Dewoitine D.520...the prodigal son

D.520 was among the most modern fighter aircraft at the beginning of WWII in the French Air Force inventory. Contrary to current design philosophy, this was a very good looking plane and was very useful as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe after France capitulation in June 1940.

This plane is unique and a treasure for modellers because was used by many Air Forces during the war and, at last, return to french pilots when France was liberated in 1944. The most attractive for modelling D.520 is the fact that any user put some proper paint schemes but not erasing totally the former French scheme. Moreover, when the surviving planes came back to French hands, was utilized with no new paint, because there wasn't original paint except the German stock. The Free French Air Force slowly repainted its aircraft color by color according to availability.

This model is a Tamiya 1/48 kit. Indeed, superb molds as Tamiya high standard and, unlike Tamiya classic kits, a very decent interior cockpit details. No engine details.

As always with this company products, the construction -OOB- is very straightforward and no putty is required. My box come with the classic white 6 in black disc in the fin, one of the most know-ed D.520 in the Free French Air Force (with the hand write legend "vas y jojo" in the cockpit starboard side) . It's an specially dirty and multi-colored example of that era.     

source: warthunder.com