My Eclectic 1/72 Collection

[chbessexboy]

A while ago I found the box to an old Revell Tempest MkV I'd built in my youth. It owed its survival to being full of surplus parts from my modelling days. My model collection had endured fifty years of house moves in boxes so I went on a search of discovery. Some had not fared too well but the Tempest was intact.



As I was a member of the Typhoon/Tempest group on Facebook I decided to post this image (below) to jog a few memories. The result was overwhelming approval. However there was one comment along the lines of, "Good job on a horrible kit". It made me look at my Tempest with more mature and critical eyes.



It was not a perfect build. The fuselage halves below the radiator intake do not line up, the rockets and rails are over scale (and Tempests rarely had them anyway), and the canopy is too squat.



I looked at the other kits in the boxes. They were of their era as far as detail and accuracy was concerned, but deserved to be enjoyed again. Like me, they were after all, survivors.



Thus inspired, I turned to the internet for a look at the current scene. How things have changed!



Some modellers’ skills are virtually unbelievable in 1/72 scale! Cockpit interiors alone are works of art. I realised I would not have the skill, patience or time to indulge to that level, but a respectable collection could be assembled from what I already had and the vast array of subjects now available. After a fifty year hiatus, my hobby has resumed.




Hawker Tempest V EJ555 SD-Y

[30sqnatc]

Hey welcome back to the modelling world. Edited.

[chbessexboy]

My 1970’s WWII Japanese aircraft were represented by this Airfix Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” and Revell Kawasaki Ki-61 “Hein”.




Both could do with a little refinement. The debate I have is whether to leave them as is or “upgrade” them.

The Zero isn’t bad and I have a couple of others in the stash to build in different paint schemes.



But the Tony could at least do with some less-transparent decals.



Maybe it’ll get an overall silver or olive drab repaint and a better Hasegawa or Fujimi example will be purchased when I’m more competent with the air brush.

[chbessexboy]

An (Airfix) Lysander has an out-landing in a field. Actually a towel until my Noch Grass Mat arrives. Another of the old kits that could use some new decals.

[chbessexboy]

As a child growing up in 1950s’ England, it was natural that I was introduced to Airfix kits. My father, who had witnessed the Battle of Britain being fought above his family’s council house in Dagenham, built my first one for me.


By the time we emigrated in 1965 I had amassed quite a collection. These had to be left behind with my school friends. I was reassured that I could buy and make new ones on our arrival in NZ. I was therefore disappointed to discover there were none available.


After a few years RSL 1/50 kits began to appear and I started building them, but I never stopped wanting the 1/72 collection I’d once had. Eventually Airfix trickled in to shops but the range was limited and the price exorbitant – or so it seemed in terms of my pocket money income.


It was suggested I write to my Grandmother and ask her to buy from a wish list and an enclosed Postal Order. This she was only too happy to do.


So I saved up, bought the Postal Order, made a list, sent it off and waited. Surface mail took about six weeks in those days. Airmail wasn’t an option as it would have eaten into the kit money.


Eventually I was rewarded – four kits of my choice, and a bonus my ‘Nan’ had treated me to. Although I always chose WWI and II kits, my Nan, herself a survivor of the Blitz on the Docklands, was usually seduced by a jet as my ‘bonus’ and so my interest was widened.


This process – me writing a letter, my 70 year old Nan getting on a bus to Romford or Ilford as my personal shopper – was repeated many times. I suppose most of my Airfix collection were acquired that way, but some were bought locally as presents for birthdays or Christmas. Now I can’t remember which was which, but I know the jets were bought by my Nan.


One such is my Hawker Sea Hawk. Not a subject I would have chosen perhaps, even if I had known they existed, but one I grew to like and now cherish because of the reason I have it.



It has survived undamaged and, apart from a clean, untouched. The actual aircraft contributed to an important stage in British aircraft evolution, although overshadowed by ones that came before and after. Its streamlined shape, offset by straight wings, is the link between the Sea Fury and the Hunter. It still looks “right”.


Like many forms of collecting, be it models or full size aircraft, the interesting story can often be found in the people involved.

