Geoff’s 1/72 Airfix Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib (club edition)

[Geoffers]

Hello chaps,

As previously posted this will be my first entry to the group build.



It’s been issued a few times by Airfix after first being released in 2013.
This is the Airfix Club edition with the markings for an aircraft from No.45 Squadron.

X4 frames moulded in Airfix’s new style plastic.




One clear frame.


Decals/transfers look nice.


Airfix’s older style instruction sheet.



Which includes a nice colour marking guide.



Options for open/closed canopy and a choice of either bombs or rockets (has to be rockets really ).
I will have a go at painting on the invasion stripes rather than use the transfers.

I will hopefully start the build later this week.

Thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[A_J_Rimmer]

Very nice Geoff.

I'll be looking forward to seeing how this goes together as I joined the Airfix Club last week and got this same boxing through the post. I think you can also open and close the gun bays if memory serves.

The PR.XIX Spitfire is also a really nice kit, I built one up years ago.

 

[adt70hk]

Cool

I picked this boxing up at a show for a good price, to support the Blenheim plane charity.

That means I now have six of these Tiffies in the stash.... With another special one due for for delivery in the autumn!!

Good luck with the build.

ATB

Andrew

 

[Geoffers]

Thanks chaps

Started cutting plastic last night, I worked on putting the cockpit parts and radiator together, not much to show yet so no photos.

I just wanted to mention Airfix’s new style plastic.
It seems a lot crisper being not as soft as the previous blue/grey type they have previously used.
As a result the details seem sharper and I fancy they should have less short shot problems if they stick with this type.

That’s it for now, another proper update soon

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

Making some progress now.

Cockpits done, strangely according to the research I’ve done there was very little of the usual cockpit green/grey used. The main colours being aluminium or black.

After painting it has had a bit of weathering with Tamiya panel liner.



In fairness though not is visible once it’s all buttoned up.

Seat, instrument panel, radiator, undercarriage bay/cockpit floor and tail wheel added.






And finally, all buttoned up

As I said before not much of the cockpit can be seen now



It went together very nicely with minimal clean up on the seams required.

Onto the wings which give the option of open gun bays. I’m not generally a fan of open bays as I feel it spoils the line of the aircraft but they are reasonably detailed so I’m going to have one open and one closed.





The panels need to be cut out to facilitate the gun bay being open so a bit of Tamiya tape around the panel lines to protect the wing from scratches seemed sensible



I scored the panel line with the back of a scalpel blade until the panel was able to be removed.

I could then join the wings to the fuselage.

It took a bit of jiggling to get it all into place but it ended up fitting together very well.





A bit of general cleaning up around the seams and it will be near enough ready for painting.

Another update soon, thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[adt70hk]

Great work so far. Interesting about the cockpit colour. I had not heard that.

Have you found any good sources?

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Geoffers]

Great work so far. Interesting about the cockpit colour. I had not heard that.

Have you found any good sources?

ATB.

Andrew

Cheers Andrew

Stating research is probably pushing it a bit but from the general consensus on other sites backed up with a few colour walk around pictures.





There aren’t many colour period photos so no one is certain but I thought it would be a bit different to go with silver/black as the predominant cockpit colours.

Geoff.

 

[adt70hk]

Cheers Andrew

Stating research is probably pushing it a bit but from the general consensus on other sites backed up with a few colour walk around pictures.

View attachment 512340
View attachment 512341
View attachment 512342

There aren’t many colour period photos so no one is certain but I thought it would be a bit different to go with silver/black as the predominant cockpit colours.

Geoff.

Thanks Geoff. I'll remember that for my future builds. Do you mind if I borrow these pics for future reference?

ATB

Andrew

 

[Geoffers]

Thanks Geoff. I'll remember that for my future builds. Do you mind if I borrow these pics for future reference?

ATB

Andrew

Feel free Andrew they are just pictures I found on the net to illustrate my point

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

A bit more progress

Before the seam tidying process I decided to add some navigation lights.

This is how the kit comes.



I cut the “lights” out on both wings leaving a small gap.



I then used a piece of clear sprue to fill the gap. Before fixing it into place I drilled a small hole in the back of it and dobbed a bit of clear green/red paint into. This was then cemented into place with CA glue.



Once the CA glue had cured the excess was trimmed off before it was sanded into shape.



This will now be polished before masking ready for the model to be painted.

All the seams have been cleaned up and it’s all ready for priming.

Thanks for looking,

Geoff.

 

[SteveT]

What a great idea to do the lights! Awesome work.

 

[Waspie]

What a great idea to do the lights! Awesome work.

Agree, it’s given me an idea or three!!

 

[papa 695]

Nice work so far Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

What a great idea to do the lights! Awesome work.

Agree, it’s given me an idea or three!!

Cheers Steve, Doug, it’s a fairly straightforward process but I think it definitely improves the model

Nice work so far Geoff.

Thanks Ian

Geoff.

 

[colin m]

All looks great Geoff. I think the silver and / or black cockpit thing was something Hawker were keen on.

 

[Geoffers]

All looks great Geoff. I think the silver and / or black cockpit thing was something Hawker were keen on.

Cheers Colin

Aluminium paint was apparently changed to interior grey/green to save on aluminium useage. I think Hawker must have had someone in the stores dept who had put a stash of aluminium paint aside as it “might come in useful one day”

It made a nice change from the usual standard cockpit colours.

Geoff.

 

[Geoffers]

A bit more progress to report.

Seams all tidied up, rocket rails and IFF antenna added.
Airfix do include the stirrup used to help pilots access and egress the aircraft, unfortunately there is no place to attach it or were the hole to attach it should be drilled that I could see.
I tried drilling were I thought it should go but could not get the angle right.
As it is a retractable stirrup I decided to repair the hole and just leave it off
After this it has all been primed with Mr Surfacer 1500.





Top coats next, thanks for looking

Geoff.

 

[Allen Dewire]

So sorry I missed this one, Geoff. I thought you were still sipping Pina Coladas on the beach! Don't know too much about these modern wing thingy's, but you are doing a fantastic job on this one Sir!!! The detail is great in 1/72 and leaving the gun bay open is a nice touch too. I'll try to keep up now. Living in 1917 is hard enough..........

Prost
Allen

 

[SteveT]

Looking good! more please

 

[Geoffers]

So sorry I missed this one, Geoff. I thought you were still sipping Pina Coladas on the beach! Don't know too much about these modern wing thingy's, but you are doing a fantastic job on this one Sir!!! The detail is great in 1/72 and leaving the gun bay open is a nice touch too. I'll try to keep up now. Living in 1917 is hard enough..........

Prost
Allen

Cheers Allen, no problem

I wish I was still enjoying lazy days on holiday but real life catches up with you in the end and it’s back to the rat race

Looking good! more please

Thanks Steve

Geoff.