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    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48

    dewertus
    dewertus


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    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Empty Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48

    Post  dewertus Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:14 am

    And here is the second of the "Hurricane" pair: Hurricane Mk.II Trop, Z2961/K Malta, 1941, flown by .... choose yourselves Smile Wink

    Background
    I was unable to determine when Z2961/K came to Malta, but since the first mention of the combat use coming from the beginning of September 1941 there is only the period April - June 1941 can be involved. Within the four operations (Dunlop, Splice, Rocket, Trucer) on Malta were delivered a total of 157 (from 164 sent) machines in version Mk.II. Considering laconic records of of particular machines allocations between squadrons, and the information that Z2961 came from a supplies of 46 new machines the possibilities is limited to two operations: Splice (May 1941) and Tracer (June 1941). The first assignment was supposedly newly formed in June 1941 MNFU (Malta Night Fighter Unit). Must be admitted that in the whole population of fighters operating over Malta, he belongs to the handful of "lucky titans." Z2961 / K served in following units: 185 Sqn, MNFU/1435 Sqn, 249 Sqn, 46/126 Sqn, 605 Sqn, and as one of six survived Hurricanes was fly in combat in March 1943.

    Pilot, who opened the list of victories on Z2961/K was Plt Off DU Barnwell. On the night from 4 on the September 5, 1941 he shot down a Cant Z1007bis (this was a 7th victory obtained at night by MNFU). Barnwell was also a pilot, who opened the victories account for MNFU - on the night from 5 on August 6, he shot down two Fiat BR.20 (it's possible that he made it on Z2961).

    Barnwell came from the family of strongly connected with aviation, unfortunately it was a tragic relation: his father kapt. Frank Barnwell was a chief of designers of Brislol Aeroplane Company - he died in a a plane crash in 1938. Two older brothers were served in the RAF as he served - one on the fighter, the second on bombers, both of them died during the war. David Barnwell was killed in combat over Malta on 14 October 1941, he was shot down shortly after he had sent the MC.202 in flames into the sea (piloted probably by Emanuele Annoni Sottoten). In the latest communication Barnwell reported: "Baling out, engine cut am coming down in the sea", Swordfish ASR sent on help could not find pilot, the search was continued the next day - without success ... The claims was requested by Sottoten Bruno Paolazzi, M.Ilo Manlio Olivetti, Serg Magg Luigi Taroni and Serg Guslavo Minelli.

    At March 21, 1942 on Z2961/K victory over a Bf-110 gained the commander of 185 Squadron - Sqn Ldr EM Mortimer-Rose. March 23 was for "our" Hurricane real hard labor - during the morning flight, Sgt Garth Horricks damaged the Ju-88, on the next flight with another wave of Ju-88, Sqn Ldr EM Mortimer-Rose, but despite the long pursuit and firing one of them reported no success. At the end of the day Z2961 again took off to fight against Ju-88, but this time the pilot Plt Off O.O. Ormrod had no luck and he could not take a favorable position to intercept the bombers.

    Next day Plt Off Ron Noble was able to successfully damage of the Ju-88, after the first attack from the bomber engine pulled out a heavy smoke and the plane began to decrease the fly. Next Noble fired to two morte bombers, which quickly got rid of the bombs. Unfortunately, during the attack, Noble was hit by the bomber gunner. The damage turned out to be so serious that British was forced to abandon the attack and an emergency landing. After returning Noble reported a probably shot down. It is highly probable that one from those three bombers was a Ju-88 3Z + CT 9/KG.77 which ended flight that in the sea, 20 miles from the Comiso, Lt. Karl-Heinz Muller crew did not survive.

    One of the more "exotic" pilots of Z2961 / K was Sub Lt (A) Reg Elliott - FAA pilot usually flown Fairey Albacore. He also personally could see that the Z2961 is a lucky machine ... On August 23, 1942 Elliott, along with two others FAA pilots get permission to attack airfields on Sicily. His objective was Gela - three escorted by 10 Spitfire Hurribombers go on the mission with overcast. On the way one of them had go back to Malta due to technical problems, others (including Elliott Z2961) continued the mission. The surprise was complete, Elliott attacked the airport Biseari, as a target choosing a group of aircraft at one end of the airport. When wingman, join him over sea on back way it turned out that Elliott "was carrying" bomb, which was hanging on a clip ... Elliot had warned the Hal Far airbase about owl trouble, as he later recalled: "I made the best and most clean landing in my life." At the airportit appeared that the bomb was holding only by a detonator protection cord...

