11/2025

INFO Eduard is a monthly scale model-historical magazine published in Czech and English by Eduard Model Accessories since 2010. The magazine is available for free on the Triobo platform and can be downloaded in PDF format. Eduard is a manufacturer of plastic models and accessories with over 30 years of tradition. Throughout its history in the plastic modeling industry, Eduard has become one of the world's leaders. Further details about the company and its product range can be found at www.eduard.com. You can subscribe to the INFO magazine and receive product information for free at: https://www.eduard.com/cs/info-eduard/

• Strana 1

  INFO Eduard

  e-magazine FREE Vol 24 November 2025

  # 189

• Strana 2

  INFO Eduard

  e-magazine FREE Vol 24 November 2025

  # 189

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• Strana 3

  eduard

  eduard

  NOVEMBER 2025

  CONTENT

  Published by Eduard-Model Accessories, spol. s.r.o.

  Mírová 170, Obrnice 435 21

  support@eduard.com www.eduard.com

  EDITORIAL

  E

  -

  Day

  KITS

  BRASSIN

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED SETS

  SPACE

  BUILT

  ON APPROACH

  –

  November 2025

  TAIL END CHARLIE

  ARTICLES

  BOXART STORY

  Avia S-199 ERLA canopy HYBRiD 1/48

  MiG-21F-13 ProfiPACK 1/48

  P-40N Warhawk ProfiPACK 1/48

  Spitfire Mk.Ia ProfiPACK 1/48 Re-Release

  ENSTROM 480 1/72

  MiG-21bis 1/72

  Air war over Ukraine

  -

  Russian drones

  over Poland

  Messers above the Negev Desert

  The Burma Banshees

  Against the Stukas on Eagle Day

  4

  8

  40

  48

  52

  74

  88

  92

  102

  106

  119

• Editorial

  We usually write about E-day no later than the week after the event, but this year it is different. As you know, E-day was held in Litomerice on the first Saturday of October, and we are just now in the process of evaluating it, after one month. Of course, this has its reasons. There is an advantage to looking back at it after almost a month, with peace of mind and a cool head. I think I will not contradict the assessment of E-day participants when I say that it was a very good event.

  Good day, fellow modelers!

  Welcome to the tenth issue of our newsletter for

  this year. It is of course dedicated to October's

  new releases, which, like every month, are many

  and need to be reported on in detail. In addition,

  you will also learn something about November's

  new items, specifically about the Avia S-199

  in 1:48th scale, the first kit of the new Eduard

  Brassin HYBRiD line. This kit, along with the

  entire new series, had its world premiere last

  weekend at E

  -

  Day in Litoměřice. We have been

  introducing this project on various occasions

  since the beginning of August, so it is unlikely

  that you would not have heard anything about

  it by now. Nevertheless, I will take the liberty of

  saying a few words about what you can expect

  from this new concept for kits.

  These are composite kits manufactured using

  two technologies, the tried and true injection

  molding using metal molds along with 3D

  printing. Large and medium-sized parts are

  made of plastic, primarily the fuselage, wings,

  tail surfaces, propellers, as well as canopies

  and all other transparancies. Complete cockpit

  and landing gear strut assemblies will be

  manufactured using 3D printing, as well as

  some small parts, such as exhausts, antennas,

  or especially onboard weapons. Wheels will also

  manufactured using 3D printing. The landing

  gear legs of the S-199 are made of a special

  material, used for the production of prostheses

  and implants within the dental industry. This

  material is characterized by high resistance

  to deformation, low flexibility and dimensional

  stability. It is therefore suitable for the

  production of parts that require load resistance

  and long-term strength overall.

  The HYBRiD series kits use the good

  properties of both types of material. The plastic

  parts are precise with high quality surface

  details and feature perfect fit. The printed

  parts also have great precision and, compared

  to their predecessors, resin castings, also

  have perfect fit, but compared to plastic small

  parts, they have a much, much greater fidelity

  of detail. The printed parts and specifically the

  printing process provides advantages that allow

  parts to be produced as one without needing to

  make multiple parts that might be necessary

  because of tings like undercutting. The result is

  a reduction in the number of small parts that

  the modeler has to glue together as with classic

  injection molded parts. The wheel wells in the

  first HYBRiD kit, the S-199 in 1:48 scale, consists

  of a single part that is simply glued into the wing,

  where it naturally fits perfectly. The same is

  true of the cockpit, where the floor with pedals

  and seat, including the rear wall of the cockpit,

  is printed as one part. Other parts of the cockpit

  include the side panels, again each printed from

  a single piece, the rear cockpit wall, the control

  stick, the instrument panel, and the trim control

  wheels.

  This concept allows for the reduction of the

  number of parts in the kit while raising the bar

  for the quality of the details. For comparison,

  in the 1:48 S-199, the number of plastic parts

  was reduced from 126 parts in the previously

  conceptualized all-injection molded kit to 56 in

  the HYBRiD series kit. In addition to plastic and

  3D printed parts, the HYBRiD series kits will be

  equipped with a cockpit painting mask, a decal

  sheet for six color versions and instructions as

  standard. Photo-etched parts are not included

  in these kits. An important detail is that plastic

  and printed parts can be glued together with

  classic solvent adhesives, it is not necessary to

  use instant adhesives. But that is of course also

  possible, the results of both gluing techniques

  will be equivalent.

  In terms of price, the first HYBRiD 1/48 kits will

  be in a similar price range to the 1:48 Profipack

  kits. The first EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID kit,

  No. 948011, the 1:48 scale S-199 Erla will cost

  925 CZK (about 45 American Greenbacks). It is

  new for November 2025, but was sold for the

  first time last weekend at E

  -

  Day and during the

  associated Afterparty, and then will be again in

  November. In January, the second version of the

  S-199 with the sliding canopy will follow, and for

  2026 we are also preparing HYBRiD 1:32 scale

  kits, which will be priced in line with classic kits

  of this scale available on the market today.

  The concept of the new series is brought

  to you clearly and concisely by Jakub

  Nademlejnsky in his article about the new Avia

  S-199 kit. As a thank you for participating in the

  exhibition, modelers exhibiting at E

  -

  Day will

  receive another HYBRiD series kit, an Enstrom

  480 helicopter in 1:72 scale. We have prepared

  this kit as a technological demonstrator that

  will give its owners a good opportunity to try out

  exactly what the new series brings in terms of

  construction and utility properties.

  Other November new releases will also be on

  sale at E

  -

  Day, but only in kit form. They are the

  MiG-21F-13 in 1:48 and the P-40N in the same

  scale, with both kits being members of the

  Profipack line.

  This year's E-day, which took place last

  weekend in Litoměřice, was successful but

  cold. The influx of Arctic air and hurricanes

  across the Atlantic did their job. Fortunately,

  it didn't rain until Saturday afternoon, but even

  so, it was probably the coldest of all 22 E

  -

  Days

  to date. However, we had the most models and

  modelers on display, a total of 1,459 models,

  compared to 1,123 models last year, and we are

  very happy about that! There were always lots

  of people around them. The discussions with the

  MiG-21F pilots and even with one of them, Colonel

  Spinka, who flew the S-199, were amazing, and

  the modelers enjoyed other discussions and

  lectures as well. And we sold all the S-199s

  in the new Eduard Brassin HYBRiD series by

  2 p.m. So, all in all, it was a good event, and if

  you weren't there this year, come next year!

  Happy Modeling!

  Vladimir Sulc

  EDITORIAL

  INFO Eduard4

  November 2025

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  The IRIS

  -

  T Air-Defense System

  Current Affairs / Petr Uzsák

  A frequently discussed topic in recent weeks has been Russian provocations

  carried out by airborne assets across the borders of neighboring states —

  namely those European countries that are members of the North Atlantic

  Alliance.An important part of a clear response is having one‘s own air-defense

  systems. The most often mentioned system — also in connection with the war

  in Ukraine — is the American MIM-104 Patriot. However, in the European area

  this is not the only means of protecting allied territory from external air strikes,

  as the article will explain.

  The Modern French Navy

  World Naval Forces / Petr Uzsákk

  The naval forces of the country of the Gallic Rooster have a very long tradition, las-

  ting almost four hundred years continuously. The French Navy was founded in 1626

  during the reign of Louis XIII. and since then it has had many famous and defining

  moments. It is enough to recall the famous overseas expeditions of officers Jean

  Ribault, Louis Antoine de Bougainville and Jean-Francois de Galup de Laperouse

  to drive the point home. It can also be said that the French naval forces were pio-

  neers in putting innovations into practice with, for example, ships with a steel hull,

  armored cruisers, the first seaplane carrier or the first mechanically propelled

  submarines..

• Strana 7

  Plastos – History of Scale

  Plastic Modelling

  Part Two – Once Upon A Time In The East / Vladimír Šulc

  Arrival of the former British Frog kits on the Eastern European model market

  significantly accelerated international barter exchanges between modelers.

  Just as the industrial production of traditional plastic kits and the cottage

  industry epoxy kits and associated trade developed in Czechoslovakia, so too

  did the production of kits from Frog molds and the associated trade develope

  in the Soviet Union. And despite both doing so officially, some of that produc-

  tion certainly made it into the retail network, even though testimonials from

  that time say that Soviet stores were permanently empty. But the main thing

  was again that gray economy. I assume that a lot of what was produced was

  stolen, smuggled out of the factory and sold illegally.

  Death of a Fleet

  History / Chris Goss

  On 8 November 1942, Allies forces landed in Morocco and Algeria as part of

  Operation Torch. The Luftwaffe's response was codenamed Stockdorf and

  a number of combat units quickly but temporarily moved to south-west

  France, at that time under Vichy French control, in response to the perceived

  threat of an invasion in southern France and to secure airfields and military

  stores

  Stanisław Skalski

  Model & Story / Vladimír Šulc, Jan Baranec

  The most successful Polish fighter pilot was definitely not an exemplary

  soldier at that time. He received several disciplinary reprimands, including

  two for insulting a superior officer, and a rather curious one for attempting

  to join the Chinese Army and take part in the war with Japan. On October 1st,

  1938, he was appointed second lieutenant and assigned to the 4th Air Regi-

  ment in Toruń and attached as a pilot to the 142nd Fighter Squadron, armed

  with the famous Polish PZL P-11c high-wing aircraft.

  On the very first day of World War II, on September 1st, 1939, he jumped

  a Henschel Hs 126, the kill of which was credited to his colleague Marian

  Pisarek. Skalski then landed next to the downed aircraft, helped the

  wounded crew members and arranged for their transport to a military

  hospital, thus probably saving them from lynching by the local civilian

  population.

• E-day photo gallery

  4/10/2025

  international

  model

  exhibition

  AREAL

  international

  INFO Eduard8

  November 2025

• Strana 9

  REPORT

  international

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  REPORT

  CLUBS AND SIGS

  INFO Eduard10

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  REPORT

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  CONVERSATIONS

  IN A CAFÉ

  Petr Křeček

  Ota Genža and Petr Švihovec

  Jaromír Rychtařík, Jaroslav Špaček and Václav Vašek

  Jiří Šilhánek and Jan Zdiarský

  Petr Vacek

  Filip Nevečeřal and Stanislav Kučera

  Jindřich Štěrbáček and Petr Stachura

  Jan Pidrman and Jan Novotný

  REPORT

  INFO Eduard12

  November 2025

• Strana 13

  Jiří Bureš

  Stanislav Archman

  REPORT

  About paintings, airplanes, and cars...

  INFO Eduard

  13

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  DISCUSSIONS

  REPORT

  INFO Eduard14

  November 2025

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  WORKSHOPS

  REPORT

  INFO Eduard

  15

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  RETAILERS

  REPORT

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  EXHIBITION

  REPORT

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  REPORT

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  REPORT

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  REPORT

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  WINNING MODEL

  Suchoj Su-22M4 ’Fitter-K’ - No. 3704/ 44 20.SBOLP, August 1993

  Absolute winner

  Christian GERARD

  REPORT

  INFO Eduard

  23

  November 2025

• Eduard news 2026

  EDUARD NEWS 2026

  E

  -

  DAY BRIEFING, LITOMĚŘICE, CZECH REPUBLIC, 4 OCTOBER 2025

  This is the November new release, however, MiG-21F-13 in the Profipack 1/48th scale series made

  its sales debut at E

  -

  Day. A Weekend edition kit will also be launched in the summer of 2026.

  The first model kit in the new EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID series, the Avia S-199 in 1/48 scale, also

  had its sales premiere at E

  -

  Day. This first boxing represents the first production version of the

  S-199 with the original German Erlahaube canopy.

  MiG-21F-13 PROFIPACK 1/48MiG-21F-13 PROFIPACK 1/48

  EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID AVIA S-199 1/48EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID AVIA S-199 1/48

• Strana 25

  The new EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID series presents composite kits manufactured using two

  technologies: classic plastic injection into metal molds and 3D printing. Large and medium-sized

  parts are made of plastic, primarily the aircraft fuselage, wings, tail surfaces, wing mechanisms,

  propellers, as well as cockpit canopies and all other transparent parts. Complete cockpit and

  landing gear bay assemblies, as well as some small parts such as exhausts, antennas, and main-

  ly onboard weapons, will be produced using 3D printing.

  The wheels and landing gear legs are also made using 3D printing. The landing gear legs are

  made from a special material that is commonly used in the manufacture of dental prostheses and

  implants. This material is characterized by high durability, flexibility, and dimensional stability.

  It is therefore suitable for the manufacture of parts that require load resistance and long-term

  dimensional stability.

  EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID 1/48EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID 1/48

• Strana 26

  The Hybrid series kits take advantage of the best features of both types of material. The plas-

  tic parts are precise, with high-quality surface details and perfect fit. The printed parts are also

  very precise and perfect, but compared to the small plastic parts, they have sharper and finer

  details. At the same time, they allow details to be combined into a single part, eliminating the

  need to divide, for example, the landing gear bay or side panels in the cockpit into several parts

  due to technological limitations of molding. The result is a reduction in the number of small parts

  that the modeler has to glue together in a classic kit. The landing gear bay in the first kit of the

  Hybrid series, the S-199 in 1/48 scale, consists of a single part that is simply glued into the wing.

  Similarly, in the cockpit, the floor with pedals and seat, including the rear wall of the cockpit, is

  printed as a single part. Other cockpit parts include side panels, again each printed from a single

  piece, the rear cockpit wall, control stick, dashboard, and trim control wheels.

• Strana 27

  The difference in the number of parts between the HYBRID series and classic kits is shown by

  comparing the frames with small parts for the classic kit and for the Hybrid series kit. This she-

  et shows a drawing of two frames with small parts planned for the classic Avia S-199 kit in 1/48

  scale. In the classic kit, these two frames would contain a total of 108 parts.

  In this sheet, you can see

  a frame drawing with

  small parts for the S-199

  kit in 1/48 scale in the

  EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID

  series. This frame con-

  tains 32 parts and repla-

  ces two frames from the

  classic kit shown in the

  previous photo. A total of

  6 frames with 136 plastic

  parts would be produced

  for the classic kit, while

  4 frames with 63 plastic

  parts were produced for

  the Hybrid series kit.

• Strana 28

  Another kit in the HYBRID series, the Avia S-199 from later production series with a sliding cano-

  py in 1/48 scale, will follow in January 2026.

  As a thank you for their participation, exhibiting modelers recei-

  ved a 1/72 scale Hybrid Enstrom 480 model kit at this year‘s E

  -

  Day.

  Enstrom will be released in March 2026 as a 1/72 scale EDUARD

  BRASSIN HYBRID model kit and will be available for purchase.

  AVIA S-199 1/48 JANUARY 2026AVIA S-199 1/48 JANUARY 2026

  EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRIDEDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID

  ENSTROM 480 1/72ENSTROM 480 1/72

• Strana 29

  The EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID series will continue with several kits in 1/32 scale. The first of

  these will be the P-51B Mustang in the first half of 2026. The 1/32 scale kit is based on the design

  of the 1/48 scale P-51B kit, but has been technologically modified for both the 1/32 scale and the

  HYBRID series.

  Next in the HYBRID 1/32 series will be the Spitfire Mk.IX family. The expected release date is Su-

  mmer 2026. The design is based on the Spitfire Mk.IX project in 1/32 scale, which was originally

  developed before 2010 but was suspended and changed to a 1/48 scale project. This project inclu-

  des both the development versions of the Spitfire Mk.IX, namely the Spitfire F.Mk.IX, LF.Mk.IXc,

  and Spitfire LF.Mk.IXe, as well as the Spitfire Mk.XVI, Spitfire Mk.VIII, and Spitfire HF. Mk.VIII.

  EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID 2026 ...

  1/321/32

  P-51B MUSTANG 1/32P-51B MUSTANG 1/32

  SPITFIRE Mk.IX 1/32SPITFIRE Mk.IX 1/32

• Strana 30

  The third in a series of 1/32 scale kits from the EDUARD BRASSIN HYBRID series is the Focke-

  -Wulf Fw 190 A family. The first of these will be the Fw 190 A-8/R2, which is expected at the end

  of 2026 or early 2027. The plan is to gradually release all development versions of the Focke-Wulf

  Fw 190A from Fw 190 A-2 to Fw 190 A-9, including Fw 190 F-8.

  The Fw 190 D will follow on from the Fw 190 A. The Fw 190 D project is also based on a 1/48 scale

  model kit, but will be significantly modified and improved in terms of design. We will focus prima-

  rily on the shape deficiencies of the original design. However, this is a project for 2027.

  Fw 190 A 1/32Fw 190 A 1/32

  Fw 190 D 1/32Fw 190 D 1/32

• Strana 31

  We will also be releasing

  EDUARD BRASSIN HYB-

  RID kits as LIMITED series

  kits. These will be based on

  similar kits in 1/48 and 1/72

  scale.

  EDUARD BRASSIN EDUARD BRASSIN

  HYBRID LIMITEDHYBRID LIMITED

• Strana 32

  We are preparing another new series of kits for 2026, EDUARD HKM. These will be 1/48 scale kits

  based on molds from the Hong Kong company HKM. The first will be the B-25J Mitchell with

  a machine gun nose, followed by the A-20G Havoc.

  We are preparing a Lancaster Mk.I kit for the EDUARD HKM series for 2027. We will probably not

  be able to release it in 2026, because two additional frames with parts that are not included in the

  Lancaster Mk.I kit from HKM will need to be produced for this kit, but they will be necessary for

  our kit in the joint EDUARD HKM series.

  B-25J MITCHELL 1/48 EDUARD HKMB-25J MITCHELL 1/48 EDUARD HKM

  LANCASTER Mk.I 1/48 EDUARD HKMLANCASTER Mk.I 1/48 EDUARD HKM

• Strana 33

  We are also continuing with classic model kits. We are preparing a new 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb

  model kit for December 2026. First, we are releasing the Spitfire Mk.Vb Early in the Profipack 1/72

  series in December, followed by a Limited series model kit called The Sweeps.

  Color schemes selected for the new Spitfire Mk.Vb Early 1/72 kit:

  P8699, F/Lt J. Bisdee, No. 609 Squadron, Biggin Hill, July 1941, Vic: 8+2

  W3257, F/Lt E.S. Lock, No. 611 Squadron, Hornchurch, July – August 1941, Vic: 26

  CLASSIC PLASTIC KITS 2025 / 2026

  SPITFIRE Mk.Vb EARLY 1/72SPITFIRE Mk.Vb EARLY 1/72

• Strana 34

  W3312, W/CDR J. Rankin, Biggin Hill Wing, September - December 1941, Vic: 17 + 5

  W3320, P/O D.E. Kingaby, No. 92 Squadron, Biggin Hill, July - August 1941, Vic: 21+2

  P8783, Sgt D.R. Morrison, No. 401 Squadron RCAF, Biggin Hill, November 1941 – Feb. 1942, Vic: 4+3

  W3774, P/O W.V. Crawford Compton, No. 485 Squadron, Kenley, Nov. 1941 – Mar. 1942, Vic: 21+1

• Strana 35

  P8537, Sgt J. Hloužek, No. 313 Squadron, Hornchurch, November 1941 – March 1942

  We are preparing a 1/72 scale Bf 109 K-4 kit for mid-2026, the last unreleased type from our

  Bf 109 F, G & K series.

  In the second half of 2026, the Spitfire Mk.V will be fo-

  llowed by the first Spitfire Mk.Ia kit, also in 1/72 scale,

  of course.

  In this case,

  too, it will

  be released

  as a LIMI-

  TED series

  kit, followed

  by Profipack

  and Week-

  end series

  kits.

  SPRING 2026: Bf 109 K-4 1/72SPRING 2026: Bf 109 K-4 1/72

  SUMMER 2026: SPITFIRE Mk.I 1/72SUMMER 2026: SPITFIRE Mk.I 1/72

• Strana 36

  We are preparing to release the MiG-21R in 1/72 scale in our classic model kit series in 2027. A

  Limited series model kit with a book will be released gradually, followed by Profipack and Wee-

  kend series model kits.

  The next projects in the P-40 series are the P-40F and L. Like the kits on the

  previous sheet, these will also be classic kits released in the Limited, Wee-

  kend, and Profipack 1/48 series.

  We are also working on classic projects in 1/48 scale. For the

  second half of 2026, we are preparing the P-40K in both versi-

  ons, long and short, with its characteristic tail keel. This project

  also includes the P-40M version, which is very similar to the

  long version of the P-40K.

  SUMMER 2026: MiG-21R 1/72SUMMER 2026: MiG-21R 1/72

  FALL OF 2026: P-40F/L 1/48FALL OF 2026: P-40F/L 1/48

  SUMMER 2026: P-40K 1/48SUMMER 2026: P-40K 1/48

• Strana 37

  In our classic series, we are also preparing MiG-15 and MiG-15bis kits in 1/48 scale. These will

  again be classic kits in the Limited, Weekend, and Profipack series. We are preparing to release

  the first of these at the end of 2026. It will most likely be a kit from the LIMITED line named Cze-

  choslovak Fifteen.

  As part of the MiG-15 1/48 project, kits for the UTI MiG-15 training version, as well as the MiG-17F

  and MiG-17PF, are also being developed. However, all of these kits will be released as part of the

  HYBRID series.

  And that‘s all the news for next year. As every year, this is a preliminary schedule, and it is very

  likely that there will be changes. However, all these announced projects are already in various

  stages of the design and production process.

  OCTOBER 2026: MiG-15 1/48OCTOBER 2026: MiG-15 1/48

• Strana 38

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• Strana 39

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  AIRCRAFT | ARMOR | SHIPS | FIGURES | SCI-FI | BOOKS | PAINT

  Now Located Near Chattanooga, TN

  www.squadron.com

  Introducing the Latest

  In Quality Airbrush Paint

  Since 1968 Squadron has been offering model kits

  and accessories from top manufacturers from

  around the world. Today, now located in Ringgold, GA

  Squadron continues the tradition of quality selection

  and service for today’s model Kit building community.

  Head over to Squadron.com to see why modelers

  choose Squadron time and time again!

• Air war over Ukraine - Russian drones over Poland

  The biggest event during the period covered in this installment of the series (1 Sept. to 30 Sept.) was the massive violation of NATO airspace by Russian drones. It took place during the night of 9–10 Sept. in Poland. During a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, about two dozen unmanned aerial vehicles continued westward. While, as always, Moscow made excuses, Warsaw’s officials say the Russian drones penetrated intentionally.

  Miro Barič

  Russian drones over Poland

  The biggest event during the period covered in this installment of the series

  (1 Sept. to 30 Sept.) was the massive violation of NATO airspace by Russian

  drones. It took place during the night of 9–10 Sept. in Poland. During a large-

  scale Russian attack on Ukraine, about two dozen unmanned aerial vehicles

  continued westward. While, as always, Moscow made excuses, Warsaw’s

  officials say the Russian drones penetrated intentionally.

  Aerial War in Ukraine

  The alarm began on Tuesday 9 Sept. shortly

  before midnight and lasted roughly seven hours

  until the following morning. Poland closed

  the airports in Warsaw, Modlin, Rzeszów and

  Lublin and scrambled F-16 fighters. NATO allies

  also assisted — the Netherlands deployed

  F-35 fighters, Italy provided an airborne early

  warning and control aircraft, and Belgium sent

  an Airbus A330 MRTT tanker. Germany put its

  Patriot batteries stationed in Poland on the

  highest alert; they helped track the drones’

  movements.

  At least four drones were shot down by

  fighters. This was the first time NATO had

  destroyed Russian drones over its territory.

