The new tool Airfix 1/72 Hawk 81-A-2
built as Tomahawk IIA AH896/RM-Y of 26 Sqn (SA), Gatwick, summer of 1941. These aircraft, although considered 2nd line, performed some recon, interdiction, and attack on the continent and stood by to repel any invasion. 26 Sqn received Tomahawks in Feb 41, this particular one from 403 Sqn RCAF, and started conversion to Mustangs in January 1942 with the last Tomahawk gone by January 1943.
From the color profile you can see it is DG/DE/Sky and has the black port wing, which is what attracted me to it. There are a few distinctive markings -- a large black aircraft code "Y" under the starboard wing, a small "H" under the nose left over from 403 Sqn, and a small Springbok heads on each fin flash. This latter will cause me some difficulty -- if a seach of the decal stash doesn't turn something up I'll have to assume away the problem of put a suitably shaped brown splotch on instead. Otherwise the markings -- spinner, band, codes, etc, are standard.
I do not care if a Hawk 81-A-2 is exactly the same as a Tomahawk IIA (see my signature), I am building this OOB. I have not decided on a pilot or not; if I have a pilot, the kit has no stand and no slot for one, so that might be the only hack.
I have a lot going on, just can't seem to get my priorities straight I guess, and the potential for interruptions so my plan is to start this by mid-day Monday the 13th and either blow straight through or do a part 2 on Tuesday the 14th. If I don't hit this window, then I'm really screwed …. I haven't even started organizing paints, etc, yet …
