Eric the Spy: Reunited

Does everybody remember the infamous "Eric the Spy" from the Airfix Lysander 1/72 model aircraft kit? I did my version of the Lysander as a 1940 BEF AASF-Army Ground liaison version so Eric was superfluous to their needs as it were so he remained in the bucket (see below, suitcase in hand ready to go up the ladder and head off into the night air to France):   

Well he came back, as all spies do, "in from the cold" during the great Covid-19 lock-down clear out! Watch this space for future developments. 

Return of the painting Tray: Lysander III - the Decals

Time to put the RAF markings on.

To my dismay the Airfix decals are as fragile as ever, it is probably why I hate this bit (did I have this plane kit in the store for such a long time?). The side marking "Y" caused me so much grief as it split!

The upper roundels chipped and split so I had to paint over the RAF Blue from a mixture of Tamiya Gloss Black, Gloss Blue and Matt Blue. Not too sure of the result but I hope it evens out after I put the matt varnish on later.

The underside gets the decal treatment. Boy did I have fun and games with one side of those big letters, it was like a jigsaw putting them back together again. Thank goodness for miracle MicroSol (surface treatment) and MicroSet (it helps the decal literally melt into the plastic surface).

In the end, not so bad an experience (I can say that now it is over - I should ask the new Airfix website for some spare decals as I just know I'll need them later), now to figure out how to use it in a wargame. There is still a little painting tidy up (the spinner should be yellow and some silver wingtip navigation lights) and then varnish to go. I better start thinking about painting my 20mm SHQ 1940 BEF infantry and Pegasus 1939 German Infantry for a France 1940 bash.

It is always good when finishing one project serves to spawn several more hiding away in the cupboard.

:)

Return of the Painting Tray: RAF Lysander

I made a special effort and while the "adults" were watching trashy TV, silently I arranged the living room table as per my defunct painting table (as best I could). The Lysander project (aka the 1940 BEF Army liaison/cooperation plane) was revived. I had last left the Lysander painted in base colours to which I added a mid tone and highlight to the greens and browns (see below).

And so, so very therapeutic this all was. I stood back looking down from above seeing her sitting in a brown field somewhere in France 1940 (see below).

I opted for the crazy Army Co-operation squadron version (No.4 Squadron, RAF Odiham, UK, 1939), a "shoot me down" death-wish operational remit if ever there was one, flying low and slow over a battlefield dominated by the Luftwaffe in 1940. Hopefully not many of them were deployed to France before disaster struck.

I do like the crazy stupid yellow stripes on her landing gear, which makes a bit of a mockery of her nice camouflage pattern. Perhaps NZ Paul and Al could have used her over Calais 1940, I think twenty of these were used to fly a one-way supply mission in, during the last desperate days.

All the time I was watched by "Wish" the latest addition to the family, a "stray cat" which has adopted us and looks set to stay (see below).

To do: A highlight of silver on the undersides, then it will be ready for decals and a varnish