What’s On
Opening Hours & Admission
Model maker and Battle of Britain enthusiast Dom Pound is creating hyper-realistic scale models of Tom Neil’s Hurricane and Eric Lock’s Spitfire as part of an ambitious plan to create models for a number of Battle of Britain-linked sites across the south east.
The models will help Bentley Priory Museum to share the story of Lock and Neil’s meeting in the sky during the summer of 1940.
Dom has been fascinated by the Battle of Britain since he was a child and describes it as a “life-long passion”.
He explains: “At the age of five I attended my first Battle of Britain reunion at RAF Kenley, back when there were still numerous veterans to still tell the story… by my late teens the numbers of the ‘Few’ had reduced drastically, but my appreciation for that vital summer of 1940 has grown and I am now dedicated to preserving the memory of the Few however I can.
“Encouraged by watching my father make kits for me as a small child, I began building my own at the age of 12. As the years passed, I took my skills to a new level, spending many hours making my models as realistic as possible and adding every ounce of spare detail I could. In late 2021, having used social media to share my builds, I received my first commissions, a catalyst for what is now a small, part-time business.
“I am now using my skills to create displays for key Battle of Britain sites in time for the 85th anniversary in 2025. I aim to create displays that are interactive and informative but that also inspire commemoration and tell stories. In total I will be creating 17 models that will be displayed at seven sites.
“I dedicate this project to the memory of the ‘Few’ and the memory of the Battle of Britain 1940.”
Project Updates
August 2024
The project is now over four months in and so far three Spitfires, a Hurricane and Defiant have been completed with another three now in progress. Each model has had cockpit details added and as much attention to detail has been paid to make the models as close to the real thing as possible. The project is across 7 sites and there are plenty of social media updates up and coming. Please visit ‘Doms Model Legends’ to view the previous builds so far. Full role outs commencing from Sunday 13th July 2025.
September 2024
The main cockpit has been semi completed and the cockpit wiring has been added along with the control cables to the rear half the fuselage. Wings and outer areas next.
The base build is complete at this stage, but by far the most satisfying addition has been the control cables which are visible in the pictures, giving a real addition for visitors. Airbrushing is now in progress and final assemblies with the model due for completion by end of September.
It’s been a challenging September but two more builds are completed and that’s now 7 out of the 17 now ready, two of which are already on display at Kenley and Hornchurch. The Bentley Priory build however is so far one of the more satisfying for the detail achieved at such a small scale. 3 more in progress from this week.
October 2024
First week of October has been hectic, but has now seen the completion of three more models with three more now underway. The week has also seen me update two models with corrections so thank you to those who pointed these out along with oil brushing to bring back colours and add extra definition to weathering and final touches where needed.
Finishing touches to the Eric Lock Spitfire for Bentley Priory. This one now joins the others now fully completed and weathered.
Full on two weeks completed including visits to both Bentley Priory and Exmouth museums to discuss the project and the future. Build wise the Eric Lock Spitfire and 253 Sqdn Hurricane of Sqdn Ldr Starr have had finishing touches/changes. Thank you to Iain Arnold for pointing that one out.
Three still ongoing, two if which are approaching finishing, the Hurricane of FO Burton 249 Sqdn is closest to completion at this stage, the PO Pease Spitfire close behind. The larger Hurricane of PO Page 56 Sqdn is also in progress, engine and cockpit first.
For those that don’t know, the project is now extending to five years in length to dedicate as many pilots and aircrew as possible.
November 2024
I can officially state that as of today, the project is now 12 museums and two organisations strong and I am putting together a growing list of members of the Few who will be or are recognised as part of the project. Total thus far 50 plus airmen.
With a week’s holiday this month it’s been three weeks of hard work, average 20-25 hours on top of my full time work making 60 hour working weeks the norm at the moment. The Spitfire of Sqdn ldr Andrew Smith 610 sqdn is now no11 completed with the Hurricane of Sgt Suidak of 303 sqdn due to be completed next week. The Hurricane of Geoffrey Page continues with the gun bays currently a work in progress.
