Paul_B

I have cut sprue and used glue! Being my first serious build in many years I am taking my time and trying to do it all with care - even fettling parts which probably won’t be seen once the fuselage is closed up. I have prepped most of the fuselage innards (the turret will come later), and will fire up the airbrush over the coming weekend. Current plan is to just use just the belts from the Eduard set. I think that that maybe enough of a challenge. If the kit IP doesn’t work for me then I may replace that as well. I plan future builds of the Defiant so the rest of the fret can be put to good use for an open cockpit version (belts and IP are available separately.).

Grahame, I’m no expert, but looking at a couple of Thunderbolt photos (links below) it looks as though they would. https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/38586-5th-emergency-rescue-squadron-p-47d/ First picture shows a good side view. During search of the web for all things ASR I think that I saw a reference to the protuberance under the fuselage being for flares. https://oldafsarge.blogspot.com/2019/07/ers.html Third picture from a different angle confirms to my eye that they are very similar/the same compared to the photo I posted.

Glad you like it.

Grahame, that has to be a contender for ‘link of the day’! I have made contact with the vendor so hopefully a set will be winging my way shortly. Now I have no excuses not to finish…

Chris, thanks for posting the pictures and plans, I appreciate that. That photo of BA-A has long intrigued me because the rack doesn’t look like the other photos of the dinghy racks which are like this: I had suspected that it may have been a flare rack so it was interesting to see it captioned that way for the first time. I have no information at all what a flare rack may look like. I can’t remember even seeing a photo of a flare rack on an ASR Lysander. May I ask which reference this was taken from? As the caption also says, photographs of ASR Defiants are not common and to add to the/my confusion a number of these aircraft are shown in photos without any racks. My current plan is to model the aircraft with two dinghy racks. Paul

Thanks! My initial thoughts were either scratchbuilding or 3D printing (I have been playing with Fusion 360 recently). I”ll add your suggestion of repurposing into the mix, not considered that - thanks! Fortunately there is plenty I can do before a decision is required.

I will be building an Air Sea Rescue Boulton Paul Defiant. There are a couple of challenges. Firstly, this is my first serious kit build in a long long time so advice and criticism will be most welcome (as will answering my occasional question). Secondly the Defiants carried dinghy packs under the wings and, as yet, I don’t have a firm plan how to model these! Here is the plastic: The model’s scheme will be 277 Squadron 1942, with the Temperate Sea Scheme of Dark Slate Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey uppers with Sky ‘Type S’ underneath. Here are my references: The Profile Publications at Two Shillings, and the Camouflage & Markings at 6s.(30n.p.) rather give away both my age, and the long held affection I have for this aircraft! I also have some aftermarket items which I will decide about using during the build. However I will definitely be using the paint masks and the decals. Hopefully I will be able to do justice to this interesting aircraft.

Yes, for about a year from March 1942, the crew of two and a turret giving all-round vision and defence being seen as advantageous. I will be using the Temperate Sea Scheme for this one (the sources are divided however for ASR flying over the sea this seems more logical than Temperate Land Scheme), Dark Slate Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey should provide a nice alternative to the more usual finishes for the Defiant.

It is many years since I have done any serious plastic kit modelling and am thinking that joining this group build would be a good way of jumping into the (briny) deep end! I am proposing a Boulton Paul Defiant ASR as the subject. Being close to a rookie build it will be an interesting experience. I will be relying on previous build threads, skills videos, and the odd question on here to get me through. Please confirm I qualify. Thanks.

Shouldn't that be: Pedant's Corner.......... Gorby, I just love the diorama, brilliant!

Wikipedia has a extensive list of aces (see under Flying Ace), that would provide a quick way to define an ace. Outside of aircraft I think the definition gets a lot harder. Cheers, Paul

I will be following this with great interest since I plan to be starting a Defiant imminently.