  A kill marking later appeared under the cockpit

  of F-35 F-027 from the Royal Netherlands Air

  Force’s 313 Squadron. Other drones crashed in

  various areas, mainly in eastern Poland. One,

  however, flew as far as a field near Mniszkówe

  in the Łódź Voivodeship in central Poland, and

  another was found near the village of Oleśno

  in the north of the country. Both thus flew

  hundreds of kilometres within Polish airspace.

  Searching for drone wreckage took several

  days, and in the end as many as 21 were found.

  Some sources even give the number 23. Most

  likely, however, those counts also include two

  cases where AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles struck

  the ground. One of those air-to-air missiles,

  fired from a Polish F-16 after missing a drone,

  deviated from its trajectory and hit a house

  in the village of Wyryki-Wola. It heavily

  damaged the roof on impact but did not explode

  and no one was injured. Wreckage from the

  other AIM-120 was later found near the village

  of Choiny.

  At least 17 of the drones recovered were the

  Russian Gerbera type; their serial numbers —

  found on the wrecks — are often known. Four

  drones could not be identified. At least two of

  those four were among those shot down and,

  after the explosion of the air-to-air missile,

  likely little remained to identify.

  The Gerbera is a cheap drone with

  a wingspan of 2.5 metres. In shape it resembles

  the Iranian Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles,

  and at first it was used as a decoy to swamp

  Ukraine’s air defences. Later it began to be

  used for reconnaissance, electronic warfare

  and kamikaze missions with small amounts of

  explosives.

  Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets

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  A Geran drone with serial number 31695 was found near the village

  of Oleśno in northern Poland.

  A drone with serial number 32384 was found in Czosnówka, Lublin Voivodeship.

  A Geran with serial number 32053 was found near the village of Rabiany.

  During the repelling of a Russian drone incursion, a stray AIM-120 AMRAAM missile fell on a house in the village of Wyryki-Wola.20 AMRAAM.

  A drone with serial number 31849 crashed near Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą.

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  Intentional or not?

  None of the drones found in Poland carried

  explosives. All, however, were equipped with

  additional fuel tanks to extend their range.

  That is an important detail. Russian officials

  claimed (and Russian propaganda happily

  spread this claim) that Gerbera drones have

  a range of less than 700 km and could not have

  reached Poland from Russia. Therefore, they

  argued, Ukraine must have launched them

  to draw NATO into war with Russia. Russian

  officials and propaganda conveniently “forgot”

  to mention the additional fuel tanks in the

  drones.

  Other Russian officials tacitly admitted the

  drones were theirs, but categorically denied

  they were launched into Poland intentionally.

  Belarus also contributed to the version of an

  unintentional incursion by warning Poland in

  advance that stray drones were heading its

  way. That was an exceptional step. Many drones

  have previously ended up over Belarusian

  territory after being disturbed by Ukrainian

  electronic-warfare systems. Some were shot

  down by Belarusian forces in the past, some

  penetrated further into Poland or the Baltics.

  However, a warning from Belarus came for the

  first time. Warsaw politely thanked Minsk for

  the warning but at the same time indicated it

  believed the warning was an attempt to create

  an alibi for later claims that the incursion was

  not intentional. Polish officials publicly stated

  that the incursion was a deliberate violation

  of airspace by Russia. Previous single-drone

  incursions could be considered accidents;

  this time, however, around two dozen drones

  entered Poland at once — which is hard to

  regard as a mistake. Russia probably wanted

  to test NATO’s response and also to collect

  valuable electronic data during that response.

  Shortly thereafter, a large exercise involving

  Russian forces was beginning in Belarus, and

  this incident could have been part of it.

  NATO’s response

  Subsequently, Russian drones also appeared

  in Romanian airspace, and on Friday 19 Sept.

  three Russian MiG-31 aircraft violated Estonian

  airspace. They remained there for 12 minutes

  and NATO fighters had to escort them out.

  Both Estonia and, earlier, Poland requested

  consultations under Article 4 of the North

  Atlantic Treaty, meaning they asked member

  states for consultations. In response NATO

  launched Operation Eastern Sentry, intended

  to increase protection of the alliance’s eastern

  border.

  Reinforcements from NATO member states

  headed to Poland — Sweden sent Gripen

  fighters, France sent three Rafale fighters, the

  Netherlands deployed air-defence systems,

  and the Czech Republic contributed three

  Mi-171 helicopters. Ukraine decided to help

  Poland with training on drone defence.

  Unknown drones began to appear toward

  the end of the covered period over Denmark,

  Germany and other countries. NATO warned it

  would use force against intruders — drones or

  aircraft — and shoot them down if necessary.

  The European Union likewise decided to

  strengthen the defence of the eastern states

  and create a so-called “drone wall” there.

  Ukraine’s experience and technologies are to

  help in building it.

  One of the new technologies are so-called

  drone interceptors — small drones designed to

  destroy other drones. Their key characteristic

  is high speed so they can quickly catch their

  target. Several types exist and, where used,

  they show promisingly high effectiveness, but

  there are not yet as many of them as would be

  needed. In the fight against Russian unmanned

  systems, Ukraine therefore still has to rely on

  conventional ground air defence and airborne

  assets. In this series we have described the

  deployment of fighters and also light training,

  sport and agricultural aircraft against drones.

  Now we will take a closer look at helicopters.

  Helicopters with dozens of „kills“

  Helicopters are beginning to appear as one

  of the most effective weapons against drones.

  This is evidenced by the score markings seen in

  many photographs. On the sides of helicopters

  are dozens of silhouettes of Shahed drones, as

  well as heavier reconnaissance drones that

  An F-35 marked F-027 from the 313th Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, with a marking of a shot down drone.

  Ex-Czech Mi-24 helicopters bearing numerous kill markings.

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  operate well behind the front line. There are

  so many silhouettes that on some helicopters

  space ran out and further “victories” are

  recorded only with simple tally marks.

  Helicopters have several advantages in the

  fight against drones. They have enough speed

  to catch their target, but are not so fast as

  jet fighters, which risk colliding with drones.

  Light aircraft risk damage from detonations

  and drone debris when firing at Shaheds.

  Helicopters fly parallel to drones at similar

  speeds and usually a bit higher. They therefore

  operate from a position slightly behind and

  above the drone. If a Shahed explodes, the

  helicopter is in a space that is least exposed

  to its debris.

  The Mi-24 has the advantage of a movable

  rotating 12.7 mm machine gun in the nose and

  target-searching and aiming equipment. Some

  versions carry a twin-barrel 30 mm cannon,

  with which they can engage Shaheds from

  greater distance.

  Mi-8 helicopters have also proved effective

  against drones. They carry Soviet PKT or

  PKM machine guns of 7.62 mm in the nose or

  side windows. Ukraine began to upgrade its

  Mi-8s for counter-drone missions by installing

  American M134 Miniguns. These are also 7.62

  mm but are rotary guns with a rate of fire of

  3,000–6,000 rounds per minute, whereas the

  PK has only 500–800 rounds per minute. The

  Minigun therefore needs a shorter burst to

  shoot down a drone. Mi-8s also began receiving

  an optical station with day and night cameras

  mounted ahead of the front landing gear, and a

  searchlight to illuminate targets at night was

  added to their equipment.

  A photograph also appeared of a light

  transport plane, the Antonov An-28, with

  a similar tally painted on its fuselage. This is

  a twin-engine turboprop which Ukrainians

  modified to a gunship. Most likely it too uses

  7.62 mm machine guns in side windows or

  doors. However, a video has also surfaced

  implying the An-28 is firing a weapon mounted

  at the front; that cannot be confirmed because

  the published photograph does not show the

  aircraft’s nose.

  At the same time, jokes began to spread

  comparing the Dutch F-35 fighter with

  a single kill marking to these helicopters or the

  An-28 with dozens of kills. Humor helps people

  to cope with stressful situations, but this

  comparison is not appropriate. If the F-35 had

  to face hundreds of drones every night, it too

  would rack up a large score.

  Massive Air Raids

  Unfortunately, this is the grim reality

  in Ukraine. It became clear on the night

  This Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter has a large number of Russian drones to its credit as well.

  The Ukrainians also showcased a transport aircraft An-28, which they use

  as a gunship against drones.

  The score is rising also for ground-based air defense systems. Unfortunately, this is due to the increasing intensity of Russian attacks.

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  of Wednesday, September 3, when Russia

  launched 502 drones, 16 Kalibr missiles, and

  8 Kh-101 cruise missiles. The main targets

  were in western Ukraine. Ukrainian defenses

  shot down 430 drones and 21 missiles. The

  remaining projectiles killed one person and

  wounded 35.

  On the night of Thursday, September 4,

  another large-scale Russian air raid followed.

  Some Russian channels reported significant

  technical problems during the operation. Three

  Tu-160 bombers were supposed to participate,

  but only one managed to launch cruise

  missiles. The second was struck by lightning

  in flight and had to return to base; the third

  failed to take off. Despite that, the raid killed

  15 people and injured 26. Two Russian drones

  also violated Polish airspace during this attack.

  That same day, Russian forces committed

  another war crime — an Iskander missile

  strike on a group of Danish humanitarian

  workers clearing mines left by Russian troops

  in the Chernihiv region. The workers wore blue

  vests marking them as part of a humanitarian

  mission and used white civilian vehicles.

  The mission had been officially announced in

  advance via proper communication channels.

  The attack killed two people and injured eight.

  Russia cynically boasted about the strike in

  a video, calling it a “successful attack on

  enemy logistics.”

  On the night of Friday, September 5, Russia

  launched 157 drones and seven missiles or

  cruise missiles, killing 11 people and injuring

  32.

  On Sunday, September 7, Russia once again

  broke its own record, launching a total of

  818 drones and other projectiles at Ukraine.

  Ukrainian air defense shot down 747 drones

  and four additional missiles. Four people

  were killed, including a young mother and

  her two-month-old baby in Kyiv. Forty-four

  others were wounded. A horse-riding club in

  Kyiv was also hit, killing three horses. For the

  first time, a Russian air raid struck a Ukrainian

  government building. It was initially believed

  that a drone hit the Cabinet of Ministers’

  headquarters, but it was later confirmed to be

  an Iskander-K cruise missile. Its warhead did

  not detonate — the damage was caused by its

  kinetic impact and a subsequent fire from its

  fuel. During the same raid, one Russian drone

  again strayed into Poland and crashed 50 km

  from the Ukrainian border.

  On the night of September 10, Russia

  launched 415 drones and 43 missiles or cruise

  missiles. The targets were infrastructure

  facilities in western and southern Ukraine.

  During this raid the incursion into Poland of

  about twenty drones occurred as described

  earlier in this article.

  That same day, Russia committed another

  war crime. In the village of Yarova in the

  Donetsk region, a Russian aircraft dropped

  a guided bomb on a group of civilians waiting

  in line to receive pensions. Twenty-five people

  were killed, mostly local elderly residents.

  Among the dead were two postal workers

  responsible for distributing the pensions.

  Nineteen others were wounded.

  On the night of Saturday, September 20,

  another major raid came. Nine Ukrainian

  regions were hit — Russia launched

  579 drones, eight missiles, and 32 cruise

  missiles. Ukrainian defenses shot down

  552 drones and 31 missiles or cruise missiles.

  One projectile carrying cluster munitions

  struck an apartment building in Dnipro, killing

  three people and injuring dozens.

  The final major raid in the period occurred

  on the night of Sunday, September 28, when

  Russia launched 595 drones and 48 missiles or

  cruise missiles. Ukrainian defenses destroyed

  611 out of 643 projectiles. The main target was

  The score is rising also for

  ground-based air defense

  systems. Unfortunately,

  this is due to the increasing

  intensity of Russian attacks.

  During the September 7 air

  raid, a government building

  in Kyiv was hit for the very

  first time.

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  Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets. A MiG-29 releasing guided bombs on Russian positions.

  A MiG-29 from the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade with mission symbols.

  This photo was published

  by the 114th Tactical

  Aviation Brigade.

  The MiG-29 likely

  originates from Poland

  and on its nose sports

  a painted image of

  a warrior with

  a spear.

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  Kyiv, where four people were killed, including

  a 12-year-old girl. The Cardiology Institute

  in Kyiv was also hit, killing one patient and

  a nurse and injuring 70 others.

  The Battle for Fuel Continues

  During the observed period, Ukraine

  continued its attacks on Russia’s oil industry,

  which we covered in detail in the previous

  installment. Over three months (July, August,

  September), Ukrainian drones carried out

  34 attacks on refineries (some of them

  multiple times). Between September 1 and 30,

  Ukrainians struck refineries 13 times. The Ilsky

  refinery was targeted twice, Saratov twice,

  and Salavat refinery in distant Bashkortostan

  twice as well.

  In addition to refineries, Ukrainians targeted

  other facilities in Russia’s oil and gas industry,

  which finances the Kremlin’s war. A significant

  drone raid hit Primorsk near St. Petersburg,

  damaging an oil export terminal, pumping

  stations, and two oil tankers.

  On Wednesday, September 24, Ukrainian

  naval and aerial drones attacked Russian Black

  Sea ports. Russia claimed to have neutralized

  at least five naval drones in Novorossiysk.

  Aerial drones damaged port infrastructure

  and started fires. In Tuapse, at least one naval

  drone penetrated the harbor (as confirmed by

  Russian videos) and exploded on a pier. Tuapse

  is also used for exporting Russian oil and gas.

  Altogether, by the end of September,

  Ukrainian attacks had knocked out 40 percent

  of Russia’s fuel production. This caused

  growing gasoline shortages at fuel stations

  across many Russian regions.

  Losses on Land and in the Air

  Besides targeting oil infrastructure,

  Ukrainian drones also struck Russian radar

  systems and airfields in Crimea, gradually

  degrading the peninsula’s air defenses. Several

  helicopters and aircraft were destroyed on the

  ground.

  On Sunday, September 21, Ukrainian FPV

  drones attacked a Nebo-U radar, two Mi-8

  helicopters at a former border guard training

  base in Shkilne, and another Mi-8 at the

  Simferopol airfield. Videos of the attacks were

  released by Ukraine’s military intelligence

  agency (GUR). Satellite images and Russian

  footage confirmed that one helicopter in

  Shkilne burned completely, most likely

  belonging to the FSB Border Service. The fate

  of the other two helicopters is unclear.

  On Monday, September 22, GUR released

  a video of another FPV drone strike — this time

  on Kača airbase in Crimea, targeting one Mi-8

  helicopter and two Beriev Be-12 amphibious

  aircraft. The Be-12s were developed in the

  1950s, but a few remain in service. After

  Russia’s 2022 invasion, reports suggested

  they were used for patrolling the Black Sea

  to detect Ukrainian naval drones. The aircraft

  in the video appeared derelict — one lacked

  a propeller. One Be-12 bore the number 08 on

  its fuselage. In the footage, the attacking drone

  seems to dive toward the ground in front of the

  plane, but the operator corrected its course at

  the last moment, and it apparently struck the

  side of the fuselage near the landing gear.

  The third consecutive successful night for

  GUR came on Tuesday, September 23, when

  Kača airbase was again targeted. An Antonov

  An-26, registration RF-46878, fuselage code

  “Blue 30,” belonging to the 318th Independent

  Composite Aviation Regiment of the Russian

  Naval Air Force, was completely destroyed.

  The aircraft burned out after the strike. Another

  FPV drone targeted a second An-26, but the

  result of that attack remains unconfirmed.

  The unfavorable chain of events for the

  Russian Air Force continued on Thursday,

  September 25, when a Su-34 fighter-bomber

  was shot down near the village of Vasylivka

  in the Zaporizhzhia region. One of the two

  crew members was killed. Russian channels

  identified him only by his first name, Yevgeny.

  A spectacular feat was achieved by

  a Ukrainian FPV drone operator on Monday,

  September 29, who struck a Russian Mi-8

  helicopter in flight near the village of Nadiivka

  in the Donetsk region. Some media reported

  this as the first such case in history, though

  Ukrainians had previously hit several Russian

  helicopters with drones — some were only

  damaged, but at least one crashed after

  being hit. That was the case this time as well.

  Russian sources reported that pilot Lt. Mikhail

  Avramenko attempted an emergency landing

  in the burning helicopter to save his crew.

  However, videos show the helicopter hitting

  the ground at high speed in flames, with the

  wreck sliding for dozens or even hundreds

  of meters. In the end, two crew members

  survived with injuries, while Avramenko and

  seven passengers were killed.

  Russia also lost another aircraft in an

  accident during this period — at Kubinka Air

  Base, a Su-30SM or Su-35 fighter crashed

  during landing. The pilot, a colonel in the

  Russian Air Force, suffered severe injuries.

  On the Ukrainian side, one combat loss was

  confirmed during this period. On Thursday,

  September 11, in the afternoon, a Su-27

  fighter was shot down near Dobropillia in

  the Zaporizhzhia region. It was piloted by

  Major Oleksandr Borovyk of the 39th Tactical

  Aviation Brigade. He did not survive the crash.

  On Wednesday, September 24, Russia

  launched a strike on the Kamyanka air base

  in Dnipro, destroying several light aircraft

  shelters. It is not known whether any aircraft

  were inside at the time.

  UKRAJINA

  One of the Russian Mi-8 helicopters attacked by Ukrainian FPV drones on September 21.

  During the September 22 attack, this Be-12

  seaplane, number 08, was also targeted.

  View from the attacking FPV drone heading towards

  the second Be-12. Note that the seaplane is missing

  one propeller.

  Attack on a Russian Mi-8 helicopter at the Kača

  air base in Crimea on September 22.

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  UKRAJINA

  A Russian Antonov An-26, registration RF-46878, fuselage number “blue 30”,

  which burned after the September 23 attack.

  Another Russian An-26 caught during the September 23 attack on the Kača air base.

  A Russian Mi-8 moments before being hit by an FPV

  drone on September 29

  Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets Major Oleksandr Borovyk was killed when his Su-27

  was shot down.

  The burning Russian Mi-8 after being

  struck by the drone on September 29.

  Wreckage of the Ukrainian Su-27 that was shot down

  on September 11 near Dobropillia.

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  #948011BOXART STORY

  After the end of World War II, major political and

  territorial changes took place not only in Europe

  and the Pacific region, but also in the Middle East.

  The problems that this process brought to the latter

  region continue to this day.

  One of the fundamental issues of the anticipated

  changes was the end of British control over the

  territory of Palestine. On November 29, 1947, the UN

  General Assembly issued Resolution No. 181, on the

  basis of which the territory of Palestine should be

  divided into two independent states, Jewish and Arab.

  While the Jewish side agreed to the proposal, the

  representatives of the Arab world rejected it. Months

  of armed clashes between the two sides followed,

  which escalated into open conflict after the British left

  in May 1848.

  Based on the aforementioned UN decision, the

  independent state of Israel was proclaimed on May

  14, 1948. The very next day, the armies of five Arab

  countries invaded its territory, and gradually some

  others became involved in the conflict to varying

  degrees. These were Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon,

  Syria, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Thus began the first

  Israeli-Arab war, known as the War of Independence.

  The Arab world refers to it as An-Nakba – The

  Catastrophe.

  At first, Israel had only a few tens of thousands

  of soldiers and very inadequate weapons. The Arab

  armies were more numerous and better equipped, but

  they lacked unified command and a clear strategy.

  The UN responded to the conflict by imposing an

  arms embargo on the entire region. The young state

  of Israel, which lacked its own production of heavy

  weapons, was thus left without the possibility of at

  least purchasing arms. Israel's requests for help

  were heard by Czechoslovakia, with the tacit consent

  of the Soviet Union, which was consolidating its

  influence in the Czechoslovakia after the communist

  coup in February 1948. Czechoslovakia was thus the

  only European country to decide to secretly provide

  military aid to Israel. The process of supplying

  weapons and training Israeli pilots and technicians

  in Czechoslovakia was based on agreements that had

  been concluded even before the formal establishment

  of Israel. Czechoslovakia supplied Israel with some

  of its own Avia S-199s aircraft, along with light and

  heavy weapons with ammunition, many of which

  were of German World War II origin, and later also

  Spitfire Mk.IX aircraft, with which the Czechoslovak

  RAF squadrons had returned from Great Britain in the

  summer of 1945.

  Mezek (Mule) in Czech, Messer in Israel - Avia S-199,

  a fighter aircraft with problematic characteristics,

  was created by combining a Bf 109G airframe and

  a Jumo 211 engine, designed for bomber aircraft. In the

  immediate post-war years, together with the Spitfires,

  it became the backbone of the Czechoslovak fighter

  air force. A total of more than 500 S-199 and CS-199

  (two-seater training version) aircraft were produced

  in postwar Czechoslovakia.

  During the secret Balak operation, 24 Avia S-199s

  were sold to Israel. Four of them carried out their

  first attack on May 29, 1948, against Egyptian columns

  heading for Tel Aviv. The militarily controversial result

  had a huge moral impact. Deliveries of Czechoslovak

  S-199s to Israel were gradual. The aircraft shown,

  marked D-123, was delivered on July 28 aboard Balak

  flight No. 79 and entered combat on August 15, 1948.

  It was assigned to the 101st Squadron, whose emblem

  at the time was a winged skull wearing a flight helmet

  and goggles. The skull symbolizes the Jewish belief in

  the resurrection of the dead, who will form a great

  army when the Messiah comes to earth. The D-123

  aircraft took part in Operation Yoav, which took place

  over seven days in October 1948 in the Negev Desert.

  The aim was to divide the Egyptian forces located

  along the coast and on the road between the cities of

  Beersheba, Hebron, and Jerusalem. The Mezek D-123

  entered these battles on the first day of the offensive

  on October 16, 1948, when Israeli pilot Rudi Augarten

  claimed to have shot down an Egyptian Royal Air

  Force Spitfire Mk.IXc. The seven-day operation was

  successful and significantly strengthened Israeli

  positions.

  In 1949, Israel began the process of concluding

  ceasefires with individual Arab states. However, the

  situation remained very fragile. The outcome of the

  conflict, namely the initial Arab rejection of the 1947

  UN resolution on a two-state solution for the territory

  of former Palestine, and the subsequent attack on

  Israel, meant political and territorial strengthening of

  the Jewish state in the region. The first Israeli-Arab

  war was not only a clash for borders, but above all

  a question of identity and the right of the State of Israel

  to exist. For the Palestinians, it meant the loss of their

  homes and the beginning of refugee exile. The echoes

  of this war still resonate today in all other conflicts

  in the region. The 1948 – 1949 War of Independence

  claimed the lives of around 6,000 Israelis and 10,000–

  15,000 Arabs. About 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or

  were expelled from their homes.

  Thanks in part to aid from Czechoslovakia, Israel

  was able to defend itself in this war. The same was

  true in subsequent wars, in which, however, aid from

  Czechoslovakia did not come. Under the rule of the

  communist USSR, Czechoslovakia gradually turned

  away from Israel. A return to normalcy, based on the

  fact that Czechoslovakia had helped Israel in the most

  difficult moments of its birth, came only after the

  collapse of the socialist block at the end of the 1980s.

  Text: Jan Zdiarský

  Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  Messers above the Negev Desert

  INFO Eduard48

  November 2025

• The Burma Banshees

  Burma (today’s Myanmar) during the Second World War may have seemed like a less significant battleground. On the Allied side, however, a total of one million soldiers from several nations were eventually deployed on the Burmese front. In 1942, the Japanese at first sought to maintain transportation links between their conquered territories in China and Burmese Rangoon (today’s Yangon). Burma was to serve as a sort of buffer zone protecting further conquered areas in Southeast Asia. Before long, however, the Japanese, supported by armed forces of various puppet regimes, began to attempt an invasion of India, which ultimately did take place, though in a limited form.

  #82242

  BOXART STORY

  Burma (today’s Myanmar) during the Second

  World War may have seemed like a less significant

  battleground. On the Allied side, however, a total

  of one million soldiers from several nations were

  eventually deployed on the Burmese front.

  In 1942, the Japanese at first sought to maintain

  transportation links between their conquered

  territories in China and Burmese Rangoon

  (today’s Yangon). Burma was to serve as a sort of

  buffer zone protecting further conquered areas

  in Southeast Asia. Before long, however, the

  Japanese, supported by armed forces of various

  puppet regimes, began to attempt an invasion of

  India, which ultimately did take place, though in

  a limited form.