    Pilots who have ace status and performed flights on Z2961/K
    Sqn Ldr E.M. Mortimer-Rose - shoot down 9 + 4 group;
    * Pit Off D.U. Barnwell - shoot down 5 + 2 group;
    * Fl Sgt T. Boyd - shoot down 5 + 2 group;
    * Sgt G. Horricks - shoot down 7 + 2 group;
    * Plt Off O.O. Ormrod - shoot down 2 (5?) + 4 group;

    Model.
    Model I have done from set produced by IDEA - I do not know what is that heck, but its look like Hobycraft clone. Assembly of model is a completely different story - as opposed to the ARK, is composed almost perfectly :thumbsup - parts fit together very well, no shifts or gaps. Simply a pleasure. A small problem I noticed only in the fixing of the glass, light correction wth file and the problem was solved. Smile

    Model was painted using airbrush with Agama acrylic paint and varnish. Decals is a mix of: ribbons and fin come from Technod sheet, the serial number is "folding". Of course during the application all decals have been supported by Mr. MarkSofter. I code letter I painted by self (which, unfortunately, you can see) Neutral . Wash done with the MIG's dark and neutral wash, exhaust and guns smokes were applied VanGhog oils (for professional painters). Scratches is a mix of Humbrol 11 laying through dry brush technique and silver crayons.

    As with the previous Hurrim, I'm not content with soiling and glass frame paint (here they also were jagged during removing the masking). scratch

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2574416150102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2572996380102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2507109320102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2541679820102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2827132710102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2818216420102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2223619700102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2538472870102052667S600x600Q85

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2937626570102052667S600x600Q85
    skyhigh
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    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Empty Re: Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48

    Post  skyhigh Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:07 am

    Wow affraid ..That is some history you made here welldone, and welldone for your model ...

    I think that the underside should be Sky or sky blue ( duck egg blue ) and not azure blue... because they were sent as they were , with standard europ camouflage.. and may be, to be totaly authentic there was some battle damage or repair on the the tail fin in red...

    And there is no tropical filter , at least it's not visible in the photo...

    But at the end you made a very good replica of one or many heros that defended Malta....welldone again......

    The pilot as you sad, there were more then one flying this aircraft...

    Here is a photo of the same machine .......source is from Osprey Hurricane Aces No57... a very good photo and info publication......

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 185_mk10


    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 J10


    dewertus
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    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Empty Re: Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48

    Post  dewertus Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:05 pm

    skyhigh wrote:I think that the underside should be Sky or sky blue ( duck egg blue ) and not azure blue... because they were sent as they were , with standard europ camouflage.. and may be, to be totaly authentic there was some battle damage or repair on the the tail fin in red...
    You're absolutely right - but my Hurrciane underside is painted exactly Sky Blue (Sky Blue (BS381) No.1 - "Duck Egg Blue"), Azure Blue is slightly darker ...

    Presented camouflage can be made already on Malta and probably somewhere in 1942, why? If believe to available information apparently all the Hurricanes, which were posted to MNFU were painted overall on black - first unit of Z2961/K was ... MNFU Cool But i think that in case of Malta aircraft's there was no rules: from this same period the two others Hurricanes from MNFU had a total different camouflage: Z2827/M was Dark Earth / Midle Stone uppersurfaces and black underside, BG737 was overall back...

    Additional i find information that on MTO (due to the pernamentne problems with supply) Air Ministry gave permission to paint the bottom of the daily aircraft on "Sky substitute colors" - one of them was Light Mediterranean Blue.

