1:24 Spitfire MK IIb 610 Sqd - DW-P Belfast Spitfire

Hi all i'm setting this up as a build forum for the revered or reviled (your choice) Airfix 1:24 scale Spitfire. Mk Ia but i need a bit of help.

I'm actually making a very special spitfire for a commission of the family of A. Taylor Flt Off RAF (although he was a Kiwi) which crashed killing the pilot in 1941, there have been two aircraft designated DW-P so it gets confusing as to which one crashed when (the first DW-P was a MK Ia brought down in the battle of Britain in 1940)
There are two accident reports one says he was stunting and stalled the plane coming out of a spin recovery, the other says his oxygen was suspected to have failed and the pilot passed out and collided with the ground in a new vertical position. either way there wasn't much left of pilot or plane.

The Aircraft is actually a MK IIb which is all but a MKIa except for a few tiny details (props starter seats).

I have everything to create this plane except a special decal.

This spitfire was donated by the Belfast Telegraph (one of many) and as such has a special marking on it

DW-P had the following stencil

CITY OF DERRY
Belfast Telegraph Spitfire Fund

Some have the lettering in yellow some have it in white or a mixture of both.

I do not have Stencil letters small enough for this and i'm wondering if any of you capable of doing a small decal run for me could help out.

They looked like this.

I think they were on both sides???




Please help if you can or any suggestions how to do this would be help full

Lucas
I checked my records for information on this topic. Here is what I have:

Friday 3 October 1941
Formation practice
610 Squadron RAF (Leconfield, Yorkshire - 12 Group)
Spitfire Mk.IIa P7839 (a presentation machine named City of Derry - lost height at 1145 while in a steep turn and dived into the ground a mile NNW of Bewholme, near Dunnington. The pilot is buried at Leconfield.
Pilot: NZ402911 Sgt Andrew Albert TAYLOR, RNZAF - Age 21. 243 hrs. 3 ops.

My Spitfire bible confirms the above that P7839 was a Spitfire Mk.IIa and that 610 sqn only used the Mk.IIa.

Spitfire build notes that vary from a Mk.Ia - ROTOL prop and spinner, Coffman starter blister on right hand forward cowl, plastic seat (red-brown and black seat back padding, no aerial wire from antenna mast.

P7839 was completed right at the end of December 1940 and would have left the production line in sky undersurfaces and dark green/dark earth upper surfaces. From August 1941 Spitfires left the production line in medium sea grey undersides and dark green/ocean grey uppers. Existing airframes were repainted when cycled through maintenance units but I have no notes on this particular airframe in that respect. It came to 610 sqn on 11 September 1941 so in all likelyhood it was still wearing its original colours. It would have had the sky tail band at this point as well as the sky painted spinner.

Thanks mate!

Interesting I have three accounts of the crash all differ two are closer together than the stunting claim as they both say it was formation flying.

I've also seen the airframe listed as MK IIa and a MK IIb, good info on the aerial wire i did not know that

Time to close Up DW-P





The Next Spit a MK1a is close to this as well this will be Al Deere's KL-B.

Bishop wrote: Always wanted to have a go at one of these. Looking good!!

Thanks mate, the Airfix 1:24 Spit and the Hurricane are not up to trumpy or tamigawa standards but with a bit of filler and careful sanding you can make a decent go of them, and if you keep an eye out on Trademe or eBay there is a few knocking about for not too much $$$

So DW-P and KL-B are getting to the wings on stage tonight....