  After the fall of Singapore, the British had no

  intention of allowing a disaster on such scale, and

  they exerted maximum effort to defend India and

  to retake Burma. During 1942 and 1943, however,

  they had little success on the battlefield, and

  stabilization did not come until 1944.

  This Sisyphean task would not have been possible

  without the support of air units. At the beginning

  of the fighting in Burma, the Japanese faced only

  a few dozen British aircraft from No. 221 Group RAF

  and a small contingent of “Flying Tigers” from the

  legendary American Volunteer Group (AVG).

  The situation gradually improved, and by

  the autumn of 1943, under the command of the

  South-East Asia Air Command led by Air Chief

  Marshal Sir Richard Peirse, there were 48 RAF

  squadrons and 17 American squadrons deployed.

  By mid-1944, the number had increased to 64 and

  28 respespectively. The primary tasks of these units

  were supplying ground troops, conducting bombing

  and ground-attack missions, providing fighter

  escorts, and carrying out patrol operations. Aerial

  reconnaissance was of course an indispensable

  part of operations, but aircrews were also assigned

  duties such as spraying insecticides to improve the

  living conditions of soldiers on the ground.

  It may not be surprising that the British

  14th Army fighting in Burma, nicknamed

  “The Forgotten Army,” was considered “the the most

  air-minded army that ever existed.”

  By 1944, the Japanese Army air units in the

  region were already significantly weaker in

  numbers, and their aircraft lagged behind those of

  the Allies. Nevertheless, Japanese pilots remained

  dangerous opponents, as they mostly faced

  smaller, isolated engagements and did not suffer

  the extensive, devastating aerial battles that their

  naval comrades experienced around places such

  as Rabaul or the Marianas.

  One of the American fighter units that reinforced

  other combat formations in the region was the 80th

  Fighter Group. Activated in February 1942, it arrived

  in India by sea in May 1943 and was assigned to the

  10th Air Force. Initially it was equipped with P-40s,

  and in 1944 it transitioned to the P-47 Thunderbolts.

  One part of the 80th FG, the 459th FS, equipped

  with twin-engine P-38 Lightnings operated

  largely independently from the rest of the group

  and in 1945 was reassigned to the 33rd FG. If this

  separate squadron is excluded from the group’s

  tally, the core of the 80th F, consisting of the 88th,

  89th, and 90th Fighter Squadrons together with

  group headquarters, achieved 44 confirmed aerial

  victories, with 4 more aircraft probably destroyed

  and 27 damaged.

  During its operations, the 80th Fighter Group

  wrote off approximately three hundred P-40 and

  P-47 aircraft, and twelve of its pilots went missing

  in action. The only ace of the 80th FG flying single-

  engine fighters was 1st Lt. Samuel Eugene Hammer

  of the 90th FS, with five victories. Flying a Curtiss

  P-40 in March 1944, he scored two Ki-49 Helen

  heavy bombers, and in December of the same year

  he added three Ki-44 Tojo fighters while flying

  a Thunderbolt.

  Striking white skull drawings soon appeared on

  the noses of the Curtiss P-40s of the 80th FG, giving

  the group its nickname, the “Burma Banshees.”

  This name was reinforced by some pilots and

  mechanics who mounted air-driven sirens under

  the aircraft, producing a characteristic wailing

  sound. According to Celtic legends, the banshee,

  a female spirit, emits a terrible ear-piercing wail.

  Gareth Hector’s artwork portrays an aerial

  combat scene involving four pilots of the 89th FS

  on May 17, 1944, after they had bombed a bridge

  near Kamaing. They were attacked by about

  a dozen Ki-43s of the 204th Hikō Sentai. In the

  fierce dogfight, Lt. Philip R. Adair claimed two

  Oscars shot down, Lt. Thomas E. Rogers claimed

  one more and another one damaged, and Lt. Joel

  A. Martinez claimed two damaged. Two American

  aircraft were damaged and one pilot was injured,

  but both P-40s made it back to base. The Japanese

  suffered no losses and after the engagement

  claimed four P-40s shot down.

  Lt. Philip R. Adair ended the war with three

  confirmed victories and three damaged aircraft to

  his credit. His aircraft is the one depicted on the

  box art.

  Illustration: Gareth Hector

  The Burma Banshees

  Text: Jan Bobek

  INFO Eduard

  49

  November 2025

• Strana 50

  #82151BOXART STORY

  The Battle of Britain is one of the legendary

  milestones of the Second World War and also

  the first battle fought entirely by air forces.

  From the RAF perspective, it began on July 10,

  1940, and lasted until the end of October 1940.

  Its international impact is amplified by the fact

  that pilots from thirteen other countries fought

  on the RAF side. From the German point of view,

  the battle began almost a month later and ended

  with their first military failure since the outbreak

  of the war. After earlier fighting over the Channel,

  German command launched the Battle of Britain

  on 8 August 1940, with the start of the so-called

  “intensified air war against England” (verschärfte

  Luftkrieg gegen England), which lasted until the

  end of October 1940.

  The Germans launched “Operation Eagle

  Attack” (Unternehmen Adlerangriff) on August

  13, 1940, after two days of extensive air battles

  over England. The day had the code name

  “Eagle Day” (Adlertag) and brought a shift in

  German strategy. Instead of focusing on naval

  convoys, the Germans intended to systematically

  destroy airfields and other infrastructure of

  RAF Fighter Command. The selection of targets,

  however, suggests that Luftwaffe intelligence

  and strategic planners did not understand the

  purpose and importance of many RAF bases.

  The long-planned Adlertag went awry for the

  Germans right from the start. The raids were

  supposed to begin in a coordinated manner at

  07:00, but heavy cloud cover, ground fog, and

  poor visibility over occupied northern France

  hindered their execution. Although a recall order

  was issued, not all bomber units received it.

  The result was a series of isolated raids, some

  without fighter escort and sometimes without

  even reaching the target. After the official renewal

  of the Adlertag order, the most concentrated

  series of raids began after noon, though again

  complicated by clouds and navigation issues.

  During this phase of the day, Stukas formed

  a significant part of the bombing forces.

  Crews of St.G 1 and II./St.G 2 were assigned to

  strike Warmwell and Yeovil, but due to weather

  they ended up over Portland. Their escorts

  were Bf 109s from I. and II./JG 53 “Pik As.” Their

  colleagues from JG 27 escorted a large formation

  of Stukas from St.G 77, while the fighters of

  JG 26 “Schlageter” provided free-hunt fighter

  cover for the Stukas of IV.(St)/LG 1, whose target

  was Detling.The latter formation hit its target

  very successfully and without losses. A total of

  22 aircraft were destroyed on the ground,

  67 service personnel and civilians, including

  the station commander Gp Capt. E. P. Meggs-

  Davies, were killed, and more than 40 people

  were wounded. The Coastal Command base was

  temporarily put out of action, but the strategic

  significance of the raid was minor, since the

  airfield did not fall under Fighter Command.

  The success can be attributed in part to cloud

  cover, which made it harder for defenders to

  spot the Stukas, and also to the freie-Jagd cover

  of all three Gruppen of JG 26, which were used

  together in action for the first time.

  The difficulty of escorting dive bombers

  is described in the memoirs of Günther Rall

  (275 victories): “Escorting Stukas over the

  Channel could be likened to trying to get a family

  of hedgehogs across a highway. Stukas flew

  horizontally at some 250km/h, which wasn’t

  much more than a fully loaded and fueled Bf 109

  needed just to stay in the air…on the highway,

  you can only save the hedgehogs by stopping

  traffic as far away as possible, and not by

  zigzagging through traffic with them.”

  The raid of II./St.G 2 went very differently.

  They were to be protected by free-hunt of

  JG 53, but the escort became entangled with RAF

  aircraft, lost situational awareness, and part

  of the escort arrived behind the bombers with

  several minutes’ delay.

  Pilots of Spitfires from No. 609 Squadron

  RAF, including Polish airmen, took advantage of

  this situation and attacked the Stukas near the

  Solent. They claimed nine bombers shot down

  for certain, three probably destroyed and three

  damaged. In reality, six Ju 87s were shot down,

  mostly from 5. Staffel.

  One of the British pilots who scored victories

  in this action was F/O John Charles Dundas,

  DFC & Bar. His aircraft is depicted on the box

  art of the kit. This outstanding pilot was killed

  on 28 November 1940, in an air battle in which

  Kommodore of JG 2 Helmut Wick was also lost.

  Dundas’s brother, Hugh Spencer Lisle Dundas,

  also fought in the Battle of Britain, survived the

  war, was awarded CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC, and was

  later knighted.

  From 13 to 18 August 1940, German fighters

  (flying Bf 109s and Bf 110s) claimed 386 aerial

  victories, while losing 61 Bf 109s and 70 twin-

  seat Bf 110s shot down or heavily damaged.

  During less than a week, the Luftwaffe lost

  93 twin-engine bombers and 42 Ju 87 Stuka dive

  bombers. The Ju 87s were no longer employed

  over Britain. However, this was not because

  of the losses, which were quickly replaced,

  but because of their short operational range.

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  Against the Stukas on Eagle Day

  INFO Eduard50

  November 2025

• Strana 51

• Strana 52

  #948011

  Avia S-199 ERLA canopy

  1/48

  HYBRID edition kit of Czechoslovak single engine

  fighter Avia S-199 with ERLA canopy

  in 1/48 scale.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 6

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes, TFace

  resin parts: yes, cockpit, wheel wells,

  exhausts, barrels, antennas, air intake

  KITS 11/2025

  Product page

  INFO Eduard52

  November 2025

• Strana 53

  101 Tayeset, Cheyl Ha´avir, Hatzor, Israel, October 1948

  101 Tayeset, Cheyl Ha´avir, Herzliya, Israel, July-August 1948

  The aircraft coded D-123 was delivered to Israel

  on July 28 on board Balak Flight No. 79 and joined

  the action on August 15, 1948. A month prior to

  entry into service, ex-USAAF volunteer pilot Stan

  Andrews drew up the 101 Tayeset’s (Squadron)

  insignia of a winged skull of death wearing

  a flight helmet and goggles. The skull symbolizes

  the Jewish faith’s belief in the rising of the dead

  to form a large army when the messiah comes

  to earth. The insignia was printed on paper and

  applied to the left side of the nose of 101 Tayeset’s

  planes. In preparation for Operation Ten Plagues

  (October 15-22, 1948), later renamed Operation

  Yoav, 101 Tayeset fighters obtained high visibility

  markings consisting of red spinners and red

  and white stripes on the rudders in order to

  distinguish them from Egyptian aircraft. More to

  it, the Star of David roundels were applied atop

  the wings for the first time. During Operation

  Yoav, Rudi Augarten claimed a Royal Egyptian

  Air Force Spitfire Mk.IXc flying D-123 on the first

  day of the offensive, on October 16. The kill was

  not confirmed by IAF intelligence. In November,

  D-123 was given the number 1905 as part of the

  introduction of a new military aircraft marking

  system. There are a few repairs to the fuselage

  that appear darker areas on photos of D-123.

  This has led some researchers to believe

  the aircraft received a two-tone camouflage.

  However, it is merely a contrast of older and

  newer paint of the same shade of green

  One of the “Messers”, as these aircraft were

  dubbed in Israeli use, that survived the First

  Arab-Israeli War, was this aircraft coded D-117.

  It was delivered on July 15, 1948, aboard Balak

  Flight No. 63 and made its first operational

  sortie on July 21. In the summer of 1948, 101

  Tayeset’s (Squadron) lead mechanic, Eli Reuveni

  fell in love with his sweetheart named Nechama.

  He commemorated this occasion with

  a photograph in which he posed next to “Messer”

  D-117 with Nechama’s name chalked atop the

  airplane’s Star of David; Nechama went on to

  become his wife. However, D-117 had a less

  romantic future, suffering its first accident on

  August 20, 1948, when Mitchell Flint flipped it

  over onto its back in a crash landing. Further

  serious fuselage damage occurred on October

  17 when, after being hit by ground fire, Giddy

  Lichtman made a forced landing at Aqir Air Base.

  Along with the repairs made to the airframe,

  D-117 was also fitted with a high-resolution

  camera to conduct photo reconnaissance

  missions. In November 1948, the Israeli Air Force

  changed its alpha numeric aircraft numbering

  system to a four-digit identification number, and

  D-117 was renumbered 1901, where 19 stood for

  the airplane type and 01 for the first airframe on

  the squadron list.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  53

  November 2025

• Strana 54

  101 Tayeset, Cheyl Ha´avir, Herzliya, Israel, July 1948

  S-199.54, Sgt. František Novák, Fighter Training Center, No. 2 Squadron,

  Aviation Regiment 4, Planá u Českých Budějovic,

  Czechoslovakia, May 1948

  D-108 was part of the first shipment of S-199s

  from Czechoslovakia to Israel to be deployed in

  combat in the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. D-108,

  as can be inferred from its designation, was

  among the last examples to arrive in the first

  series, and thus missed the very first missions

  of the Israeli S-199s. D-108 was fully assembled

  and ready for combat within the 101 Tayeset

  (Squadron) sometime in early June, along with

  D-107 and D-109. At the time of their assembly,

  the Israeli Air Force had only five operational

  S-199s. To avoid Egyptian air raids, the 101st

  Squadron moved to an improvised dirt airstrip

  near the town of Herzliya. Mitchell Flint crashed

  D-108 on August 21 during landing, and this

  incident put the aircraft out of service for

  a significant part of the war. The accident also

  marked the end of Flint’s service with the unit.

  D-108 was returned to service after extensive

  repairs on November 21, when the 101 Tayeset

  was transferred to Qastina. At that time, the

  numbering system in the Israeli Air Force was

  changed, and D-108 was given the designation

  1906. With this designation, it participated

  in Operation Horev at the end of December

  1948. Among other things, it accompanied

  the Beaufighter TF Mk.X during the attack on

  El Arish airport on December 24, and the Spitfire

  D-130 during a photographic reconnaissance

  mission over Gaza. At the end of the war,

  it was one of four operational S-199s that

  survived the Arab-Israeli War and the only

  one to survive from the first series of S-199s

  delivered. It was finally scrapped sometime

  after October 15, 1950.

  After the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia,

  military pilot defections to the West were

  nothing unusual. Former RAF members, who

  either suspected or even knew that they would

  be persecuted by the communists, crossed

  the border and many younger pilots also

  decided to leave the country. One of them was

  Sgt. František Novák, at that time a trainee

  of the second class from the Fighter Training

  Centre (SVS), who fled to then West Germany on

  May 24, 1948. The aircraft was stored in Munich

  and, after various obstacles were ironed out,

  was transported to Czechoslovakia by land in

  March 1950. From March 31 until October 24,

  1950, there was a general overhaul at the Avia

  factory. Later it served with LP 4 (Aviation

  Regiment 4). The Avia produced aircraft bore

  the standard MNO Smalt Avion 2036.02 paint

  scheme on all surfaces and this aircraft was the

  tenth Avia factory production piece to be fitted

  with a heat exchanger instead of the original

  oil cooler. The canopy was of the older design,

  and the aircraft did not have machine guns in

  the wings, nor underwing cannons.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard54

  November 2025

• Strana 55

  S-199.66, ak. Ladislav Strnad, Air Military Academy, Hradec Králové,

  Czechoslovakia, June 1950

  S-199.486, Lt. František Fořt, No. 1 Squadron, Aviation Regiment 7,

  Brno-Černovice, Czechoslovakia, 1950

  This aircraft was assigned to Air Regiment 7 on

  August 4, 1948. On May 10, 1950, it was sent to

  the LVA (Air Military Academy), where it was

  damaged during take-off from the Pardubice

  airfield. A good quality photo of this crashed

  aircraft exists and shows very interesting

  coloring, as the rear fuselage and engine cowls

  are clearly different shade of lighter color

  compared to the original green. There might

  be several reasons about this aircraft’s colors.

  We believe there were probably some minor

  repairs needed on the rear fuselage (or just

  overpainting of original user’s code) and as the

  LVA probably did not have the standard green

  color the tan color intended for C-104s was

  used. As there was also a need to change the

  engine cowl at some point, the cowl from a dark

  green aircraft was used and overpainted in the

  same color as the rear fuselage to keep the

  aircraft in some color “order”. But the new coat

  chipped around the machine gun barrels and

  the darker green surfaced there. Also, the right

  slat is clearly dark green color. The question

  mark hangs over the national insignia on upper

  wing surfaces. On the photo it seems like they

  were not painted there, but it might well be only

  due to the over exposition of the surface under

  the direct sun. Interesting is also the obvious

  absence of most of the stencils. The front of the

  fuselage and wings were quite worn out, while

  both green and rear tan part of fuselage looks

  like new. The engine cowl sports some chipping

  and repairs in contrast.

  This “Mezek” was test flown by factory pilot An-

  tonín Kraus on December 12, 1949. On January 24,

  1950, the aircraft was taken over by the military

  administration and assigned to LP 7 (Aviation

  Regiment 7) stationed at Brno-Slatina airport on

  February 7 of the same year. It was coded IV-8

  and, according to the memories of veterans and

  unit logs, it sported a drawing of Diana carry-

  ing her bow. The author of the drawing was the

  fiancée and future wife of the deputy Squadron

  Commander and Flight Commander František

  Fořt. According to period witnesses, the same

  emblem also appeared on the aircraft of two

  other Flight Commanders, Lieutenants Jaro-

  mír Jech and Jiří Váňa. As is mentioned in the

  unit memoirs, more S-199s were equipped with

  various emblems, at least for a certain period

  of time. They are even documented in the said

  memoirs, but it is not clear to which specific

  aircraft they refer to. The aircraft was probably

  painted with darker green paint on all surfaces.

  At that time, the white of the spinner belonged

  to the aircraft of Air Division, to which LP 7 and

  LP 8 (Aviation Regiments 7 and 8) belonged, but

  not all aircraft were so marked, and IV-8 was

  probably one of these. There is no photographic

  evidence, unfortunately.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  55

  November 2025

• Strana 56

  #82191

  MiG-21F-13

  1/48

  The ProfiPACK edition kit of Soviet jet plane MiG-21F-13

  in 1/48 scale. The kit offers markings for 6 aircraft used

  in different countries around the world..

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 6

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: no

  Product page

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard56

  November 2025

• Strana 57

  s/n 741204, HävLLv 31, Kuopio-Rissala AB, Finnish AF, Finland, August 1985

  s/n 74211503, Nguyen Nhat Chieu, 921st FR, Sao Do,

  Democratic Republic of Vietnam, October 1967

  s/n 660416, 1. slp, České Budějovice AB, Czechoslovakia, 1968-1970

  Finland replaced its de Havilland Vampire

  and Folland Gnat aircraft with MiG-21s in the

  early 1960s, becoming the first non-communist

  European country to use this type. The first ten

  MiG-21F-13s were delivered to Suomen Iimavoi-

  mat (the Finnish Air Force) in April 1963, with

  another 11 following in November of the same

  year. Between 1971 and 1973, nine MiG-21F-13s

  were converted into reconnaissance versions.

  HavLLv 31 in Kuopio-Rissala began gradually

  replacing its F-13s with new MiG-21bis at the

  end of 1978. The last flight of the Finnish F-13

  version took place in January 1986. The aircraft

  with the fuselage number MG-77 was delivered

  in November 1963. It made its last flight on

  August 16, 1985. After being decommissioned,

  it served as a dummy with the number MG-127

  in Pirkkala and was later transferred to the

  Aviation Museum in Vantaa.

  The Vietnamese People’s Liberation Army Air

  Force acquired its first MiG-21F-13s in 1966.

  The first dogfight in which North Vietnamese

  MiG-21s clashed with American aircraft took

  place in February 1966. In March of the same year,

  two American Ryan Firebee unmanned aircraft

  were destroyed, but the first aerial victory for

  Vietnamese pilots was not achieved until June 9,

  1966, when two F-4 Phantoms II were shot down

  by several MiG-21s. On October 29, 1967, pilot

  Nguyen Nhat Chieu used a green-camouflaged

  MiG-21F-13 with tactical number 4426 in

  a dogfight in which he shot down an American

  F-4 Phantom II over the Nam Dinh–Ninh Binh

  area. It was Chieu’s sixth aerial victory, although

  according to USAF records, no Phantoms II

  were lost on that day. During the Vietnam War,

  67 American fighter aircraft were shot down

  by MiG-21s, while the US Air Force shot down

  86 MiG-21s. Thirteen MiG-21 pilots achieved

  fighter ace status between 1967 and 1972.

  The easing of the political atmosphere in the

  spring of 1968 was also reflected in the coloring

  of some Czechoslovak MiG-21Fs. Members of the

  1 Fighter Wing in České Budějovice were the first

  to design their own insignias. While the insignias

  for the MiG-21PF and PFM fighter squadrons for

  operations in difficult weather conditions and

  at night featured typical nocturnal animals like

  a bat and an owl, the first training squadron

  chose the symbol of a devil with a pitchfork

  against a clear blue sky. The author of the

  design was Miloslav Martenek, later known for

  his cartoons and illustrations. The inspiration for

  the drawing was the strict squadron commander,

  Major Jan Jansa. It was said that serving

  under him was hell. His red nose was also an

  inspiration for the devil drawing. All the designs

  were approved on May 17, 1968, and then spray-

  painted onto the aircraft. The same symbol also

  appeared in a smaller form as a decal on the

  pilots’ helmets. The devil drawing was used until

  August 20, 1970, when an order was issued to

  remove all such symbols.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  57

  November 2025

• Strana 58

  Cairo-West AB, United Arab Republic, 1967

  s/n 22504, 204. LAP, Batajnica AB, Yugoslav Air Force, Yugoslavia, 1962

  s/n 741924, AFS-31, East Germany Air Force, Preschen AB,

  German Democratic Republic, 1978-1980

  The MiG-21F-13 with fuselage number 5341

  came from one of the first series of MiG-21F-13s

  delivered to Egypt before the Six-Day War and

  was one of 22 aircraft of this type that survived

  the Arab-Israeli War in June 1967. After the war,

  it was camouflaged using automotive paint. This

  was applied around the black identification

  stripes located on the rear of the fuselage and at

  the wing tips. The auxiliary fuel tank was usually

  left unpainted but bore the aircraft’s black serial

  number (5341) on its side.

  The MiG-21F-13 JRViPVO (Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo

  i Protivvazdušna Odbrana) aircraft bore

  registration numbers 22501 to 22541. The first

  five of them were delivered in September 1962.

  By the end of 1964, the rearmament of the

  204 Fighter Regiment, consisting of three fighter

  squadrons, each with 12 aircraft, was completed.

  In August 1968, the Yugoslav Air Force had

  38 MiG-21F-13 aircraft at its disposal. The last

  flights were made in March 1980. The aircraft

  were subsequently maintained until May 11, 1981,

  when it was decided to decommission them.

  During their service, the MiG-21F-13 aircraft

  flew 23,559 hours and 15 minutes. A total of

  17 were destroyed, with 11 pilots losing their

  lives in various circumstances.

  The MiG-21F-13 entered service with the East

  Germany Air Force on May 4, 1962, when the

  first one landed at Neuhardenberg Air Base.

  A total of 76 aircraft of this type were delivered.

  The MiG-21F-13 stayed in active service with

  the NVA only until 1974, when it began to be

  replaced by the more modern MiG-21PFM and

  MiG-21SPS. The aircraft with the red fuselage

  number 645 was part of Jagdgeschwader 3

  (JG 3) and later JG 15. When it ended its service

  with JG 15 in 1978, it served with AFS-31 and

  TAFS-47 as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft.

  The newly restored red 645 is currently on

  display at the Luftwaffenmuseum at Berlin-

  Gatow Airport.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard58

  November 2025

• Strana 59

  481175 MiG-21F-13 upgrade set (PE

  -

  Set)

  FE1556 MiG-21F-13 seatbelts STEEL (PE

  -

  Set)

  644329 MiG-21F grey LööK (Brassin)

  6481149 MiG-21F exhaust nozzle PRINT (Brassin)

  6481151 MiG-21F wheels (Brassin)

  6481154 MiG-21F PTB-490 fuel tank PRINT (Brassin)

  3DL48249 MiG-21F-13 black SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  3DL48250 MiG-21F-13 turquoise SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  3DL48251 MiG-21F-13 seatbelts SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  EX1142 MiG-21F-13 TFace (Mask)

  For MiG-21F-13 1/48

  RECOMMENDED:

  OVERTREES

  #82191X

  MiG-21F-13

  1/48

  OVERLEPT

  #82191-LEPT1

  MiG-21F-13

  1/48

  Product page Product page

  #6481149

  #644329

  #3DL48249 #3DL48250

  #3DL48251

  #6481151

  #6481154

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  59

  November 2025

• Strana 60

  #82242

  P-40N Warhawk

  1/48

  The ProfiPACK edition kit of American WWII fighter

  aircraft P-40N Warhawk in 1/48 scale. The kit offers

  6 marking options of USAAF, RAAF users.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 6

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: no

  Product page

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard60

  November 2025

• Strana 61

  42-105128, P-40N-5, 2Lt. Philip R. Adair, 89th FS, 80th FG, Nagaghuli, India, early 1944

  42-105116, P-40N-5, Capt. Gilmer L. Snipes, 45th FS, 15th FG, Nanumea, December 1943

  Philip Reed Adair enlisted in military flight

  training after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

  He served with the 80th FG for eighteen months

  in 1943 and 1944 and flew 139 combat missions.

