[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

Here are some photos of the Altaya version. I should re-take them, these didn't come out as well as I had hoped.

I really like the looks of that of that Defiant night fighter.
JP

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by no4mkit

So is there anything left of Hornchurch, Hornchurch?

uh oh, off topic... I'm gonna get busted..

Love your quote above (highlighted), love it; BUT ya shouldn't get busted, oh no,no,no.......
Hornchurch is to Defiant, what Yorktown is to Midway..

(How much closer on topic can ya get ?).

R.A.F. Hornchurch closed in 1962 - In the late 1970's & early '80's, a massive housing estate was built over some of the North-Western edge of the base - Luckily, much of what's left, was turned into a 'Country Park', to enable locals (like me & my kids, at that time), to ride bikes, take dogs for a walk etc.
Many of the airfields defences are still there (ravaged by time),including at least FOUR concrete pillboxes for airfield defence, & a large dispersal, where Blenhiems, Spitfires & Defiants once stood, is used as the main car-park (just past the local supermarket, which stands on the EXACT spot of the 3 x Main Hangars).
The local Pub (next to the old main gate) called 'The Good Intent', has a 41 Sqdn Spitfire, as it's main sign (the painter cocked up the codes!!!).

Many Defiant aircrew drank in here, before meeting their cruel fate, further along the River Thames Estuary, against overwhelming odds.

It's good to see a die-cast replica of the B.P.Defiant available, (albeit as 151 Sqdn).

[no4mkit]

Pukka gen Hornchurch, thanks. I'll have to work a visit there into my next UK trip.

Well if spare time will permit, there will be at least one diecast 264 Sqn Defiant in existence very soon!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by no4mkit

Yessir, couldn't do anyone but 264, though it will be PS-X. Talk about living up to a name - 13 kills, the last a Bf109 that attempted to finish her off as she glided to a wheels up landing, there was no other choice!

The base? For the BOB you mean? hmm, I know it was somewhere in Essex.... Romford??

no4mkit; Ironic that you mentioned Romford - my wife & her parents are from there (still live there).
There used to be a Sector Control Communication site there, controlling the Defiants & Spitfires whilst airborne.
Having mentioned the nearest large town, means you must have a fair knowledge of the area ????????

Corgi, have depicted THREE of their 1/32 Spitfires, that flew from & were based at Hornchurch - Stanford-Tuck's GR*P ......Malan's ZP*A ..... & Deere's KL*B.

Wouldn't it be nice if Altaya/ IXO bought out another Defiant in Daytime/Battle of Britain markings (from the same airfield) ???

B.T.W. I presume your Altaya (264 Sqdn) conversion, is the a/c flown by 264's Top-scoring Duo.......Sgt Thorn & his gunner, Sgt Barker ?????

Not only is he (Barker - in various publications) listed as THE top-scoring TURRET-GUNNER of W.W.II, .....but it may interest you to know that around the turn of this century (whilst I still lived in Hornchurch) he still lived there too, often speaking to friends of mine (from I.P.M.S. Hornchurch) - they say he is a very modest, quiet & un-assuming man, who does'nt like to dwell on the war, or his role in it, yet he helped give a mate of mine some tips when building his 1/48th 'Classic Airfames' Defiant.

[no4mkit]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Having mentioned the nearest large town, means you must have a fair knowledge of the area ????????

Sorry no, Hornchurch - I cheated.... Google Maps... Love to see it sometime though!

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Corgi, have depicted TWO of their 1/32 Spitfires, that flew from & were based at Hornchurch - Malan's ZP*A ..... & Deere's KL*B.

I'd love either one! I got into the 1/32'nd game late - only have the PR Mossie, Old Crow P-51D and Wilde Sau '109G - still looking for a reasonably priced Spit. At least I have the Malan in 1/72...

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Wouldn't it be nice if Altaya/ IXO bought out another Defiant in Daytime/Battle of Britain markings (from the same airfield) ???

Yes, that would be great! Hope they do but unfortunately they seem to be doing one-offs only.

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

B.T.W. I presume your Altaya (264 Sqdn) conversion, is the a/c flown by 264's Top-scoring Duo.......Sgt Thorn & his gunner, Sgt Barker ?????

yes - that's the one! L7005

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Not only is he (Barker - in various publications) listed as THE top-scoring TURRET-GUNNER of W.W.II, .....but it may interest you to know that around the turn of this century (whilst I still lived in Hornchurch) he still lived there too, often speaking to friends of mine (from I.P.M.S. Hornchurch) - they say he is a very modest, quiet & un-assuming man, who does'nt like to dwell on the war, or his role in it, yet he helped give a mate of mine some tips when building his 1/48th 'Classic Airfames' Defiant.

