1/48 Tamiya Dewoitine D.520 |
Gallery Article by Randy Lutz
on
Oct 26 2003
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This particular
model represents the D.520 flown by Adjutant Chef Bouton of Groupe de chasse
II/3, 2ieme Escadrille, while engaged in Syrian campaign (Operation Levante) and
was based at Rayak, Lebanon, during June 1941.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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I am aware of only
two photos of Bouton's aircraft. One is found in the Polish publication
entitled 'D.520' by Books International. It depicts Bouton's aircraft
prior to the application of Vichy markings and is invaluable in determining the
starboard side camouflage pattern. At this particular time, it also
sported the red stripes on the fuselage. There has been some debate over
the stripes, with some claiming they are personal markings. In reality,
they are a standard feature on D.520's of the 2ieme
Escadrille, of Groupe de chasse II/3. An interesting aspect of this photo is
that fact that it clearly illustrates the use of the short dorsal antenna mast
and is the only photo I have seen of a short-masted Dewoitine.
The other photo of Bouton's
aircraft appears in the French publication entitled 'Le Dewoitine' by Raymond
Danel and Jean Cuny. In this photo the aircraft is shown after being
destroyed on the ground in July 1941. You can clearly see the all-yellow tail
surfaces, indicative of aircraft involved in Syria and at this time the aircraft
was fitted with the more commonly seen tall dorsal antenna mast.
Bouton's aircraft has been
confused with another similarly marked Dewoitine flown by Sergeant Robert Killy,
father of the famous French downhill skier, Jean-Claude Killy, but there are
subtle differences in the camo pattern and the large number '30'.
My model is not quite out of the box as I added some photo-etched seatbelts. It
is finished in Xtracolor X384 WWII Kaki, X386 WWII Ombre Calcinee, X388
WWII Gris Bleu Foncé, X389 WWII Gris Bleu Clair, X103, X106 Insignia Yellow
FS13538, X103 Insignia Red FS11136, X124 Blue FS15109 and X141 White FS17875.
All markings are by Aeromaster from sheet 48-095 and the aircraft was
weathered with chalk pastels.
Randy Lutz
Click on
images below to see larger images
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