The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

Desiring to be a little different and move away from the run of the mill transports, I decided upon the newly released Handley Page Harrow Mk.II by Valom in 1/72 scale. The aircraft is an example an idea from the interwar years of a bomber-transport. The idea was to have an transport aircraft that could also double as a bomber as well. This concept was also referred to as a 'Colonial Bomber' since you could lug supplies around the empire while also dropping a few bombs should the natives get restless. Examples of this concept included the Bristol Bombay, Ju-52/3m, and various Italian tri-motors (SM-81, SM-82). Reality set in when war broke out in 1939 and the British Harrows and Bombays ended up being used as transports.

Nice one Chuck! I'm awaiting delivery of the "toothy marking" version so will be watching with interest

Now this is nice!
One I don't know too much about so it will be a learning curve to watch this!

iggie wrote:Nice one Chuck! I'm awaiting delivery of the "toothy marking" version so will be watching with interest

You have a Bristol Bombay on your shelf as well? Now, we need to get Valom to release a Fairey Hendon.

I finished pre-painting the interior last week and the initial build today. So far, so good.

Looks great! Did it put up much of a fight to get the fuselage buttonex up?

That was fast work Chuck. It looks like a lovely kit, I'm really impressed with the subtle framing effect on the fuselage.
I must confess that I didn't know anything about the Harrow but it seems to have had a fairly successful career despite being a mediocre bomber.

Old_Tonto wrote:That was fast work Chuck. It looks like a lovely kit, I'm really impressed with the subtle framing effect on the fuselage.
I must confess that I didn't know anything about the Harrow but it seems to have had a fairly successful career despite being a mediocre bomber.

Thanks. It will be a nice addition to my collection of British between war aircraft and sure to get many reaction from the members of my local club.

Canopies attached and first coat of black applied to the underside. I expect to spend around four days painting the bird.

Looking great!

This is one great looking aircraft, Chuck.

Oh yes, that really is coming on a treat Chuck!

Finished the topside camo and will be adding some bronze for the collector ring on the engine cowlings.

ShaunW wrote:Oh yes, that really is coming on a treat Chuck!

Thanks.

On a side note, I must admit to losing more money than I should at the local model show. Three of my acquisitions would fall into this build. An Atlantis(Aurora molds) DC-9 in 1/72 and a C-97 Stratofreighter, and Boeing 377 airliner both Academy kits in 1/72 scale. I had a wild hair take hold and am thinking about replacing the engines on the C-97 with those from one of my Academy B-29s and make a YC-97 that actually flew in the Berlin Airlift with the B-29 engines. It was sent back to Boeing in 1950 and refitted with the B-50 engines that were on most of the C-97 family and I actually have the decals for that particular aircraft.