1:72 Supermarine Spitfire of the Estonian Air Force, August 1939

Dizzyfugu · June 17, 2019, 05:50:11 AM

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
The roots of the Estonian Air Force go back to the Russian revolution of February 1917, after which the Estonian state obtained a degree of autonomy within Russia, which included the establishment of national armed forces. Following the February 1920 peace treaty with the Soviet Russia, the Estonian Army was demobilized, but the Aviation Company was retained. With the delivery of more aircraft, it was reorganized as an Aviation Regiment (Lennuväe rügement), comprising a landplane squadron, seaplane squadron, flying school and workshops. More bases and seaplane stations were built.

Some Aviation Regiment pilots were involved in a pro-Soviet coup attempt on 1 December 1924, but this was crushed within hours. From 1925 the First World War era aircraft were gradually replaced by more modern types. During 1928 the Aviation Regiment came under the control of an Air Defence (Õhukaitse) organization which included the Anti-Aircraft Artillery.

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Under the threat of rising political tensions in Europe the Estonian Air Force steadily modernized its fleet during the Thirties. In 1939, the Estonian Air force consisted of about 80 active airplanes, including Bristol Bulldog, Hawker Hart and Potez 25 biplanes from the 1920s, but there were also more modern types like the Avro Anson multipurpose aircraft, and several other types were on order from Great Britain that would significantly improve the small air force's capabilities.

Among these orders were Westland Lysander reconnaissance aircraft and Supermarine Spitfire fighters, the latter were intended to replace the obsolete biplane fighters in the frontline units, which were at that time organized in three groups stationed at Rakvere, Tartu, and Tallinn. The Navy also maintained two multipurpose aircraft wings.

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A total of 22 Supermarine Spitfires had been ordered in late 1937, and due to the lack of production capacities the first machines were delivered to Estonia as kits via ship from Great Britain in April 1939. They were assembled in Tallinn and directly delivered to the 1st fighter squadron.

The Estonian Spitfires more or less resembled the RAF's early Mk. I standard (armed with eight 0.303" machine guns), even though they already incorporated some innovations that reached the RAF machines at a later point. Most visible difference was the new de Havilland 9 ft 8 in (2.97 m) diameter, three-bladed, two-position, metal propeller that replaced the early RAF Spitfires' Aero-Products "Watts" 10 ft 8 in (3.3 m) diameter two-blade wooden fixed-pitch propeller, which greatly improved take-off performance, maximum speed and the service ceiling. Less visible was a hydraulic system driven by a pump mounted in the engine bay for operating the undercarriage, which replaced the original manual hand-pump. However, the machines still had the original "flat" canopy that severely limited the pilot's headspace and field of view, so that the Spitfires were frequently flown with open cockpits. To improve protection for the pilot and fuel tanks a thick laminated glass bulletproof plate was fitted to the curved, one piece windscreen and a 3 mm thick cover of light alloy, capable of deflecting small caliber rounds, was fitted over the top of the two fuel tanks.

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

When WWII broke out in September 1939, only six machines were fully operational, though, and eight more were in various stages of assembly of flight testing. The rest of the order had not been fulfilled, yet, and other new British types like the Lysander were not delivered at all because Britain had been forced to cancel all export orders.

When Germany invaded Poland, the Estonian Spitfires were primarily tasked with airspace patrol and interceptions in the border regions – but they were not engaged in any combat. Under the threat of occupation either by Germany or Russia, the Estonian government eventually decided to ground the small Spitfires fleet and save it through transfer: in September 1939, all operational Spitfire were disassembled and, together with the kits, sent back via ship to Great Britain, where the machines were integrated into the Royal Air Force.

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The timing was tight: After the defeat of Poland, Estonia was forced to accept a Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union, signed on 28 September 1939. This allowed the Russians to establish military bases in Estonia, which were later used in the Winter War against Finland, and any Estonian military force was neutralized. On 17 June 1940, the three Baltic States were eventually invaded by Soviet forces, and the remains of the Estonian Air Defence took no action and subsequently aircraft remained locked in their hangars, and the Estonian Air Force became the Aircraft Squadron of the 22nd Territorial Corps of the Soviet Army in the summer of 1940.

