Hello!
This week has given a wonderful break from the day job and I have immersed myself in my obsession with Spitfire’s!
A recent visit to Flying Legend’s at Duxford was spectacular! Seeing so many warbirds in one place set my heart on fire! Upon returning home my studio went into overdrive building and researching Spitfire’s!
Among the projects I have on the bench, I was able to finish the display for my recently completed Spitfire Mk.IX marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day. This excellent 1/48 Eduard Spitfire Mk.IX had some aftermarket added to it to depict a famous D-Day Spitfire. You can read the build article here: Spitfire Mk.IX
This Spitfire was the mount of Wing Commander Johnnie Johnson who led The Kenley Wing in 1944 and it was famously fitted with beer barrels so that he bring beer to the troops in Normandy after D-Day.
This was a most enjoyable project and I hope a fitting and respectful tribute to all who fought for our freedom on 6th June 1944. I posed the finished model on a simple plinth base with some figure’s enjoying a beer or two in the summer sunshine of 1944.
Hope you enjoyed this one! Thanks for visiting!
Happy Modelling!
Darren.
THE SCALE MODEL HANGAR 
Greetings from New Brunswick, Canada.
A few years ago I had the honour to speak with Bill Gould who flew with RCAF 443 in 127 Wing from Aug ‘44 until flying the last flight of the war (Read this in All The Young Eagles by David Bashow).
He once flew the beer run and also flew JEJjr at some point on the squadron (several pilots flew it). I’d have to check my notes about the story behind jr, and the reason it was around.
They each also had to fly as Johnnie’s No2 at some point. He says Johnnie’s RR powered Mk IX was always a little faster and accelerated more quickly than their Mk XIV with Packard built Merlins. He said the Packards also threw connecting rods through the sides of the engine panels sometimes.
Bill told me on one of his two beer barrel flights he had to climb over some weather, and when he landed the beer had turned to slush… the lads didn’t give a shit and waited until it thawed, and tapped ‘er.
Cheers!
Pete Bjerkelund
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