War Film Warbirds

I like films. I like warbirds. I like making models of warbirds from films, so here’s a few I’ve done.

The ubiquitous “Battle of Britain” Spitfire, in this case it’s Mk.IIa P7350 painted as S/L Skipper’s aircraft.
Kit is the Airfix BT-K anniversary version from a few years back. Decals are a mix of Airfix, Frog, and Sky Models. I’ll weather this one eventually!

“Battle of Britain” Buchon, “Yellow 11”. No idea what kit this one was, I built it years ago!

“Reach for the Sky” Spitfire XVI.

Revell kit, with Sky Modelsdecals. Apologies for the rubbish pic! I’ve another one in mind to do from the same film, only in different markings.

“Fighter Squadron” P-51D Mustang.

The film features a squadron of P-47 Thunderbolts being flown against Luftwaffe-painted Mustangs. As many as eight aircraft were painted as such and flown for the cameras. Academy kit – very simple to put together!

“Malta Story” Spitfire XVI.

Four Spitfire XVIs were borrowed from No.3 CAACU (like the Spits for “Reach for the Sky”) for use in the aerial sequences in this film. Unfortunately, photo references for these aircraft are a little on the scant side, and trying to do screen-grabs from the DVD was a nightmare, so I had to do as best as I could. The colours looked like they might have been desert colours as applied to aircraft serving in the Med, even if the camo pattern could be described as “sketchy” at best. I found something online that was a suitable alternative. Undersides were silver, with serials and roundels overpainted in grey. However, according to the book “Spitfire Survivors Vol.2”, the camouflage colours were green and brown!! 😮