A) is smaller than a medium or heavy bomber, hence less sanding and filling,
B) contains no complex sub-assemblies, I'll jazz up the cockpit with a few scratch built details but that's about it,
C) the paint scheme is bog standard RAF black, earth brown and dark green ( no metallic parts to fiddle about with) that I can brush paint (I'm still working up to the airbrush).
Which mean I can build it in the remaining time available.
It's also going to be an OOB build. Other than a couple of cockpit details, its going to be just as Airfix intended.
I'm building this kit mainly to participate in the bomber build. The Fairey Battle isn't likely to be a popular subject as it was a disaster in combat. It lacks the glamour factor of more highly esteemed bombers like the Lancaster or B-17. But it does have bomb bay doors, albeit in the wings, and thus qualifies for the GB. My first choice was the Yak-6 primarily because they were built in furniture factories (what other bomber can claim that) but unfortunately it carried its minuscule weapons load (5 x 50kg) on external racks.
The Fairey Battle was a single engined monoplane designed as a replacement for the Hawker Hind/Hart light bombers in RAF service. At the time of its introduction to the RAF it was faster than the existing biplane fighters that were then still common. The Battle could carry 1000lb of bombs in internal bomb bays located in the inner wing, with an additional 500lbs able to be carried on external racks under the mid wings. It's defensive armament consisted of a Vickers .303 machine gun in the starboard wing and a Vickers K .303 machine gun with a flexible mount covering the rear of the aircraft.
The Battle was already obsolete by the time hostilities broke out in September 1939. Compared to the newly introduced monoplane fighters it was facing (Me-109E) it was distinctly underpowered, lacked any armour plate or self sealing fuel tanks and had a woeful defensive armament. The lack of armour left the aircraft vulnerable to flak.
The Battle was a mainstay of Bomber Command during 1939 and 1940. During the Phoney War period before the invasion of the Low Countries and France in May 1940, Fairey Battles participated in leaflet raids over cities in the Ruhr from bases in France. Once the German invasion began, so did the slaughter of Battle crews. They were used in vain attempts to halt oncoming columns of the Wehrmacht and were consistently downed by German fighters and flak. The Battle was withdrawn from France and tasked with bombing the invasion fleet that was concentrating to invade Britain after the fall of France in June 1940.
The Battle was then relegated to secondary, non combat duties such as a trainer and target tug. Many Commonwealth pilots and bombardiers were trained using the Battle. Some aircraft remained in service in these roles until the 1950's
Photos of the box art, sprues etc will be posted tomorrow along with a build update. I left the Yak-6 to one side and worked on the Battle and the Yak-7/9 this weekend.
Anyway, enough waffle.
Scott
That said, I decalled the thing and took some bad photos (pain = shakes). I'll retake the pix tomorrow (pain levels permitting) for the show and tell.