  The most remarkable of these took place on

  December 13, 1943, when he fought alone

  against a formation of 24 Japanese bombers and

  40 fighters. He was credited with one confirmed

  kill and three other aircraft as damaged, but

  most importantly, he managed to break up the

  enemy formation and disrupt the bombing of

  his own base. He himself was hit several times

  in this combat and received the Silver Star for

  his bravery. During this mission, he flew his

  first Lulu Belle, which was a P-40N-1 Warhawk.

  The second aircraft of the same name, shown

  here, was already a P-40N-5 version. Adair

  received it in early 1944 and on May 17, again

  fighting against superior forces, he shot down

  two Oscars. In June 1944, he and the entire

  group began retraining on Thunderbolts, but he

  did not achieve any further kills. The 80th FG

  was called the Burma Banshees, and most of its

  aircraft were decorated with a skull on the nose.

  None of them were the same, although they

  sometimes differed only in details. The primary

  role of the group was to provide air cover for

  bases involved in air supply operations to units

  in China via the Himalayas (Hump operations).

  Later, from October 1943, the group was tasked

  with providing air support to units in northern

  Burma. Philip Adair died at the age of 97 on May

  13, 2017.

  Although the 15th FG was based in the Hawaiian

  Islands, it kept sending its squadrons to various

  locations in the central and southern Pacific.

  One of these was Baker Atoll, where the 45th

  FS was sent in September 1943, before moving

  on to Abemama Island and then Makin in the fall

  of 1943, from where it carried out raids against

  bases on the Julait and Mili atolls until March

  1944. The transfer of the 45th FS Warhawks to

  Baker in mid-September 1943 took the Japanese

  by surprise, and they paid for it with the loss of

  an H8K Emily flying boat. On October 23, 1943,

  a pair of P-40s was guided to an aircraft of this

  type and sent it into the waves of the Pacific.

  The kill was credited to Capt. Gilmer L. Snipes,

  who had 2nd Lt. R. Hendrickson as his wingman.

  It was the first kill of 45th FS in the war.

  In April 1944, “Buck” Snipes took command of

  the squadron and, after rearming with Mustangs,

  participated in the deployment of the 15th FG

  from Iwo Jima, including three VLR missions

  over Japan. During the first of these, on April

  7, 1945, he was credited with shooting down

  a Ki-44 Tojo. Because the standard P-40 color

  scheme did not serve its purpose on the coral

  atolls, the technical staff mixed a sand color

  that matched the local conditions before the

  squadron moved to Baker Atoll. The undersides

  were repainted with a light blue color mixed

  from insignia blue and white. The stencils were

  mostly masked during repainting and therefore

  have the original background.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  61

  November 2025

• Strana 62

  P-40N-20, 43-23400, Maj. Donald L Quigley, CO of 75th FS, 23rd FG,

  Kweilin, China, August 1944

  P-40N-5, 7th FS, 49th FG, Finschhafen, New Guinea, September 1944

  Donald Quigley was born on December 28, 1919,

  in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and after his

  studies he worked for the Marion Power Shovel

  Company. He joined the Army Air Corps in March

  1941 and, while still in training at Randolph

  Field in Texas, became engaged to his future

  wife, Irene Klingel. In her honor, Quigley had the

  words “Rene The Queen” (Rene is a diminutive

  form of Irene) painted on the cowling of his

  personal P-40N. Before serving with the 75th FS,

  23rd FG, Quigley served with the 80th FG, where

  he flew 23 combat missions with the 90th FS.

  In June 1944, Quigley took command of the

  75th FS and shot down five enemy aircraft in

  July and August 1944 before being shot down

  himself over enemy territory on August 10, 1944.

  He spent 13 long months in captivity and was

  promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after his release.

  After the war, he left the army and worked for

  60 years as

  Aircraft number 22 was part of a series of

  7th FS Warhawks decorated with a painting

  of a girl on the engine cowling. The author of

  the paintings was Johnie Dunne, who also

  decorated the noses of Daddy Please / Milky

  Wagon Express, Dawn Patrol, Island Dream,

  Empty Saddle, Scarlet Night, and others with his

  characteristic style. Not much is known about

  the history of the aircraft named Grade A. It is

  reported that it was occasionally flown by Capt.

  Elliott E. Dent Jr. Further information is linked

  to Lt. Warren Greczyn, a pilot of Polish origin,

  who shot down two Ki-43 Oscars over Biak on

  May 15, 1944, while flying Grade A. This profile

  shows the final appearance of Grade A in the

  7th FS, as documented at Finschhafen Airfield

  in September 1944. Here, along with other

  Warhawks from the 7th FS, it was stripped of

  its weapons and decommissioned. The aircraft

  was unusual in that it did not have white-

  painted leading edges on its wings. It also did

  not have the blue paint on the top of the rudder

  indicating its affiliation with the 7th FS, and the

  serial number was also painted over. Many of

  the decommissioned Warhawks of the 49th FG

  were subsequently used by the 71st TRG, which

  used them during the fighting in the Philippines

  in early 1945.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard62

  November 2025

• Strana 63

  P-40N-5, 1/Lt. Benjamin H. Ashmore, 26th FS, 51st FG, Kunming, China, 1944

  A29-651, F/O John Noel Olivier, No. 80 Squadron, Noemfoor Island, 1944

  Benjamin Howard Ashmore’s father was a pilot,

  and his son intended to follow in his footsteps.

  In 1942, he began Army flight training, which

  he completed a year later when he retrained

  on Thunderbolts. He was originally supposed

  to go to Europe, but at the last minute he was

  redirected to India, where he joined the 26th

  FS 51st FG. He flew 78 missions with this unit,

  shot down two aircraft in aerial combat, and

  earned, among other decorations, the Chinese

  pilot wings, which was personally awarded to

  him by General Chiang Kai-shek. He flew two

  Warhawks P-40N and later a P-51B Mustang in

  combat. All three aircraft bore the name Anvil

  Chorus and the emblem of a bull’s head on

  a map of Texas with a torn Japanese flag in one

  corner. In accordance with squadron custom, the

  emblem was most likely applied to both sides of

  his aircraft. After the war, he graduated from

  the University of Nebraska and served in the

  USAF for another 21 years. He flew as part of the

  Berlin Airlift, reactivated five RAF air bases in

  post-war England, and in the early 1960s served

  as commanding officer at the then newly opened

  US Air Force Academy. He flew the F-84, F-100,

  and F-102. After leaving the military, he spent

  15 years as a cattle rancher on his property in

  Garfield, Arkansas, and farmed in Monte Ne.

  He owned a private plane and hangar at the

  airport near Ingleside and flew until he was

  90. He died on March 30, 2014, at the age of 92.

  No. 80 Squadron was formed in Townsville on

  September 10, 1943, and was equipped with

  P-40 Kittyhawks. On October 9, it moved to

  Aitkenvale and on November 13 became part

  of No. 10 Operational Group, whose main task

  was to support the advance of Allied troops

  along the northern coast of New Guinea.

  No. 10 Operational Group was redesignated as

  the First Tactical Air Force on October 25, 1944.

  No. 80 Squadron moved to Morotai on January

  21, where it continued operations over the

  Maluku Islands. The lack of significant targets

  in the vicinity caused a decline in morale among

  the unit and other RAAF units in the area from

  the end of 1944. The aircraft with a drawing of

  the Disney character Thumper the Rabbit was

  transferred to No. 78 Squadron at the end of

  1944 and redesignated HU S. The drawing of the

  rabbit remained on it.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  63

  November 2025

• Strana 64

  481167 P-40N landing flaps (PE

  -

  Set)

  644316 P-40N LööK (Brassin)

  644317 P-40N-25+ LööK (Brassin)

  644322 P-40N LööKplus (Brassin)

  644324 P-40N-25+ LööKplus (Brassin)

  6481130 P-40N engine PRINT (Brassin)

  6481131 P-40N gun bays (6 guns) PRINT (Brassin)

  6481132 P-40N cockpit PRINT (Brassin)

  6481133 P-40N radio compartment PRINT (Brassin)

  6481134 P-40N wheels diamond tread (Brassin)

  6481135 P-40N wheels cross tread (Brassin)

  6481136 P-40N wheels block tread (Brassin)

  6481142 P-40N undercarriage legs PRINT (Brassin)

  6481143 P-40N tail wheel bay PRINT (Brassin)

  6481144 P-40N radiators upgrade set PRINT (Brassin)

  3DL48238 P-40N SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  3DL48239 P-40N seatbelts SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  EX1130 P-40N TFace (Mask)

  EX1134 P-40N US national insignia (Mask)

  For P-40N Warhawk 1/48

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  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard64

  November 2025

• Strana 65

  Dunstable Business Centre, Office Suite No.2, Blackburn Road, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire LU5 5BQ

  Tel: +44 (0)1582 668411, Email: kim@guidelinepublications.co.uk

  All major credit cards accepted.

  Orders can be placed by mail, telephone, email or through the website.

  (www.guidelinepublications.co.uk) Plus postage and packing on all

  orders. Overseas readers pay postage at air mail printed paper rate.

  Warpaint on the web

  For more information and secure ordering please visit:

  www.guidelinepublications.co.uk

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  in British Military & foreign air arm service

  £18.00

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  Warpaint Specials

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  This latest Warpaint title covers the Aero L-39 Albatros, a a Czech-designed jet

  trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Aero Vodochody during the 1960s as a

  successor to the L-29 Delfín. It first flew in 1968 and entered service in 1972, becoming

  the standard jet trainer for Warsaw Pact nations. With over 2,900 units built, the L-39

  became one of the most widely used jet trainers globally, praised for its reliability, ease

  of maintenance, and versatility. Building on this legacy, the L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light

  Combat Aircraft) was introduced in the late 1990s, developed to replace aging Soviet-era

  fighters in the Czech Air Force, first flying in 1997 and entering service in 2000. This

  authoritative and highly relevant title includes all the regular Warpaint features with

  historical text and images, a full breakdown of the aircraft’s widespread global service,

  and artwork an scale drawings by Petr Kolmann.

  Aero

  LL--3399,, LL--5599,, LL--113399

  &&

  LL--115599 AAllbbaattrrooss

  By Jakub Fojtík

  Ph.D.

  Due to the withdrawal of the type from Czech and Slovak air forces and

  problems with delivery to Egypt, Tunisia became the sole operator of

  the L-59 worldwide. A more advanced variant of the L-39 Albatros,

  designed for the training and light attack roles, Tunisia operated a

  small fleet of L-59Ts, often used for pilot training and tactical missions.

  In January 2023, the very last L-59T flight took place, and the type was

  decommissioned after nearly thirty years of service.

  WARPAINT SERIES No.149

  _Warpaint Master 27/08/2025 10:54 Page 82

  The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was one of those aircraft that was either loved or hated- there

  was no middle ground. Forged in a hurry for the forthcoming war the Helldiver was designed

  in a hurry, built by mostly by under skilled personnel while being bombarded by the customer

  with their extra changes and demands. Even under this pressure Curtiss managed to

  produce a prototype that flew, even though it would soon reveal strength and build

  problems. This is what prototypes are for, however, the first production model, the Dash-1,

  was beset by many problems that saw one carrier captain demanding that the Helldivers

  be removed and the off loaded Douglas Dauntless dive bombers be reinstated. From the

  SB2C-3 onwards, after undergoing a full modification programme, a competent combat

  aircraft would emerge. Used throughout 1944/45 the Helldiver squadrons, now operating

  from the fast carriers, took the war to the Japanese all the way to Tokyo. Post 1945 the

  Helldiver would stay on active service until replaced by the Douglas AD-1 Skyraider.

  Overseas usage would see later build models being operated by France, Greece, Italy

  ,Portugal and Thailand. The Royal Navy also formed a single squadron that would

  never deploy on active service. Undergoing flight testing in Britain, Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown

  would declare that the Helldiver was the worst aircraft he had ever flown. Wriiten by

  Kev Darling with artwork and scale drawings by Sam Pearson.

  All these titles are available in printed format via our on demand printing service. Please contact our office for further information.

  £20.00

  Orders from the world’s book

  and hobby trade are invited

  Previous Warpaint titles

  £25.00

  Warpaint Special No.7

  Curtiss

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  Written by Kev Darling

  Artwork by Sam Pearson

  WARPAINT SPECIAL No.7

  arpaint Special No7 Helldiver.qxp_Warpaint Master 07/07/2025 15:11 Page 114

  New

  release

  Aero L

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  Warpaint series No.149

  Warpaint 149 L-39 + Sp 7 Helldiver.qxp_Warpaint Advert 27/08/2025 13:32 Page 1

• Strana 66

  #82151

  Spitfire Mk.Ia

  1/48

  The ProfiPACK edition kit of british WWII

  aircraft Spitfire Mk.Ia in 1/48 scale.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 7

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: no

  Product page

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard66

  November 2025

• Strana 67

  R6709, P/O Colin F. Gray, RNZAF, No. 54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, March 1940

  N3250, P/O Allan R. Wright, No. 92 Squadron, RAF Croydon,

  United Kingdom, late May/early June 1940

  Flown by P/O Colin Falkland Gray, R6709, coded

  KL

  -

  T, wore the standard RAF Temperate Land

  Scheme of Dark Green and Dark Earth on the

  upper surfaces, and White/Night lower surfaces.

  Type A fuselage roundels, Type B upper wing

  roundels and Mixed Grey code letters were

  carried. No roundels on the bottom surfaces.

  Note the Rotol constant speed propeller.

  This aircraft was equipped with an older TR.9B

  radio, with the wire antenna stretching between

  the antenna mast and fin tip. The antenna mast

  isolator was a little bit longer than the one

  used with the newer TR.9D radio. There was

  no rear mirror or head armor yet installed.

  Colin Gray got his first kill, a Bf 109E, on May

  25, 1940, while escorting a Swordfish formation

  to bomb Gravelines. By early September he

  had claimed 14½ kills. He finished the war as

  Wing Commander with 27 kills, two shared,

  six probable and four shared probable kills.

  This score makes him the top scoring New

  Zealand fighter ace of the Second World War.

  No. 92 Squadron received their first Spitfires

  in March 1940, replacing their Bristol Blenheim

  Mk.IFs. The squadron became operational on May

  9, 1940. Interestingly, the unit’s Spitfires retained

  the pre-war GR codes until the end of July, when

  the switch was made to QJ. The code letters,

  as well as the fuselage Type A.1 roundels,

  look to be non-standard. The bottom wing

  surfaces were standard black/white, with the

  remainder of the bottom surfaces in aluminum.

  Type A roundels were added to the bottom

  surfaces during the Battle of France, being

  bordered in yellow on the left black painted

  wing. Note black aircraft code letter S painted

  on the bottom of the nose. Wire antenna was

  a component of the TR.9D radio that equipped

  this aircraft. It is believed that N3250 was

  flown by P/O Alan R. Wright, who flew his first

  combat mission on May 23, 1940. He claimed two

  Bf 110s damaged and another probably destroyed

  during this sortie over Dunkirk. The next day,

  Wright added a Bf 110 destroyed and one more

  probable. During WWII, he was credited with

  11 confirmed kills.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  67

  November 2025

• Strana 68

  R6690, P/O John C. Dundas, No. 609 Squadron, RAF Middle Wallop/RAF Warmwell,

  United Kingdom, August 1940

  R6835, F/O Brian J. Carbury, No. 603 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch,

  United Kingdom, late August 1940

  It is believed that this aircraft, serialled R6690

  and coded PR

  -

  A, was flown by F/O John

  Dundas when he shot down a Ju 87B of 5./StG 2

  west of Portland on August 13, 1940. While

  attacking another Stuka, Dundas was hit by

  defensive fire from the rear gunner, crippling

  the oil system of his engine, forcing him down

  at Warmwell Aerodrome. The aircraft was

  written off. Although the AM directive to paint

  blue/white/red roundels on the bottom surface

  of wings was already issued on August 11,

  No. 609 Squadron hadn’t put the order into

  practice as of the middle of August. The

  squadron´s aircraft wore the individual code

  letter, in this case A, painted in black on the

  bottom nose panel, which was painted in a light

  color, probably white. It is not certain if the rear-

  view mirror was installed at this time, but it is

  unlikely. The aircraft was equipped with a TR.9D

  radio with the wire antenna stretched between

  the antenna mast and the fin. The IFF device

  is not yet installed, and so no aerial wires are

  stretched between the fuselage sides and the

  horizontal tail.

  Spitfire R6835 XT

  -

  W was flown by a New

  Zealander named Brian J. Carbury, who shot

  down two Bf 109Es on August 27, 1940, when

  No. 603 Squadron arrived at Hornchurch to

  replace the battle-weary No. 65 Squadron.

  He scored 15½ kills during the Battle of Britain.

  On August 31, 1940, he shot down five enemy

  aircraft over the span of three sorties, becoming

  one of two RAF ‘Ace in a Day’ pilots able to claim

  that status during the BoB. His aircraft carried

  the standard RAF Temperate Land Scheme

  consisting of Sky bottom surfaces. The blue/

  white/red roundels painted on the bottom

  surfaces were mandated by the Air Ministry

  on August 11, 1940. The aircraft was equipped

  with a TR.9D radio with the wire antenna

  stretching between the antenna mast and fin.

  The IFF device is not yet installed, explaining the

  absence of the associated aerial wires between

  the fuselage sides and the horizontal tail.

  No rear-view mirror was carried yet, nor was

  the head armor plating in the cockpit

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard68

  November 2025

• Strana 69

  P9386, S/Ldr Brian J. Lane, CO of No. 19 Squadron, RAF Fowlmere,

  United Kingdom, September 1940

  X4253, P/O Wilfrid G. Duncan Smith, No. 611 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch,

  United Kingdom, February 1941

  Spitfire P9386 arrived from No.7 OTU at

  Fowlmere as a replacement aircraft for the

  problem plagued, cannon armed Spitfire Mk.Ib

  on September 3, 1940. The yellow spinner

  appears to be the remnant of the OTU’s markings.

  This aircraft is an example of the final Battle

  of Britain camouflage and marking practice,

  with the small diameter version of the bottom

  surface roundels located near the wing tips.

  No stenciling is seen on the bottom surfaces.

  Note the aerial wire between the antenna mast

  and the fin. The IFF device is not yet carried.

  No hot air gun heating system under the wing tips

  could be seen, so it is possible that an electrical

  gun heating system was installed. Although the

  aircraft is referred to as being ‘somewhat poorly

  maintained’, it is also mentioned as a favorite

  of two famous members of No. 19 Squadron,

  F/Lt Walter Lawson and S/Ldr Brian Lane,

  who claimed a Stab II./ZG 2 Bf 110 on September

  7, and another two Bf 110s on September 11,

  while Lawson claimed a Bf 110 on September 9,

  1940.

  This Spitfire Mk.Ia, serialled X4253, illustrates

  the camouflage scheme and markings of Fighter

  Command aircraft in late 1940 and early 1941.

  The black painted (Night) left wing was ordered

  by the Air Ministry on November 27, 1940. The left

  wing roundel was then appropriately outlined

  in yellow. To improve recognition of friendly

  aircraft, an 18-inch wide Sky Blue fuselage band

  was added ahead of the tail, and the spinner

  was painted in the same colour. This paint was

  usually a little bit bluer than the standard under

  surface Sky. Some sources name this colour “Air

  Ministry Blue”. This aircraft was equipped with

  the new VHF TR.1133 radio and, as such, there

  is no aerial wire between the antenna mast and

  the fin tip. The R.3002 IFF device was carried,

  indicated by the two associated aerial wires

  stretching between the fuselage sides and

  the leading edges of the horizontal tail. Note

  the external rearview mirror, and the armor

  plating behind the pilot´s head was installed.

  This aircraft was flown by future ace P/O Wilfrid

  G. Duncan Smith, who joined No. 611 Squadron at

  RAF Hornchurch in October 1940 with the rank

  of Pilot Officer.

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard

  69

  November 2025

• Strana 70

  X4828, F/Lt Wojciech Kolaczkowski, No. 303 Squadron, RAF Speke,

  United Kingdom, September 1941

  Spitfire Mk.Ia, carrying the serial X4828 and

  RF

  -

  K code, belonged to No. 303 (Polish) Squadron

  and is representative of the new Day Fighter

  Scheme, introduced on August 19, 1941. From

  that date, RAF day fighters were painted in Dark

  Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces

  and Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces. The

  aircraft letters were by then changed to Sky, and

  the fuselage band and spinner remained in the

  same colour. Note the thin dark border around

  the letters and the stencil data inscriptions

  painted on the Ocean Grey surfaces, which are

  believed to be remnants of the original Dark

  Earth layer. No. 303 Squadron was moved to RAF

  Speke from RAF Norholt on July 17, 1941, leaving

  their Spitfire Mk.IIb aircraft behind to receive

  old war weary Mk.Is for training purposes. RF

  -

  K

  was flown by A Flight leader F/Lt Kolaczkowski,

  who was later No. 303 Squadron Leader from

  November 21, 1941 to May 7, 1942. The name

  ‘Vojtek’ is Kolaczkowski´s nickname and the

  name ‘Krysia’ was the nickname of his girlfriend

  Kristina. It is not known with certainty if these

  inscriptions were painted on the right side as

  well. No. 303 Squadron returned to Norholt on

  October 7, 1941 to be re-armed with the new

  Spitfire Mk.Vb and engaged the new German

  Fw 190As in intense combat on the other side of

  the Channel.

  OVERTREES

  #82151X

  Spitfire Mk.Ia

  1/48

  OVERLEPT

  #82151-LEPT1

  Spitfire Mk.Ia

  1/48

  Product page Product page

  644064 Spitfire Mk.I late LööK (Brassin)

  648578 Spitfire Mk.I cockpit (Brassin)

  648579 Spitfire Mk.I wheels (Brassin)

  648580 Spitfire Mk.I exhaust stacks (Brassin)

  648582 Spitfire Mk.I engine (Brassin)

  648589 Spitfire Mk.I undercarriage legs BRONZE (Brassin)

  3DL48005 Spitfire Mk.I early SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  3DL48006 Spitfire Mk.I late SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  D48064 Spitfire Mk.I stencils (Decal Set)

  EX709 Spitfire Mk.I TFace (Mask)

  EX713 Spitfire Mk.I (Mask)

  For Spitfire Mk.Ia 1/48

  RECOMMENDED:

  #648578

  KITS 11/2025

  INFO Eduard70

  November 2025

• Strana 71

• Strana 72

  To mark the 85th anniversary of the Battle of

  Britain, an independent publisher Plastic Invasi-

  on has launched a new book project on Indiego-

  go – Wings Over Britain – A Tribute to the Few.

  The publication connects historical research,

  aviation heritage, and scale modeling, focusing

  on the iconic Spitfire Mk.I and the men who flew

  it.

  Built around the Eduard 1/48 Spitfire kit, the

  book offers an in-depth photographic guide co-

  vering assembly, painting, and weathering, com-

  plemented by studies of RAF pilot equipment

  and period references.

  It combines clear, workshop-level instruction

  with visual storytelling that puts the reader ri-

  ght into the atmosphere of 1940.

  The book will be available in Standard and Li-

  mited Indiegogo Editions, with optional signed

  copies and a Battle of Britain A2 art poster.

  Early supporters can still access Early Bird pri-

  cing while it lasts.

  Wings Over Britain – A Tribute to the Few is

  a focused, visually rich publication created for

  those who value both craftsmanship and histo-

  rical accuracy.

