Airfix Hawker Typhoon Mk.1b early (Car Door)

[James H]

1/24 Hawker Typhoon Mk.1B 'car door'
No 486 (NZ) Sqn. RAF Tangmere 'Operation Spartan'

 

 

In 2014, Airfix contacted me and asked if I would build them the original bubble-top incarnation of their 1/24 Typhoon. As they had three other modellers also building, I was left with the shark mouth scheme....not that I was complaining. The model took around 7 weeks from start to finish and was one of the most satisfying builds I'd tackled in years. The blue infill on the mouth was also a talking point  . There's no doubt that the finished model is impressive and imposing, yet not without its issues, such as seams that need removing, and some complicated plumbing work. Like many other modellers, the Typhoon that really interested us was the earlier car-door version. Thankfully, Airfix recently released this one, and I was asked again to build too. 

 

Original kit photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new release looks as engaging, but isn't without a few niggles. I will be building scheme 'B' which is the earliest machine from the options given. This means removing the fish plates from the tail strengthening joint, meaning the missing detail from under the plates will need to be restored. Despite this being a necessary evil, for some bizarre reason, Airfix will have you slice away the plastic on the deck to the rear of the pilot, and replace it with an insert. The reason? Simply to replace the moulded detail with a less detailed alternative. Having tried this and screwing up a fuselage half, I decided to just remove the raised plastic detail and recreate the lapped panel detail, as per the tail unit fish tail area. Makes sense? Good, I thought so.

 

Before

 

After

 

 

This Typhoon is quite interesting. Like all schemes in this release, it has a three-bladed propeller, but it also has the early style car door canopy, early narrow chord tailplane, and short cannon fairings. If you think you'll see lots of weapons underneath the wings, then you'll be wrong. This one carries no external ordnance. Yes.....a plain wing, unhindered by things hanging from it!

 

After scraping the frames and other internal parts (for two whole days), the entire internal framework was assembled and then airbrushed with Xtreme Metal Aluminium. After a coat of Klear, a wash was added. Here is the result. I still need to add further staining and detail paintwork, but you get the idea. You'll also note the early pilot seat headrest/bulkhead.

 

 

 

More soon........

[Fran]

Great start!! I would prefer this one to my Bubbletop but not getting another one.

[James H]

I almost forgot. This is the scheme: 

 

 

[James H]

There is a LOT of seam removal on the cockpit parts. Only a little flash from my experience, except on on the engine ignition harnesses. 

 

Got to say that when you see the detail supplied, fixing the seams is only a trifle. A necessary evil for what is otherwise a lovely build. My kit also had some frame warping that I had to fix with dipping parts in freshly boiled water. Parts fit is excellent.

 

....seriously.....don't let that put you off! It sounds worse than what it is.

[Wingco57]

Nice start Jimbo, the cardoor Tiffy has a lot of character, even when compared to the bubbletop.

[Fran]

a Kiwi one!! Nice!!

[James H]

Time for an update. 

 

Got quite a bit of progress done, and the cockpit is now installed, and the engine bay weathered. Tamiya NATO Black was used for the instrument panel and consoles. No doubt that this model is pretty comprehensive in detail, and I've not felt the need to add anything further. Let the plastic speak for itself. 

 

 

 

[JeroenPeters]

Really loving the clean work on this...

[James H]

Update, anyone?

 

I've been busy juggling a few builds recently, so apologies for weeks that have passed here.

 

This model is building up quite quickly now, but you really have to make sure that you are precise with all construction, as the tolerances are high and the part count also high. To set the spars onto the lower wing, clamps were used with sanding sticks to aid placement. Cocktail sticks are used to push the spars hard against the edge of their location. 

 

 

Most of the plastic parts in the gun bays were ditched in favour of Eduard's resin guns/ammo and photo-etch bins. I have to say that this really adds to proceedings when compared to the kit parts, with no ugly, ill-places seams to fix.

 

 

This is a LARGE model, and it shows at this stage. It's hard not to keep knocking the crap out of this as you start to manipulate it. 

 

More soon.

 

[GusMac]

Wow, looking great James. I sometimes doubt the necessity of some of the Eduard AM but those guns and ammo trays look stunning.

[JeroenPeters]

That gunbay looks the part!