Spitfire, Mk V Trop. Greek Air Force, 336 Squadron

Greece was defeated and occupied by the Germans in a lightning operation. However, this did not mean they stopped fighting. Pilots from that country managed to escape to Egypt, where, under the command of the RAF, they reformed a fighter squadron that fought alongside the 8th Army, following the entire route from the Egyptian border to the invasion of Italy.

In 1943, equipped with Spitfires modified with the Vokes air filter, they participated in the occupation of Italy, in the poorly organized and even more poorly executed occupation of some of the Dodecanese islands, and flew up the peninsula to the Battle of Rimini, fighting against the Luftwaffe, providing close air support, and patrolling the Adriatic and even the Aegean Sea.

 

But in September 1944, the German troops unexpectedly withdrew from Greece, so a force had to be urgently sent to fill the void and occupy the territory. Spitfires from the RAF's 335 and 336 Squadrons were sent, and as soon as they arrived back home, they reacquired their national markings. Although by 1945 the old Mark V Troops were already obsolete, they were no longer fighting the defeated Luftwaffe; they were only used for ground tactical support, a role they continued to fulfill until the end of the war.

Modelism

For decades, the only 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk V Trop model was the simple (though many would say rudimentary or prehistoric) model from PM, a Turkish brand somewhat uncommon in the West. They produced it in two versions: a local version with Turkish markings and an export version with USAAF markings. It was a simple model, technologically very similar to the old Airfix Mk IX, with few parts, one-piece wings, a very thick canopy, and practically no interior. However, it was very accurate in proportions and shape.

GALLERY

This is a PM model, but with modern modifications. When I imported these models, I kept this one. I recently assembled it with a new interior, a thermoformed canopy, and modern acrylic paints, all applied by hand using El Viejo Marino paint. It represents the aircraft in 1945, already based in Greece, without camouflage. It was believed that the weight savings improved performance.

 

 

P-38 LIghtning, Droop Snoot, Conversion, part 2

 

The P-38 Droop Snoot doesn't exist in 1/72. Here, I continue its conversion. I made the mold of the bomber's nose and thermoformed it with acetate from a supermarket meat tray.

 The pieces were now in place, adhered with white glue, and reinforced with epoxy modeling clay.

The nose was filled with acrylic filler to match. 

With the basic paint job complete, several coats of varnish are applied. I begin with the insignia.

Now for the air intakes. The Airfix model is a P38F, and the Droop is a conversion of a P-38J. I also built them with epoxy modeling clay. This sculpting process is quick and easy, but the drying time is not. I'm almost finished with the stars. The last correction is the toothpick tips.

I build the propellers on a metal axis (a nail), using acetate and epoxy modeling clay.

 

Once the model is finished, I apply another generous amount of varnish, in several coats, and place it inside a clear box to dry.

Ya terminado el modelo, le aplico otra generosa cantidad de barniz, en varias capas y lo pongo dentro de una caja transparente a secar

P-40 Collection 1/72

This is almost my entire collection of P-40s, from a Monogram P-36 to a P-40N curiously also from Monogram, although I suspect it is the old Aurora mold, I have old Lodela from the Optional Line for Collectors and Frog, also a new Hasegawa, P-40B / C / E / F / K / M / N, Tomahaw and Warhawk, I almost complete all the countries, although mixing the models in 1/144, 

 I still need some Egypt, Belgium, Holland, the one captured by Germany and the Finland, along with a fantastic one of Sky Captain and the one of John Wayne from the movie Flying Tigers, I have heard of one captured by Communist China and of course the P-40 Phantom, an Internet myth, but very good for modeling, also I am missing the P-40Q, which I will have to do from Scratch, as well as the experimental XP-42, 46 and 60.

I still need to photograph a few scattered pieces, along with the 1/144 and 1/48 copies.

 

The collection in its displays.

 

Ilyushin 2 Sthurmovik 25

The Ilyushin 2 Sthurmovik was the main ground support aircraft of the Soviet Air Force during World War II, it was used as a horizontal bomber, tank destroyer and with its main armament exhausted, it could still make strafing passes, using its secondary armament, with full confidence of being immune to infantry weapons, the most exposed parts of the fuselage were armored, even direct hits from 37mm were powerless to bring it down, earning it the nickname "Flying Tank", the only ways to bring it down were with fighters or by shooting at it. anti-tank ammunition with the 37mm anti-aircraft guns. Their main armament consisted of bombs, rockets or anti-tank guns; It participated in all the military operations of the war, and in its Il 10 version in the Korean War, one of its greatest moments was in Kursk, where it destroyed a large number of German tanks.
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  MCTNTEb Mstitel

25, Unknown unit

Taken from the book by Francis K. Mason, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Major Aircraft of World War II, Crescent books, New York, 1983, he cites the translation of the fuselage sign as Avenger, I have seen this model somewhere else, so it is Its existence is totally certain, I don't know in what unit, nor can I place it in a certain place, but it existed. Pollys paint, details with The Ancient Mariner, stars of the Airfix model

 

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