Blog

Walrus ASR Diorama

Hi all, as promised the build blog for my new project which I will be building over the next couple of weeks while on 'bed rest' ( code name for the project is 'pleasetellmeitsnotaplane') As with all my models i Believe that getting it factually correct adds to the overall effect of the model. The 2 models involved in the Diorama will be a Mk. II Supermarine Walrus from RAF Squadron 277 based at RAF Shoreham in Sussex and a Mk.5 Spitfire from US Navy VOS-7 based at HMS Daedulus, RNAS Lee on Solent, Hants. I came across an article about US navy pilots using Spitfires as air observers and spotters for the battleships and cruisers during the D.Day landing when they directed the 'big guns'. onto specific targets. There were 17 pilots and they were all trained observer/spotters from American warships and all trained on the spitfire/seafire as there was a pool of these types available (these were all Mk5's which had been superseded by newer aircraft) meaning if a plane was lost then providing the Pilot was OK he could get back into the air quickly. In just 26 days they flew 209 missions for the loss of only 1 life, 8 air craft where lost but all pilots where rescued 3 by a walrus. This was the only US Navy Squadron to fly spitfires but It is not often talked about, the Americans have this thing called NIH when referring to other allies equipment, it stands for 'Not Invented Here' so if they didn't build it they didn't use it. The diorama will show a Walrus on the Water effecting a rescue of a downed Spitfire Pilot who is out of his sinking aircraft and in a liferaft being pulled towards the Walrus. The diorama was planned out using roughly assembled (Loads of Blutak) models laid out to get a feel for the size and drawn 1:1. And now the big moment ...... my first Airfix kit in over 40 years (if you don't count the Flower class Corvettes (but they were big) Attached some photo's From day 1

5 years ago by boatiebennett