Airfix 1/24 Typhoon Diorama

[WattsNZ]

My big project for the last several months, Airfix's 1/24 Typhoon. Completed in markings of Flight Sargeant James Stellin, 609 Squadron RAF. I was looking for a New Zealand theme for my build and the Stellin story stood out among others. He wasn't an ace, didn't appear to be a pilot of any particular note, but his sacrifice was significant to the people of Saint-Maclou-la-Brière, a small village in the Seine-Maritime region of Normandy. Here is the complete Stellin story:

 

As his damaged Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber rapidly lost height, Pilot Officer James Stellin struggled to avoid crashing into Saint-Maclou-la-Brière, a village of 370 people between Le Havre and Dieppe in northern France. He succeeded, but at the cost of his own life. The villagers gave him a hero’s funeral and have honoured his memory ever since.

James Kingston (‘Joe’) Stellin was one of several thousand New Zealanders who flew with the Royal Air Force over Europe in support of the D-Day landings in 1944. Born in Wellington on 2 July 1922, he was the son of James and Beatrice Stellin of Lyall Bay. He attended Scots College before enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942 and beginning pilot training. On 3 June 1944, three days before D-Day, he and two other Kiwi pilots were posted to 609 Squadron, RAF, at Thorney Island airfield, Hampshire. Over the following month, 609’s pilots flew numerous missions over Normandy, targeting German radar stations, tanks and other vehicles. In early July the squadron moved its base to France, arriving at Plumetot, north of Caen, under shellfire and in mud and rain. For the next six weeks Stellin flew almost daily missions against German tank concentrations, strongpoints and motor transport in the Falaise area.

On 18 August, 609 Squadron’s Typhoons destroyed at least seven German tanks and 12 vehicles. Stellin flew again that evening, attacking vehicles on the Vimoutiers–Orbec road and setting five alight. On the 19th, 609 Squadron again targeted German transport trying to escape the Falaise pocket. At 8.30 a.m. Stellin took off from Martragny airfield, flying Typhoon JP975. After destroying several tanks and trucks, Stellin’s aircraft was heading home when he asked permission to descend to attack a vehicle. He did not return to his formation and asked for a homing to find his way back to base. He was given a course but later reported that he was short of fuel. It is thought that his plane was hit by flak near Bernay. A teacher at Saint-Maclou-la-Brière, Monsieur Jacobs, described the scene:

It was 10 o’clock in the morning when the sounds of an aircraft in difficulties first made us look up. The plane was about 1500 to 2000 feet up, and rapidly losing height. Suddenly, on realising the great destruction his plane would cause if it were to crash in the centre of the village, the pilot straightened up his plane with a vigorous and supreme effort, made a half-climb, then turning sharp left at an acute angle, it fell rapidly, crashing less than a mile away.

Stellin bailed out at the last moment, but his parachute failed to open and he was killed. He was 22 years old. His funeral in Saint-Maclou-la-Brière was attended by 1200 people from the surrounding area. His grave in the local cemetery was later designated a Commonwealth War Grave; ever since it has been decorated regularly with flowers. In 1946 M. Jacobs, who had been active in the local Resistance, wrote a moving letter to Stellin’s parents. The following year the Kiwi pilot was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme. The people of Saint-Maclou-la-Brière later engraved Stellin’s name onto the war memorial for the dead of their own village. In 1964 they erected a black marble memorial stone to Stellin outside the gates of their church. In 2001 the area in front of the St Maclou church was named ‘Place Stellin’.

Stellin has also been commemorated in New Zealand. A memorial board was erected in the Kilbirnie RSA and when that building closed it was moved to his old school, Scots College. The College library is named in Stellin’s honour and the school holds other memorabilia. When James’s father, a prominent Wellington businessman and developer (he was responsible for the subdivisions of Avalon, Kingston and Strathmore Park), died in 1964, he bequeathed funds to build the memorial in Saint-Maclou-la-Brière. He also gifted land on the eastern side of Tinakori Hill to the Wellington City Council to create the James Stellin Memorial Park. In August 2007, Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast and French Ambassador Michel Legras unveiled a long-promised plaque in the Memorial Park.

