thinks: Is that even possible?

Not directly as far as I'm aware but a simple bit of maths gets you roughly there and then you just move around. Took me three clicks 

And the Italian camouflaged one  is gorgeous, but then I can't resist "sand and spinach"