[planecrazy]

Great stuff chbessexboy, your posts bring back memories of my youth. Used to ride
my bike to this awesome hobby shop, I am sure it was on Cranford St in St Albans,
Christchurch, can't remember the name sadly. Used to just ogal over the kits on
display, occasionally would get a 1/72nd kit for a birthday or Christmas.

I remember when the large 1/24th scale Airfix kits came out they had one made up
on display, used to just stare at the thing in amazement!

I'm pretty sure those Airfix kits have contributed to the warbird movement as we know
it today maybe the are even responsible for some of the awesome restorations of the
real machines we see these days as well, thank you Mr Airfix.

[chbessexboy]

Aug 28, 2021 13:17:08 GMT 12 planecrazy said:

Great stuff chbessexboy, your posts bring back memories of my youth. Used to ride
my bike to this awesome hobby shop, I am sure it was on Cranford St in St Albans,
Christchurch, can't remember the name sadly. Used to just ogal over the kits on
display, occasionally would get a 1/72nd kit for a birthday or Christmas.

I remember when the large 1/24th scale Airfix kits came out they had one made up
on display, used to just stare at the thing in amazement!

I'm pretty sure those Airfix kits have contributed to the warbird movement as we know
it today maybe the are even responsible for some of the awesome restorations of the
real machines we see these days as well, thank you Mr Airfix.

Thanks planecrazy, you're absolutely right. They taught patience and that things had to be done in the right order. I'm sure many of those involved in restorations now learnt those disciplines in their youth. Also, as in the case of the Sea Hawk, we learned about aircraft by building kits and reading the brief histories included in the instructions. An invaluable educational tool.

[denysjones]

Planecrazy,

You're obviously referring to Hobday's Cycles which was just one street over on Colombo at the Edgeware Rd shops.

It was run by Doug Pettigrew and Jim Guthery and also had Trevor Stewart and Neil Anthony behind the counter.

I grew up nearby and like so many others managed to scratch together the next 3/- (3 shillings in old money that was) to buy the latest Airfix or Revell offerings several of which I see in this thread.

cheers

[davidd]

Denys, I infested that shop quite often in the 1964 - 68 era, although I had to bike over from Hoon Hay (Rydal St), so I think we tended to get rather fitter in those days. There must have been a good half dozen or more "model shops" in Christchurch in those days, including one in Sydenham ("Sydenham Cycles", owned and operated by a lovely couple called the Bakers from memory), as well as another one on, I think, Tuam St (or was it the other one-way Street, not that they were one-way at that time). Ah, they were simpler days! I do not recall that Airfix models were hard to get in those days, but it is possible that they only became common about 1965 or 66. You could also get the dreaded "Lincoln" kits (NZ-made, all-sorts of weird scales, some were quite good, others not so much), and the American "Hawk", "Lindberg", and "Renwall" I think, also recall the British "Frog" kits, although they were not so common.

David D

[chbessexboy]

The distinctive profile of a Boulton Paul Defiant – much maligned and some might say ill-conceived.





Designed to deal with anticipated large formations of attacking bombers, it was not expected to have to dog-fight with single seater fighters. As the perceived enemy was Germany, it was considered that bombers would be unescorted - no fighters would have the range to operate from their bases. The fall of France changed everything.


As has happened to countless types that were found to be obsolete, they were pressed into a role for which they were never intended – in this case night-fighting.


As the N.F.1 they were then moderately successful, with the pilot’s time being concentrated on flying, finding the enemy and then flying a parallel course, with the gunner in position for a non-deflection shot. There was also the capability to fully rotate the turret and fire the guns forward and upwards – a technique the Germans later used to good effect and called Schräge Musik. However, with the gunner’s view obscured, the guns were rigged to be under the control of the pilot – adding to his already considerable work load. How often this was used operationally is not possible to tell.


This is the classic Airfix kit of Defiant N.F.1 “T4037 JT-T” which flew from RAF Catterick (North Yorkshire) in December 1940. I can only assume they were there to intercept the Luftwaffe to and from their targets in Manchester and Liverpool.

