Small Scale Military Headquarters

im looking for some info on some of the pieces

1) 1/18 spitfire mk.1 2003 release "STAP ME" nose art

2) prototype of the S3 sabre "MIG MAD MAVIS" pilot Col. Ruddell
he scored 7 migs in nam

ive never seen the spitfire is it also a prototype?

The STAP ME - Spitfire was sold in Europe and especially at German market for cheap money --> approx 50 US$. But these times are gone now, unfortunatelly

Never heard of "Stap Me".

Can only imagine what one of those would go for these days.

Thanks for the info Crazy Kraut.

I have never heard of it, either.

It's the NKK Spitfire "Borough of Lambeth". The rabbit on the plane is saying "Stap Me".

English
Verb
stap

(obsolete) an affected pronunciation of stop


Usage notes
Used in the phrase "Stap Me!" This phrase was used by the character Captain A.R.P. Reilly-Ffoull in the WWII era cartoon strip Just Jake, published in the British daily The Daily Mirror. This phrase found its way into the RAF -- painted on Spitfires in the 603rd in deference to their Squadron Leader Basil Gerald "Stapme" Stapleton, a fighter pilot hero of the Battle of Britain. "Stap Me!" was not only an expression he used due to his love of the comic strip Just Jake, but it became his nickname and a battle cry of his squadron.

Just did a little quick research and came up with this from my files:

The NKK Spitfire represents a Spitfire Mk II of No.118 Squadron RAF, flown by P/O A.S.C. Lumsden in Ibsley around May 1941. This particular Spitfire was presented to the RAF by the people of the Borough of Lambeth (in London) through public subscription.

After the successful conclusion of the Battle of Britain the RAF Fighter Command formed a substantial number of new fighter squadrons to rebuild the losses and enable switching to offensive opeations. No 118 Sqn was one of the old RAF units reinstated at this period. It was formed at Filton on February 20 1941 within 10th Group, flying Spitfires Mk. I. After its first combat detachment at Pembrey, the unit re-equipped with Spitfire Mk. II and moved to Ibsley, between Bournmouth and Southampton (in southeastern England), flying defensive patrols over the south coast.

The nose art and "Stap me" phrase depict a popular comic strip character, Captain A.R.P. Reilly-Ffoull, squire of Arntwee Hall, from Bernard Graddon's comic strip Just Jake which was printed in the London Daily Mirror between 1938 and 1952.

While not a Battle of Britain aircraft, this still is my favorite of the 21c Spitfires

Just checked my NKK,and sure enough it has "Stap Me".

Thanks Black Lion VF-213.

Mine is the same as well.


- Jeff

THANKS! great info guys i really appreciate it!

so was it a European release only?

AMERICAN_GRENADIER wrote:THANKS! great info guys i really appreciate it!

so was it a European release only?

Nope, not based on the "stap me" art. Hard thing to find is the Corgi boxed versions that were released in Europe only. Also some have Bette on the pilot doors, some don't. I believe all the Euro releases do for sure but some of the US blue boxed ones have it too. Also there is two different sizes of NKK and fuse roundel that can be found on these. One of the dc forums has a good article going on that.

Black Lion VF-213 wrote:It's the NKK Spitfire "Borough of Lambeth". The rabbit on the plane is saying "Stap Me".

Exactly. Not sure where the Euro exclusive stuff came from.

Only thing "euro exclusive" about this plane was when they released them over there in a special Corgi box. Also the 190D's, Corsairs, and Stuka's could be had over there in a Corgi box. They were a ton of money too.

I think the only European exclusive items were the Panzer IV with skirts and the Priller FW-190. Those and the unusual (but what appear to be authentic) German infantry that showed up a few weeks ago.

I have heard of the Corgi boxes, but have never seen one.

I didn't realize the Spitfire had variations in the NKK scheme.
Here are photos of the differences

Motorworks boxed Spitfire name, charactor, and door


Ultimate Soldier boxed Spitfire name, charactor, and door


Motorworks boxed Spit roundel


Ultimate Soldier boxed Spit roundel

vmf214 wrote:Only thing "euro exclusive" about this plane was when they released them over there in a special Corgi box... They were a ton of money too.

Getting out and about in the world really presented some interesting opportunities, some of which I unfortunantly did not take, as can be seen in this personal photo below:



In March 2005, I saw a pile of the 21c planes in the Corgi boxes on clearance at the in the RAF Museum at Colindale, just north of London. They were priced at £29.99 (about $54) which was down from £59.99. The assortment in the gift shop consisted of DWK and NKK Spitfires; RAF P-40s, yellow-nose Stukas, and Galland ME-109Es (the complete selection is not pictured). They did not have the FW-190 or Panzer IV as those had not been released at the time.

Nice bargain considering what they go for now. Too bad I didn't have the room in my suitcase or the desire to purchase planes readily available in the US

tmanthegreat wrote:

WOW.

I just checked my NNK Spitfire... Notice to anyone of you who may have a ceiling far in the vicinity of your hanging 1:18th aircraft; Do not stand on a chair and try to read the side of the Spitfire while fan is running!
I'll be ok.........................
Mine looks like the first pics in Buckroo's photos. The Borough of Lambeth, Stap Me character and no name on the door.
I don't recall which box it was in, found it in North Fla. at a Walmart about five or so years ago. Oh one other thing the roundels are crisp and clean and the red dot is centered.

Buckyroo wrote:I have heard of the Corgi boxes, but have never seen one.

I didn't realize the Spitfire had variations in the NKK scheme.
Here are photos of the differences

Motorworks boxed Spitfire name, charactor, and door


Ultimate Soldier boxed Spitfire name, charactor, and door


Motorworks boxed Spit roundel


Ultimate Soldier boxed Spit roundel

Yep, I have two of them and both the roundels and the NKK character width are different. But they came in 21st boxes, so I don't think the fact they were sold under the Motorworks label is the key.

my NKK only says BETTE on the right side of the plane, not on the opening door