The subject:
I've just finished reading the very interesting book "Spitfires Over Israel", by Brian Cull with Shlomo Aloni and David
Nicholle. I didn't know the Messerschmitt played so vital and crucial a role of the
survival of the newly born Israel state; in fact the thrust of the Summer of 1948 War of
Independence was sustained totally by these Messerschmitts, despite they poor quality
flying performances, since they were the only fighters available in those terrible days!
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The model:
I wanted to have fun by doing a simple conversion of the dear old Airfix kit (N. 01072); so I' cut off the nose oil cooler intake,
I sanded smooth the tip of the cowling in front of the spinner, and added two little bumps under the same nose.
I sawed off the little bulges over the wings, replacing them with bigger ones, made from scrap pieces; then
I shifted the compressor intake from left to right. I made a new propeller by cutting and sanding an old C.130 one (blades) and P.51 (spinner).
I swapped the canopy with an Erla Haube type one and added the Morane type whip aerial under the port wing. The interiors had a spare dashboard added plus the seat straps made from sellotape and a cloche from stretched
sprue.
The model was painted RLM Grau02 (Pale Grey F.S. 34226, Humbrol 31) overall, with a red spinner, black tyres and propeller blades; the cannon was
gun metal and the decals were from a very beautiful Propagteam sheet that was presented to me by an
Israeli friend ;-) !
I enjoyed this kit very much and I hope you'll like it!
Many greetings from Italy!
Paolo
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