Dolf

Thanks Glenn. Your explanation seems perfectly logical and I guess you're probably right. Now what I don't understand is why some pieces have this B and some others don't! In some cases they needed to have it for knowing the proper position for assembling, and in other cases they didn't need it? And any reason for that small circle at 12 o'clock? Would this also be for the same reason? And if yes, why in some cases they have the circle AND the B, and in other cases neither of these?! Thanks, Dolf

Thanks! Now I'm curious to know if someone has one of these (without that circle at 12 o'clock like yours) but WITH the inverted "B" . Dolf

fjcp, Thanks! So, A 23.1 exists with the circle at 12 o'clock and without the circle! Some with the circle also have the kind of inverted "B", some others don't! A 23.1 #715 of "fjcp" has neither the circle nor the inverted "B". Does anyone have one without the circle, but WITH the inverted "B"? By the way, what could this kind of inverted "B" ... be? (no joke intended ) A mint mark? Why?!... What would be the meaning of it? A maker's mark? I guess not as this inverted "B" seems to be a stamped mark and I think (just my thoughts, not really sure) that maker's mark are usually hand engraved, right? Other opinions? Thanks, Dolf

Question: Do all A 23.1 have that small circle of about the size of a rivet at 12 o'clock? Those with the kind of inverted "B" as well as those that don't have the inverted "B"? Or are there some A 23.1 that don't have that small circle at 12 o'clock? And if they exist, do they have the inverted "B" or not, or some do and others don't? Please check your pieces and let me know what you find. Thanks in advance, Dolf

So, are they genuine?! Dolf

Dave, WOW!!! All to the same man?! Dolf Edit: Ooops, the post above answers my question I guess!

"Only" two out of 11 (as it seems)? I guess they were lucky! I believe that in the purges of that period the average would be higher than that... Dolf

Dave, Ok, thanks Not at all the same meaning as in french indeed Dolf

Dave, Nice pic "...the Soviet combine..." Don't get it! What does it mean? I know what "combine" means in french but not sure at all if it has the same meaning in english! Dolf

Ed, Post the reverses, that's where they are all different Yes, both unisuued. Dolf

Alan, PM sent. Hope it helps. Dolf

And last one for tonight, an American aircraft but painted with the colors of Finland, where this one served. This particular aircraft was flown by Captain Jorma Karhunen. On August 14 he shot down two Soviet Hurricane in a single combat and three days later he shot down three Polikarpov I-16. Originally there was a swastica painted on both sides of the airplane next to its number, but I guess the European laws forbid to have it painted now. The Brewster B-239 Buffalo (USA) Dolf

Personnaly my favorite British fighter. Can't explain it but have a special sympathy for this bird. The Hawker Hurricane MK.I (UK) Dolf

Considered the best British WWII fighter, and one of the best fighters ever. The Supermarine Spitfire MK.Vb (UK) Dolf

The Defiant NF MK.II (UK) Dolf

A few British birds. The DeHavilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI (UK) Dolf

One that had some success during the campaign of Poland, but was considered a disaster during the Battle of Britain, as he couldn't win against the Sptifires or even the Hurricane. The Messerschmitt Bf 110 E-1 (Germany) Dolf

A special one for that epoch. Probably the fastest aircraft of WWII I suppose. Fortunatelly for the Allies this bird only became fully operational in the summer of 1944 and was only produced in limited numbers. The Messerschmitt Me-262 A-1a (Germany) Dolf

A funny one. The Heinkel He 162A Salamander (Germany) Dolf

A big one! The Heinkel He 219A-0 Uhu (Germany) Dolf

Another peculiar bird, with his two propeller, one in the front and another in the rear. The Dornier Do 335A-1 Pfeil (Germany) Dolf

Stephen, Just a few. Starting with a couple of what I believe wouldn't be commonly considered particularly attractive birds. Still nice on their own way after all. This one is the Henschel Hs-129 (Germany) Dolf

Alan, I see you were finally able to post your own pics, Congratulations! With Photoshop (maybe other programs can also do it, I just don't know) you'd also be able to crop the pics/scans and eliminate all those background areas around the award, making it more visible. Anyway, excellent work! Cheers, Dolf

Right when I was starting to take a few pics of some other birds the batteries of my camera went down so will have to wait a few hours before they recharge... So will post some more pics later. Cheers, Dolf

Yes it is! Usually as you probably kinow those more famous manufacturers sell them for much more! So given the quite correct quality it's indeed a fair price! These are heavy, nicely made and pretty well detailed for this scale so that's enough for me Only nine more for the collection to be complete. Then maybe I'll get a couple of others not in this collection from a major manufacturer, such as the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet and the Messerschmitt Me 210 or 410 Hornisse. Best, Dolf