I assembled the Battle way back when it was in Series 2 (it's now series 3). It had Belgian airforce transfers as an alternative to RAF markings which were of an aircraft that attacked some bridges Holland, Maastrict I think. There were severe losses, and I'm inclined to think that a VC was awarded? The RAF had a good number of Battles that went to war in France as part of the Advance Air Striking Force. But the aircraft was in no way capable of fighting the Luftwaffe anywhere close to effectively. Which ended resulted in the type and its crews sufferring very heavy losses.

Todays kit features a Greek aircraft and an aircraft from 63 Sqn RAF in the sand, spinnach and black that typified bombers right through the war. But I think the markings just predate the oubreak of war and feature white serial numbers below the wings and as part of the upper wing roundels which are also outlined in yellow.

I am a great fan of the revised colour guides, often in colour. But this artwork can be more faithful to the subject that the (older) models themselves! But - let's keep this in perspective. Modern kits are more challenging to build than models of the age of the Battle. And this is why Airfix ought to be commended for sticking with a goodly selection of older, simplier models in their catalogue.

It's nice to have a 'whistle and bells' modern kit, but children/new entrants to the hobby may well be put off by such complexity. As in everything there's a balance. The model should fix together reasonably easily - there are some ill-fitting older ones around.

The Battle is nice and simple, looks like the aircraft it represents, and hopefully 'fixes up' reasonably well. OK, so there may be some effort involved - perhaps sanding down a piece to encourage it to fit, which introduces the younger/less experienced kit builder to the need to use some means or other to get the parts to fit! And whilst I am aware that the model is not 'accurate' etc etc, it's near enough, at least as a start. And that's good enough.

Anyway, I've got the glue(s), paints, knives, wet 'n' dry and a place where battle can commence (pun intended).

I'll report back as I progress.

I intend to use the humbrol 29 Dark Earth and 163 Dark Green as principal colours. These are suggested out in the painting guide. Whatever happened to Humbrol 30?

A brave man indeed. The Battle is a real Airfix oldie, and there is a corrected resin nose out there if you fancy some surgery 🙂 . I look forward to seeing your progress John.

per Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Battle

On 12 May 1940, five Battles of 12 Squadron RAF attacked bridges over the Albert Canal on the River Meuse. Four were destroyed, the fith crash-landing back at base. Two Victoria Crosses were posthumously awarded for the action, to Flying Officer Garland and air observer/navigator Sergeant Gray of Battle P2204 coded PH-K: "for pressing home the attack in spite of the heavy defensive fire". The third crewmember, rear gunner Leading Aircraftsman Lawrence Reynolds, did not share the award. Both fighters and flak proved lethal for the Battles. Although Garland's Battle destroyed one span of the bridge, the German army quickly erected a pontoon bridge to replace it.

It's difficult to come to a view on the lack of an award to Reynolds as he too lost his life. But I suppose he wouldn't have had any direct responsibility for the action of the pilot.as he was probably not a direct/indirect participant of the fatal action.

i've not yet decided whether to leave the rivets or sand them off

i suspect there'll be some filing and sanding so...

Have tracked down the replacement [resin] nose, and have ordered one. This will put a bit of a break on, but there's still other things that can be done...

i never bothered with 'moveable' parts like turrets, ailerons, elevators and rudders when I was a lad. Too hard. The kit features moveable ailerons, but I've fixed these and filled in the huge gaps that are a consequence of such features. They'll need to be rescribed, which'll be a first for me!

As an observation, the painting guides on this and other airfix new issues/reissues feature diagrams that appear more representative of the real aircraft than the kit! The guide for the Battle shows the 'correct' nose profile as well as an 'accurate' portrayal of the canopy. Is this a good or bad thing? Good if accurate, bad if otherwise!

there's always something else...

the battle now sits, mainframe assembled, nose 'corrected' and covered in filler upside down in the box lid

it'll get the wet 'n' dry treatment before next weekend

the tailplanes needed some prompting to align at other than 90 degrees to the fuselage!

fit of bits, few as they were, was 'sound'