Some shots from the last few days playing with the external textures. This is really just to check the best way to get a hint of metal showing through in the worn areas and that the scaling is okay to include some nose art. So although it’s the NF1 model the paint scheme is actually for F1 DV124, the only real difference is the flame guards over the exhausts and the RADALT antenna under the tailplane.
DV124 originally appears to have been with 1770 on HMS Indefatigable, then at the start of July 1945 1770 and 1772 swapped manpower to give the former squadron’s crews a break. Consequently when the below photo was taken it was with Sub-Lts MacLaren and Pritchard from the latter unit.
WITH HMS INDEFATIGABLE OFF THE JAPANESE COAST. JULY 1945, ON BOARD THE CARRIER OPERATING WITH THE BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET JUST BEFORE THE JAPANESE SURRENDER. © IWM (A 30304)
As can be seen the aircraft has been heavily damaged, and in fact the box art for Special Hobby’s 1/48 scale model kit includes this damage. What they seem to have missed though is the nose art that was on the left hand side and was removed from the aircraft before it was dumped over the side, and which is now on display in the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Incidentally the pilot, Temporary Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A) Christopher MacLaren RNVR was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, quite possibly for getting the aircraft back on deck!
Bravo Zulu 
This Firefly’s really coming on now! Well done. Loving the detail in the gear down shot.
Chris Maclaren’s DSC was for “courage, skill and determination in air attacks on the Japanese during July & August 1945”. There’s a copy of his medal letter in ‘The Friendly Squadron’ by Teddy Key (another 1772 pilot) – an excellent book. Invaluable for mission detail in the IL-2 BAT Firefly campaign I’m working on.
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This Firefly is really coming on now! Well done. Loving the details in the gear down shot.
Chris MacLaren’s DSC was for “courage, skill and determination in air attacks against the Japanese during July and August 1945”. There’s a copy of his medal letter in ‘The Friendly Squadron’ by Teddy Key (another 1772 pilot), which I’m finding invaluable for mission detail in the Il-2 BAT Firefly campaign I’m working on.
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Thank you it really feels like I’ve got some momentum now. I actually spent an hour or so in the gear bay of the example in the Fleet Air Arm museum measuring everything as I couldn’t figure out how it worked from the plans! Slightly jealous you’ve got a copy of ‘The Friendly Squadron’ I tried to get a copy but it only appears to be available second hand now for silly money, the cheapest I’ve seen is £45, the next cheapest £91!!
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Well, if it’s any consolation, it wouldn’t have helped you much with your current project – there’s not much detail on the Firefly & the photos aren’t very good quality. It’s value is more that it’s the story of the guys in the squadron and the story of those last months of the war – for that it’s priceless
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