Battle of Britain: Model Squadron

[Glenn Philbrick]

According to the Saturday times C4 are producing three programs of a reenactment of the Battle of Britain using model aircraft. I have not been able to find anything further as to timings or where it might take place. Does anybody know more about it ?

http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/c4-and-love-productions-recreate-battle-of-britain-like-never-before

[Jon H]

yea there was a request for pilots sent out a while ago.

If its the same one I think it is then its not likely to end well. Trying to get 20+ 1.4m foamy warbirds in the air together and in formation is not likely to work very well.

Oh and you also have to dedicate a week to the event so RIP holiday time.

[Cuban8]

I know that I'm being premature, but I have a feeling that what's being organised could be frivolous and might be considered disrespectful. There are ways and means of using serious aeromodelling to raise awareness of the Battle of Britain in context and either through static displays or with the flying of suitable models, (e.g The Dawn Patrol and LMA among others) what's put before the public is perfectly good and valid.

Having a bunch of small models being flown about by what sounds like anyone who fancies having a go, sounds terrible and I really don't think will add anything to the story, indeed it risks trivialising it. My opinion and I hope I'm very wrong, will just have to keep fingers crossed and see how the programmes turn out (if indeed they ever make it to air). Brickbats or bouquets will be forthcoming, of that, one can be sure.

To quote their press release.

"Sara Ramsden, Executive Producer at Love Productions said: ‘The average age of a Battle of Britain pilot in 1940 was 20 years old. I hope we can bring the story of their achievement to a whole new generation of younger TV viewers. Their stories will be illustrated by the many young modellers of the same age that are coming to take part in this audacious TV experiment."

[John Lancaster 2]

Definitely going on air...

**LINK**

[Alan H]

Thanks for the link

[Cuban8]

My concerns above are still worrying, but I understand that the well respected historian and broadcaster James Holland is associated with the production, so that's one thing in its favour.

[Nigel R]

audacious

adjective

 

extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless:

an audacious explorer.

 

extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive:

an audacious vision of the city's bright future.

 

recklessly bold in defiance of convention, propriety, law, or the like; insolent; brazen.

 

lively; unrestrained; uninhibited:

an audacious interpretation of her role.

 

 

[Tony Bennett]

i just hope they focus on the aircraft and not on "personalities" like most tv shows do these days.

 

fingers crossed for a great and interesting show.

 

Tony B

Edited By Tony Bennett on 05/09/2018 16:14:20

[Tony Bennett]

i just hope they focus on the aircraft and not on "personalities" like most tv shows do these days.

fingers crossed for a great and interesting show.

Tony B

[Nigel R]

It might be quite lively. We shall see!

[Trevor]

I was one of the ‘rent a crowd’ who went along to the last day’s filming and, talking to one or two of the pilots, I got the impression that they are aiming to tell the stories of some of the pilots involved in the battle, from both sides. They have a series of three 60min programmes to fill so quite what the people/planes ratio will be is anybody’s guess!

Trevor

[John Lancaster 2]

Interview on BBC this morning...

**LINK**

[Robin Mosedale 1]

Cringe

[Tim Hooper]

A couple of my clubmates are involved - one of them specialises in FPV using warbirds;

**LINK**

Tim

[Stephen Smith 14]

Posted by Robin Mosedale 1 on 07/09/2018 19:32:40:

Cringe

I'll second that, no wonder everyone out side model flying thinks where anoraks.

[cymaz]

So far so good! Spotted Sharon !

Edited By cymaz on 09/09/2018 20:23:02

[Phil 9]

Posted by Tony Bennett on 05/09/2018 16:12:55:

i just hope they focus on the aircraft and not on "personalities" like most tv shows do these days.

 

fingers crossed for a great and interesting show.

 

Tony B

they seem to have found suitably diverse group of modelers. some of them don't seem to have flown a model before ie the Navy full size pilot.

Edited By Phil 9 on 09/09/2018 20:33:39

[Phil 9]

some very good inflight footage I thought

[Kevin Fairgrieve]

The history side of it. Excellent.

The rest............not so sure.

[Peter Miller]

That was brillianty done. What more can I say.

Great that the lady shot down ost of the Me 109s to.

[fly boy3]

I liked it too, but why no ic, are foamies more expendable ? Perhaps next week. Cheers

[Tom Flynn 1]

Seeing as by the end of this series every pilot who enjoys warbirds is going to want one of these planes, any idea of manufacturer and costs etc, or we’re all these made just for this TV programme.

[Rocker]

They look like they where Dynam models and FMS Stukas.

[Geoff S]

Just finished watching it and I was pleasantly surprised. We all know how difficult it is to fly accurately with other aircraft but I thought they succeeded quite well - though it would have been heavily edited. A fair few mid-airs and Stukas in the water which is hardly surprising. It also showed aeromodelling in a reasonable light.

Certainly the Hurricanes were Dynam but not sure about the Stukas - FMS? I don't normally approve of 'reckless' flying but at least in this case they weren't destroying hand crafted balsa scale models. I suppose they got a good deal on the foamies

Geoff

[Geoff S]

Posted by Stephen Smith 14 on 09/09/2018 18:35:06:

Posted by Robin Mosedale 1 on 07/09/2018 19:32:40:

Cringe

I'll second that, no wonder everyone out side model flying thinks where anoraks.

Everyone thinks every hobbyist is an 'anorak' whatever the hobby. ie where 'Everyone' = people who do nothing except go to the pub or watch TV.

I've been an 'anorak' of one variety or another all my life, like just about everyone on this forum, I suspect.

Geoff