While iconic aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire are household names today, often forgotten are the precursors that preceded them. One such aircraft was the mid-1930s night-fighter, the Supermarine Starling.
Developed to meet Air Ministry requirement 05/34, the new aircraft was seen as ideal to meet the threat of a massive night bombing attack upon Britain. Powered by the Bristol Jerkery radial engine and having cutting-edge features such as a cantilever wing, retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit, the new night-fighter handily passed all tests and was christened the Supermarine Starling after a test-squadron was ordered in mid-1936.
Finished in an updated version of N.I.V.O. (Night Invisible Varnish, Ordfordness) camouflage, the fast new night-fighter was featured in press & newsreels of the time, making the British feel safe from surprise night attack.
This sense of security would soon be put to the test.
Unknown to most, the fighters of the R.A.F. were but part of the defense. The crucial piece of the puzzle was early detection. It was hoped that new radar stations would make that easy.
On the evening of March 30, 1937, the "chain home" radar stations were inundated with signals. It seemed a massive, surprise attack was underway. R.A.F. Fighter Command was stunned as the information came in.
The test squadron of Starlings was scrambled without delay.
However, the source of the commotion was not what Fighter Command was anticipating.
Starlings flew at various courses and altitudes, trying to find the threat. It wasn't until dawn that the enemy was finally spotted.
Once this got out, politicians opposed to military spending had a field day. It was determined that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had spent approximately £1000 per bird to defend Britain on the night of March 30th. This spelled doom for the Supermarine Starling.
However, the design was not entirely forgotten and would soon lead to the famous Spitfire of World War II fame.
Well as with most things, this project started simply enough with a box of parts, mostly Airfix.
The rudder is leftover from an Airfix Me-109 and was given a new fin cut from sheet stock.
The wings and fuselage are from a Spitfire of course. The canopy is from an Academy P-40 and the tailplanes are actually from a Revell Nieuport 28.
The engine is from an Airfix Aichi Val. I wish I could remember where the propeller came from.
The entire model is brush-painted by hand with acrylics and the project took me five days from start to finish.
I hope my Starling has-been was good for a laugh or two. It was a lot of fun to put together.
After this, maybe you'll see flocks of birds a little differently.
Brian da Basher
