1/24 Typhoon Mk 1b "Bubbletop" - MN140 SA-F - 486 Sqn RNZAF

[dewobz]

Here's a selection of photos of my progress so far on Airfix's 1/24 Hawker Typhoon Mk 1b "Bubbletop", a kitset which appears to be in a class of its own. All the incredible detail is injection molded plastic!
This aircraft will be finished as MN140 SA-F of 486 Sqn RNZAF in about Jan/Feb 1944. According to world expert Chris Thomas, only two "Bubbletop" Typhoons were delivered to 486 Sqn with factory applied Typhoon recognition stripes, before these were discontinued.

Quote: "I've checked delivery dates and only MN125/Q and MN140/F were delivered with them (in Jan 44); the stripes were deleted on 7 Feb 44. All the other Typhoons I listed were delivered after 7 Feb.
All these Typhoons would have had the cut-down exhaust fairings - same as the ones on MN235 in the RAF Museum. MN125 had an interesting career. It was transferred to 197 Sqn, the other resident Typhoon sqn at Tangmere, just before 486 departed for Beaulieu. It seems to have been adopted by the then Wg Cdr Flying, Denys E Gillam, as his personal aircraft (still carrying its SA-Q codes). Gillam never used his initials in his Typhoons, earlier and later using 'Z-Z' It appears in his log throughout April and May 44 by which time he was Grp Capt OC 20 Sector which controlled 123 and 146 Airfields (later renamed Wings). On D+1, one of his staff (a former 56 and 198 Sqn pilot, on rest) 'borrowed' SA-Q for an unofficial look at the Beachhead; he was shot down by flak and taken PoW, seriously injured. He was later left by the retreating Germans. So you could put SA-Q in D-Day stripes if desired!"

I don't desire to do that but include it out of interest. Anyhow, I'm also not going to repeat all the photos from Brett Green & Co's excellent book about building the kitset, which is a necessity in my opinion, although I have diverged from both it and the instructions on occasions, notably the installation of wheel well detail prior to putting the wheel well ceiling or 'lid' on. I believe copious amounts of frustration and time can be saved doing this. Okay, enough talk, here's some photos -

07-DSCN1389 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

19-DSCN1605 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

22-DSCN1608 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

18-DSCN1604 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

16-DSCN1602 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

05-DSCN1614 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

10-DSCN1619 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

18-DSCN1629 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

23-DSCN1634 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

17-DSCN1628 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

27-DSCN1638 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2344 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2346 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2348 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Things are progressing fairly rapidly now with enclosing the wings and fuselage, which sadly covers up a lot of the detail.
More pictures should follow soon.
Cheers
Wally.

[TS]

Lovely work, shame you have covered that detailed work up.

Should do it as a cut away model so we can see it....

[ZacYates]

"A class of its own" really does cover it. What a kit. I never fail to be amazed at how good it looks without any extra bits. Nice work Wally!

[suthg]

What incredible detail that comes with the kit! And even the cockpit instrument panel - so detailed, and similarly buried in the wing structure!!

[Calum]

Nice start Wally

[flyjoe180]

Great work so far Wally, this is an amazing looking kit.

[saratoga]

Looks great, you're a braver man than I!.

Not wanting to be a train/plane spotter, but an interest of mine.The 20mm cartridges should be brass,the projectiles a mix of HEI and SAPI(2ea HEI,2ea SAPI,etc),so colours HEI-Red base,yellow tip(50/50) ,SAPI- red body, white tip,(80/20).Links generally black ,sometimes gunmetal or dk.green.
Doesn't detract from your modelling but might be of interest.

[dewobz]

Thanks for your comments everyone, and thanks for the detail saratoga. It's worth getting things as correct as possible on this kit, so I will look into repainting the ammunition.
Cheers

[dewobz]

I have repainted the ammunition with red projectiles. I'm not sure I have the skill to paint the top portion of them white. No photos of that yet.
Fuselage and tailplane assembly was fairly straightforward after the cockpit and engine assemblies. The injection moulded hinges for ailerons, stabilizers and fins are so exact and strong I will leave these moveable, reminiscent of early Airfix only now the quality is exceptional -

DSCN2468 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2469 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Only the trim tabs will need cementing as they tend to float around a bit and move too far.
And so, finally, painting begins with the White recognition stripes & Med Sea Grey -

DSCN2475 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2509 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

There are so many details to consider and they are so BIG! I reckon each drop tank takes roughly the equivalent paint to an entire 1/72 scale aircraft. Fun though ... what a brush painter like me calls "a big canvas" ...

