1/24 Typhoon Mk 1b "Bubbletop" - MN140 SA-F - 486 Sqn RNZAF
Aug 31, 2015 12:28:30 GMT 12
Dave Homewood, obiwan27, and 1 more like this
Post by dewobz on Aug 31, 2015 12:28:30 GMT 12
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.
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.