  Advert - book Battle of Britain

• Strana 73

• Strana 74

  BRASSIN

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Ki-115 in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for MiG-21F in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  644327

  Ki-115 Tsurugi LööK

  1/48 Eduard

  644329

  MiG-21F LööK

  1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard74

  November 2025

• Strana 75

  674045

  P-36A LööK

  1/72 Arma Hobby

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for P-36A in 1/72 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Arma Hobby

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - 3D print: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  BRASSIN

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Fw 190D in 1/72 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: IBG models

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 parta

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  674049

  Fw 190D LööK

  1/72 IBG

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  75

  November 2025

• Strana 76

  BRASSIN

  674053

  Spitfire Mk.II LööK

  1/72 IBG

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Spitfire Mk.II in 1/72 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: IBG models

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Spitfire Mk.I in 1/72 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: IBG models

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  Product page

  674052

  Spitfire Mk.I LööK

  1/72 IBG

  INFO Eduard76

  November 2025

• Strana 77

  BRASSIN

  644328

  Ju 88A-4 LööKplus

  1/48 Eduard/ICM

  Collection of 5 sets for Ju 88A-4 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard / ICM

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - pre-painted radio equipment

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  - painting mask

  Collection of 3 sets for P-51B/C in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Arma Hobby

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  674050

  P-51B/C LööKplus

  1/72 Arma Hobby

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  77

  November 2025

• Strana 78

  BRASSIN

  632206

  Bf 109K-4 wheels

  1/32 Kotare

  Brassin set - undercarriage wheels for Bf 109K-4

  in 1/32 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Kotare

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - 3D print: 5 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  Product page

  Collection of 3 sets for P-51B/C in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Arma Hobby

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  Product page

  674051

  P-51B/C exhausts w/ fairings LööKplus

  1/72 Arma Hobby

  INFO Eduard78

  November 2025

• Strana 79

  BRASSIN

  632207

  Bf 109K-4 exhaust stacks PRINT

  1/32 Kotare

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for Bf 109K-4

  in 1/32 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Made by direct 3D printing Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Kotare

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 6 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for

  Ki-115 in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the

  main wheels. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  6481116

  Ki-115 wheels

  1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  79

  November 2025

• Strana 80

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - the exhaust nozzle for MiG-21F

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 6 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  6481149

  MiG-21F exhaust nozzle PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  6481151

  MiG-21F wheels

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for MiG-21F

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels and

  a nose wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  Product page

  INFO Eduard80

  November 2025

• Strana 81

  BRASSIN

  6481152

  S-199 4xETC 50 rack w/ bombs PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - the underbelly multiple bomb rack

  for S-199 in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the

  rack and 4 bombs. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 5 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  Brassin set - the fuel drop tank for MiG-21F

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  6481154

  MiG-21F PTB-490 fuel tank PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  81

  November 2025

• Strana 82

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for Spitfire Mk.I

  or Mk.II or Mk.V in 1/72 scale. Made by direct

  3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: IBG models

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  672423

  Spitfire Mk.I/II/V three-stacks exhaust rounded PRINT

  1/72 IBG

  672424

  Spitfire Mk.I/II/V wheels

  1/72 IBG

  Brassin set - undercarriage wheels for

  Spitfire Mk.I or Mk.II or Mk.V in 1/72 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: IBG models

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  Product page

  INFO Eduard82

  November 2025

• Strana 83

  672423

  Spitfire Mk.I/II/V three-stacks exhaust rounded PRINT

  1/72 IBG

  BRASSIN

  672425

  AGM-130

  1/72

  Brassin set - US air-to-ground guided missile

  AGM-130 in 1/72 scale. Set consists of 2 misiles.

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 14 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  Brassin set - pilot´s seat for Spitfire Mk.I or Mk.II

  or Mk.V in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: IBG models

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  672426

  Spitfire Mk.I/II/V bakelite seat w/ integral belts PRINT

  1/72 IBG

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  83

  November 2025

• Strana 84

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - pilot´s seat for Spitfire Mk.I or Mk.II

  or Mk.V in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: IBG models

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  672427

  Spitfire Mk.I/II/V metal seat w/ integral belts PRINT

  1/72 IBG

  INFO Eduard84

  November 2025

• Strana 85

  BRASSIN

  Product page

  Collection of 3 sets for A6M3 Zero Type 32 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  - tail wheel

  - landing flaps

  - wings gun bays

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  SIN648143

  A6M3 Zero Type 32 ADVANCED

  1/48 Eduard

  INFO Eduard

  85

  November 2025

• Strana 86

  BRASSIN

  Product page

  Collection of 4 sets for A6M3 Zero Type 22 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  - tail wheel

  - folding wingtips

  - landing flaps

  - wings gun bays

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  SIN648144

  A6M3 Zero ESSENTIAL

  1/48 Eduard

  INFO Eduard86

  November 2025

• Strana 87

• Strana 88

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  NOVEMBER 2025

  M 36

  1/35 Tamiya

  #36537

  INFO Eduard88

  November 2025

• Strana 89

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc landing flaps

  Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc

  1/32 Revell

  1/32 Revell

  #32496

  #321028

  #33385

  #33386

  INFO Eduard

  89

  November 2025

• Strana 90

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  B-24D bomb bay

  1/72 Airfix

  #72752

  B-24D cockpit and engines

  1/72 Airfix

  #73860

  #SS860

  INFO Eduard90

  November 2025

• Strana 91

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  B-24D nose and radio compartment

  1/72 Airfix

  #73861

  INFO Eduard

  91

  November 2025

• Strana 92

  3DL32037 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc SPACE 1/32 Revell

  3DL48254

  P-47D Razorback SPACE 1/48 MiniArt

  Product page

  Product page

  easy

  application

  INFO Eduard92

  November 2025

• Strana 93

  SPACE

  3DL72073 Spitfire Mk.I SPACE 1/72 IBG

  3DL72074

  Spitfire Mk.II SPACE 1/72 IBG

  SPACE

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  93

  November 2025

• Strana 94

  SPACE

  3DL72075 B-24D SPACE 1/72 Airfix

  3DL72076

  P-36A SPACE 1/72 Arma Hobby

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard94

  November 2025

• Strana 95

  1/32 1/48

  1/48

  # 3405

  # 11194

  # 11192

  The kit of German WWII liasion aircraft Bf 108. The kit of Japanese WWII suicide plane Ki-115 Tsurugi.

  The kit of German medium bomber Ju 88A-4 in markings of six Luftwaffe units conducting their

  tasks on the Eastern Front and within Mediterranean area of operations, namely Greece and Sicily.

  www.eduard.com

  Bf 108

  Ki-115 Tsurugi

  1./KG 1, Kharkov-Voichenko, Soviet Union,

  January 1943

  W.Nr. 140206, Hptm. Heinrich Paepcke,

  CO of Stab II./KG 77, Gerbini, Italy,

  October 1942

  W.Nr. 1016, Lt. Johannes Geismann,

  CO of 1./KG 77, Catania, Sicily,

  September 1942

  Lt. Gerhard Brenner, CO of 1./LG 1,

  Eleusis, Greece, March 1942

  Hptm. Klaus Häberlen, CO of Stab I./KG 51,

  Bagerovo, Soviet Union, April 1943

  4./KG 54, Catania, Sicily, spring 1943

  SEPTEMBER

  2025

• Strana 96

  MASKS

  IT FITS!

  JX341 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc

  1/32 Revell

  JX342 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc TFace

  1/32 Revell

  JX343 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc

  national insignia

  1/32 Revell

  EX1145 S-199 TFace

  1/48 Eduard

  CX700 B-24D

  1/72 Airfix

  CX701 B-24D US national insignia

  1/72 Airfix

  JX342 Hurricane Mk.IIc TFace

  JX342 Hurricane Mk.IIc TFace

  JX341 Hurricane Mk.IIc

  JX341 Hurricane Mk.IIc

  CX700 B-24D CX700 B-24D

  JX342 Hurricane Mk.IIc TFace

  JX342 Hurricane Mk.IIc TFace

  INFO Eduard96

  November 2025

• Strana 97

  All sets included in this BIG ED are available separately,

  but with every BIG ED set you save up to 30%.

  BIG49461 Do 217K 1/48 ICM

  BIG49462

  Buffalo US version 1/48 Tamiya

  BIG49463

  Buffalo British version 1/48 Tamiya

  481168 Do 217K landing flaps 1/48

  481169 Do 217K undercarriage 1/48

  491542 Do 217K 1/48

  FE1543 Do 217K seatbelts STEEL 1/48

  EX1131 Do 217K 1/48

  481170 Buffalo landing flaps 1/48

  491544 Buffalo US version 1/48

  FE1546 Buffalo US seatbelts STEEL 1/48

  EX032 F2A 1/48

  481170 Buffalo landing flaps 1/48

  491545 Buffalo British version 1/48

  FE1547 Buffalo British seatbelts STEEL 1/48

  EX032 F2A 1/48

  BIG ED

  Product page

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  97

  November 2025

• Strana 98

  BIG-EDBIG-ED

  RELEASES

  NOVEMBER 2025

  KITS

  PE

  -

  SETS

  ZOOMS

  MASKS

  948011 Avia S-199 ERLA canopy 1/48 HYBRiD

  82191 MiG-21F-13 1/48 ProfiPACK

  82242 P-40N Warhawk 1/48 ProfiPACK

  82151 Spitfire Mk.Ia Reedice 1/48 ProfiPACK

  32496 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc landing flaps 1/32 Revell

  321028 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc 1/32 Revell

  36537 M 36 1/35 Tamiya

  491558 P-47D Razorback 1/48 MiniArt

  72751 B-24D undercarriage 1/72 Airfix

  72752 B-24D bomb bay 1/72 Airfix

  73858 Spitfire Mk.I 1/72 IBG

  73859 Spitfire Mk.II 1/72 IBG

  73860 B-24D cockpit & engines 1/72 Airfix

  73861 B-24D nose & radio compartment 1/72 Airfix

  73862 P-36A 1/72 Arma Hobby

  33385 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc 1/32 Revell

  33386 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc seatbelts STEEL 1/32 Revell

  FE1558 P-47D Razorback 1/48 MiniArt

  FE1559 P-47D Razorback seatbelts STEEL 1/48 MiniArt

  SS858 Spitfire Mk.I 1/72 IBG

  SS859 Spitfire Mk.II 1/72 IBG

  SS860 B-24D 1/72 Airfix

  JX341 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc 1/32 Revell

  JX342 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc TFace 1/32 Revell

  JX343 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc national insignia 1/32 Revell

  EX1145 S-199 TFace 1/48 Eduard

  CX700 B-24D 1/72 Airfix

  CX701 B-24D US national insignia 1/72 Airfix

  BIG ED

  BIG49461 Do 217K 1/48 ICM

  BIG49462 Buffalo US version 1/48 Tamiya

  BIG49463 Buffalo British version 1/48 Tamiya

  INFO Eduard98

  November 2025

• Strana 99

  RELEASES

  BRASSIN

  LöökPLUS

  BIGSIN

  SPACE

  644327 Ki-115 Tsurugi LööK 1/48 Eduard

  644329 MiG-21F grey LööK 1/48 Eduard

  674045 P-36A LööK 1/72 Arma Hobby

  674049 Fw 190D LööK 1/72 IBG

  674052 Spitfire Mk.I LööK 1/72 IBG

  674053 Spitfire Mk.II LööK 1/72 IBG

  632206 Bf 109K-4 wheels 1/32 Kotare

  632207 Bf 109K-4 exhaust stacks PRINT 1/32 Kotare

  6481116 Ki-115 wheels 1/48 Eduard

  6481149 MiG-21F exhaust nozzle PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481151 MiG-21F wheels 1/48 Eduard

  6481152 S-199 4xETC 50 rack w/ bombs PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481154 MiG-21F PTB-490 fuel tank PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  672423 Spitfire Mk.I/II/V

  three-stacks exhaust rounded PRINT 1/72 IBG

  672424 Spitfire Mk.I/II/V wheels 1/72 IBG

  672425 AGM-130 1/72

  672426 Spitfire Mk.I/II/V

  bakelite seat w/ integral belts PRINT 1/72 IBG

  672427 Spitfire Mk.I/II/V

  metal seat w/ integral belts PRINT 1/72 IBG

  644328 Ju 88A-4 LööKplus 1/48 Eduard / ICM

  674050 P-51B/C LööKplus 1/72 Arma Hobby

  674051 P-51B/C exhausts w/ fairings LööKplus 1/72 Arma Hobby

  SIN648143 A6M3 Zero Type 32 ADVANCED 1/48 Eduard

  SIN648144 A6M3 Zero Type 22 ADVANCED 1/48 Eduard

  3DL32037 Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc SPACE 1/32 Revell

  3DL48254 P-47D Razorback SPACE 1/48 MiniArt

  3DL72073 Spitfire Mk.I SPACE 1/72 IBG

  3DL72074 Spitfire Mk.II SPACE 1/72 IBG

  3DL72075 B-24D SPACE 1/72 Airfix

  3DL72076 P-36A SPACE 1/72 Arma Hobby

  NOVEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard

  99

  November 2025

• Strana 100

• Strana 101

• Strana 102

  ENSTROM 480

  BUILT

  built by Zdeněk Sviták

  #972011

  MARKING B

  1/72

  INFO Eduard102

  November 2025

• Strana 103

  BUILT

  Enstrom TH-480B, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Akeno Base, Japan, November 2024

  In 2010, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense

  Force selected Enstrom 480 helicopters,

  manufactured by Enstrom Helicopter

  Corporation, based in Menominee, Michigan,

  to replace their aging fleet of helicopters used

  for training military pilots. The first helicopters

  were delivered in 2011, with a total of 30

  aircraft delivered by March 2015. The Enstrom

  TH-480Bs used to train Japanese pilots are

  painted entirely blue with gold stripes.

  INFO Eduard

  103

  November 2025

• Strana 104

  BUILT

  1/72

  built by Matthias Becker

  #2151

  MARKING A

  INFO Eduard104

  November 2025

• Strana 105

  BUILT

  MiG-21bis, c/n 75061904, 2 Fighter Squadron, Taszár Air Force Base, Hungary, 1993

  Ground personnel from Taszár Air Base sprayed

  a special paint scheme on the MiG-21bis in 1992.

  The purpose of the coloring was to represent

  the enemy aircraft in combat training. The color

  scheme shown here is a representation of the

  aircraft’s appearance at the 1993 International

  Air Tattoo in Fairford. The aircraft named Capeti

  (shark) 1904 is currently on display at the

  Szolnok Air Museum in a similar color scheme

  to the one it flew in 1992.

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  105

  November 2025

• Strana 106

  ON APPROACH

  DECEMBER 2025

  634051

  Sea Hurricane Mk.II LööK

  1/32 Revell

  644330

  P-47D Razorback LööK

  1/48 MiniArt

  BIG49464 B-26F Marauder PART I 1/48 ICM

  BIG49465 B-26F Marauder PART II 1/48 ICM

  BIG49466 Spitfire Tr.9 1/48 Airfix

  BIG72187 B-24J 1/72 Hasegawa

  634051 Sea Hurricane Mk.II LööK 1/32 Revell

  644330 P-47D Razorback LööK 1/48 MiniArt

  644335 MiG-21F turquoise LööK 1/48 Eduard

  644336 AV-8B Harrier Plus LööK 1/48 UMA Models

  674046 Mosquito PR Mk. XVI LööK 1/72 Special Hobby

  674047 Mosquito NF Mk. XXX LööK 1/72 Special Hobby

  632209 Hurricane Mk.II cockpit door PRINT 1/32 Revell

  632210 Hurricane Mk.IIc gun barrels 1/32 Revell

  635041 H39 French Light Tank equipment PRINT 1/35 Tamiya

  6481156 P-47D Razorback cockpit upgrade set PRINT 1/48 MiniArt

  6481157 P-47D undercarriage legs PRINT 1/48 MiniArt

  6481161 P-51D undercarriage legs PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  672428 Mosquito seats w/ integral belts PRINT 1/72 Special Hobby

  672430 F-35C exhaust nozzle PRINT 1/72 Tamiya

  672431 F-35C ejection seat PRINT 1/72 Tamiya

  644331 Jaguar GR.1 LööKplus 1/48 Airfix

  644332 Jaguar GR.1A LööKplus 1/48 Airfix

  644333 MiG-21F grey LööKplus 1/48 Eduard

  SIN648145 P-40N ESSENTIAL 1/48 Eduard

  SIN648146 Jaguar GR.1 1/48 Airfix

  BIG ED (December)

  BRASSIN (December)

  LöökPlus (December)

  BIGSIN (December)

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for P-47D Razorback

  in 1/48 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Miniart

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Sea Hurricane Mk.II

  in 1/32 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Revell

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  644335

  MiG-21F turquiose LööK

  1/48 Eduard

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for MiG-21F in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard106

  November 2025

• Strana 107

  ON APPROACHDECEMBER 2025

  644336

  AV-8B Harrier Plus LööK

  1/48 Uma Models

  674046

  Mosquito PR Mk. XVI LööK

  1/72 Special Hobby

  674047

  Mosquito NF Mk. XXX LööK

  1/72 Special Hobby

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for AV-8B Harrier

  in 1/48 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Uma Hobby

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Mosquito PR Mk.XVI

  in 1/72 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Special Hobby

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Mosquito NF Mk.XXX

  in 1/72 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Special Hobby

  Set contains:

  - resin: 5 parts

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard

  107

  November 2025

• Strana 108

  ON APPROACH

  DECEMBER 2025

  632209

  Hurricane Mk.II cockpit door PRINT

  1/32 Revell

  632210

  Hurricane Mk.IIc gun barrels

  1/32 Revell

  635041

  H39 French Light Tank equipment PRINT

  1/35 Tamiya

  Brassin set - cockpit door for Hurricane Mk.II

  in 1/32 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Made by direct 3D printing Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Revell

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - gun barrels for Hurricane Mk.II

  in 1/32 scale. Set consists of 2 sets of different

  types of barrels. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Made by direct 3D printing Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Revell

  Set contains:

  - resin: 8 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - equipment for H39 French Light Tank

  in 1/35 scale. Set consists of equipment and separate

  clamps. Made by direct 3D printing. Made by direct

  3D printing Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 18 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard108

  November 2025

• Strana 109

  6481156

  P-47D Razorback cockpit upgrade set PRINT

  1/48 MiniArt

  6481157

  P-47D undercarriage legs PRINT

  1/48 MiniArt

  6481161

  P-51D undercarriage legs PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - cockpit upgrade set for P-47D in 1/48 scale.

  Set consists of rudder pedals, gun sight and SPACE seat belts.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Miniart

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  - 3D decal: yes

  Brassin set - the undercarriage legs for P-47D

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Miniart

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - the undercarriage legs for P-51D

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - resin: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  ON APPROACHDECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard

  109

  November 2025

• Strana 110

  ON APPROACH

  672428

  Mosquito seats w/ integral belts PRINT

  1/72 Special Hobby

  672430

  F-35C exhaust nozzle PRINT

  1/72 Tamiya

  672431

  F-35C ejection seat PRINT

  1/72 Tamiya

  Brassin set - seats w/ integral seat belts for

  Mosquito in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Special Hobby

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - exhaust nozzle for F-35C

  in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - ejection seat for F-35C in 1/72 scale.

  Set consists of 1 seat. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 3 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard110

  November 2025

• Strana 111

  ON APPROACH

  644332

  Jaguar GR.1A LööKplus

  1/48 Airfix

  644333

  MiG-21F grey LööKplus

  1/48 Eduard

  Collection of 4 sets for Jaguar GR.1A in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Airfix

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - ejection seat

  - TFace painting mask

  Collection of 3 sets for MiG-21F in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - TFace painting mask

  644331

  Jaguar GR.1 LööKplus

  1/48 Airfix

  Collection of 4 sets for Jaguar GR.1 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Airfix

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - ejection seat

  - TFace painting mask

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard

  111

  November 2025

• Strana 112

  ON APPROACH

  SIN648145

  P-40N ESSENTIAL

  1/48 Eduard

  Collection of 5 sets for P-40N in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  - cockpit

  - radio compartment

  - undercarriage wheels

  - undercarriage legs

  - fuel drop tank

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  SIN648146

  Jaguar GR.1

  1/48 Airfix

  Collection of 4 sets for Jaguar GR.1 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Airfix

  - cockpit

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust nozzles

  - Remove Before Flight tags.

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard112

  November 2025

• Strana 113

• Strana 114

  PE

  -

  SETS

  32497 Tornado GR.1 exterior 1/32 Italeri

  321029 Tornado GR.1 interior 1/32 Italeri

  321030 Tornado GR.1 undercarriage 1/32 Italeri

  36538 FV 622 Stalwart 1/35 Airfix

  481176 Beaufighter Mk.VI landing flaps 1/48 Revell

  481177 S-199 upgrade set 1/48 Eduard

  491560 Hs 129B 1/48 Takom

  491561 Beaufighter Mk.VI 1/48 Revell

  ZOOMS

  33387 Tornado GR.1 1/32 Italeri

  33388 Tornado GR.1 seatbelts STEEL 1/32 Italeri

  FE1560 Hs 129B seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Takom

  FE1561 Beaufighter Mk.VI 1/48 Revell

  FE1562 Beaufighter Mk.VI seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Revell

  FE1563 A6M2-N Rufe Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  MASKS

  EX1146 Hs 129B 1/48 Takom

  EX1147 Hs 129B TFace 1/48 Takom

  EX1148 Beaufighter Mk.VI 1/48 Revell

  EX1149 Beaufighter Mk.VI TFace 1/48 Revell

  EX1150 Kittyhawk Mk.Ia TFace 1/48 Eduard

  EX1151 Kittyhawk Mk.IV TFace 1/48 Eduard

  SPACE

  3DL32038 Tornado GR.1 SPACE 1/32 Italeri

  3DL32039 Tornado GR.1 seatbelts SPACE 1/32 Italeri

  3DL48255 Hs 129B SPACE 1/48 Takom

  3DL48256 Beaufighter Mk.VI SPACE 1/48 Revell

  3DL48257 F6F seatbelts SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48258 P-51B/C seatbelts SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48259 Kittyhawk Mk.Ia SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48260 Kittyhawk Mk.IV SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL72077 Bf 109G seatbelts SPACE 1/72

  3DL72078 Spitfire Mk.Vb SPACE 1/72 Eduard

  3DL72079 B-24D nose & radio compartment SPACE 1/72 Airfix

  ON APPROACH

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard114

  November 2025

• Strana 115

  PE

  -

  SETS

  32497 Tornado GR.1 exterior 1/32 Italeri

  321029 Tornado GR.1 interior 1/32 Italeri

  321030 Tornado GR.1 undercarriage 1/32 Italeri

  36538 FV 622 Stalwart 1/35 Airfix

  481176 Beaufighter Mk.VI landing flaps 1/48 Revell

  481177 S-199 upgrade set 1/48 Eduard

  491560 Hs 129B 1/48 Takom

  491561 Beaufighter Mk.VI 1/48 Revell

  ZOOMS

  33387 Tornado GR.1 1/32 Italeri

  33388 Tornado GR.1 seatbelts STEEL 1/32 Italeri

  FE1560 Hs 129B seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Takom

  FE1561 Beaufighter Mk.VI 1/48 Revell

  FE1562 Beaufighter Mk.VI seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Revell

  FE1563 A6M2-N Rufe Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  MASKS

  EX1146 Hs 129B 1/48 Takom

  EX1147 Hs 129B TFace 1/48 Takom

  EX1148 Beaufighter Mk.VI 1/48 Revell

  EX1149 Beaufighter Mk.VI TFace 1/48 Revell

  EX1150 Kittyhawk Mk.Ia TFace 1/48 Eduard

  EX1151 Kittyhawk Mk.IV TFace 1/48 Eduard

  SPACE

  3DL32038 Tornado GR.1 SPACE 1/32 Italeri

  3DL32039 Tornado GR.1 seatbelts SPACE 1/32 Italeri

  3DL48255 Hs 129B SPACE 1/48 Takom

  3DL48256 Beaufighter Mk.VI SPACE 1/48 Revell

  3DL48257 F6F seatbelts SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48258 P-51B/C seatbelts SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48259 Kittyhawk Mk.Ia SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48260 Kittyhawk Mk.IV SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL72077 Bf 109G seatbelts SPACE 1/72