    Painting was done basis on a description from Hawker Hurricane in the RAF 1939-1945, Commonwealth & FAA Service (Scale Aircraft Modeling: Combat Colours 02)
    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2867670860102052667S600x600Q85
    skyhigh wrote:And there is no tropical filter , at least it's not visible in the photo...
    Yes, unfortunately so far there is only this one picture - but the fact that on this picture filter is not visible does not mean that he wasn't there (just as not confirm that he was) ... Wink
    skyhigh
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    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Empty Re: Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48

    Post  skyhigh Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:41 am

    dewertus wrote:
    skyhigh wrote:I think that the underside should be Sky or sky blue ( duck egg blue ) and not azure blue... because they were sent as they were , with standard europ camouflage.. and may be, to be totaly authentic there was some battle damage or repair on the the tail fin in red...
    You're absolutely right - but my Hurrciane underside is painted exactly Sky Blue (Sky Blue (BS381) No.1 - "Duck Egg Blue"), Azure Blue is slightly darker ...

    Presented camouflage can be made already on Malta and probably somewhere in 1942, why? If believe to available information apparently all the Hurricanes, which were posted to MNFU were painted overall on black - first unit of Z2961/K was ... MNFU Cool But i think that in case of Malta aircraft's there was no rules: from this same period the two others Hurricanes from MNFU had a total different camouflage: Z2827/M was Dark Earth / Midle Stone uppersurfaces and black underside, BG737 was overall back...

    Additional i find information that on MTO (due to the pernamentne problems with supply) Air Ministry gave permission to paint the bottom of the daily aircraft on "Sky substitute colors" - one of them was Light Mediterranean Blue.

    Painting was done basis on a description from Hawker Hurricane in the RAF 1939-1945, Commonwealth & FAA Service (Scale Aircraft Modeling: Combat Colours 02)
    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 2867670860102052667S600x600Q85
    skyhigh wrote:And there is no tropical filter , at least it's not visible in the photo...
    Yes, unfortunately so far there is only this one picture - but the fact that on this picture filter is not visible does not mean that he wasn't there (just as not confirm that he was) ... Wink



    Hello Hubert ,
    This what makes our hobby interesting , trying to be authentic as possible ...
    about the trop filter I agree looks more agressive...but don't trust colour profiles ..... cheers
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    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Empty Re: Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48

    Post  Guest Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:54 am

    Nicely done Hurricane!!. Just a small nit picking note, I would have finished it in a more matt finish.

    Z2961 is from the 5th production batch built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd, contract number 62305/39. This batch of 1000 aircraft included, mkIIA, MkIIB and IIC. Z2961 is listed as a mkIIB trop. (Cresy illustrated, The Hawker Hurricane by Francis.K.Mason, pg-237). As for the Camo scheme my opinion is that it was in MidStone and Dark Earth with a blue underside which looks to be lighter than Azure Blue. So 99% probable it had a tropical filter, which to be 100% we need photographic confirmation. Again interpreting colors from a black and white photo is a headache and subject to different interpretions.

    As for the MNFU, in sept 41 it had flown 23 different hurricane, including Z2961. Although the MNFU had its own aircraft at first, some were later burrowed from day squadrons.

    Hurricanes were also delivered in dark green/dark earth top colors, even with sky fuselage bands so different schemes would have been operational in the same period.

    Below is my interpretion of Z2961 which I finished in trop color, which is not perfect as I should have finished the underside in a lighter color. A small experiment with a basic photo program I changed to black and white. The other hurricane is finished in dk earth/dk green. Again color interpretion from black and white is a headache.


    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Img_0510
    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Img_0610
    dewertus
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    Post  dewertus Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:38 pm

    Very nice Hurri, can I ask you for color photo?

    Thx for information, all news and data are welcome cheers
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    Post  skyhigh Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:33 pm

    When you want just ask what subject you need to built .. it's our pleasure to help you with the inf.... cheers
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    Post  Guest Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:45 pm

    dewertus wrote:Very nice Hurri, can I ask you for color photo?

    Thx for information, all news and data are welcome cheers

    Thanks. Same models in color.

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Img_0511

    Malta 1940-43; Hurricane Mk.II 185 Sqn, IDEA 1/48 Img_0611

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