GB 58 night fighters

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I'm hours away from finishing my GB58 F6F-5N entry and thinking September is a long way off so I really should enter another or just drink more beer. I decided to do both. After that F6F-5N instruction interpretation nightmare, and those decals that show up as lint, I'm ready to do something else; and drink beer!.

I have two choices in my stash. One is a no-brainier for entering in this category, a Heinkel He219 A-7. The other, a Boultan Defiant. It may need some 'approvals' , as I'm not certain if it really fits (the kit markings are questionable?).

The Heinkel:



The Boultain Defiant Mk1:

What I have been able to find is L7026 flew in the 264 squadron. The Boultons were switched from day fighting to night fighting sometime in May 1940. This craft (likely) fought in the BOB which was 7-10-1940 thru 10-31-1940. This particular craft was shot down in Aug 1940, I'll assume during the BOB, by a Bf 109. Can I assume that it flew as a night fighter from May to when the BOB started and it would then be a valid entry?

 
BP Defiant was used as a night fighter after it was found to be a target during day operations. I know that the Airfix kit has a NF as one of the options.
 
If it was shot down by a 109 then it wasn't on a night mission. Defiants were definitely used in that role but I can't say whether or not your particular beast was. The 219 is a nice kit, though the wheel wells are a disappointment and the nacelle extensions are too long.

EDIT: From Wiki, which is never wrong:

[264] squadron lost a further five aircraft (to JG 26) on 28 August, with nine crew killed, and effectively ended operations, withdrawing to RAF Duxford the following day.[35] With these losses, the Defiant—which had been intended from the start as a day and night fighter—was transferred to night operations instead.
 
I agree with Andy. As memo serves , during the BoB the planes were re-used as the day fighters but because of severe losses were redrawn soon. The BP Defiants were the day fighters until the August of 1940. In the beginning of the September 1940 the planes were redeployed to the night fighter role.
 
I'm hours away from finishing my GB58 F6F-5N entry and thinking September is a long way off so really should enter another.
Donivanp said:
BP Defiant was used as a night fighter after it was found to be a target during day operations. I know that the Airfix kit has a NF as one of the options.
Click to expand...
Probably, but I don't see that specific in this kit (decal markings and camo). Thus my question to the group, can I extrapolate the end of the day fighting, going into night, and the time frame this one was shot down, to 'assume' it was a night fighter during some period prior to BOB? I guess I would have to historically verify? Nah. I'll just do the Heinkel, Andy's pointed out warts and all. I probably would not have noticed if not mentioned!The camo pattern will be a fun one to pull off as well!

Although the kit does have N1572, Sept 1940, markings! I could not find this number in my limited search, so maybe?

 
Last edited:
The L7026 was lost on 28 August 1940. Plt/Offs P.L. Skinner and C.E. Johnson were shot down and killed by Bf109s near Sillibourne Farm, Hinxhill, Kent.
Prior to the BOB the Defiants weren't used as the night fighters but the day ones following the flights as a guard convoy over the La Manche Channel. Also these carried out the patrol missions at the continental coast usually with the fighter escort.
 

Defiant N1572 KO-I also wasn't the night fighter. The pic below was taken during the Battle of Britain in September 1940. Judging by the code letters she belonged to the no. 2 Army-Cooperation Squadron. I found that the kite was one of the first in the role. From June 1940 the squadron began to revert to the reconnaissance role. Its first duty in that new role was to conduct a daily inspection of the British coast, searching for any German raiders


the source: the net.
 
From what I have seen on the internet, Defiant NF also had changed ID markings, the white of the roundel and tail plane were much reduced and most of the pics I saw looked very beaten up and looked as though ground crews knew the Defiant's days were numbered with spit and polish maintenance going out the window.
 
Ralph Haus said:
Thanks to all for the help in determining the roles of the kit markings. Heinkel it is then. I suppose this Defiant will fit in some GB sometime?
Click to expand...


Actually you may finish the model as the BP Defiant Mk. I night fighter s/n. N3313, PS-P of the No. 264 Squadron, The problem may be the serial number of the MSG colour to find.


the source: the net.

Also the BP Defiant s/n. N1773, PS-H of the No. 264 Squadron. The same with the serial ....

the source: the net.
 
Thank you for this. Can I assume that the aircraft major parts were the same (no added, removed major parts - the kit I have will be correct parts wise?) and the only challenge will be is to either find or create the correct decal set? Will be an adventure for me to try and find a decal set of either. I really need to start expanding on my 'skills' and this may be the small step needed? The easy path is the Heinkel, but with the amount of time left in this GB I really need to do something challenging!
 
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