This is the Academy 1/48 Spitfire Mk 14 done in the markings of No 28 Sqn, RAF. Started this to get me back in the swing of building, and to clean the palate after so many TUDM builds (... of which there's many more still!).

How is this related to the Merdeka GB?

Well, this Spit was involved in the planned British invasion of Malaya near the end of WW2. Events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki meant that the invasion was no longer necessary, but the Brits decided to send over their planes anyway for post-war occupation. I'm not really sure if No 28 Sqn was involved, but many others stationed here and in Singapore saw action in the 1948-1960 anti-Communist ops known as Operation Firedog.















Kit was fully built up in 2 days and took another 2 for painting and masking. Decals came from an Aeromaster sheet and paints were a mix of Gunze and Tamiya. I took a lot of shortcuts on this build, one of which resulted in the poor colour accuracy seen here. Oh, well... at least it was FUN!

Enjoy!

Aidy

2 days..... :o I couldn't even get a 1/72 cockpit done in 2 days... man... fast and good as usual. any weathering for this bird.

very good Aidy.
another variation to the collection.

Loo

Aidy my boy,

You're right on the history part. The Brits decided to send few of the XIV to Selatar and Sg Besi as detachment. I also believed that Mk22 saw action in Malaya. What saw next was bunch of Mossie's and Beaufighters at Sg Besi air base while Short Sunderland stationed at Seletar. Most of Sunderland mission was over Straits of Malacca and Muka Head, Penang was their re-fuelling point!!

Not only that, Avro Lincoln and Lancaster saw action over Malaya. A photo of Lancaster doing a bombing run somewhere over Pahang was published in newspapers sometimes ago. Our Sg Besi airbase is full of history infact.

During emergency, Meteors and Javelin few in and out of our own Sg Besi, Butterworth and Selatar. Got few books on this and I can share it with you.

Sarge.

Ooooh yes, Sarge... please do share!

I am compiling as much info as I can on the British and Commonwealth air campaign over post-war Malaya, and into the Malaysia era. Will start another thread on that here as soon as I get a decent list down.

Anyway, according to the decal instructions, the aircraft that I've attempted here was based in KL (Sg Besi, I assume) in 1946.

Thomas,

Apart from the ugly-ish exhaust and gun stain I airbrushed (see photos 1-4), I won't be weathering this any more. I did wash a small section of the wing, but didn't see the merit in that as the camo was too dark to show the wash.

Actually, the build took 2 weeks. Started and finished assembly in the first 2 days, then waited for the decals to arrive from Squadron, then attended a job assesment thing, then wait and wait some more... then decided to paint and finished the job in the last 2 days.

bud and gang,

about the Javelin, I have a Airfix 1/72 with Selatar based decal, does this one saw action in Malaya, Is it valid to enter this to the GB.

Oh yes,

A squadron of NZ Canberra operated from Butterworth as well. This was confirmed from an e-mail of Sager Ahmad (Maktab 13) of MHG (Malaysian Historical Group). By the way, I got few photos of Beaufighter Mk10 operated from Sg Besi with underwing rockets. This was sent to me by a friend in UK.

Aidy, please e-mail me your addy again so you can post on my behalf.

Masterqq, that will be wonderful. I don't think I can ever find that kit again!!

Sarge.

Masterqq, I say go for it! If not Firedog, it could have been involved during the Konfrontasi. I don't know for sure though, but still, go for it man!

Sarge,

Yeah, all my interest in the Commonwealth air component started with the Canberra actually. Saw a lovely NZ option on one of Model Alliance's recent sheets, plus got one pic of a row of Aussie B. Mk. 20's in Butterworth. Only thing is that the 1/72 kit has been looooong OOP, and the 1/48 CA one is too darn expensive (if I even manage to find one that is).

So that's why I'm going with Academy's cheaper Spits...