Dirk's 1/72 Academy US A Typhoon

[Dirkpitt289]

Username: Dirkpitt289
Name: Dirk Pitt
Model: Hawker Typhoon 1b (Early)
Scale: 1:72
Manufacturer: Academy
Aftermarket add-ons: After-market Canopy, Custom Decals


After a long internal debate I have finally come up with an appropriate subject for this build. A Hawker Typhoon from 56 Squadron with No. 12 Group RAF at RAF Matlaske in Norfolk.

Here is the kit


Here is a color profile



Here is a couple actual photos of our subject





I found a couple canopy's on line which I will need to make this an earl Mk 1B with the early car door setup.

Here is the reference material I will be using





until next time

[Chris]

USA!

USA!

USA!

[JohnRatzenberger]

Interesting, I spent some time looking at the difference between the photos and the color profile, finally realizing they are two different aircraft by serial. Then I started wondering if the two photos aren't also of different aircraft -- the codes & roundels seem somewhat different.

I am curious if either of your refs have a photo of the aircraft in the color profile.

[Dirkpitt289]

I noticed the different serials also. Not sure if one was a replacement for the other which was lost or deemed War Weary. I don't know how that kind of thing worked.

[Chris]

Its most likely that the aircraft was replaced at some point, RAF squadrons usually had 15 AC on hand, so they probaly scrapped the original US-A and replaced it with a new machine, or the first could have been shot down or written off.

[peebeep]

I don't know how that kind of thing worked.

Serial numbers are the unique ID of each airframe. They were allocated by the Air Ministry to contractors for each block of aircraft to be manufactured before any metal was cut.

Squadron codes would be applied by the squadron itself or by a maintenance unit. An airframe might wear several different codes and letter according to which units it was serving in during its lifetime but the serial would (could) not be changed. For a variety of reasons turnover of airframes on Typhoon squadrons was brisk, especially in the early part of the Typhoon's service, so there may have been several US+A, US+B, etc etc.

peebeep

[Dirkpitt289]

I am curious if either of your refs have a photo of the aircraft in the color profile.

John

The color profile I posted is from one of the reference books.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I am curious if either of your refs have a photo of the aircraft in the color profile.

John

The color profile I posted is from one of the reference books.

OK, thanks. Not to make an issue of it but I've long since quit relying on color profiles, and in many cases their descriptive data, without a confirming photo.

In this case, the combo of A1 fuselage roundel with the "glass"-cardoor canopy struck me as odd. I would have expected a Typhoon with an A1 roundel to have the earlier "solid" cardoor canopy, or the glass-canopy to be carrying C1 roundels (as the photos). I don't have a big Typhoon library to look through so I was hoping you had a picture ... Just curious ... moving along ...

[peebeep]

[Dirkpitt289]

I am curious if either of your refs have a photo of the aircraft in the color profile.

John

The color profile I posted is from one of the reference books.

OK, thanks. Not to make an issue of it but I've long since quit relying on color profiles, and in many cases their descriptive data, without a confirming photo.

In this case, the combo of A1 fuselage roundel with the "glass"-cardoor canopy struck me as odd. I would have expected a Typhoon with an A1 roundel to have the earlier "solid" cardoor canopy, or the glass-canopy to be carrying C1 roundels (as the photos). I don't have a big Typhoon library to look through so I was hoping you had a picture ... Just curious ... moving along ...

Thanks for that information John. I'll look more into it a I get nearer to that part of the build. I'm no where near an expert on these things so the input from fellow modelers is a great help.

[Dirkpitt289]

Thanks for the photo Peep

[JohnRatzenberger]

Thanks for the photo Peep

Yes, Paul -- thank you ... answers my question !!!!

[peebeep]

You're welcome! I must admit I was sceptical of the presentation of the codes in the profile artwork until I saw the photo.

peebeep

[Karaya]

Mind you, using colour photo's from that era as a colour reference tool is also fraught with problems when you take into account the wide range and inconsistent quality of film available (we won't even go into fade and storage issues). Unless you are a dyed in the wool anorak I would subscribe to the "if it looks right then it is right" philosophy

[bromo]

Look forward to this Dirk,just started an Airfix Typhoon,a very old kit be interesting to see how much better the Academy is on detail.