Spitfire F.Mk.22, Belgian Air Force 1946

[Spey_Phantom]

i just finished this Spitfire F.22 for the '46 GB over on BTS 

the model is the Airfix 1/72 Spitfire F.22, with rockets from Academy's Spitfire Mk.XIV.
decals are fom the kit, serials are DIY and roudels/flags are from DACO's spitfire roundel sheet 

the model depicts a Spitfire, used by 31 Squadron at Kamina Air Base in the Belgian Congo in 1946.

[Hobbes]

Very nice!

[Thorvic]

Got a agree with Hobbes, very nice Nils 

[NARSES2]

Oh that has come out well Nils 

A small question of interest to me. Why the black/yellow rudder stripes ? I was thinking of a post war Belgian AF Tempest with black/red/yellow rudder stripes and no tail flash. Just wondering if they should now be Black/Yellow ?

[Spey_Phantom]

well, when the first jets were introduced in the Belgian Air Force (such as the F-84E and Meteor, and in lesser extent the Hunter F4/6) a number of aircraft were painted with colored rudders and noses, to indicate what units opterated the aircraft, mosty it was only the Squadron Leader who flew the colored tailed aircraft.
it was used for a few years, but a few years later, when the first IFF systems were introduced with the F-104 (early 1960's), the idea was abandon.

in the days of the spitfire, it was the color of the spinner that indicated the unit. for this build, i thought about using both.

the Yellow/black striping was used on the rudder of 31 Squadrons F-84E/G's.

for example, 27 squadron, bleu/white/bleu.



31 squadron, black/yellow/black

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Really good-looking model, Nils.

[Dizzyfugu]

Very nice. I also have the idea of a Belgian ex-WWII aircraft, either a Tempest or (my favorite) a Typhoon, maybe based in Africa... (Kongo).

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Got a agree with Hobbes, very nice Nils 

That makes three of us. Looks to me  like your best so far, Nils.

Ian

[NARSES2]

Thanks Nils 

[kitbasher]

Congo Tempest I'd say!