Spitfire Mk. IXe, ‘ 17 ‘ ( 2018 ) of 101 Squadron, Hatzor Mid – 1949
1. History
Operation “Velvetta”
Operation “Velvetta”
A plane, a story.
Spitfires a salvation for Israel.
With Resolution 181 (29/11/1947), the partition plan for Palestine drawn up by UNSCOP (United Nations Special Committee on Palestine) was approved to resolve the conflict between the Jewish and Arab Palestinian communities, which had already broken out during the Mandate of Palestine, which proposed a partition of the Palestinian territory between two establishing states, one Jewish, the other Arab, with Jerusalem under international control. This plan was not accepted by the Arab countries, which immediately after the resolution came into conflict with the armed forces of the newly formed state of Israel.
Although American public opinion was favorable to the Jewish cause, on DECEMBER 5, 1947, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA announced a total arms embargo for the Middle East. Russia and European states, including England, also did the same thing. Thus, the Jews, despite having obtained a piece of land with resolution 181, remain without any system to defend themselves...nice rip-off. It would be like leaving a lamb free on land without a fence. All this did not discourage the Jews, much less DAVID BEN GURION, who strongly wanted an Israeli air force, because from above he could better control all the enemies surrounding Israel.
So how was the obstacle of this embargo against Israel overcome?
Secret operation codename: Velvetta
On 23/April 1948, CZECHOSLAVAKIA made an agreement with the Jews for the sale and training of the AVIA S 199 fighter, this was the first fighter plane of the newly formed Israeli Air Force. Again through CZECHOSLAVAKIA the Jews obtained the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, an aircraft with a truly significant combat capability that allowed the pilots of the Cheyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force) to improve the decisive battles fought against the Arab states in favor of Israel. Most of them were obtained through the secret code operation called "VELVETA" to bring them from Europe in a single non-stop flight, to Israel. The pilots of what was at the time the only fighter squadron in the Israeli Air Force, the 101st Tajeset, scored 26 victories in all, of which fourteen are attributed to the Spitfire. Meanwhile the Arab countries had a very respectable Air Force , rich in numerous English and Italian aircraft, of equal and even superior level in number and quality compared to the newly formed Israeli Air Force. Therefore, when it is said that the Jews won against the Arabs thanks to the Americans it is a gross inaccuracy of those who ignore these historical details, out of ignorance or out of sympathy towards the Palestinian cause.
2. The Kit
* Kit base: Eduard 84183 Spitfire Mk.IXc Weekend edition 1:48
* Eduard SIN64808 SPITFIRE Mk. IXc ESSENTIAL 1/48 EDUARD
* Eduard 648099 Spitfire exhaust stacks fishtail EDUARD
* Decals –Mix - Techmod 48064 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX + Eduard from the Kit
3. Cockpit and Seat
I availed myself of some photos and drawings of the interior of the Spitfire Mk.IXe, so that I could update the kit in this area. The instrument panel is very good ,but I opted to use the photo-etched example from the Eduard set. I Also added cables made from wire of different thickness, and sidewall detail and control levers from plasticard. All of the interior was painted light green; I prefer using acrylics, and therefore used Mr. Hobby H50 . After painting the inside, I glued the reflector gunsight in position ,having first added the‘glass’ element from this acetate sheet. The Kit-supplied pilot’s seat was used, with the addition of etched seat belts from the Eduard set.
4. Fuselage
The fuselage is accurate, with recessed panel lines and the plastic is easy to work. After assembling and painting the inner parts, you have to insert the exhaust pipes and glue them in place. The fit of the two fuselage halves is good, but you will have to rescribe some panel lines that are removed during sanding etc.
5. Wing and Tailplane
The wing look good, so I just secured them to the fuselage. This operation proved straightforward, as the join was extremely good.
8. Canopy.
After assembling the model I installed the canopy. This was masked with paper, then painted. This painting included the frame of the internal armoured windscreen. When the canopy is finished it can be positioned and secured with cement.
7. Painting
The first task is to smooth the surface of the kit using a very fine brasive sponge, to remove the slight porosity of the surface. After this operation, you need to clean the entire surface of the model by ethyl alcohol. Once dry and very clean, we paint with a primer, I use YELLOW GREEN XF-4 TAMIYA, among other things it simulates the chromed zinc of aircraft, this color allows you to see all the possible defects that appear on the surface, after 24 hours take a large flat brush and pass it over the entire surface, this will allow you to eliminate the thin dusty layer that this paint produces, at this point you have the model with a well-sanded surface ready for the final painting. Before carrying out the painting , it is best to darken all the engraved parts and the cracks in the panels with TAMIYA X-1 black paint. Well now we are ready to use the colors, I use Mr. Hobby acrylic, with the various shades, and then use the lighter and darker ones in the various panels to give volume and three-dimensionality to the mass of the aircraft .
Here is the summary of the sequence:
A. Clean the whole with alcohol
B. Paint with a Yellow Green Tamiya color acrylic XF-4
C. Paint with with TAMIYA X-1 black all the engraved parts
D. Bottom surface with gray Mr. Hobby H306
E. Upper surface of fuselage and wings with Mr. hobby H72
F. Green bands on upper surfaces Mr. Hobby H330
8. Landing Gears and Wheels
The undercarriage looks good, but still needs some detailing work like adding some wire to simulate the brake cables on each oleo. The wheels are too are good too. I replaced the wheels with the Eduard brassin resin.
9. Spinner and Propeller
The shape of the propeller is beautiful. The prop blades had their tips painted yellow, which, when dry, were masked prior to spraying the blades Flat black Mr. Hobby H12. After this can paint the model and stick the propeller into the propeller-hub.
10. Decals
The decals are a mix - Techmod 48064 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX + Eduard from the Kit. I have passed a layer of transparent acrylic paint of semi-gloss with Johnson's Pledge Revive it.
11. Weathering
The weathering of the model is very important and this entire task was undertaken carefully. In order to give prominence to the panel lines I added diluted Acrylic. The darker colors were added to the lower areas of the panel lines with the lighter shades along the edges. This latter operation will give a certain depth to the model and will eliminate the flat appearance of a standard paint scheme. The rivets around the engine hood and the various panels were worked with the help of AK's aluminum pencils. For the lines between the panels I used colors OIL - MAIMERI PURO mixing with THINNER 5816604 - Petroleum essence (278 - Burnt Sienna - 535 - Ivory Black - 018 - Titanium White ). In conclusion you will paint all the surfaces with Final semi-gloss with Johnson's Pledge Revive it - floor glass, with a thin coat of Flat clear Mr. Hobby H20
12. References.
* Camouflage & markings – The Israeli Air Force, Part One 1948 to 1967 – SAM editor
* Israeli Air Force operation in the 1948 war by Shlomo Aloni