 

Its not known what 609 squadron letter Stellin was flying the day he died, all that was recorded was the plane serial number JP975. I chose to Use squadron letter "S".

The airfix kit itself was, for the most part, excellent. The amount of "flash" removal was, at times, frustrating, especially on the intricate engine parts. The build is completely OTB except for the resin wheels, seat belts and photoetch flaps. I decided to use the eduard flaps instead of spending hours filling and sanding ejector marks off the kit flaps.

Photos are a bit average but such was the lighting.

 

Comments welcome.

[WattsNZ]

The card I have used in the frame of the diorama is a copy of Stellins card found in his flight bag at the crash site.

[DocRob]

What a nice build and an interesting story to back that up. Great weathering, that bird looks realy used as it should. Who manufactures the guy in front, inspecting the coolers?

Cheers Rob

[WattsNZ]

27 minutes ago, DocRob said:

What a nice build and an interesting story to back that up. Great weathering, that bird looks realy used as it should. Who manufactures the guy in front, inspecting the coolers?

Cheers Rob

Hey Rob. Thanks for that. How far to push the weathering is always a difficult thing. All the reference material i have had mixed levels of weathering. I chose to go pretty hard on it. Ground attack low altitude flying based off mostly dusty or muddy grass strips... i figured they would get pretty messed up. The mechanic figure is by a French outfit. Will dig out the link for you as i quite honestly cant remember who it was!

[steve scan]

Fantastic.

 

[DocRob]

Quote

Hey Rob. Thanks for that. How far to push the weathering is always a difficult thing. All the reference material i have had mixed levels of weathering. I chose to go pretty hard on it. Ground attack low altitude flying based off mostly dusty or muddy grass strips... i figured they would get pretty messed up. The mechanic figure is by a French outfit. Will dig out the link for you as i quite honestly cant remember who it was!

I figured out who is manufacturing your mechanic. It's an interesting company from France which is specialiced in 3D-printing. They carry a lot of useful figures in different scales. Quite pricy, but I will check them out, specially because the carry 1/24 figures.

The name of the company is reedoak.com.

Cheers Rob

[WattsNZ]

11 hours ago, DocRob said:

I figured out who is manufacturing your mechanic. It's an interesting company from France which is specialiced in 3D-printing. They carry a lot of useful figures in different scales. Quite pricy, but I will check them out, specially because the carry 1/24 figures.

The name of the company is reedoak.com.

Cheers Rob

Thats the company! Yeah was rather pricey but the quality is excellent. The scale is a tad smaller than the Brassin 1/24 pilot to my eyes, but not that noticeable.

 

[Mikester]

Really nice work!

[coolboxx]

That's some serious detailing, great build. 

[Bomber_County]

Beautiful build, great research and background storyline......congrats

 

[Fran]

Impressive!!

 

Great work! 

[JohnB]

Very nice work!

[MARU 5137]

WattsNZ..

I think when Model is inspired by true events, it makes it more personable, interesting and one gets a feel for the model as well as  the events.

Ypur Typhoon is BEAUTIFULLY  done and your Diorama  is SUPERB. 

 

I especially LOVE  the Engine.. TOP NOTCH ..MY favorite part..

and your photos are fine  Sir.

 

KUDOS on a EXQUISITE model.

 

 

 

[Uncarina]

Really nice work, and you brought this model to life!

Cheers,  Tom

[Clunkmeister]

I just saw this as well.  

A truly stunning build. I’m usually not one for the “Level 1 inspection” look, but this really looks the part, and much like the AT-6/Harvard, the construction methods of the wartime Hawkers certainly lends itself to a most impressive look with the skin and fairings removed.

[Sir Desmond Glazebrook]

Fantastic work. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

[Drifter]

One day, when I am all grown up, I want to build models like this. Superb.