Fairey Battle Dutch Luchtvaartafdeling

[TomZ]

Fairey Battle Dutch Luchtvaartafdeling



At the end of the 1930's the Dutch government started a re-armament process for all branches of the armed services. The Luchtvaartafdeling (Dutch Air Force) first looked at their traditional suppliers of aircraft, Fokker and Koolhoven). But as they could not deliver enough modern aircraft fast enough, the Dutch also looked to other countries as potential suppliers. Talks were held with English, American and even German manufacturers.



Talks to the UK government focussed on the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and the Fairey Battle. Fairly quickly the Spitfire was taken off the table by the UK as they wanted to keep all production for their own use. In the end the Dutch placed an order for 12 Hurricanes and 12 Battles.



The Battles were delivered at the end of 1938 and equipped one squadron in the Dutch Air Force. Unlike the RAF Battles, the Dutch aircraft featured a spinner on the propeller, making the Dutch aircraft easy recognizable.



Like all other Dutch aircraft the Battles were caught on the ground by the Germans on the 5th of May 1940. Nine aircraft were destroyed or heavily damaged.
The remaining three airworthy Battles flew a number of sorties against the invading German troops but by the 7th of May, all were shot down.

Model: Trumpeter 1/48
Decals: Home made

TomZ

[63cpe]

Great stuff. I feel an alternative Dutch AF in 1939-1945 show coming up in november...

David aka 63cpe

[zenrat]

 

[Hotte]

Top !!!!!!

Hotte

[Old Wombat]

Nice! 

Is the windmill a squadron marking, or is the pilot Spanish*? 





[*: I refer, of course, to the character of Alonso Quijano in the work of Miguel de Cervantes entitled "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha"

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice! 

[NARSES2]

That's come out really well Tom 

Co-incidently I whilst moving my 2 Azur/Frrom 1/72 kits the other day I was musing on what to do with the second (the first will be a real world tribute build) and Dutch did cross my mind. Great minds 

[Glenn Gilbertson]

That's a good take on the Battle - very handsome!

[Weaver]

Very nice, and very credible too. 

I have a vague memory that Fairey or SABCA in Belgium actually built an aircraft similar to the Battle.

[Captain Canada]

Very nice. The colours and markings look super on this aircraft. The spinner is a nice touch....as I'd never had noticed had you not said lol.

[chrisonord]

Very nice, the camo really suits it too. Every time I look at a battle, I think Japanese. I think it is the shape, maybe of it had a radial stuck on the front, and some red circles....

[stevehed]

Lovely build, like the camouflage

[NARSES2]

That's a good take on the Battle - very handsome!

The spinner certainly improves its looks 

Every time I look at a battle, I think Japanese. I think it is the shape, maybe of it had a radial stuck on the front, and some red circles....

I know what you mean

[PR19_Kit]

Very nice, the camo really suits it too. Every time I look at a battle, I think Japanese. I think it is the shape, maybe of it had a radial stuck on the front, and some red circles....

There you are Chris, you've just created your own Whiff for a Battle. 

Mind you, the Battle was a real fave for use as an engine testbed during WWII, maybe because almost ANYthing would have been an improvement for their rather anaemic Merlin IIs!

[Mossie]

Different look for the Battle.  The spinner adds a subtle difference that I couldn't put my finger on until I read it.

Very nice, the camo really suits it too. Every time I look at a battle, I think Japanese. I think it is the shape, maybe of it had a radial stuck on the front, and some red circles....

The greenhouse canopy too. Not common on British aircraft, the Battle and Fulmar/P.4/34 being a little unusual.

These two might complete the illusion:
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