DSCN2510 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2512 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

The inside of the machine-gun bay doors with their leather covers were particularly challenging -

DSCN2511 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And then another big masking for the Black recognition stripes -

DSCN2519 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

It's coming along nicely. More soon ...
Cheers
Wally.

[Calum]

Looking good Wally

[dewobz]

Thanks Calum. Because the aircraft I've chosen to depict, MN140, wears 'cut down' exhaust covers, it came time to fit these, after fitting the exhaust stacks, in preparation for uppers painting. 'Easy as' on the port side where the panels are off the aircraft -

DSCN2538 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2539 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

But a whole different story where the panels and exhaust covers have to fit over engine and exhaust detail.
Several hours filing and sanding to achieve this. Similar work is required to 'cover up' the entire engine as described at the end of the Brett Green 'How to Build' book -

DSCN2540 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2541 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2547 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

The contrast with the open side is really good though -

DSCN2546 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Masking tape came off the underwings and the landing flaps got some treatment too, these will be extended in the final assembly -

DSCN2535 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2537 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And of all the photos I sent to flickr the re-painted ammunition one will not open for sharing! You can see it on flickr I guess ...?
Cheers folks

[suthg]

Amazing detail on that Napier Sabre!! Thanks for sharing Wally

[dewobz]

Painting and 'decorating' is complete. (I forgot to include the flaps in these photos). I hope to apply decals over this weekend.

DSCN2613 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2616 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2617 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2618 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2619 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2620 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

and with the giant 4 blade prop test fitted -

DSCN2624 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Cheers

[dewobz]

For those who might be considering building this kit and using the kit decals, my experience of them has not been so good. They are thick and definitely best applied using hot water in my opinion. Also there is rivet detail along the upper fuselage which I found it necessary to sand back after breaking my first fuselage roundel. Thankfully there are 4 in the kitset -

DSCN2625 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2637 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Sadly, there is also some very very slight 'out of register' on the large upper wing roundels and the fin flashes -

DSCN2634 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Many airbrush painters will no doubt paint their markings on, which might be wise, or Xtradecal (Hannants) make aftermarket decals which may be better. The 1/32 30" Sky Code Letters used on here are Xtradecal, and the 8" Black Serials are actually 1/48 15" Black Codes by Fantasyprintshop.co.uk, who make an extensive range of Codes and Serials.
The biggest challenge was cutting the port upper wing roundel to size for the open gun bays. I used the closed door part to size the opening, which worked reasonably well -

DSCN2632 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2633 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Then I had to apply the cut-out part to two separate doors, which will eventually be joined at an angle -

DSCN2635 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2636 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Things were looking okay until this morning when, after 48 hours drying, my glosscoat over the decals woke some of them up and they bubbled. I've now been through a long process of pricking and applying microsol, pressing and applying microsol again. They have now settled pretty well, as good as I can get them.

DSCN2638 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

I decided to go with aircraft code first, then squadron codes, reading from left to right on the starboard side, which seemed to be more common with Typhoons than with Tempests ...?

DSCN2640 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

I'm gonna give the decals another lengthy drying period before applying another glosscoat.
Cheers
Wally.

[dewobz]

Finished! Here are a few photos from my first photo session. I may do another. They link to 27 photos on Flickr. This is Airfix 1/24 Hawker Typhoon Mk 1b 'Bubble Canopy' as MN140, SA-F, 486 Sqn RNZAF (RAF) in late January 1944... (first pic has a matchbook in it for scale purposes) -

DSCN2673 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2674 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2714 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2675 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2686 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2687 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2683 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2678 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2704 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2707 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2708 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

It really is the most awesome kitset, all injected, quite challenging, but I'd recommend it to anyone.
Brush painted using Tamiya enamels and AeroMaster acrylics. Montex paint masks. Decals by Airfix, Xtradecal (1/32 30" Sky Code Letters - for 24"? at 1/24), Fantasyprintshop decals (1/48 15" Black Serials RAF WW2 - for 8" at 1/24), Testors Dullcote.
Thanks for watching folks. All comments appreciated.
Wally.

[kiwiduster1]

That's an impressive model and finish !! Great to see. Cheers.

[flyjoe180]

Very impressive build Wally. A nice change to see one with the panels off.

[Ian Warren]

That is an impressive build, a Brilliant piece off work