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

General characteristics:
Crew: one pilot
Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.86 m)
Wing area: 242.1 ft2 (22.48 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 2213 (root)
NACA 2209.4 (tip)
Empty weight: 5,065 lb (2,297 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,622 lb (3,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,700 lb (3,039 kg)

Powerplant:
1× Rolls-Royce Merlin II liquid-cooled V12 engine, delivering 1,030 hp (768 kW),
driving a de Havilland three blade two pitch constant speed propeller with 9 ft 8 in (2.97 m) diameter

Performance:
Maximum speed: 362 mph (583 km/h) at 18,500 ft (5,600 m)
Combat radius: 410 nmi (470 mi (756 km))
Ferry range: 991 nmi (1,135 mi (1,827 km))
Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m)
Rate of climb: 2,490 ft/min (12.6 m/sec) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
Wing loading: 27.35 lb/ft2 (133.5 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (0.36 kW/kg)

Armament:
8× 0.303" (7.62 mm) Browning Mk II machine guns (300 RPG) in the outer wings

The kit and its assembly:
Another one of the quickie build from April/May 2019, when I was busy at work and did not have the mojo for a bigger project. This one is a classic whif: something that existed on paper and has a real historic background, but never materialized. And it's a free, personal interpretation of the subject – for instance, KORA recently released a decal set for Estonian Spitfires, and individual models frequently pop up at model kit conventions.

Since the Spitfire was a relatively young type during this model's scenario, I decided to use an early Spitfire Mk. I as starting point, and my choice fell on the (vintage) Hasegawa kit, which comes with optional propellers and canopies for the Mk. I. Basically, the kit was built OOB, using the flat, "early" canopy and the three blade propeller that was actually introduced in 1940. For the latter, I just integrated a styrene tube into the front fuselage and added a metal axis to the propeller, so that it could spin freely. Furthermore, I scratched the interior of the radiator with foamed styrene, since it is OOB totally empty.

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Overall, the Hasegawa kit is a very simple affair, there are certainly better and more detailed kits available – but for this distraction project it was good enough.

Painting and markings:
How could an Estonian Spitfire have looked like? KORA suggests either an all-NMF aircraft or standard RAF camouflage in Dark Green/Dark Earth, but also with the white/black undersides for quick AA ID of the era.
I found the NMF finish, while a plausible option, since types like the Avro Anson were operated in this guise, a bit dull. But the RAF camouflage appeared quite plausible to me, since many other British export fighters of the pre-WWII era were delivered in such a finish, and I used Humbrol 116 and 29 as basic tones), but gave the aircraft a uniform underside in duck egg blue (Humbrol 23). Just inside of the landing gear well, I subtly added the British heritage in the form of a black and white interior. The cockpit was painted in standard RAF cockpit green (Humbrol 78).

Whiffery became more obvious through the markings. The Estonian triangles actually belong to a post-WWI Sopwith Camel (PrintScale). The blue is quite pale, but these markings came with the bonus of a white edge, which improves contrast esp. on the upper surfaces. The Estonian flag on the rudder was improvised with paint and decal material: the blue was mixed individually, trying to match the roundels' tone, and the white section was painted, too, with a piece of black decal sheet between them.
The same blue was also added to the spinner – I wanted a little individual touch, and this detail was IMHO just enough to make the Estonian aircraft look less RAF-ish.
The other few markings were puzzled together from various sources. The tactical code number comes from an Xtradecal sheet for a Bristol Blenheim, the squadron emblem comes from a Polish pre-WWII aircraft.

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The kit received no black ink wash, just some subtle panel post-shading and some soot stains around the machine gun nozzles and the exhausts. Finally, everything was sealed under matt acrylic varnish (Italeri).

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Supermarine (Type 300) "Spitfire" Mk. IA; "250" of the Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi) 1st Fighter Squadron; Tallinn, August 1939 (Whif/Hasegwawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Certainly nothing that raises eyebrows, but a pleasant build, realized in just a couple of days. It just took some weeks to find the right mojo for pics, and the file with the original background story was eaten by a mighty star goat in the meantime and had to be rewritten...

NARSES2 · June 17, 2019, 06:08:09 AM

That's really nice, especially like the Estonian markings

If my memory is working then at least one of the Baltic States had requested the purchase of Spitfires along with a few other countries. Some of the "smaller" European states make attractive options for early Spitfires and Hurricanes

PR19_Kit · June 17, 2019, 06:38:51 AM

I didn't think we allowed RW models in here unless they were marked as such...............

Cracking job there Thomas.

Dizzyfugu · June 17, 2019, 07:19:51 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on June 17, 2019, 06:08:09 AM
That's really nice, especially like the Estonian markings

If my memory is working then at least one of the Baltic States had requested the purchase of Spitfires along with a few other countries. Some of the "smaller" European states make attractive options for early Spitfires and Hurricanes

That actually was Estonia, but the deal was axed by Great Britain. There's much truth behind this whif, the deal just did not materialize in time (including the Lysanders mentioned in the background). Other early Spitfire orders came from Turkey and Portugal.