The kit was introduced in 1960 and remained unchanged for 48 years, except for reboxing and alternative decals.


A new kit was introduced in 2014 with new tooling and decals for a daylight operated aircraft. I have one in the stash and look forward to building it, though my old “JT-T” is bound to suffer by comparison.

[chbessexboy]

No collection is complete without the Spitfire and Hurricane.






These examples are both circa 1970 Airfix:


Spitfire Mk IX EN398 “JE-J” was the personal aircraft of Wing Commander J.E. “Johnnie” Johnson, Kenley Wing September 1943, and

Hurricane IV R.P. KW919 “FJ-C” of 164 Sqn. was at Manston, also in September 1943.


Both are typical of 1970s’ standards as far as accuracy and my modelling ability. The Hurricane didn’t get its white fuselage band and serial for some reason, and is now minus its radio mast. The Spitfire’s decals are silvering due to its excessive rivet detail.


One day I might give them both makeovers, but for now they can just remain as time capsules. I have many more Spitfires and Hurricanes in the stash to build...

[chbessexboy]

The Heinkel He 162. What can I say?

If you were looking for physical proof that Hitler was mad, or that countries run by old fools (who’ve lost all touch with reality) are doomed to fail, then look no further.

It was technically clever, but the need for its very existence should surely have been enough proof that the war was lost.

It was envisioned that a fighter built cheaply of mostly non-strategic materials could be discarded if damaged or worn out. This concept, applied to its pilots, lead to the depletion and eventual defeat of the Luftwaffe.

Hitler believed it when he was told that the ‘162 could easily be flown by members of the Hitler Youth, or factory workers.

Imagine this: a formation of bombers is approaching the factory where you are forced to work. You and your co-workers go outside and hop into the Volksjagers that sit ready at the adjoining airstrip. You climb up to the formation in company with the local Boy Scout troop. Using your performance advantage, you avoid the battle-hardened pilots in the escorting fighters and shoot some of the bombers down. Then, having inflicted such damage that the attack is broken up, you land and return to your job at the factory in time for an ersatz coffee. All in a day’s work, meine herren.

This Heinkel He 162A-2 is a FROG example introduced in 1974, making it one of the last models I completed. It’s painted as 120074 “White 11” flown by Oberleutnant Karl-Emil Demuth in May 1945 from Leck, an airbase just below the German border with Denmark, charged with defending Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel and Berlin.

[chbessexboy]

This Airfix Junkers Ju87 B-2 “Stuka” is the cornerstone of my collection.








The original built by my father was probably my first 1/72 kit, but was left behind in England. This is the replacement I made as soon as I could.


I finished it in a desert scheme like the first one, despite the bag header artwork depicting European theatre camouflage. I also changed the codes from SZ+FS to SZ+LS.


I recently asked my Dad why he painted it that way, when the ones he actually saw silhouetted against the clear blue skies of that 1940 summer appeared black. Understandably after all this time he couldn’t remember, but a look on Scalemates provided the answer. Airfix had released the kit in 1957 with these markings, before changing it to the European scheme (but with the same codes) in 1959. It remained in production like that for twenty years.



What Airfix and my Dad started was a love affair with the Stuka and 1/72 scale that has endured. I look forward to building many more examples.

[chbessexboy]

This rather anonymous offering is actually the Airfix Kittyhawk AK772 “GA-Y” of 112Sqn, RAF. It should have looked like this:



After I’d completed it, I decided that my American aircraft would be painted in American markings. Therefore, this is my “P-40E” now:



Where the stars and “14547” came from I can only speculate.

I was into “customising” models long before I had the resources to do it properly. I recall some inspiration was obtained from a book called “Fighting Colours”, which is still tucked away somewhere. I also have a vague recollection of a school-friend modeller who had acquired some rather poor aftermarket decals, so they may have come from him. Perhaps the serial will be recognised by a reader.

Thankfully, these days most kits have at least two schemes included and others are readily available. When I take another P-40 out of the stash to build, “14547” will lose her rivets and reappear alongside in a new scheme and identity.