  3DL72078 Spitfire Mk.Vb SPACE 1/72 Eduard

  3DL72079 B-24D nose & radio compartment SPACE 1/72 Airfix

  ON APPROACH

  KITTYHAWK 1/48

  11187

  ET789, Sgt. Wallace D. Hogg,

  No. 112 Squadron (RAF), LG 91 Amriyha,

  Egypt, October 1942

  AK702, F/O W. P. Pictorius,

  No. 4 Squadron SAAF, Gambut II,

  Libya, 1942

  A29-521, F/O T. R. Jacklin,

  No. 75 Squadron (RAAF),

  Noemfoor Island, August 1944

  FX781, Kittyhawk Mk.IV,

  No. 250 Sqn RAF, Iesi, Italy, 1944

  AK961,

  F/Sgt Lloyd Boardman,

  No. 3 Squadron (RAAF),

  June 1942

  FX609, S/L Murray P. Nash,

  No. 3 Squadron RAAF,

  Italy, 1944

  AK759, F/Sgt. Phillips, No. 94 Squadron (RAF),

  Gasr El Arid, Libya, March 1942

  NZ3007, F/O Peter Gifford,

  No. 14 Squadron (RNZAF), Masterton,

  New Zealand, February 1943

  NZ3237, Allan Watson,

  No. 19 Squadron (RNZAF),

  Torokina, 1944

  A29-512, S/L Adam H. Brydon,

  No. 78 Squadron (RAAF),

  Noemfoor Island, 1944

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard

  115

  November 2025

• Strana 116

  ON APPROACH

  Spitfire Mk.Vb mid

  1/48

  #82157

  BL336, W/Cdr Robert S. Tuck, CO of Biggin Hill Wing,

  RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom,

  December 1941 - January 1942

  BM124, S/Ldr Brendan E. F. Finucane, CO of No. 602 Squadron,

  RAF Kenley, United Kingdom, April 1942

  BL594, F/O Eugeniusz Horbaczewski, No. 303. Squadron,

  RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, United Kingdom, June 1942

  BL547, F/O Rick R. Richards, No. 402 Squadron, RAF Horne,

  Great Britain, June 1944

  BL299, S/Ldr Michael G. F. Pedley, CO of No. 131 Squadron,

  RAF Lianbedr, United Kingdom, January - April 1942

  BL829, F/Lt John Plagis, No. 64 Squadron, RAF Coltishall,

  United Kingdom, March-September 1943

  BL255, Lt. Don S. Gentile, 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF, Debden,

  United Kingdom, November 1942

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard116

  November 2025

• Strana 117

  P8699, F/Lt John Bisdee, No. 609 Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill,

  United Kingdom, July 1941

  W3257, F/Lt Eric S. Lock, No. 611 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch,

  United Kingdom, July-August 1941

  P8783, Sgt Donald R. Morrison, No. 401 Squadron RCAF,

  Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, November 1941 - February 1942

  P8537, Sgt Jaroslav Hloužek, No. 313 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch,

  United Kingdom, November 1941 - March 1942

  W3320, P/O Donald E. Kingaby, No. 92 Squadron,

  RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, July-August 1941

  W3774, P/O William V. Crawford-Compton, No. 485 Squadron,

  RAF Kenley, United Kingdom, November 1941 - March 1942

  ON APPROACH

  Spitfire Mk.Vb early 1/72

  #70205

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard

  117

  November 2025

• Strana 118

  ON APPROACH

  A6M2-N Rufe

  1/48

  #84208

  Aviation unit of seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru,

  Shortland, September 1942

  Kōkūtai 802, Faisi-Poporang base,

  Shortland Islands, February 1943

  Kōkūtai 934, Ambon island,

  Moluku Islands, March 1944

  Lt (JG) Toshio Araki, Kōkūtai 452, Bettobi Lake,

  Shumshu Islands, Kuriles, summer 1943

  DECEMBER 2025

  INFO Eduard118

  November 2025

• Tail End Charlie - On Two-Day Events

  Several events recently gave me the opportunity to participate in a debate on the topic of a two-day model exhibition schedule in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The topic was most intensely discussed just after this year's E-Day, and most recently last weekend at the Stará Kotolňa restaurant, where my friends from the Nitra model club and I discussed plans for the upcoming years of their competition.

  Several events recently gave me the

  opportunity to participate in a debate on the

  topic of a two-day model exhibition schedule in

  the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The topic was

  most intensely discussed just after this year's

  E

  -

  Day, and most recently last weekend at the

  Stará Kotolňa restaurant, where my friends

  from the Nitra model club and I discussed plans

  for the upcoming years of their competition.

  It seems that the two-day scheme, which

  is somewhat standard at larger foreign

  exhibitions, is met with contradictory reactions

  from Czech and Slovak modelers. And it's not

  that we don't know two-day events at home.

  For example, E

  -

  Day was a two-day affair for

  many years and only in the last few years has it

  been reduced to the one day. In contrast, events

  such as Scale Model World in Telford, Moson

  Model Show in Hungary, Scale Model Challenge

  in Eindhoven, the Polish Bytom Model Festival

  and others are all weekend long and this does

  not surprise any foreign (including Czech and

  Slovak) modelers. The American National

  Convention is a comparatively staggering four-

  day event.

  Such events are not just a competition show,

  where modelers measure their skills, discuss

  prices and where sellers stand for several

  hours at their tables to improve their sales

  incomes. Such events are primarily modeler

  holidays, meeting places, interaction of

  reciprocity. Of course, a two-day scheme is

  not suitable for all competitions. An event,

  so to speak, on a municipal scale, where two

  hundred or a little more models gather, does

  not make sense to spread over two days. The

  demands on the organizers and the modelers

  themselves would be too great in such a case.

  However, events of a supra-regional nature

  certainly deserve such consideration.

  Of course, organizing a model competition

  over two days has its advantages, but

  also its significant pitfalls. The main ones

  include increased financial requirements

  and demands on the organizers. When it

  comes to the financial side, I naturally mean

  the costs of renting space and energy. Not

  every club has the understanding of the

  operator of the necessary equipment, or the

  support of an understanding sponsor. In such

  a case, considerations of a two-day event are

  eliminated with the first question. The same

  is true with human resources. Only strong

  and stable clubs can afford more demanding

  events. Anyone who decides to include a larger

  event in the model calendar should be sure

  that they will be able to repeat it in subsequent

  years.

  Two-day events, of course, also have an impact

  on the exhibiting and competing modelers

  themselves. If you bring a model and enter

  it into the competition one day, you would

  typically pick it up again the next day. This

  means having somewhere to sleep, dedicating

  essentially the entire weekend to such an

  event. These are not insignificant arguments.

  The type of modelers who arrive at an event,

  quickly sell their few trinkets to the vendors,

  and then, well, collect any prizes, take their

  model off the table, and be gone again will

  probably never disappear. Above all, they

  remain the main opponents of the idea of

  whether a given event should last longer than

  one day. Anyone who wants to transform their

  one-day competition into a two-day one must

  certainly count on grumblings, and perhaps

  even a temporary decrease in the number of

  exhibiting modelers. It is simply a challenge,

  a consideration that no one who wants their

  event to go somewhere further, to grow in its

  importance and prestige, can avoid. Of course,

  a two-day event is not the only way to turn your

  competition into a modeling star attraction.

  On the other hand, a two-day event brings

  many advantages and associated effects.

  At exhibitions where the organizers try to

  provide an interesting accompanying program

  such as workshops, lectures, trips, etc., you

  will avoid excessive stress and hassles. If the

  competition part of the event is more demanding,

  you also give the judges more space to devote

  themselves to their work - perhaps only on

  Saturday evening after the exhibition closes

  to the public. Last but not least, sellers, who

  are usually represented, especially at larger

  events, can increase their sales in a two-day

  scheme (and by extension make modelers

  more happy) and not have expenses climb too

  much. And finally, I deliberately left out the

  reason that I consider the most important -

  a free evening (or two, if we count Friday) gives

  participants a great opportunity to socialize, to

  sit down somewhere in a pub, to get closer to

  solving endless model debates, mysteries and

  questions.

  When I mentioned the demands on the human

  potential of the organizers, I naturally also had

  in mind the need for an accompanying program

  for both days, which is certainly not a given.

  However, if we can afford it, and the event

  can be self sufficient or with the contribution

  of sponsors, if we have enough hands, space

  and ideas, and also sufficient tradition and

  desire of modelers not to miss our event, the

  consideration of a two-day format is certainly

  worth considering.

  However, let's not be under any illusions

  that most model-making events in the Czech

  Republic and Slovakia should be two-day

  events. That would not be to the benefit of the

  cause. The diversity of the nature of the events

  gives greater variety, and moreover, most

  model-makers don’t necessarily have plenty

  of free time that they can use as they wish.

  Nevertheless, it would certainly be beneficial

  if, especially the larger events in the Czech

  Republic and Slovakia, were to shift into a real

  model-making festival, which its participants

  would enjoy more intensely and with longer

  time spent together.

  The first Czech event will be the next E

  -

  Day,

  which will bring with it two major changes.

  Not only is it moving to a new date at the end

  of June 2026, it is also returning to a two-day

  program.

  ON TWO

  -

  DAY EVENTS

  Text: Jan Zdiarský

  INFO Eduard

  119

  November 2025

• Editorial

  Good day, dear Friends

   

  We usually write about E-day no later than the week after the event, but this year it is different. As you know, E-day was held in Litomerice on the first Saturday of October, and we are just now in the process of evaluating it, after one month. Of course, this has its reasons. There is an advantage to looking back at it after almost a month, with peace of mind and a cool head. I think I will not contradict the assessment of E-day participants when I say that it was a very good event. The area of the Litomerice exhibition center does have its limitations and would benefit from reconstruction, but in principle it suits our purposes well. However, it is not really suited to our autumn schedule, when cold and otherwise inclement weather threatens. We also need more space for competition models, club exhibitions and table space for vendors. And we also need more time for the accompanying programs. It is interesting for visitors, but it is practically impossible for them to manage everything. That is why we decided to make several fundamental changes. The first concerns the length of the event, and we will return to the two-day format. The second concerns the date, and after twenty-five years we will abandon the autumn date for E-Day 2026, which will be held on June 27 and 28, while we will also keep the Friday afternoon program going. The third change is the scope of the event. We have also rented the remaining two exhibition halls and E-Day will be in seven halls instead of this year's five. We recommend the additional halls primarily to gain more space for competition models and club exhibitions. These changes will of course have various other impacts on the event, both on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. It is quite clear to me that there will be many objections to the two-day format, and their proponents will probably decide not to come. But there’s not a lot we can do about that. But we will do a lot for those who decide to come and I promise that you will definitely not be bored in Litomerice next June!

  Some of the November new releases had their premiere at E-Day. The introduction of the new Hybrid series brought the most discussion, interest and, it seems, expectations. As I wrote in my last editorial of our monthly newsletter, we are working intensively on other projects in this series, and if you don't know about them yet, you can get to know them further on down in this newsletter, in which we publish our plan for the upcoming year. In addition to the Hybrid series, you will also find basic information about the new EDUARD HKM series, the first item of which we launched a preorder for at the end of October, as well as about the upcoming news in the classic series of kits. Of these, the Spitfire Mk.Vb in 1:72 scale is the closest to being realized. Although we won't be able to get this kit to Telford this week and sell it there, we will definitely be able to offer it two weeks later in Bratislava at the Plastic Winter event, along with other December new releases. These include the 48th scale Kittyhawk Limited Edition, dedicated to the British Kittyhawk Mk.Ia and Mk.IV British equivalents to the P-40E and P-40N, the Spitfire Mk.Vb medium production versions in a 48th scale Profipack kit, and the 48th scale A6M2-N Rufe as well.

  Basic information about these kits and all other November and December releases in the aftermarket product lines can be found on the following pages. And with that, I wish you a good read!

   

  Happy Modeling!

  Vladimir Sulc

• Air war over Ukraine

  
  

  Russian drones over Poland

   

  Text: Miro Barič

  
  

  The biggest event during the period covered in this installment of the series (1 Sept. to 30 Sept.) was the massive violation of NATO airspace by Russian drones. It took place during the night of 9–10 Sept. in Poland. During a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, about two dozen unmanned aerial vehicles continued westward. While, as always, Moscow made excuses, Warsaw’s officials say the Russian drones penetrated intentionally.

   

  The alarm began on Tuesday 9 Sept. shortly before midnight and lasted roughly seven hours until the following morning. Poland closed the airports in Warsaw, Modlin, Rzeszów and Lublin and scrambled F-16 fighters. NATO allies also assisted — the Netherlands deployed F-35 fighters, Italy provided an airborne early warning and control aircraft, and Belgium sent an Airbus A330 MRTT tanker. Germany put its Patriot batteries stationed in Poland on the highest alert; they helped track the drones’ movements.

  At least four drones were shot down by fighters. This was the first time NATO had destroyed Russian drones over its territory. A kill marking later appeared under the cockpit of F-35 F-027 from the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s 313 Squadron. Other drones crashed in various areas, mainly in eastern Poland. One, however, flew as far as a field near Mniszkówe in the Łódź Voivodeship in central Poland, and another was found near the village of Oleśno in the north of the country. Both thus flew hundreds of kilometres within Polish airspace.

  Searching for drone wreckage took several days, and in the end as many as 21 were found. Some sources even give the number 23. Most likely, however, those counts also include two cases where AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles struck the ground. One of those air-to-air missiles, fired from a Polish F-16 after missing a drone, deviated from its trajectory and hit a house in the village of Wyryki-Wola. It heavily damaged the roof on impact but did not explode and no one was injured. Wreckage from the other AIM-120 was later found near the village of Choiny.

  At least 17 of the drones recovered were the Russian Gerbera type; their serial numbers — found on the wrecks — are often known. Four drones could not be identified. At least two of those four were among those shot down and, after the explosion of the air-to-air missile, likely little remained to identify.

  The Gerbera is a cheap drone with a wingspan of 2.5 metres. In shape it resembles the Iranian Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles, and at first it was used as a decoy to swamp Ukraine’s air defences. Later it began to be used for reconnaissance, electronic warfare and kamikaze missions with small amounts of explosives.

   A Geran drone with serial number 31695 was found near the village of Oleśno in northern Poland.

  A drone with serial number 32384 was found in Czosnówka, Lublin Voivodeship.

  A Geran with serial number 32053 was found near the village of Rabiany.

  A drone with serial number 31849 crashed near Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą.

  During the repelling of a Russian drone incursion, a stray AIM-120 AMRAAM missile fell on a house in the village of Wyryki-Wola.20 AMRAAM.

  An F-35 marked F-027 from the 313th Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, with a marking of a shot down drone.

  
  

  Intentional or not?

   None of the drones found in Poland carried explosives. All, however, were equipped with additional fuel tanks to extend their range. That is an important detail. Russian officials claimed (and Russian propaganda happily spread this claim) that Gerbera drones have a range of less than 700 km and could not have reached Poland from Russia. Therefore, they argued, Ukraine must have launched them to draw NATO into war with Russia. Russian officials and propaganda conveniently “forgot” to mention the additional fuel tanks in the drones.

  Other Russian officials tacitly admitted the drones were theirs, but categorically denied they were launched into Poland intentionally. Belarus also contributed to the version of an unintentional incursion by warning Poland in advance that stray drones were heading its way. That was an exceptional step. Many drones have previously ended up over Belarusian territory after being disturbed by Ukrainian electronic-warfare systems. Some were shot down by Belarusian forces in the past, some penetrated further into Poland or the Baltics. However, a warning from Belarus came for the first time. Warsaw politely thanked Minsk for the warning but at the same time indicated it believed the warning was an attempt to create an alibi for later claims that the incursion was not intentional.

  Polish officials publicly stated that the incursion was a deliberate violation of airspace by Russia. Previous single-drone incursions could be considered accidents; this time, however, around two dozen drones entered Poland at once — which is hard to regard as a mistake. Russia probably wanted to test NATO’s response and also to collect valuable electronic data during that response. Shortly thereafter, a large exercise involving Russian forces was beginning in Belarus, and this incident could have been part of it.

   

  NATO’s response

   Subsequently, Russian drones also appeared in Romanian airspace, and on Friday 19 Sept. three Russian MiG-31 aircraft violated Estonian airspace. They remained there for 12 minutes and NATO fighters had to escort them out. Both Estonia and, earlier, Poland requested consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, meaning they asked member states for consultations. In response NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry, intended to increase protection of the alliance’s eastern border.

  Reinforcements from NATO member states headed to Poland — Sweden sent Gripen fighters, France sent three Rafale fighters, the Netherlands deployed air-defence systems, and the Czech Republic contributed three Mi-171 helicopters. Ukraine decided to help Poland with training on drone defence.

  Unknown drones began to appear toward the end of the covered period over Denmark, Germany and other countries. NATO warned it would use force against intruders — drones or aircraft — and shoot them down if necessary. The European Union likewise decided to strengthen the defence of the eastern states and create a so-called “drone wall” there. Ukraine’s experience and technologies are to help in building it.

  One of the new technologies are so-called drone interceptors — small drones designed to destroy other drones. Their key characteristic is high speed so they can quickly catch their target. Several types exist and, where used, they show promisingly high effectiveness, but there are not yet as many of them as would be needed. In the fight against Russian unmanned systems, Ukraine therefore still has to rely on conventional ground air defence and airborne assets. In this series we have described the deployment of fighters and also light training, sport and agricultural aircraft against drones. Now we will take a closer look at helicopters.

   

  Helicopters with dozens of „kills“

   Helicopters are beginning to appear as one of the most effective weapons against drones. This is evidenced by the score markings seen in many photographs. On the sides of helicopters are dozens of silhouettes of Shahed drones, as well as heavier reconnaissance drones that operate well behind the front line. There are so many silhouettes that on some helicopters space ran out and further “victories” are recorded only with simple tally marks.

  Helicopters have several advantages in the fight against drones. They have enough speed to catch their target, but are not so fast as jet fighters, which risk colliding with drones. Light aircraft risk damage from detonations and drone debris when firing at Shaheds. Helicopters fly parallel to drones at similar speeds and usually a bit higher. They therefore operate from a position slightly behind and above the drone. If a Shahed explodes, the helicopter is in a space that is least exposed to its debris.

  The Mi-24 has the advantage of a movable rotating 12.7 mm machine gun in the nose and target-searching and aiming equipment. Some versions carry a twin-barrel 30 mm cannon, with which they can engage Shaheds from greater distance.

  Mi-8 helicopters have also proved effective against drones. They carry Soviet PKT or PKM machine guns of 7.62 mm in the nose or side windows. Ukraine began to upgrade its Mi-8s for counter-drone missions by installing American M134 Miniguns. These are also 7.62 mm but are rotary guns with a rate of fire of 3,000–6,000 rounds per minute, whereas the PK has only 500–800 rounds per minute. The Minigun therefore needs a shorter burst to shoot down a drone. Mi-8s also began receiving an optical station with day and night cameras mounted ahead of the front landing gear, and a searchlight to illuminate targets at night was added to their equipment.

  A photograph also appeared of a light transport plane, the Antonov An-28, with a similar tally painted on its fuselage. This is a twin-engine turboprop which Ukrainians modified to a gunship. Most likely it too uses 7.62 mm machine guns in side windows or doors. However, a video has also surfaced implying the An-28 is firing a weapon mounted at the front; that cannot be confirmed because the published photograph does not show the aircraft’s nose.

  At the same time, jokes began to spread comparing the Dutch F-35 fighter with a single kill marking to these helicopters or the An-28 with dozens of kills. Humor helps people to cope with stressful situations, but this comparison is not appropriate. If the F-35 had to face hundreds of drones every night, it too would rack up a large score.

   Ex-Czech Mi-24 helicopters bearing numerous kill markings.

  This Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter has a large number of Russian drones to its credit as well.

  The Ukrainians also showcased a transport aircraft An-28, which they use as a gunship against drones.

  The score is rising also for ground-based air defense systems. Unfortunately, this is due to the increasing intensity of Russian attacks.

  
  

  Massive Air Raids

   Unfortunately, this is the grim reality in Ukraine. It became clear on the night of Wednesday, September 3, when Russia launched 502 drones, 16 Kalibr missiles, and 8 Kh-101 cruise missiles. The main targets were in western Ukraine. Ukrainian defenses shot down 430 drones and 21 missiles. The remaining projectiles killed one person and wounded 35.

  On the night of Thursday, September 4, another large-scale Russian air raid followed. Some Russian channels reported significant technical problems during the operation. Three Tu-160 bombers were supposed to participate, but only one managed to launch cruise missiles. The second was struck by lightning in flight and had to return to base; the third failed to take off. Despite that, the raid killed 15 people and injured 26. Two Russian drones also violated Polish airspace during this attack.

  That same day, Russian forces committed another war crime — an Iskander missile strike on a group of Danish humanitarian workers clearing mines left by Russian troops in the Chernihiv region. The workers wore blue vests marking them as part of a humanitarian mission and used white civilian vehicles. The mission had been officially announced in advance via proper communication channels. The attack killed two people and injured eight. Russia cynically boasted about the strike in a video, calling it a “successful attack on enemy logistics.”

  On the night of Friday, September 5, Russia launched 157 drones and seven missiles or cruise missiles, killing 11 people and injuring 32.

  On Sunday, September 7, Russia once again broke its own record, launching a total of 818 drones and other projectiles at Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense shot down 747 drones and four additional missiles. Four people were killed, including a young mother and her two-month-old baby in Kyiv. Forty-four others were wounded. A horse-riding club in Kyiv was also hit, killing three horses. For the first time, a Russian air raid struck a Ukrainian government building. It was initially believed that a drone hit the Cabinet of Ministers’ headquarters, but it was later confirmed to be an Iskander-K cruise missile. Its warhead did not detonate — the damage was caused by its kinetic impact and a subsequent fire from its fuel. During the same raid, one Russian drone again strayed into Poland and crashed 50 km from the Ukrainian border.

  On the night of September 10, Russia launched 415 drones and 43 missiles or cruise missiles. The targets were infrastructure facilities in western and southern Ukraine. During this raid the incursion into Poland of about twenty drones occurred as described earlier in this article.

  That same day, Russia committed another war crime. In the village of Yarova in the Donetsk region, a Russian aircraft dropped a guided bomb on a group of civilians waiting in line to receive pensions. Twenty-five people were killed, mostly local elderly residents. Among the dead were two postal workers responsible for distributing the pensions. Nineteen others were wounded.

  On the night of Saturday, September 20, another major raid came. Nine Ukrainian regions were hit — Russia launched 579 drones, eight missiles, and 32 cruise missiles. Ukrainian defenses shot down 552 drones and 31 missiles or cruise missiles. One projectile carrying cluster munitions struck an apartment building in Dnipro, killing three people and injuring dozens.

  The final major raid in the period occurred on the night of Sunday, September 28, when Russia launched 595 drones and 48 missiles or cruise missiles. Ukrainian defenses destroyed 611 out of 643 projectiles. The main target was Kyiv, where four people were killed, including a 12-year-old girl. The Cardiology Institute in Kyiv was also hit, killing one patient and a nurse and injuring 70 others.

   During the September 7 air raid, a government building in Kyiv was hit for the very first time.

  
  

  The Battle for Fuel Continues

   During the observed period, Ukraine continued its attacks on Russia’s oil industry, which we covered in detail in the previous installment. Over three months (July, August, September), Ukrainian drones carried out 34 attacks on refineries (some of them multiple times). Between September 1 and 30, Ukrainians struck refineries 13 times. The Ilsky refinery was targeted twice, Saratov twice, and Salavat refinery in distant Bashkortostan twice as well.

  In addition to refineries, Ukrainians targeted other facilities in Russia’s oil and gas industry, which finances the Kremlin’s war. A significant drone raid hit Primorsk near St. Petersburg, damaging an oil export terminal, pumping stations, and two oil tankers.

  On Wednesday, September 24, Ukrainian naval and aerial drones attacked Russian Black Sea ports. Russia claimed to have neutralized at least five naval drones in Novorossiysk. Aerial drones damaged port infrastructure and started fires. In Tuapse, at least one naval drone penetrated the harbor (as confirmed by Russian videos) and exploded on a pier. Tuapse is also used for exporting Russian oil and gas.

  Altogether, by the end of September, Ukrainian attacks had knocked out 40 percent of Russia’s fuel production. This caused growing gasoline shortages at fuel stations across many Russian regions.

   

  Losses on Land and in the Air

   Besides targeting oil infrastructure, Ukrainian drones also struck Russian radar systems and airfields in Crimea, gradually degrading the peninsula’s air defenses. Several helicopters and aircraft were destroyed on the ground.