TallEng · June 17, 2019, 08:48:49 AM

I like that.
I was just idly wondering/thinking that maybe the Estonians would have had toned down their markings
what with the Fog of war coming ever closer? bit like the RAF did, Loose the white and just have Dark blue with
a light blue center on the wing Triangles? And maybe white outline numbers on the fuselage?
No criticism intended, just thoughts....
Regards
Keith

Caveman · June 17, 2019, 09:47:48 AM

Noting Estonia's incredible concrete seaplane hangar:

Maybe they could also have been recipients of the first floatplane spitfires?

philp · June 17, 2019, 08:24:51 PM

I like this one. Had thought about doing one myself based on someones artwork here.

Dizzyfugu · June 17, 2019, 11:41:45 PM

Quote from: TallEng on June 17, 2019, 08:48:49 AM
I like that.
I was just idly wondering/thinking that maybe the Estonians would have had toned down their markings
what with the Fog of war coming ever closer? bit like the RAF did, Loose the white and just have Dark blue with
a light blue center on the wing Triangles? And maybe white outline numbers on the fuselage?
No criticism intended, just thoughts....
Regards
Keith

Well, I recently built a modified Siskin with modern Estonian roundels - and these did not come with the white outline, and the blue was much darker - in fact, the contrast to the surrounding camouflage was/is so weak that you only see the white triangle. I did not want to follow this route again, it would have looked pretty dull, IMHO, so I settled upon the roundels from a post WWI Camel, with high visibility in mind as a message from the homeland defense.

TomZ · June 18, 2019, 12:21:55 AM

Wow! That looks realy nice.

TomZ

NARSES2 · June 18, 2019, 06:09:07 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on June 17, 2019, 07:19:51 AM

That actually was Estonia, but the deal was axed by Great Britain. There's much truth behind this whif, the deal just did not materialize in time (including the Lysanders mentioned in the background). Other early Spitfire orders came from Turkey and Portugal.

Thanks Dizzy

I found an Airfix Lysander in the stash the other day whilst looking for something else ?

Dizzyfugu · June 18, 2019, 07:26:42 AM

There's a KORA decal set for Estonian Lysanders (1:72 and 1:32m AFAIK) - even though with quite dull options (NMF/alu dope or standard RAF livery).

Not a good offer, though: quite expensive for what you get, IMHO, since you have to create the flag on the fin on your own. $:-\$

comrade harps · June 19, 2019, 06:12:36 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on June 17, 2019, 11:41:45 PM
Quote from: TallEng on June 17, 2019, 08:48:49 AM
I like that.
I was just idly wondering/thinking that maybe the Estonians would have had toned down their markings
what with the Fog of war coming ever closer? bit like the RAF did, Loose the white and just have Dark blue with
a light blue center on the wing Triangles? And maybe white outline numbers on the fuselage?
No criticism intended, just thoughts....
Regards
Keith

Well, I recently built a modified Siskin with modern Estonian roundels - and these did not come with the white outline, and the blue was much darker - in fact, the contrast to the surrounding camouflage was/is so weak that you only see the white triangle. I did not want to follow this route again, it would have looked pretty dull, IMHO, so I settled upon the roundels from a post WWI Camel, with high visibility in mind as a message from the homeland defense.

I really like the big bright Estonian markings. Think of them of being like the Dutch in 1939-1940, with their orange neutrality markings (also triangular) totally distracting from the camouflage. Be seen, be safe, right? (sic)

NARSES2 · June 19, 2019, 06:24:52 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on June 18, 2019, 07:26:42 AM
There's a KORA decal set for Estonian Lysanders (1:72 and 1:32m AFAIK) - even though with quite dull options (NMF/alu dope or standard RAF livery).

Not a good offer, though: quite expensive for wat you get, IMHO, since you have to create the flag on the fin on your own. $:-\$

I've got some Baltic States transfers in the stash from a long time ago, so I can use those.

I must admit I find Kora to be overpriced. They seem to charge resin prices for injection moulded kits IMHO. I've got some resin kits of their's but refuse to pay their prices for plastic ones.

Glenn Gilbertson · June 19, 2019, 03:21:43 PM

Beautiful & plausible model!

Captain Canada · June 19, 2019, 08:58:22 PM

Some tasty colours and markings going on there ! Nice one !