Warsaw Spring 1940

[NARSES2]

Well here's the first of my Airfix GB entries. A Polish Spitfire MKI built straight from the box with transfers from a Heller "Karas" and a very old Polish kit of the PZL P11 for unit markings.

[NARSES2]

1940 and the Third Balkan War looks as though it might spread farther afield. The British and French therefore reinforce their Allies in the immediate region and with the RAF starting to re-equip with newer models of the Spitfire some of the older ones still in service are overhauled and sent out to Poland. Here they form the first Polish Spitfire squadron in the Spring of 1940.

[NARSES2]

The kit is the Snap Tite boxing of the Spit I picked up cheap, and it does what it says on the lable - I couldn't get some of the test fit parts apart again  

As I said unit markings are from avery old Polish kit. Very yellowed sheet but went on like a dream after a good soak. Not sure of unit as I can't read Polish ! But looks very much like the stylised stork that the French used.

[NARSES2]

As for the Third Balkan War - that's very much a work in progress. Essentially round three of that conflict with all it's shifting alliances but with the Allies/Axis arming teir own preferred winners. reat chance to put different and colourful markings on a whole host of late 30's aircraft.

Second entry my Meteor FR3 is currently in construction

[NARSES2]

For those interested the "ecological disaster" on the cutting mat is the result of a Tamiya Flat Black paint spill - I've informed DEFRA/DTI & HM Coastguard but they were all watching "King Kong"    

[Radish]

Very nice.

L1066, a Spitfire 1a was sent to Poland in August 1939 after a request for an evaluation example, but it was diverted to Turkey before it was delivered.

318 Sqn "Polish" Sqn used Spitfire Vs and IXs until the middle of 1946 when they were disbanded. (They also flew a Bf-109G-10 a former Croation example, which surrendered to the US and was sold by a Sergeant in the US Army for a bottle of whiskey!!)...all true, by the way! You couldn't invent it!!

3 Spitfire XVIs were sent to Poland in 1945 as display items....one was returned to the RAF and the others were scrapped in 1950.

All from "International Spitfires", Air Britain and WONDERFUL  

[BlackOps]

Looks good, I love the Polish markings


Jeff G.

[The Rat]

Just the job Chris, and quite logical in concept!

But I can never get used to looking at those funny square Polish markings, they always seem to be some sort of optical illusion.  ^_^  

[Brian da Basher]

Great looking Spit there Chris! It looks so right in those Polish markings. I like your "third Balkan War" concept too. Nice build!

Brian da Basher

[cthulhu77]

Very nice!  Love those spitfires.

        greg

[lancer]

Fantastic Spitfire Chris..

[John Howling Mouse]

If I hadn't seen the 1:72 box in the background, I would have sworn this was 1:48.

Completely believable!      

[Geoff_B]

Lovely job there Chris  

[NARSES2]

Thanks Gents, was a very enjoyable build as in the Meteor I'm doing. This GB has brought the fun back, along with some pleasant memories    

[Archibald]

Sptifire, Ok. Very nice... why not PZL P.62 ?