BIGGLES

[Radish]

I've been a bit busy lately, with other things, but at least I had a full day modelling last week...well, pretty much two days really.
For the Biggles theme (IPMS Stafford) I've built:

Airfix 1/144th Boeing Clipper.....needs painting in Luftwaffe colours
Airfix 1/72nd Do-17E...for Spanish AF
PM 1/72nd C-45...civil....silver
VEB 1/72nd Beriev Be-6...tweaked a bit and it'll be RAF Coastal Command, in the Mediterranean scheme. Already primed, it  needs substantial weathering on the undersurfaces and hull, before a similar job on the sand/dark earth uppers.

All for Biggles (except if the Be-6 won't fit on, it can go on the what If? SIG stand??)

Lots still in progress.

Oh, I've done a 1/32nd WWI Biggles car too....the Squadron "hack".

[PanzerWulff]

Wasn't that the movie with the guy hopping around time to WWI where the germans had a secret Sonic weapon? I remember they saved the day with a stolen police Jetranger's PA system using it to feedback on the german sonic weapon
"Panzer"

[Radish]

Yes....a crap film, but remember I'm basing it all on the numerous English and foreign publications of the book. I've read 29 of them so far this year....

[PanzerWulff]

Hey call me weird I actually LIKED the movie Go figure
"Panzer"

[ChernayaAkula]

I recently saw a comic of Biggles gun-running or somesuch in the Biafran War. Looked pretty interesting.

[Radish]

"Biggles and the Gunrunners".
In the Congo and Sudan. Biggles gets forced down in his Constellation (he's carrying illegal guns but is unaware), and goes through numerous tight spots before flying away.
I've built the Congolese fighter (it's not named, but is described as modern, but propeller driven) from a Monogram 1/48th Skyraider with a few minor mods including a spinner added to the prop, and all underwing stores removed. It's a very tatty grey, but with a black/natural metal cowling and forward fuselage.
On a diorama base with text.
It'll be at Telford in November.
One of at least 30+ Biggles models of various shapes and sizes.

[ChernayaAkula]

Cool!   I think the comic says something about Biafra, though.  The name of the comic here in Germany is "Biggles: Chappal Wadi", so maybe the comic was just inspired by the book? Looked pretty interesting, but comics are rather expensive round 'ere.

[Brian da Basher]

Pics?

Brian da Basher

[The Rat]

Leafing through my Ontario map book the other day I noticed that there's a hamlet named Biggles. I've driven that road often and never noticed it, but if there is a sign I'll get a pic for you all.

[Radish]

Yes, I know...."pictures!!"......

The illustrated versions sometimes "update" so Biafra could be an option. That'd give me yet another variation. The nice thing about the Connies is that they're described as being "still in their old airline livery" but a bit tatty. No indication about the airline too. Perfect.

The photo of "Biggles" would be wonderful.

There's an article re. Biggles in progress (ie filtering through the brain) for the SIG Newsletter as well as the IPMS(UK) Magazine, with photos, including such items NOT built by me, of a natural metal Electra (civilianised Hudson) with unique, individual printed Qantas Airline decals (1/72nd italeri kit), a 1/44th Dragon Rapide as well as a 1/144th Ju-52 on floats; an all yellow Halifax is on the way; as well as numerous floatplanes, cars, and even boats!

[JayBee]

Hm. "Biggles of the Air Police", and I have an unbuilt NOVO/FROG Proctor in my stash.

If I remember rightly the illustrations on the book cover showed it as all red, but I do not remember any registration letters. Can anyone help?

JimB

[philp]

Closest I can find is this one.


Looks like all the covers are here:
http://www.biggles.info/

[JayBee]

Thanks for that Phil, now where did I see that illustration of the red Proctor?

HELP

JimB

[Bungle]

So just how tall was Big Les ? 

[Radish]

"Big Les" indeed......sounds like you're just the sort of chap to join the BIGGLES SIG.

Meanwhile, the Beriev Be-6 is slowly progressing, with sides and lower surfaces in heavily stained and weathered blue-grey, and the uppersurfaces in Desert Sand and Dark green, also stained and weathered. A bit of repainting to do, then pencil work, varnish, decals, transparancies, finishing stuff, etc., etc.....
The markings will come courtesy of a Halifax sheet, but I might put C-type on the top surfaces.
Then it'll need a base and I'm planning that. I hope to finish it this weekend if I can.
Oh how we could do with more Berievs!!!

Meanwhile, an excellent site that deserves a thorough investigation, with lots and lots of book covers in English, French, Swedish, and many other languages is to be found at:

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/francejohn/cwe_biggles.htm