Group Build: Biplane - barnstormer to fighter

[Glenn S]

It comes with Charity decals... Thought a bit about making Faith decals, but I've not had great success in the past. I'm happy to do Charity, part of the famous trio, defenders of Malta!

The defenders of Malta...
There is a Spit Mk V out there with a Buzz that is calling me to build it.

 

[Edbert]

The defenders of Malta...
There is a Spit Mk V out there with a Buzz that is calling me to build it.

I admit my knowledge is sketchy, but were not all of the (few) Spitfires they had ferried over from a single carrier in the far Western Mediteranian?

 

[Bear43]

A little progress. Time has been at a premium the last few days, but I had some to spare tonight. Still have to put the exhaust stubs on the engine but it fits well in the cowl at this point.

 

[BarleyBop]

I admit my knowledge is sketchy, but were not all of the (few) Spitfires they had ferried over from a single carrier in the far Western Mediteranian?

According to the chronology in this interesting book:

There were quite a few delivered.
But the combined Axis bombing campaigns on Malta took its toll.

1942

• 7 March First 15 Spitfires arrive on Malta; a further nine arrive on 21 March.
• 1 April Despite reinforcements of ten Hurricanes from North Africa on 27 March and another nine Spitfires on 29 March the RAF is reduced to a handful of operational fighters.
• 21 April 46 more Spitfires arrive, flown off HMS Eagle and USS Wasp.
• 9 May With the RAF nearly crippled by airfield bombing, 60 more Spitfires arrive off HMS Eagle and USS Wasp.
• November With Rommel's defeat at El Alamein and the Allies' Torch landings, the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica send most of their remaining forces in Sicily to North Africa.

 

[wjbrandel]

I couldn't get interested in another model, so I pulled this one back out and worked on repairing it. For some reason I just couldn't let this one go.

The fuselage just above the tail section is the area that broke and flattened. I had to take some debonder and take the top of the fuselage off (not a fast process). Then I straightened the sides and reinforced it with small strips of plastic strips from Evergreen. Reprimed the area I repaired and then reattached the fuselage top back in place.
I don't have photos of the repair process, I had a minor problem with my camera and the photos didn't turn out well.
(In case you're wondering, the problem was me, I smeared some first aid ointment on the lens and didn't realize it.)

Here is the tail section. I had to do some major sanding to get the rudder support and elevators to fit properly after disassembly, but they fit properly now

If you look close you can see some of the damage is still visible but a layer or two of paint should hide it.

 

[Tommergun]

Glad to see you not giving up on it. Spad's are cool!

 

[kevin]

improvise, adapt, and overcome.

 

[Edbert]

improvise, adapt, and overcome.

YES!

For me, overcoming adversity gives a lot of satisfaction. Sometimes I have to wait a year or two to come back to a scene of sorrow, but eventually I will.

 

[Ron2]

YES!

For me, overcoming adversity gives a lot of satisfaction. Sometimes I have to wait a year or two to come back to a scene of sorrow, but eventually I will.

Yes. I picked up my Lancaster last night and did a little work on it- just needed time.