  On Sunday, September 21, Ukrainian FPV drones attacked a Nebo-U radar, two Mi-8 helicopters at a former border guard training base in Shkilne, and another Mi-8 at the Simferopol airfield. Videos of the attacks were released by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR). Satellite images and Russian footage confirmed that one helicopter in Shkilne burned completely, most likely belonging to the FSB Border Service. The fate of the other two helicopters is unclear.

  On Monday, September 22, GUR released a video of another FPV drone strike — this time on Kača airbase in Crimea, targeting one Mi-8 helicopter and two Beriev Be-12 amphibious aircraft. The Be-12s were developed in the 1950s, but a few remain in service. After Russia’s 2022 invasion, reports suggested they were used for patrolling the Black Sea to detect Ukrainian naval drones. The aircraft in the video appeared derelict — one lacked a propeller. One Be-12 bore the number 08 on its fuselage. In the footage, the attacking drone seems to dive toward the ground in front of the plane, but the operator corrected its course at the last moment, and it apparently struck the side of the fuselage near the landing gear.

  The third consecutive successful night for GUR came on Tuesday, September 23, when Kača airbase was again targeted. An Antonov An-26, registration RF-46878, fuselage code “Blue 30,” belonging to the 318th Independent Composite Aviation Regiment of the Russian Naval Air Force, was completely destroyed. The aircraft burned out after the strike. Another FPV drone targeted a second An-26, but the result of that attack remains unconfirmed.

  The unfavorable chain of events for the Russian Air Force continued on Thursday, September 25, when a Su-34 fighter-bomber was shot down near the village of Vasylivka in the Zaporizhzhia region. One of the two crew members was killed. Russian channels identified him only by his first name, Yevgeny.

  A spectacular feat was achieved by a Ukrainian FPV drone operator on Monday, September 29, who struck a Russian Mi-8 helicopter in flight near the village of Nadiivka in the Donetsk region. Some media reported this as the first such case in history, though Ukrainians had previously hit several Russian helicopters with drones — some were only damaged, but at least one crashed after being hit. That was the case this time as well. Russian sources reported that pilot Lt. Mikhail Avramenko attempted an emergency landing in the burning helicopter to save his crew. However, videos show the helicopter hitting the ground at high speed in flames, with the wreck sliding for dozens or even hundreds of meters. In the end, two crew members survived with injuries, while Avramenko and seven passengers were killed.

  Russia also lost another aircraft in an accident during this period — at Kubinka Air Base, a Su-30SM or Su-35 fighter crashed during landing. The pilot, a colonel in the Russian Air Force, suffered severe injuries.

  On the Ukrainian side, one combat loss was confirmed during this period. On Thursday, September 11, in the afternoon, a Su-27 fighter was shot down near Dobropillia in the Zaporizhzhia region. It was piloted by Major Oleksandr Borovyk of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade. He did not survive the crash.

  On Wednesday, September 24, Russia launched a strike on the Kamyanka air base in Dnipro, destroying several light aircraft shelters. It is not known whether any aircraft were inside at the time.

  Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets.

  A MiG-29 releasing guided bombs on Russian positions.

  A MiG-29 from the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade with mission symbols.

  This photo was published by the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade. The MiG-29 likely originates from Poland and on its nose sports a painted image of a warrior with a spear.

  One of the Russian Mi-8 helicopters attacked by Ukrainian FPV drones on September 21.

  Attack on a Russian Mi-8 helicopter at the Kača air base in Crimea on September 22.

  During the September 22 attack, this Be-12 seaplane, number 08, was also targeted.

  View from the attacking FPV drone heading towards the second Be-12. Note that the seaplane is missing one propeller.

  A Russian Antonov An-26, registration RF-46878, fuselage number “blue 30”, which burned after the September 23 attack.

  Another Russian An-26 caught during the September 23 attack on the Kača air base.

  A Russian Mi-8 moments before being hit by an FPV drone on September 29.

  The burning Russian Mi-8 after being struck by the drone on September 29.

  Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets

  Wreckage of the Ukrainian Su-27 that was shot down on September 11 near Dobropillia.

  Major Oleksandr Borovyk was killed when his Su-27 was shot down.

  
  

• Messers above the Negev Desert

  Text: Jan Zdiarský

  Illustrations: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  Cat. No. 948011

   

  After the end of World War II, major political and territorial changes took place not only in Europe and the Pacific region, but also in the Middle East. The problems that this process brought to the latter region continue to this day.

  One of the fundamental issues of the anticipated changes was the end of British control over the territory of Palestine. On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly issued Resolution No. 181, on the basis of which the territory of Palestine should be divided into two independent states, Jewish and Arab. While the Jewish side agreed to the proposal, the representatives of the Arab world rejected it. Months of armed clashes between the two sides followed, which escalated into open conflict after the British left in May 1848.

  Based on the aforementioned UN decision, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948. The very next day, the armies of five Arab countries invaded its territory, and gradually some others became involved in the conflict to varying degrees. These were Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Thus began the first Israeli-Arab war, known as the War of Independence. The Arab world refers to it as An-Nakba – The Catastrophe.

  At first, Israel had only a few tens of thousands of soldiers and very inadequate weapons. The Arab armies were more numerous and better equipped, but they lacked unified command and a clear strategy. The UN responded to the conflict by imposing an arms embargo on the entire region. The young state of Israel, which lacked its own production of heavy weapons, was thus left without the possibility of at least purchasing arms. Israel's requests for help were heard by Czechoslovakia, with the tacit consent of the Soviet Union, which was consolidating its influence in the Czechoslovakia after the communist coup in February 1948.

  Czechoslovakia was thus the only European country to decide to secretly provide military aid to Israel. The process of supplying weapons and training Israeli pilots and technicians in Czechoslovakia was based on agreements that had been concluded even before the formal establishment of Israel. Czechoslovakia supplied Israel with some of its own Avia S-199s aircraft, along with light and heavy weapons with ammunition, many of which were of German World War II origin, and later also Spitfire Mk.IX aircraft, with which the Czechoslovak RAF squadrons had returned from Great Britain in the summer of 1945.

  Mezek (Mule) in Czech, Messer in Israel - Avia S-199, a fighter aircraft with problematic characteristics, was created by combining a Bf 109G airframe and a Jumo 211 engine,  designed for bomber aircraft. In the immediate post-war years, together with the Spitfires, it became the backbone of the Czechoslovak fighter air force. A total of more than 500 S-199 and CS-199 (two-seater training version) aircraft were produced in postwar Czechoslovakia.

  During the secret Balak operation, 24 Avia S-199s were sold to Israel. Four of them carried out their first attack on May 29, 1948, against Egyptian columns heading for Tel Aviv. The militarily controversial result had a huge moral impact. Deliveries of Czechoslovak S-199s to Israel were gradual. The aircraft shown, marked D-123, was delivered on July 28 aboard Balak flight No. 79 and entered combat on August 15, 1948. It was assigned to the 101st Squadron, whose emblem at the time was a winged skull wearing a flight helmet and goggles. The skull symbolizes the Jewish belief in the resurrection of the dead, who will form a great army when the Messiah comes to earth. The D-123 aircraft took part in Operation Yoav, which took place over seven days in October 1948 in the Negev Desert. The aim was to divide the Egyptian forces located along the coast and on the road between the cities of Beersheba, Hebron, and Jerusalem. The Mezek D-123 entered these battles on the first day of the offensive on October 16, 1948, when Israeli pilot Rudi Augarten claimed to have shot down an Egyptian Royal Air Force Spitfire Mk.IXc. The seven-day operation was successful and significantly strengthened Israeli positions.

  In 1949, Israel began the process of concluding ceasefires with individual Arab states. However, the situation remained very fragile. The outcome of the conflict, namely the initial Arab rejection of the 1947 UN resolution on a two-state solution for the territory of former Palestine, and the subsequent attack on Israel, meant political and territorial strengthening of the Jewish state in the region. The first Israeli-Arab war was not only a clash for borders, but above all a question of identity and the right of the State of Israel to exist. For the Palestinians, it meant the loss of their homes and the beginning of refugee exile. The echoes of this war still resonate today in all other conflicts in the region. The 1948 – 1949 War of Independence claimed the lives of around 6,000 Israelis and 10,000–15,000 Arabs. About 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes.

  Thanks in part to aid from Czechoslovakia, Israel was able to defend itself in this war. The same was true in subsequent wars, in which, however, aid from Czechoslovakia did not come. Under the rule of the communist USSR, Czechoslovakia gradually turned away from Israel. A return to normalcy, based on the fact that Czechoslovakia had helped Israel in the most difficult moments of its birth, came only after the collapse of the socialist block at the end of the 1980s.

• The Burma Banshees

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustrations: Gareth Hector

  Cat. No. 82242

   

  Burma (today’s Myanmar) during the Second World War may have seemed like a less significant battleground. On the Allied side, however, a total of one million soldiers from several nations were eventually deployed on the Burmese front.

  In 1942, the Japanese at first sought to maintain transportation links between their conquered territories in China and Burmese Rangoon (today’s Yangon). Burma was to serve as a sort of buffer zone protecting further conquered areas in Southeast Asia. Before long, however, the Japanese, supported by armed forces of various puppet regimes, began to attempt an invasion of India, which ultimately did take place, though in a limited form.

  After the fall of Singapore, the British had no intention of allowing a disaster on such scale, and they exerted maximum effort to defend India and to retake Burma. During 1942 and 1943, however, they had little success on the battlefield, and stabilization did not come until 1944.

  This Sisyphean task would not have been possible without the support of air units. At the beginning of the fighting in Burma, the Japanese faced only a few dozen British aircraft from No. 221 Group RAF and a small contingent of “Flying Tigers” from the legendary American Volunteer Group (AVG).

  The situation gradually improved, and by the autumn of 1943, under the command of the South-East Asia Air Command led by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse, there were 48 RAF squadrons and 17 American squadrons deployed. By mid-1944, the number had increased to 64 and 28 respespectively. The primary tasks of these units were supplying ground troops, conducting bombing and ground-attack missions, providing fighter escorts, and carrying out patrol operations. Aerial reconnaissance was of course an indispensable part of operations, but aircrews were also assigned duties such as spraying insecticides to improve the living conditions of soldiers on the ground.

  It may not be surprising that the British 14th Army fighting in Burma, nicknamed “The Forgotten Army,” was considered “the the most air-minded army that ever existed.”

  By 1944, the Japanese Army air units in the region were already significantly weaker in numbers, and their aircraft lagged behind those of the Allies. Nevertheless, Japanese pilots remained dangerous opponents, as they mostly faced smaller, isolated engagements and did not suffer the extensive, devastating aerial battles that their naval comrades experienced around places such as Rabaul or the Marianas.

  One of the American fighter units that reinforced other combat formations in the region was the 80th Fighter Group. Activated in February 1942, it arrived in India by sea in May 1943 and was assigned to the 10th Air Force. Initially it was equipped with P-40s, and in 1944 it transitioned to the P-47 Thunderbolts. One part of the 80th FG, the 459th FS, equipped with twin-engine P-38 Lightnings operated largely independently from the rest of the group and in 1945 was reassigned to the 33rd FG. If this separate squadron is excluded from the group’s tally, the core of the 80th F, consisting of the 88th, 89th, and 90th Fighter Squadrons together with group headquarters, achieved 44 confirmed aerial victories, with 4 more aircraft probably destroyed and 27 damaged.

  During its operations, the 80th Fighter Group wrote off approximately three hundred P-40 and P-47 aircraft, and twelve of its pilots went missing in action. The only ace of the 80th FG flying single-engine fighters was 1st Lt. Samuel Eugene Hammer of the 90th FS, with five victories. Flying a Curtiss P-40 in March 1944, he scored two Ki-49 Helen heavy bombers, and in December of the same year he added three Ki-44 Tojo fighters while flying a Thunderbolt.

  Striking white skull drawings soon appeared on the noses of the Curtiss P-40s of the 80th FG, giving the group its nickname, the “Burma Banshees.” This name was reinforced by some pilots and mechanics who mounted air-driven sirens under the aircraft, producing a characteristic wailing sound. According to Celtic legends, the banshee, a female spirit, emits a terrible ear-piercing wail.

  Gareth Hector’s artwork portrays an aerial combat scene involving four pilots of the 89th FS on May 17, 1944, after they had bombed a bridge near Kamaing. They were attacked by about a dozen Ki-43s of the 204th Hikō Sentai. In the fierce dogfight, Lt. Philip R. Adair claimed two Oscars shot down, Lt. Thomas E. Rogers claimed one more and another one damaged, and Lt. Joel A. Martinez claimed two damaged. Two American aircraft were damaged and one pilot was injured, but both P-40s made it back to base. The Japanese suffered no losses and after the engagement claimed four P-40s shot down.

  Lt. Philip R. Adair ended the war with three confirmed victories and three damaged aircraft to his credit. His aircraft is the one depicted on the box art.

• Against the Stukas on Eagle Day

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  Cat. No. 82151

   

  The Battle of Britain is one of the legendary milestones of the Second World War and also the first battle fought entirely by air forces. From the RAF perspective, it began on July 10, 1940, and lasted until the end of October 1940. Its international impact is amplified by the fact that pilots from thirteen other countries fought on the RAF side. From the German point of view, the battle began almost a month later and ended with their first military failure since the outbreak of the war. After earlier fighting over the Channel, German command launched the Battle of Britain on 8 August 1940, with the start of the so-called “intensified air war against England” (verschärfte Luftkrieg gegen England), which lasted until the end of October 1940.

  The Germans launched “Operation Eagle Attack” (Unternehmen Adlerangriff) on August 13, 1940, after two days of extensive air battles over England. The day had the code name “Eagle Day” (Adlertag) and brought a shift in German strategy. Instead of focusing on naval convoys, the Germans intended to systematically destroy airfields and other infrastructure of RAF Fighter Command. The selection of targets, however, suggests that Luftwaffe intelligence and strategic planners did not understand the purpose and importance of many RAF bases.

  The long-planned Adlertag went awry for the Germans right from the start. The raids were supposed to begin in a coordinated manner at 07:00, but heavy cloud cover, ground fog, and poor visibility over occupied northern France hindered their execution. Although a recall order was issued, not all bomber units received it. The result was a series of isolated raids, some without fighter escort and sometimes without even reaching the target.

  After the official renewal of the Adlertag order, the most concentrated series of raids began after noon, though again complicated by clouds and navigation issues. During this phase of the day, Stukas formed a significant part of the bombing forces.

  Crews of St.G 1 and II./St.G 2 were assigned to strike Warmwell and Yeovil, but due to weather they ended up over Portland. Their escorts were Bf 109s from I. and II./JG 53 “Pik As.” Their colleagues from JG 27 escorted a large formation of Stukas from St.G 77, while the fighters of JG 26 “Schlageter” provided free-hunt fighter cover for the Stukas of IV.(St)/LG 1, whose target was  Detling.

  The latter formation hit its target very successfully and without losses. A total of 22 aircraft were destroyed on the ground, 67 service personnel and civilians, including the station commander Gp Capt. E. P. Meggs-Davies, were killed, and more than 40 people were wounded. The Coastal Command base was temporarily put out of action, but the strategic significance of the raid was minor, since the airfield did not fall under Fighter Command. The success can be attributed in part to cloud cover, which made it harder for defenders to spot the Stukas, and also to the freie-Jagd cover of all three Gruppen of JG 26, which were used together in action for the first time.

  The difficulty of escorting dive bombers is described in the memoirs of Günther Rall (275 victories): “Escorting Stukas over the Channel could be likened to trying to get a family of hedgehogs across a highway. Stukas flew horizontally at some 250km/h, which wasn’t much more than a fully loaded and fueled Bf 109 needed just to stay in the air…on the highway, you can only save the hedgehogs by stopping traffic as far away as possible, and not by zigzagging through traffic with them.”

  The raid of II./St.G 2 went very differently. They were to be protected by free-hunt of JG 53, but the escort became entangled with RAF aircraft, lost situational awareness, and part of the escort arrived behind the bombers with several minutes’ delay.

  Pilots of Spitfires from No. 609 Squadron RAF, including Polish airmen, took advantage of this situation and attacked the Stukas near the Solent. They claimed nine bombers shot down for certain, three probably destroyed and three damaged. In reality, six Ju 87s were shot down, mostly from 5. Staffel.

  One of the British pilots who scored victories in this action was F/O John Charles Dundas, DFC & Bar. His aircraft is depicted on the box art of the kit. This outstanding pilot was killed on 28 November 1940, in an air battle in which Kommodore of JG 2 Helmut Wick was also lost. Dundas’s brother, Hugh Spencer Lisle Dundas, also fought in the Battle of Britain, survived the war, was awarded CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC, and was later knighted.

  From 13 to 18 August 1940, German fighters (flying Bf 109s and Bf 110s) claimed 386 aerial victories, while losing 61 Bf 109s and 70 twin-seat Bf 110s shot down or heavily damaged. During less than a week, the Luftwaffe lost 93 twin-engine bombers and 42 Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers. The Ju 87s were no longer employed over Britain. However, this was not because of the losses, which were quickly replaced, but because of their short operational range.

• Markings for S-199 ERLA canopy 1/48

  COL A

  101 Tayeset, Cheyl Ha´avir, Hatzor, Israel, October 1948

  The aircraft coded D-123 was delivered to Israel on July 28 on board Balak Flight No. 79 and joined the action on August 15, 1948. A month prior to entry into service, ex-USAAF volunteer pilot Stan Andrews drew up the 101 Tayeset’s (Squadron) insignia of a winged skull of death wearing a flight helmet and goggles. The skull symbolizes the Jewish faith’s belief in the rising of the dead to form a large army when the messiah comes to earth. The insignia was printed on paper and applied to the left side of the nose of 101 Tayeset’s planes. In preparation for Operation Ten Plagues (October 15-22, 1948), later renamed Operation Yoav, 101 Tayeset fighters obtained high visibility markings consisting of red spinners and red and white stripes on the rudders in order to distinguish them from Egyptian aircraft. More to it, the Star of David roundels were applied atop the wings for the first time. During Operation Yoav, Rudi Augarten claimed a Royal Egyptian Air Force Spitfire Mk.IXc flying D-123 on the first day of the offensive, on October 16. The kill was not confirmed by IAF intelligence. In November, D-123 was given the number 1905 as part of the introduction of a new military aircraft marking system. There are a few repairs to the fuselage that appear darker areas on photos of D-123. This has led some researchers to believe the aircraft received a two-tone camouflage. However, it is merely a contrast of older and newer paint of the same shade of green.

   

  COL B

  101 Tayeset, Cheyl Ha´avir, Herzliya, Israel, July-August 1948      

  One of the “Messers”, as these aircraft were dubbed in Israeli use, that survived the First Arab-Israeli War, was this aircraft coded D-117. It was delivered on July 15, 1948, aboard Balak Flight No. 63 and made its first operational sortie on July 21. In the summer of 1948, 101 Tayeset’s (Squadron) lead mechanic, Eli Reuveni fell in love with his sweetheart named Nechama. He commemorated this occasion with a photograph in which he posed next to “Messer” D-117 with Nechama’s name chalked atop the airplane’s Star of David; Nechama went on to become his wife. However, D-117 had a less romantic future, suffering its first accident on August 20, 1948, when Mitchell Flint flipped it over onto its back in a crash landing. Further serious fuselage damage occurred on October 17 when, after being hit by ground fire, Giddy Lichtman made a forced landing at Aqir Air Base. Along with the repairs made to the airframe, D-117 was also fitted with a high-resolution camera to conduct photo reconnaissance missions. In November 1948, the Israeli Air Force changed its alpha numeric aircraft numbering system to a four-digit identification number, and D-117 was renumbered 1901, where 19 stood for the airplane type and 01 for the first airframe on the squadron list.

   

  COL C

  101 Tayeset, Cheyl Ha´avir, Herzliya, Israel, July 1948   

  D-108 was part of the first shipment of S-199s from Czechoslovakia to Israel to be deployed in combat in the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. D-108, as can be inferred from its designation, was among the last examples to arrive in the first series, and thus missed the very first missions of the Israeli S-199s. D-108 was fully assembled and ready for combat within the 101 Tayeset (Squadron) sometime in early June, along with D-107 and D-109. At the time of their assembly, the Israeli Air Force had only five operational S-199s. To avoid Egyptian air raids, the 101st Squadron moved to an improvised dirt airstrip near the town of Herzliya. Mitchell Flint crashed D-108 on August 21 during landing, and this incident put the aircraft out of service for a significant part of the war. The accident also marked the end of Flint’s service with the unit. D-108 was returned to service after extensive repairs on November 21, when the 101 Tayeset was transferred to Qastina. At that time, the numbering system in the Israeli Air Force was changed, and D-108 was given the designation 1906. With this designation, it participated in Operation Horev at the end of December 1948. Among other things, it accompanied the Beaufighter TF Mk.X during the attack on El Arish airport on December 24, and the Spitfire D-130 during a photographic reconnaissance mission over Gaza. At the end of the war, it was one of four operational S-199s that survived the Arab-Israeli War and the only one to survive from the first series of S-199s delivered. It was finally scrapped sometime after October 15, 1950.

   

  COL D

  S-199.54, Sgt. František Novák, Fighter Training Center, No. 2 Squadron, Aviation Regiment 4, Planá u Českých Budějovic, Czechoslovakia, May 1948         

  After the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia, military pilot defections to the West were nothing unusual. Former RAF members, who either suspected or even knew that they would be persecuted by the communists, crossed the border and many younger pilots also decided to leave the country. One of them was Sgt. František Novák, at that time a trainee of the second class from the Fighter Training Centre (SVS), who fled to then West Germany on May 24, 1948. The aircraft was stored in Munich and, after various obstacles were ironed out, was transported to Czechoslovakia by land in March 1950. From March 31 until October 24, 1950, there was a general overhaul at the Avia factory. Later it served with LP 4 (Aviation Regiment 4). The Avia produced aircraft bore the standard MNO Smalt Avion 2036.02 paint scheme on all surfaces and this aircraft was the tenth Avia factory production piece to be fitted with a heat exchanger instead of the original oil cooler. The canopy was of the older design, and the aircraft did not have machine guns in the wings, nor underwing cannons.

   

  COL E

  S-199.66, ak. Ladislav Strnad, Air Military Academy, Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia, June 1950               

  This aircraft was assigned to Air Regiment 7 on August 4, 1948. On May 10, 1950, it was sent to the LVA (Air Military Academy), where it was damaged during take-off from the Pardubice airfield. A good quality photo of this crashed aircraft exists and shows very interesting coloring, as the rear fuselage and engine cowls are clearly different shade of lighter color compared to the original green. There might be several reasons about this aircraft’s colors. We believe there were probably some minor repairs needed on the rear fuselage (or just overpainting of original user’s code) and as the LVA probably did not have the standard green color the tan color intended for C-104s was used. As there was also a need to change the engine cowl at some point, the cowl from a dark green aircraft was used and overpainted in the same color as the rear fuselage to keep the aircraft in some color “order”. But the new coat chipped around the machine gun barrels and the darker green surfaced there. Also, the right slat is clearly dark green color. The question mark hangs over the national insignia on upper wing surfaces. On the photo it seems like they were not painted there, but it might well be only due to the over exposition of the surface under the direct sun. Interesting is also the obvious absence of most of the stencils. The front of the fuselage and wings were quite worn out, while both green and rear tan part of fuselage looks like new. The engine cowl sports some chipping and repairs in contrast.

   

  COL F

  S-199.486, Lt. František Fořt, No. 1 Squadron, Aviation Regiment 7, Brno-Černovice, Czechoslovakia, 1950                

  This “Mezek” was test flown by factory pilot Antonín Kraus on December 12, 1949. On January 24, 1950, the aircraft was taken over by the military administration and assigned to LP 7 (Aviation Regiment 7) stationed at Brno-Slatina airport on February 7 of the same year. It was coded IV-8 and, according to the memories of veterans and unit logs, it sported a drawing of Diana carrying her bow. The author of the drawing was the fiancée and future wife of the deputy Squadron Commander and Flight Commander František Fořt. According to period witnesses, the same emblem also appeared on the aircraft of two other Flight Commanders, Lieutenants Jaromír Jech and Jiří Váňa. As is mentioned in the unit memoirs, more S-199s were equipped with various emblems, at least for a certain period of time. They are even documented in the said memoirs, but it is not clear to which specific aircraft they refer to. The aircraft was probably painted with darker green paint on all surfaces. At that time, the white of the spinner belonged to the aircraft of Air Division, to which LP 7 and LP 8 (Aviation Regiments 7 and 8) belonged, but not all aircraft were so marked, and IV-8 was probably one of these. There is no photographic evidence, unfortunately.

