Feature Article by Steve Leslie
Introduction
The Bob Whaites Memorial Spitfire Display…
My local modelling club (IPMS NSW) instituted a Spitfire only competition in honour of a member and friend who had passed away and, as I needed a rest from my usual WingNut Wings projects, I decided to do a nice “shake and bake” Tamiya Spitfire.
It turned out to be a major project!
Research…
I was lucky enough to see Dave Johnson’s lovely build of this A/C and noted it was quite different from Tamiya’s.
I contacted him and he set me on a path of weeks of study and research to get it right.
I posted a request for information on Facebook and a member of my club, Li Choo, sent me a copy of NZDF Spitfire serials and logs.
This confirmed what Dave had said. Then I Googled up the Squadron code no. from that document and, Eureka, up came these photographs.
Next thing you know I was sent a link to a copy of an article by Alan Lind briefly documenting the pilot’s life story.
This is the actual aircraft flown by Warrant Officer Murray Lind RNZAF. It is TB675 and not TB625 as depicted by Tamiya.
Murray Lind
Murray John Charles Lind was born at Fielding NZ on the 5th November 1920. He transferred to 485(NZ) squadron from 222 squadron at Predannack, Cornwall in March 1945.
“His personal aircraft was low back Spitfire Mk XVIe TB675, which Murray personalised with the addition of a silver fern in a black shield (an emblem used on several No.485(NZ)
Squadron Spitfires which was copied from the tin of Silver Fern Tobacco, a Kiwi brand popular with the New Zealand pilots at the time). Murray also added the name “Rongotea” to the aircraft, which was the small farming district near Ohakea where he came from.”
(excerpt from an article by Alan Lind, Murray’s son).
Murray died on 7th March 1994.
A note from Geoff
I absolutely love this build from Steve – a real inspiration, especially when you see the level of detail, painting and weathering he’s added to his cockpit and Merlin engine. And… here are a couple of photos of his completed build with many more to follow in this great feature article.