[chbessexboy]

Italian WWII Warbirds are rare – a penalty of being on the losing side I guess. It is a great shame as the Italians produced some attractive aircraft, like the Macchi MC.200.






It’s a little anachronistic with its open cockpit, but it gets hot in Italy and this was usually operated at lower altitudes. There is the question of visibility and unimpeded access, but I suspect there may also have been a machismo element with Italian pilots in their resistance to closed canopies.

Unless someone extremely wealthy decides to commission a flying replica, we must be content with the handful of survivors preserved in museums. Imagine the impact today if you could arrive at an air show in one!

However we can still enjoy these charismatic aircraft in miniature, and dream.

Revell started producing this example in the late sixties and it ran until only ten years ago. I’ve always liked it, and it made a nice pair with my Fiat G.50 Freccia, but that is waiting its turn in “restoration row”.

[chbessexboy]

Another Airfix offering with an incredible lifespan is the Vought Corsair F4U-1D. Introduced in 1965 and not retired until fifty years later, the moulds must have paid for themselves a million times over!



My love of the Corsair has been hugely influenced by seeing Keith Skilling demonstrate the real thing – captured here by me at Wanaka in 2006:



This kit is another typical of its era – festooned with oversize rivets. This has made the decals lift, go brittle and flake off. How did Airfix expect them to stay put over such an unforgiving surface? And why add “detail” when it wasn’t there in the first place?



Photo taken at Omaka 2007.

The smaller fuselage stars and bars have survived a little better, but I’ll sand the fuselage down with the wings for a repaint – perhaps when I build my vintage Hawk F4U1 “Birdcage”.

[chbessexboy]

This Henschel 123A is another favourite of mine built a lifetime ago.




Introduced by Airfix in 1970, it was repackaged with the Condor Legion decals version five years later and is still available new in that scheme. This is the original “Eastern Front 1942” kit.

It is incredible to think now that at a time when German technicians were refining the jet, the venerable (but obsolete) sesquiplane 123 was pressed back into front line service for the Russian campaign. I guess it says a lot about the field conditions the Luftwaffe pilots faced and the enormity of the task expected of them with the resources they had at hand. At least the rugged little Henschel was still capable of performing its duties.

The Russian equivalent was the Polikarpov I-15 and I-15bis I guess. That too was still a front line aircraft until the end of 1942. Did Russian and German pilots encountering each other in these machines have a kind of flashback to the Great War?

[chbessexboy]

My Bell P-39Q Airacobra is another Airfix kit. They seem to have dominated the market back then and for many years since. The only other kits I made were Revell, FROG and very rarely Heller – the latter I recall being expensive in comparison. Now I try to collect as wide a range of manufacturers as possible, and am often tempted by good box art to ‘double up’ on an example I already have by another brand.



The P-39 is a bit of a puzzle to me. I understand the reasoning behind the concept, but like most “thinking outside the box” ideas it takes a lot to overcome perceptions of the natural order of things. That the Russians had more success with them and came to love them simply adds to the enigma. There are too many levels to form a worthwhile comparison between the respective air forces’ operation of the machine in vastly different theatres. I think of it not so much as a blind alley, but more jet-powered thinking using piston/prop technology.

As far as this kit goes, all I know about “102/42025 Agnes B” is that it represents a Pacific machine in 1943. The inevitable rivets are reasonably subtle and don’t grate too much. Overall not a bad kit for its day and one I’m happy to have.

[davidd]

If the rivets "grate" at all, they should be sanded clean off in my opinion! Most WW2 fighters (and many other types, including Sunderland flying boats) were built using flush rivets.

[chbessexboy]

Sept 12, 2021 11:28:44 GMT 12 davidd said:

If the rivets "grate" at all, they should be sanded clean off in my opinion! Most WW2 fighters (and many other types, including Sunderland flying boats) were built using flush rivets.

Agreed davidd. As I go over each kit to prepare it for display I will sand down and repaint as I see fit. Sometimes the decision will be dictated by the availability of decals. At least I will have this photographic "as built" record if I choose to then rebuild.