Henry Talalla's Hawker Typhoon - July 1944

[AndrewR]

Very interesting project, Andrew and you're making great progress. Limited run kits can be a bit more challenging but usually it's a case of just needing a bit more patience and filler than a more mainstream offering!

This one is certainly one of the better limited run kits that I've made. I suspect that the challenging thing will be adding the wings to the fuselage.

[AndrewR]

A challenging bench session today.

I do have the fuselage together, not perfectly, it has to be said. I needed to sand the instrument panel and firewall bulkhead quite a bit to achieve that!



The big chin intake has three parts, front and rear grills and the roof of the intake. I could not fit the grills together at all, and get them into the intake. Eventually I just omitted the rear grill, which not really be visible. This assembly then also needed some sanding to sit correctly in the chin.

The wings needed another round of gluing at the trailing edges, but are now together. Some minor filling will be needed on the gun barrels.

[AndrewR]

More fettling...



Not very good yet. More sanding...

Not bad to starboard.



A few gaps on the port side.

[AndrewR]

A squirt of white primer to identify the problems along the seams.



Could be worse. Could be better. I've applied some putty to the dodgy bits.

While that dries I've been working on the horizontal stabilisers. It's butt-joined of course, and the fit isn't great. The wheels come in halves, with a large injector pin mark on the mating surfaces, which need to be filed flat. Finally the spinner plate has a pin on it which should go into the hole at the front of the fuselage. Except that the pin has twice the diameter of the hole.

One of the undercarriage doors seems to have gone walkabout too. A bit of plastic card will replace it!

I've also ordered an Airfix Tiffie, which hopefully will be a smoother build! It should make a nice contrast, being a 4-bladed prop, bubble canopy and Tempest tail late model.

[AndrewR]

After some sanding, I've assembled the tail.



No locating tabs on the horizontal stabilizers, so they are a bit fragile!

[PaulBradley]

Yikes! The fit is very off-putting.... Still, if you want an early Typhoon...!

[AndrewR]

Yikes! The fit is very off-putting.... Still, if you want an early Typhoon...!

It's really the only game in town for a reasonable car-door Typhoon, but it's a lot of effort. I'm gradually getting it sorted. At least I don't have to saw the tail off to put the optional Tempest-style one on!

[AndrewR]

Another round of prime, fill and sand.



The rudder fell off, Of course it did.

Anyhow, I have now made the replacement undercarriage door, and primed the prop and spinner.

[Stuart]

Yes it's a fun kit isn't it I built the highback 12 gun version and that was also a knightmare - looks like you're getting there Andrew!

[AndrewR]

Yes it's a fun kit isn't it I built the highback 12 gun version and that was also a knightmare - looks like you're getting there Andrew!

I'm glad it's not just me!
The Airfix Tiffie arrived today. Yay.

[AndrewR]

The last 48 hours have not been too productive!



But the prop is now painted!

[TeeELL]

That looks like a right challenge Andrew, but you seem to be getting the better of it.

[AndrewR]

That looks like a right challenge Andrew, but you seem to be getting the better of it.

I am almost finished with the sanding and priming, I think! Although I still have to do something to get the canopy sitting straight, which might need a bit more sanding of the upper fuselage. I can't say that it's been a great build up to this point, more an exercise in stubbornness.

[Stuart]

Well that's a very nice prop!

[AndrewR]

Well that's a very nice prop!

I enjoy painting props.

The priming is mostly complete. There are still a couple of bits to add on the rear fuselage, under the canopy.






Amazingly, the canopy now seems to fit much better after all that sanding! I'm getting to the point of deciding what order to paint this:

Sky tail band
black and white invasion stripes
Yellow recognition bands on the leading edges
And the Day Fighter Scheme.