Dear Brian

Many thanks writing me l!!

First of all, ONLY TWO MODELS SHOWN SIDE BY SIDE MAKE A COLLECTOR !!! So are you!

You can easily find in MAC members more foolish collectors than me, and diecast collections of higher weight !!

Regazrding these F-100 and F4-Phantom II 1/72:

The Spanish collections editor ALTAYA is issuing them in its European series dedicated to "Avions de combat à réaction" (Jet Combat Planes) on both subscriptions by web or item by item sales in our newspapers retailers shops.. Each model is sold with a booklet that can be assembled in bookbindings (20 booklets) that form reference books at the end of collection (generally 60-65 items). I can't assure ALTAYA is distributed in US.

The initial model Manufacturer is IXO. The models issued by ALTAYA present light imperfections (but nothing a REAL collector can't deal with !!!) preventing them to be sold under IXO brand. Therefore they are at very attractive costs (around 13€ with mandatory booklet).

Try to find on the net IXO retailers and look for your models.

Regarding the F4D Phantom II model, you can find the same plane (OY-463) represented at a later state, with some more victories, a slightly different camo scheme and larger armament load in 1/72 Hobby Master HM series, ref HA-1901.

Regarding the UK early 40' black and white undersurfaces camo, I own 2 other planes (a Gloster Gladiator and a Spit I) wearing same pattern. For instace, british ace Stanford Tuck's DT-A Hurricane wore the same undersurfaces scheme.

This disappeared during 1940, varying after operations theaters (Battle of Britain, then Middle East).

I'm very happy correspunding with another co-generation mate and wait reading from you!!

Kind regards from France.

Jean-Francois
AKA Jeff

First of all, welcome Brian!

This MS406 was part of of 7 or 8 French fighters based in Syria in 1940. Following de Gaulle's speach from England (18th of June), they escaped and were assembled in Egypt with 274 Squ RAF. They fought in the Western desert until they were no longer airworthy. Some 3 of them were taken by on RAF charge, including the one shown here. They were still flown by the first Free French AF pilots. Upper surfaces camo is the French standard used, but unsersurfaces show the early '40 half black & white RAF pattern.