• Markings for MiG-21F-13 1/48

  COL A

  s/n 741204, HävLLv 31, Kuopio-Rissala AB, Finnish AF, Finland, August 1985

  Finland replaced its de Havilland Vampire and Folland Gnat aircraft with MiG-21s in the early 1960s, becoming the first non-communist European country to use this type. The first ten MiG-21F-13s were delivered to Suomen Iimavoi-mat (the Finnish Air Force) in April 1963, with another 11 following in November of the same year. Between 1971 and 1973, nine MiG-21F-13s were converted into reconnaissance versions. HavLLv 31 in Kuopio-Rissala began gradually replacing its F-13s with new MiG-21bis at the end of 1978. The last flight of the Finnish F-13 version took place in January 1986. The aircraft with the fuselage number MG-77 was delivered in November 1963. It made its last flight on August 16, 1985. After being decommissioned, it served as a dummy with the number MG-127 in Pirkkala and was later transferred to the Aviation Museum in Vantaa.

   

  COL B

  s/n 74211503, Nguyen Nhat Chieu, 921st FR, Sao Do, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, October 1967

  The Vietnamese People’s Liberation Army Air Force acquired its first MiG-21F-13s in 1966. The first dogfight in which North Vietnamese MiG-21s clashed with American aircraft took place in February 1966. In March of the same year, two American Ryan Firebee unmanned aircraft were destroyed, but the first aerial victory for Vietnamese pilots was not achieved until June 9, 1966, when two F-4 Phantoms II were shot down by several MiG-21s. On October 29, 1967, pilot Nguyen Nhat Chieu used a green-camouflaged MiG-21F-13 with tactical number 4426 in a dogfight in which he shot down an American F-4 Phantom II over the Nam Dinh–Ninh Binh area. It was Chieu’s sixth aerial victory, although according to USAF records, no Phantoms II were lost on that day. During the Vietnam War, 67 American fighter aircraft were shot down by MiG-21s, while the US Air Force shot down 86 MiG-21s. Thirteen MiG-21 pilots achieved fighter ace status between 1967 and 1972.

   

  COL C

  s/n 660416, 1. slp, České Budějovice AB, Czechoslovakia, 1968-1970

  The easing of the political atmosphere in the spring of 1968 was also reflected in the coloring of some Czechoslovak MiG-21Fs. Members of the 1 Fighter Wing in České Budějovice were the first to design their own insignias. While the insignias for the MiG-21PF and PFM fighter squadrons for operations in difficult weather conditions and at night featured typical nocturnal animals like a bat and an owl, the first training squadron chose the symbol of a devil with a pitchfork against a clear blue sky. The author of the design was Miloslav Martenek, later known for his cartoons and illustrations. The inspiration for the drawing was the strict squadron commander, Major Jan Jansa. It was said that serving under him was hell. His red nose was also an inspiration for the devil drawing. All the designs were approved on May 17, 1968, and then spray-painted onto the aircraft. The same symbol also appeared in a smaller form as a decal on the pilots’ helmets. The devil drawing was used until August 20, 1970, when an order was issued to remove all such symbols.

   

  COL D

  Cairo-West AB, United Arab Republic, 1967

  The MiG-21F-13 with fuselage number 5341 came from one of the first series of MiG-21F-13s delivered to Egypt before the Six-Day War and was one of 22 aircraft of this type that survived the Arab-Israeli War in June 1967. After the war, it was camouflaged using automotive paint. This was applied around the black identification stripes located on the rear of the fuselage and at the wing tips. The auxiliary fuel tank was usually left unpainted but bore the aircraft’s black serial number (5341) on its side.

   

  COL E

  s/n 22504, 204. LAP, Batajnica AB, Yugoslav Air Force, Yugoslavia, 1962

  The MiG-21F-13 JRViPVO (Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i Protivvazdušna Odbrana) aircraft bore registration numbers 22501 to 22541. The first five of them were delivered in September 1962. By the end of 1964, the rearmament of the 204 Fighter Regiment, consisting of three fighter squadrons, each with 12 aircraft, was completed. In August 1968, the Yugoslav Air Force had 38 MiG-21F-13 aircraft at its disposal. The last flights were made in March 1980. The aircraft were subsequently maintained until May 11, 1981, when it was decided to decommission them. During their service, the MiG-21F-13 aircraft flew 23,559 hours and 15 minutes. A total of 17 were destroyed, with 11 pilots losing their lives in various circumstances.

   

  COL F

  s/n 741924, AFS-31, East Germany Air Force, Preschen AB, German Democratic Republic, 1978-1980

  The MiG-21F-13 entered service with the East Germany Air Force on May 4, 1962, when the first one landed at Neuhardenberg Air Base. A total of 76 aircraft of this type were delivered. The MiG-21F-13 stayed in active service with the NVA only until 1974, when it began to be replaced by the more modern MiG-21PFM and MiG-21SPS. The aircraft with the red fuselage number 645 was part of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) and later JG 15. When it ended its service with JG 15 in 1978, it served with AFS-31 and TAFS-47 as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft. The newly restored red 645 is currently on display at the Luftwaffenmuseum at Berlin-Gatow Airport.

• Markings for P-40N Warhawk 1/48

  COL A

  42-105128, P-40N-5, 2Lt. Philip R. Adair, 89th FS, 80th FG, Nagaghuli, India, early 1944

  Philip Reed Adair enlisted in military flight training after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served with the 80th FG for eighteen months in 1943 and 1944 and flew 139 combat missions. The most remarkable of these took place on December 13, 1943, when he fought alone against a formation of 24 Japanese bombers and 40 fighters. He was credited with one confirmed kill and three other aircraft as damaged, but most importantly, he managed to break up the enemy formation and disrupt the bombing of his own base. He himself was hit several times in this combat and received the Silver Star for his bravery. During this mission, he flew his first Lulu Belle, which was a P-40N-1 Warhawk. The second aircraft of the same name, shown here, was already a P-40N-5 version. Adair received it in early 1944 and on May 17, again fighting against superior forces, he shot down two Oscars. In June 1944, he and the entire group began retraining on Thunderbolts, but he did not achieve any further kills. The 80th FG was called the Burma Banshees, and most of its aircraft were decorated with a skull on the nose. None of them were the same, although they sometimes differed only in details. The primary role of the group was to provide air cover for bases involved in air supply operations to units in China via the Himalayas (Hump operations). Later, from October 1943, the group was tasked with providing air support to units in northern Burma. Philip Adair died at the age of 97 on May 13, 2017.

   

  COL B

  42-105116, P-40N-5, Capt. Gilmer L. Snipes, 45th FS, 15th FG, Nanumea, December 1943

  Although the 15th FG was based in the Hawaiian Islands, it kept sending its squadrons to various locations in the central and southern Pacific. One of these was Baker Atoll, where the 45th FS was sent in September 1943, before moving on to Abemama Island and then Makin in the fall of 1943, from where it carried out raids against bases on the Julait and Mili atolls until March 1944. The transfer of the 45th FS Warhawks to Baker in mid-September 1943 took the Japanese by surprise, and they paid for it with the loss of an H8K Emily flying boat. On October 23, 1943, a pair of P-40s was guided to an aircraft of this type and sent it into the waves of the Pacific. The kill was credited to Capt. Gilmer L. Snipes, who had 2nd Lt. R. Hendrickson as his wingman. It was the first kill of 45th FS in the war. In April 1944, “Buck” Snipes took command of the squadron and, after rearming with Mustangs, participated in the deployment of the 15th FG from Iwo Jima, including three VLR missions over Japan. During the first of these, on April 7, 1945, he was credited with shooting down a Ki-44 Tojo. Because the standard P-40 color scheme did not serve its purpose on the coral atolls, the technical staff mixed a sand color that matched the local conditions before the squadron moved to Baker Atoll. The undersides were repainted with a light blue color mixed from insignia blue and white. The stencils were mostly masked during repainting and therefore have the original background.

   

  COL C

  P-40N-20, 43-23400, Maj. Donald L Quigley, CO of 75th FS, 23rd FG, Kweilin, China, August 1944

  Donald Quigley was born on December 28, 1919, in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and after his studies he worked for the Marion Power Shovel Company. He joined the Army Air Corps in March 1941 and, while still in training at Randolph Field in Texas, became engaged to his future wife, Irene Klingel. In her honor, Quigley had the words “Rene The Queen” (Rene is a diminutive form of Irene) painted on the cowling of his personal P-40N. Before serving with the 75th FS, 23rd FG, Quigley served with the 80th FG, where he flew 23 combat missions with the 90th FS. In June 1944, Quigley took command of the 75th FS and shot down five enemy aircraft in July and August 1944 before being shot down himself over enemy territory on August 10, 1944. He spent 13 long months in captivity and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after his release. After the war, he left the army and worked for 60 years as a freelance jewelry engraver for major jewelry companies. He died on March 13, 2021.        

   

  COL D

  P-40N-5, 7th FS, 49th FG, Finschhafen, New Guinea, September 1944

  Aircraft number 22 was part of a series of 7th FS Warhawks decorated with a painting of a girl on the engine cowling. The author of the paintings was Johnie Dunne, who also decorated the noses of Daddy Please / Milky Wagon Express, Dawn Patrol, Island Dream, Empty Saddle, Scarlet Night, and others with his characteristic style. Not much is known about the history of the aircraft named Grade A. It is reported that it was occasionally flown by Capt. Elliott E. Dent Jr. Further information is linked to Lt. Warren Greczyn, a pilot of Polish origin, who shot down two Ki-43 Oscars over Biak on May 15, 1944, while flying Grade A. This profile shows the final appearance of Grade A in the 7th FS, as documented at Finschhafen Airfield in September 1944. Here, along with other Warhawks from the 7th FS, it was stripped of its weapons and decommissioned. The aircraft was unusual in that it did not have white-painted leading edges on its wings. It also did not have the blue paint on the top of the rudder indicating its affiliation with the 7th FS, and the serial number was also painted over. Many of the decommissioned Warhawks of the 49th FG were subsequently used by the 71st TRG, which used them during the fighting in the Philippines in early 1945.

   

  COL E

  P-40N-5, 1/Lt. Benjamin H. Ashmore, 26th FS, 51st FG, Kunming, China, 1944

  Benjamin Howard Ashmore’s father was a pilot, and his son intended to follow in his footsteps. In 1942, he began Army flight training, which he completed a year later when he retrained on Thunderbolts. He was originally supposed to go to Europe, but at the last minute he was redirected to India, where he joined the 26th FS 51st FG. He flew 78 missions with this unit, shot down two aircraft in aerial combat, and earned, among other decorations, the Chinese pilot wings, which was personally awarded to him by General Chiang Kai-shek. He flew two Warhawks P-40N and later a P-51B Mustang in combat. All three aircraft bore the name Anvil Chorus and the emblem of a bull’s head on a map of Texas with a torn Japanese flag in one corner. In accordance with squadron custom, the emblem was most likely applied to both sides of his aircraft. After the war, he graduated from the University of Nebraska and served in the USAF for another 21 years. He flew as part of the Berlin Airlift, reactivated five RAF air bases in post-war England, and in the early 1960s served as commanding officer at the then newly opened US Air Force Academy. He flew the F-84, F-100, and F-102. After leaving the military, he spent 15 years as a cattle rancher on his property in Garfield, Arkansas, and farmed in Monte Ne. He owned a private plane and hangar at the airport near Ingleside and flew until he was 90. He died on March 30, 2014, at the age of 92.

   

  COL F

  A29-651, F/O John Noel Olivier, No. 80 Squadron, Noemfoor Island, 1944

  No. 80 Squadron was formed in Townsville on September 10, 1943, and was equipped with P-40 Kittyhawks. On October 9, it moved to Aitkenvale and on November 13 became part of No. 10 Operational Group, whose main task was to support the advance of Allied troops along the northern coast of New Guinea. No. 10 Operational Group was redesignated as the First Tactical Air Force on October 25, 1944. No. 80 Squadron moved to Morotai on January 21, where it continued operations over the Maluku Islands. The lack of significant targets in the vicinity caused a decline in morale among the unit and other RAAF units in the area from the end of 1944. The aircraft with a drawing of the Disney character Thumper the Rabbit was transferred to No. 78 Squadron at the end of 1944 and redesignated HU S. The drawing of the rabbit remained on it.    

• Markings for Spitfire Mk.Ia 1/48

  COL A

  R6709, P/O Colin F. Gray, RNZAF, No. 54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, March 1940

  Flown by P/O Colin Falkland Gray, R6709, coded KL-T, wore the standard RAF Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Green and Dark Earth on the upper surfaces, and White/Night lower surfaces. Type A fuselage roundels, Type B upper wing roundels and Mixed Grey code letters were carried. No roundels on the bottom surfaces. Note the Rotol constant speed propeller. This aircraft was equipped with an older TR.9B radio, with the wire antenna stretching between the antenna mast and fin tip. The antenna mast isolator was a little bit longer than the one used with the newer TR.9D radio. There was no rear mirror or head armor yet installed. Colin Gray got his first kill, a Bf 109E, on May 25, 1940, while escorting a Swordfish formation to bomb Gravelines. By early September he had claimed 14½ kills. He finished the war as Wing Commander with 27 kills, two shared, six probable and four shared probable kills. This score makes him the top scoring New Zealand fighter ace of the Second World War.

   

  COL B

  N3250, P/O Allan R. Wright, No. 92 Squadron, RAF Croydon, United Kingdom, late May/early June 1940

  No. 92 Squadron received their first Spitfires in March 1940, replacing their Bristol Blenheim Mk.IFs. The squadron became operational on May 9, 1940. Interestingly, the unit’s Spitfires retained the pre-war GR codes until the end of July, when the switch was made to QJ. The code letters, as well as the fuselage Type A.1 roundels, look to be non-standard. The bottom wing surfaces were standard black/white, with the remainder of the bottom surfaces in aluminum. Type A roundels were added to the bottom surfaces during the Battle of France, being bordered in yellow on the left black painted wing. Note black aircraft code letter S painted on the bottom of the nose. Wire antenna was a component of the TR.9D radio that equipped this aircraft. It is believed that N3250 was flown by P/O Alan R. Wright, who flew his first combat mission on May 23, 1940. He claimed two Bf 110s damaged and another probably destroyed during this sortie over Dunkirk. The next day, Wright added a Bf 110 destroyed and one more probable. During WWII, he was credited with 11 confirmed kills.

   

  COL C

  R6690, P/O John C. Dundas, No. 609 Squadron, RAF Middle Wallop/RAF Warmwell, United Kingdom, August 1940

  It is believed that this aircraft, serialled R6690 and coded PR-A, was flown by F/O John Dundas when he shot down a Ju 87B of 5./StG 2 west of Portland on August 13, 1940. While attacking another Stuka, Dundas was hit by defensive fire from the rear gunner, crippling the oil system of his engine, forcing him down at Warmwell Aerodrome. The aircraft was written off. Although the AM directive to paint blue/white/red roundels on the bottom surface of wings was already issued on August 11, No. 609 Squadron hadn’t put the order into practice as of the middle of August. The squadron´s aircraft wore the individual code letter, in this case A, painted in black on the bottom nose panel, which was painted in a light color, probably white. It is not certain if the rear-view mirror was installed at this time, but it is unlikely. The aircraft was equipped with a TR.9D radio with the wire antenna stretched between the antenna mast and the fin. The IFF device is not yet installed, and so no aerial wires are stretched between the fuselage sides and the horizontal tail.

   

  COL D

  R6835, F/O Brian J. Carbury, No. 603 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, late August 1940

  Spitfire R6835 XT-W was flown by a New Zealander named Brian J. Carbury, who shot down two Bf 109Es on August 27, 1940, when No. 603 Squadron arrived at Hornchurch to replace the battle-weary No. 65 Squadron. He scored 15½ kills during the Battle of Britain. On August 31, 1940, he shot down five enemy aircraft over the span of three sorties, becoming one of two RAF ‘Ace in a Day’ pilots able to claim that status during the BoB. His aircraft carried the standard RAF Temperate Land Scheme consisting of Sky bottom surfaces. The blue/white/red roundels painted on the bottom surfaces were mandated by the Air Ministry on August 11, 1940. The aircraft was equipped with a TR.9D radio with the wire antenna stretching between the antenna mast and fin. The IFF device is not yet installed, explaining the absence of the associated aerial wires between the fuselage sides and the horizontal tail. No rear-view mirror was carried yet, nor was the head armor plating in the cockpit.

   

  COL E

  P9386, S/Ldr Brian J. Lane, CO of No. 19 Squadron, RAF Fowlmere, United Kingdom, September 1940

  Spitfire P9386 arrived from No.7 OTU at Fowlmere as a replacement aircraft for the problem plagued, cannon armed Spitfire Mk.Ib on September 3, 1940. The yellow spinner appears to be the remnant of the OTU’s markings. This aircraft is an example of the final Battle of Britain camouflage and marking practice, with the small diameter version of the bottom surface roundels located near the wing tips. No stenciling is seen on the bottom surfaces. Note the aerial wire between the antenna mast and the fin. The IFF device is not yet carried. No hot air gun heating system under the wing tips could be seen, so it is possible that an electrical gun heating system was installed. Although the aircraft is referred to as being ‘somewhat poorly maintained’, it is also mentioned as a favorite of two famous members of No. 19 Squadron, F/Lt Walter Lawson and S/Ldr Brian Lane, who claimed a Stab II./ZG 2 Bf 110 on September 7, and another two Bf 110s on September 11, while Lawson claimed a Bf 110 on September 9, 1940.  

   

  COL F

  X4253, P/O Wilfrid G. Duncan Smith, No. 611 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, February 1941

  This Spitfire Mk.Ia, serialled X4253, illustrates the camouflage scheme and markings of Fighter Command aircraft in late 1940 and early 1941. The black painted (Night) left wing was ordered by the Air Ministry on November 27, 1940. The left wing roundel was then appropriately outlined in yellow. To improve recognition of friendly aircraft, an 18-inch wide Sky Blue fuselage band was added ahead of the tail, and the spinner was painted in the same colour. This paint was usually a little bit bluer than the standard under surface Sky. Some sources name this colour “Air Ministry Blue”. This aircraft was equipped with the new VHF TR.1133 radio and, as such, there is no aerial wire between the antenna mast and the fin tip. The R.3002 IFF device was carried, indicated by the two associated aerial wires stretching between the fuselage sides and the leading edges of the horizontal tail. Note the external rearview mirror, and the armor plating behind the pilot´s head was installed. This aircraft was flown by future ace P/O Wilfrid G. Duncan Smith, who joined No. 611 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch in October 1940 with the rank of Pilot Officer.

   

  COL G

  X4828, F/Lt Wojciech Kolaczkowski, No. 303 Squadron, RAF Speke, United Kingdom, September 1941

  Spitfire Mk.Ia, carrying the serial X4828 and RF-K code, belonged to No. 303 (Polish) Squadron and is representative of the new Day Fighter Scheme, introduced on August 19, 1941. From that date, RAF day fighters were painted in Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces. The aircraft letters were by then changed to Sky, and the fuselage band and spinner remained in the same colour. Note the thin dark border around the letters and the stencil data inscriptions painted on the Ocean Grey surfaces, which are believed to be remnants of the original Dark Earth layer. No. 303 Squadron was moved to RAF Speke from RAF Norholt on July 17, 1941, leaving their Spitfire Mk.IIb aircraft behind to receive old war weary Mk.Is for training purposes. RF-K was flown by A Flight leader F/Lt Kolaczkowski, who was later No. 303 Squadron Leader from November 21, 1941 to May 7, 1942. The name ‘Vojtek’ is Kolaczkowski´s nickname and the name ‘Krysia’ was the nickname of his girlfriend Kristina. It is not known with certainty if these inscriptions were painted on the right side as well. No. 303 Squadron returned to Norholt on October 7, 1941 to be re-armed with the new Spitfire Mk.Vb and engaged the new German Fw 190As in intense combat on the other side of the Channel.

• Tail End Charlie

  On Two-Day Events

  Text: Jan Zdiarský

   

  Several events recently gave me the opportunity to participate in a debate on the topic of a two-day model exhibition schedule in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The topic was most intensely discussed just after this year's E-Day, and most recently last weekend at the Stará Kotolňa restaurant, where my friends from the Nitra model club and I discussed plans for the upcoming years of their competition.

  It seems that the two-day scheme, which is somewhat standard at larger foreign exhibitions, is met with contradictory reactions from Czech and Slovak modelers. And it's not that we don't know two-day events at home. For example, E-Day was a two-day affair for many years and only in the last few years has it been reduced to the one day. In contrast, events such as Scale Model World in Telford, Moson Model Show in Hungary, Scale Model Challenge in Eindhoven, the Polish Bytom Model Festival and others are all weekend long and this does not surprise any foreign (including Czech and Slovak) modelers. The American National Convention is a comparatively staggering four-day event.

  Such events are not just a competition show, where modelers measure their skills, discuss prices and where sellers stand for several hours at their tables to improve their sales incomes. Such events are primarily modeler holidays, meeting places, interaction of reciprocity. Of course, a two-day scheme is not suitable for all competitions. An event, so to speak, on a municipal scale, where two hundred or a little more models gather, does not make sense to spread over two days. The demands on the organizers and the modelers themselves would be too great in such a case. However, events of a supra-regional nature certainly deserve such consideration.

  Of course, organizing a model competition over two days has its advantages, but also its significant pitfalls. The main ones include increased financial requirements and demands on the organizers. When it comes to the financial side, I naturally mean the costs of renting space and energy. Not every club has the understanding of the operator of the necessary equipment, or the support of an understanding sponsor. In such a case, considerations of a two-day event are eliminated with the first question. The same is true with human resources. Only strong and stable clubs can afford more demanding events. Anyone who decides to include a larger event in the model calendar should be sure that they will be able to repeat it in subsequent years.

  Two-day events, of course, also have an impact on the exhibiting and competing modelers themselves. If you bring a model and enter it into the competition one day, you would typically pick it up again the next day. This means having somewhere to sleep, dedicating essentially the entire weekend to such an event. These are not insignificant arguments.

  The type of modelers who arrive at an event, quickly sell their few trinkets to the vendors, and then, well, collect any prizes, take their model off the table, and be gone again will probably never disappear. Above all, they remain the main opponents of the idea of ​​whether a given event should last longer than one day. Anyone who wants to transform their one-day competition into a two-day one must certainly count on grumblings, and perhaps even a temporary decrease in the number of exhibiting modelers. It is simply a challenge, a consideration that no one who wants their event to go somewhere further, to grow in its importance and prestige, can avoid. Of course, a two-day event is not the only way to turn your competition into a modeling star attraction.

  On the other hand, a two-day event brings many advantages and associated effects. At exhibitions where the organizers try to provide an interesting accompanying program such as workshops, lectures, trips, etc., you will avoid excessive stress and hassles. If the competition part of the event is more demanding, you also give the judges more space to devote themselves to their work - perhaps only on Saturday evening after the exhibition closes to the public. Last but not least, sellers, who are usually represented, especially at larger events, can increase their sales in a two-day scheme (and by extension make modelers more happy) and not have expenses climb too much. And finally, I deliberately left out the reason that I consider the most important - a free evening (or two, if we count Friday) gives participants a great opportunity to socialize, to sit down somewhere in a pub, to get closer to solving endless model debates, mysteries and questions.

  When I mentioned the demands on the human potential of the organizers, I naturally also had in mind the need for an accompanying program for both days, which is certainly not a given. However, if we can afford it, and the event can be self sufficient or with the contribution of sponsors, if we have enough hands, space and ideas, and also sufficient tradition and desire of modelers not to miss our event, the consideration of a two-day format is certainly worth considering.

  However, let's not be under any illusions that most model-making events in the Czech Republic and Slovakia should be two-day events. That would not be to the benefit of the cause. The diversity of the nature of the events gives greater variety, and moreover, most model-makers don’t necessarily have plenty of free time that they can use as they wish. Nevertheless, it would certainly be beneficial if, especially the larger events in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, were to shift into a real model-making festival, which its participants would enjoy more intensely and with longer time spent together.

  The first Czech event will be the next E-Day, which will bring with it two major changes. Not only is it moving to a new date at the end of June 2026, it is also returning to a two-day program.