Tamiya 1/48 Dewoitine D.520

[5Craven]

Here is the final reveal for my Group Build!
Now this build is complete I can reflect on the lessons that I have learned with the firsts that I had in mind at the start. This is all in reference to this kit though.
1) Tamiya aircraft kit; fit together well, and simple construction with few parts means the actual build part of the work is quickly done.
2) Decals were a disappointment to put it mildly; I usually enjoy this part of a build but not this time.
3) The PE added an extra dimension to the build and compensated for the simplicity of the kit, doing the cockpit really felt like a kit within a kit.
4) Don’t bother about pre-painting PE if needs anything more than just fixing in place.
5) Tamiya paints are easy to mix and use in the airbrush and OK for extremely limited brush painting. They dry fast and clean off brushes nicely and not much smell. The bottles are a pain to open though.
6) The very simple airbrush I have was OK for a first proper go at using it. I mixed all the paints & thinner in the cup and got decent results. It is fine at laying down all over coats and simple/hard edged camo schemes. A better airbrush is needed for decent fine control and a compressor for even pressures.
7) Try not to run out of canned air supply with an airbrush full or paint!!!
8) I also added another first on this build using a Flory Models water based Dark Wash. This worked nicely on the recessed details.
9) I need to source a better set of varnishes than the brush applied Humbrol ones I am currently using. (I know, I should have known better!)
10) Undercoating was OK but I think switching to a Vallejo primer applied via airbrush will be the way to go in the future.

All in all I have really enjoyed the group build and this is the first time I have ever shared a build with anyone. The time pressure definitely focussed the mind when I stalled on the build and having already stated what I was planning meant I couldn’t back out of it easily, so thanks guys for keeping me on target!

Finally here are the final details of the build as I decided to finish it;
The aircraft is in the markings of Groupes de Chasse III/6 as flown by Pierre Le Gloan (January 6, 1913 - September 11, 1943), during the period 1st -20th June 1940.
Le Gloan became the 4th highest scoring French ace of the war. At the outbreak of the war he served in the GC III/6 fighter squadron, flying the Morane-Saulnier MS.406 from Chartres, as part of the air defence of Paris and the lower Seine. With his wingman he shot down his first German, a Do 17P reconnaissance bomber on 23 November 1939. A second Dornier fell to him on 2 March 1940, and during the Battle of France he accounted for two Heinkel He.111s.

On 1 June 1940 his squadron was moved towards southern France to Le Luc airfield and re-armed with the new Dewoitine D.520 fighters. Following Italy declaration of war on France and the Italian air force commencing bombing raids, Le Gloan shot down two Fiat BR.20 bombers on 13 June . On 15 June Le Gloan with another pilot attacked twelve Italian Fiat CR.42 fighters. Le Gloan shot down three of them while Cpt. Assolent shot down another. While returning to the airfield Le Gloan shot down another CR.42 and a BR.20 bomber. For this outstanding achievement of destroying 5 aircraft in one flight he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Due to the military situation of France on 20 June GC III/6 was withdrawn to Algiers in Algeria. After the armistice between France and Germany, and the subsequent British attacks on the French navy, French forces in North Africa, including Le Gloan's unit, became subordinated to the Vichy government.

In May 1941 GC III/6 was moved to the French colony of Syria. In June Allied forces, including some Free French units, attacked Syria and Lebanon. On 8 June 1941, Le Gloan shot down his first RAF fighter, a (Hawker Hurricane). By 5 July he had claimed 5 Hurricanes and a Gloster Gladiator. Later the weakened GC III/6 was withdrawn back to Algiers.
During the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942 (Operation Torch), French fighter squadrons based in Algiers, unlike those in Oran or Casablanca, did not oppose the Allied landings. Soon all French forces in North Africa had sided with the Allies. In May 1943 Le Gloan's unit, then renamed GC 3/6 Roussillon, was re-armed with new P-39 Airacobra fighter. In August Le Gloan took the command of 3rd escadrille (flight) of the squadron. The unit's primary tasks at the time were offshore patrols.

On 11 September 1943, Pierre Le Gloan flew on patrol with another pilot. Over the sea smoke started to come out of Le Gloan's engine. He returned towards the shore but the engine stopped. He attempted a forced landing on the shore but, probably forgetting that his Airacobra still had an underbelly fuel tank attached (which were not used on earlier French fighters), the fuel in his plane exploded while trying to land, killing him instantly.

During his complicated combat career Pierre Le Gloan shot down 18 aircraft (4 German, 7 Italian and 7 British).

Thank you all for your interest and comments on the build over the last 3 months I have found them in turn encouraging, helpful and supportive . The whole sharing experience has been a revelation to me and I appreciate every comment received.

Here are the photos of the completed build.

[Paul]

Great job Dave, she looks great on the grass

[T3hGuppy]

Great finish dude.

She look almost real in the outside shots

Great work and look forward to your next build.

[UKscalemodeller]

Beautiful stuff.

[Lee]

Smashing end result Dave

[Nige201980]

Great build mate looks superb on the grass in the sun.

[wappynutter]

Looks stunning on the grass Dave..
Very well done mate she is beautifully finished to a very high standard.
Be proud mate, I would if it was mine.

[gosselin2112]

Great work! Loved reading your final thoughts on the build and kit. Lessons to take with you on the next build. I know I certainly have learned a lot from my little Avenger.

[good2us1]

Great job! Photos of it sitting on the grass adds to it's beauty!!!

daryl

[bullgill67]

fantastic job, i love the outdoor shots

michael

[PhildaFish]

Great work on a model not often seen. I love the camouflage colours of the French planes and they've come out a treat on your model, in fact it looks like it was done with a top of the range airbrush and compressor by someone with years of airbrush experience. Top marks, mate!

[Coen]

That is a piece of gorgeous modelling Dave!
I love the outdoor shots too. I have to get me some of that stuff. AstroTurf?
All the tiny details set this up as a wonderful piece!
Excellent Stuff

[5Craven]

Thanks for all your comments guys, much appreciated. I am really pleased with how it came out in the end, of course is not perfect and I know where things didn't quite go as planned so those bits are obvious to me.

I love the outdoor shots too. I have to get me some of that stuff. AstroTurf?

Yes this is indeed astroturf, its the stuff that gets used on artificial golf tees, I managed to scrounge a bit a few years back. The outdoor shots were taken in a local car park with the astroturf folded over and balanced between the bonnet and windscreen of my car. That explains the rather strange contours of the ground in the photo. I also didn't notice the lamppost in the background either until I had uploaded the pictures onto my PC. I must say I did get a few strange looks from the locals while I was taking the photos as well.

[ManCupboardModels]

Outside pics are awesome! Top job!!