Search the Community

My next build will be a bit of a nostalgia rip, especially for my dad who served in the RAF from 1961 to 1985, with his fondest memories flying as a SAC in the belly of this beast, the Blackburn Beverley C1 under 30 Squadron of Transport Command. The man himself, aged just 20 at the time, and a fine example of the fighting fit airmen of the Royal Air Force.....shame the memo was lost in the post on this particular day at RAF Sharjah, just before the Beverley crew was kicked off the airstrip by the base commander for being a "group of scruffy looking airmen." or so the story goes. _20190707_173651 There are other pictures of the billets and R&R around M.Hurraq and Sharjah and even a few of what the now Bahrain F1 circuit used to look like in 1965 before oil was found and turned into the metropolis it is today, Anyways, to the kit itself.. Not a bad kit, though I wish they could have made it a larger scale..even at 1/144 it is still fairly sizable IMG-20190711-WA0013 Everything comes in one sealed packet IMG-20190711-WA0022 8 sprus in total including 1 for clear parts. IMG-20190711-WA0017 Detailing is pretty good, especially for the internal load bay, but there is A LOT of flashing from the mould. this is probably the worst of the lot, but most parts will need significant cleaning prior to building. The PS is heavy weight and feels pretty solid too. IMG-20190711-WA0014 The windows for both sides of the tail boom are not present and only represented but recessed lines - these will need to be drilled out and Micro Kristal Klear used to formulate windows toward the end of the build. IMG-20190711-WA0015 It's the same for the load bay windows too. IMG-20190711-WA0016 Some photo etch parts for additional detailing for the freight bay doors and aerial sections, also masks for the cockpit windows too. IMG-20190711-WA0018 The decal sheet is pretty decent with several options for Beverley squadrons IMG-20190711-WA0019 I will be opting for the Silver and White paint scheme of 30 Squadron or "Dirty 30" as they were known, and aircraft XM105 as it is highly likely that this is one of the aircraft my dad actually flew in. The problem is, I cannot find and decals or marking to fit the scale. XM105 had a Red diamond squadron marking on the tail boom, and also a large red A on either side of the fuselage. If anyone has any clues as to where I can potentially get these from, or who can be kind enough to provide the registration and markings for this aircraft, I would eternally grateful. These aircraft hold a very special place with my dad's term of service, and I would like to do him proud with an as accurate build as I can. First one the build will be to drill out the windows. As always, thoughts and pointers welcomed.

Chanced across this video, lots of Transport Command stuff strutting its funky stuff - Beverley's, Comets, Britannias, Pioneers (Single and Twin - oh yeah), Argosy and SH showing how its done with Whirlwinds

Airlift Force RAF Transport Command 1948-1967 ISBN : 978190856310 Guideline Publications It would seem that in RAF service, like life the more Glamorous Fighters, and even bombers get the limelight while other aircraft do their jobs without getting notice. However to this reviewer what shouts RAF more than the VC-10 or the Hercules? indeed on a recent visit to RAF Cosford as well as maybe the V Bombers the main hall is dominated by the Belfast, Hastings and York. It is just a pity there is not a Comet there as well. This new book from Guideline Publications looks at history of the RAF's transport command from 1948 until 1967 when it became RAF Support Command. Following on from the massive effort of the Berlin Airlift, through the post war contraction Transport Command seemed fade from the public's eye. Despite this they would continue to support RAF operations the largest being the Suez crisis of 1956. Aircraft such as the Beverley and Hastings would come on stream and the Command was a supporter of the Comet. Later they would get new aircraft in the form of the Belfast, Andover, and VC-10. Even though emphasis is on the larger aircraft, smaller types such as the Dove, Twin Pioneer; and Helicopters such as the Belvedere is covered. The book looks at RAF Transport Command with the following chapters; In The Beginning Post War Contraction & the Berlin Airlift Pared to the Bone Turbine Power Arrives Operation Musketeer - Suez 1956 Beyond the Comet 1966 - Three New Aircraft Aircraft in Service 1948-67 RAF Transport Command Sqns 1948-67 The End.... and a New Beginning.. The book is A4 softbound and 90 pages long. It is illustrated throughout with black and white, & colour photographs. Conclusion If you're interested in the transport side of the Royal Air Force, then Transport Command was this at its pinnacle, Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hi everybody, I am (hopefully) planning to build a couple of RAF transport aircraft in 1:144 and paint them up in RAF markings for the mid-60's. My first buy will be a HP Hastings operating in Singapore or Borneo; one of the others is likely to be a Beverley. My query is what is the colouring of the lettering above the windows of transports in that period. Is it black, dark blue or light blue etc? If it is blue, does anyone know where I can obtain this kind of lettering for 1:144 scale aircraft please? Also if there are the flash type cheat lines for those aircraft. **edit - does anyone know of a good source for HP Hastings information and images? perhaps there is an HP Hastings enthusiasts site on-line somewhere? ** cheers Mike