Andy, thanks for that clarification. One of my references said inflatable, the other suggested it included a dinghy! - which feels like an editor's mistranslation

Interestingly the gunner had a specially designed all-in-one pack which contained a parachute, photo here: http://www.wwiivehicles.com/great-britain/aircraft/fighter/boulton-paul-defiant-fighter.asp The suit was also inflatable if the bale out was over water. The gunner's exit routes were either through the turret doors or through an escape hatch in the fuselage floor. Both of these options were blocked if the turret guns were rearward facing. If the hydraulics were shot away then the gunner would have to manually turn the turret via rotating crank controls. The turret doors were the favoured route of escape. If the hatch was used it was preferable that the pilot extended the undercarriage so the rear radio mast was retracted and out of the way. All of this potentially whilst under enemy fire! Sources: Boulton Paul Defiant by Mark Ansell, Mushroom Yellow Series Boulton Paul Defiant by Alan W. Hall, Warpaint Series No. 42 Cheers, Paul

To clarify; only the rear mast retracted, and it did not retract fully. At 1/72 there would be about 3-4mm showing. This is shown in the photo towards the bottom of the quoted link titled Boulton Paul Defiant F. Mk1 (photo 264 Sqn Association). The rear mast is shown retracted more clearly here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:15_Boulton_Defiant_Defiant_Mk.Is,_N1536_'PS-R'_(15650318708).jpg Paul

I have a few Defiant references and, for the Mk 1, the photographs show round exhausts on all day fighters, and fishtail exhausts for the majority of night fighters. My understanding is that the change in exhaust was to reduce exhaust glare for night operations however I haven't yet found that comment again in my Defiant references (Wiki states 'The first versions of the ejector exhausts featured round outlets, while subsequent versions of the system used "fishtail" style outlets which marginally increased thrust and reduced exhaust glare for night flying.' under Rolls-Royce Merlin). Looking on the Airfix website I think that if you refer to the decal and camouflage pages in the instructions then the two different exhausts are shown. If you are going to model 264 Sq. using the supplied decals as a day fighter then it is the round exhausts. I have the 1:48 Airfix Defiant which I will start shortly, once the workbench is clear.

I really like the weathering on this model, lovely subtle wear which ages the model but at the same time restrained so looking very natural.

In the mists of time i actually entered one of these into the Model Engineers Exhibition competitions. Fortunately, in hindsight, the package didn't withstand the rigours of Royal Mail so the viewing public were saved from scrutinising a badly constructed kit, badly painted. My entry to the GB will be 1:48, i have both Classic Airframes and Airfix kits.

I can only echo the other comments regarding the quality of the finish, weathering and battle damage. Great job! I particularly like the lighting and setup of the second photo. The dappled shadows of the foliage and depth of field are particularly pleasing to the eye.

I would be very interested in joining this GB, contributing a Boulton Paul Defiant to the mix.

Hi, I would like to sign up for this GB. I have not yet decided which kit to go for. Ventora3300 is it also ok to use the scalemates.com database as a guide as well? - and thanks for the invite!!

LostCosmonauts - if you never crash you're not trying hard enough! Ventora3300, great suggestion, I will head over there now and sign up. I have found a couple of websites which sell secondhand kits so sourcing something suitable and interesting shouldn't be a problem. Thanks.

I have arrived here by a bit of a circuitous route. My main hobby is RC aircraft. A few years ago, when I was working in Edinburgh, I was exploring Wonderland Models and bought a couple of Classic Airframes Boulton Paul Defiants (Day fighter, Night Fighter). Those, plus an old Matchbox 1/32 heli and a MPC Star Wars Tie fighter, received as gifts many years ago, are my stash. The Defiant is one of my favourite fighters and I will be adding the latest Airfix kits to my collection. Autumn 2017 I enrolled on an airbrushing course (airbrushes.com). For the course I bought couple of kits as paint mules and was totally blown away by the quality and detail of the modern kits. I have held back from starting up because I recognise there is a whole set of skills I will need to gain. I am particularly interested in producing models which look as though they are in service; this means weathering. I have seen some great examples on Britmodeller of the kind of finish I aspire to achieve. Time to stop lurking around the forums, and time to get modelling! I am thinking that participating in the Group Builds would be a good way of kicking things off. Any and all advice will be welcome!