Now that is very interesting, and what an opportunity to have the man as advisor on the kit build!! What a conversation piece that model must be...

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by no4mkit

Yessir, couldn't do anyone but 264, though it will be PS-X. Talk about living up to a name - 13 kills, the last a Bf109 that attempted to finish her off as she glided to a wheels up landing, there was no other choice!

The base? For the BOB you mean? hmm, I know it was somewhere in Essex.... Romford??

Could this particular Defiant be one of Galland's victim?

Jagdeschwader 26, or JG 26, was one of the Lufwaffes elite fighter forces. Nicknamed the Abbeville Boys, or the Abbeville Kids,"JG 26 gained tremendous notoriety early in the War while operating out of Abbeville in Northern France. Although JG 26 never operated with more than 124 fighter aircraft, the unit dominated its airspace over Northern France and Belgium for more than a two year period. Adolf Galland was one of Germanys top fighter aces of the War, with more than 100 confirmed victories. For most of his flying career Galland was associated with JG 26. By year-end 1940 he had attained 57 victories, and was awarded the Oak Leaves, the highest award of the time. Galland took over command of JG 26 in August 1940 during the Battle of Britain. In Stan Stokes painting, entitled Defiant, But Doomed, Galland is depicted during a mission with the Abbeville Kids on August 28, 1940. Flying low cover for a formation of Heinkel bombers Galland was shocked to see a squadron of 12 Royal Air Force Defiants flying directly below the bombers. The Defiant was a unique British aircraft which was utilized as a daylight fighter incorporating four machine guns enclosed in a top mounted hydraulic turret operated by a gunnery officer. Despite serving admirably during the Dunkirk evacuation, the Luftwaffe had devised tactics which made the Defiant only marginally successful. By utilizing its turret guns RAF 264 Squadron was preparing to decimate the Heinkels with an attack on their vulnerable underbellies. Climbing straight up into the formation Galland broke up the attack. Minutes later he was engaged with the Defiant piloted by 264 Squadron Commander Garvin. Although struck four times by the Defiants machine guns, Galland was ultimately victorious. Gallands JG 26 flew the Messerschmitt Bf-109 (also often referred to as the ME-109) of which over 30,000 were produced. The first large scale production model of the 109 was the E series. Powered by a 12 cylinder water cooled engine the 109e was capable of 360 MPH, and had a ceiling of 33,000 feet. The 109 was very maneuverable and had a very strong airframe capable of sustaining high G maneuvers. Utilizing a low-wing cantilever design, the 109 had retractable landing gear and initially was produced with fuselage mounted machine guns. Galland complained about this configuration and actually modified several of his aircraft to incorporate wing mounted machine guns, which would provide a wider field of fire. A few of these aircraft were utilized during the Spanish Civil War in 1939, and proved vastly superior to anything they faced. The 109, unlike many other fighters which were in service at the start of the War, remained effective for the entire War, and in fact became a de facto standard by which many other aircraft would be judged. Adolf Galland was promoted to General of the Fighter Arm in late 1941, and became preoccupied with fighter tactics for the duration of the War.

[no4mkit]

Not in the August 28 fight depicted FlyX. PS-X flew it's final mission 2 days prior on August 26, when it was shot down but also claimed it's attacker for it's 13th and last kill.

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by no4mkit

Not in the August 28 fight depicted FlyX. PS-X flew it's final mission 2 days prior on August 26, when it was shot down but also claimed it's attacker for it's 13th and last kill.

Cool info and thanks for that, no4mkit!

[planenutsfrog]

Originally Posted by mkvb

I have just read on one of our local sites that IXO are to produce the Defiant Night fighter.Has anyone heard if this is correct.

Few IXOs deserve to be qualified as excellent, but this one, together with the Skua and "Beau", certainly does !

Moreover, thanks to its satin black finish, the inked panel lines are not too visible for once !

With very little improvement such models can be made as good as any Corgi's (for a fraction of the price !).

[Flyguy]

Couldnt agree more with planenutsfrog....I bought one of these awhile back as I am a sucker for black aircraft. It's really a quality model for the price and it looks great along with my black mossie, spitfire and hurricane.