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Airfix 1:48 PR.9 Canberra 58 Squadron RAF Wyton


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Morning all,

 

After the struggle with the T.1 Hawk...my next project will be the Airfix 1:48 E.E Canberra PR.9, registration XH168 

 

Box Art

airfixa10103reviewbg_4.jpg

 

My gods its a big bird too....

 

I've chosen XH168 for 58 Squadron, RAF Wyton, as my dad was stationed there during the early '70's as well as my eldest brother being born there too in 1971.

 

I'd like to keep this as close to the PR.9's that were stationed there as possible, but I am in a predicament as to the paint scheme.

 

The box art and scheme states that the 1963 PR.9 XH168 was in a Silver paint scheme with black markings for anti-flash

 

42298473564_5e43951ca0_c.jpgDSC_1364

 

However, I was unsure if XH168 towards the late '60's early '70's adopted the NATO cammo scheme similar to XH169 (see below)

 

xh169.jpg?d=260618102055

 

Image courtesy of http://www.ukserials.com/

 

Also, I am unsure whether to go for the extra detailed Cockpits from Hannants? 

 

https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?search_direction=asc&search=canberra&scale_id=955

 

The standard cockpit out of the box is actually reasonably good, with some cleaver painting it should be OK.

 

Any advise / hints / tips for this build or for the Canberra PR.9 would be great.

 

Thanks to all in advance

 

 

 

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I'm pretty sure that all Canberra PR.9s would have received the green/grey camo with light aircraft grey undersides by the late 60s. 

 

I found this photo on Pinterest of XH168 which is labelled as being taken at Abingdon in 1971. Camo but still with type D roundels. Looks nice! Looks like she was with 39 sqn by then too.

 

IMG37651530006286.jpg

Edited by Lord Riot
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Fantastic!

 

Thank you @Lord Riot May have an issue with the registration number now in white rather than black...but I'm sure that can be overcome? Or I may just leave them black.... hmmm? 

 

Trying to trace he operational history of XH168 is proving tricky...as Ideally I'd like it to still be still be at Wyton when it was painted in the grey/green scheme.

 

This seems to be the only source I've managed to find so far

 

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=155025

 

 

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Have found this through Hannant's..

 

XH165 - 39 Squadron who were based at RAF Wyton circa 1971, exactly when my dad would have been.

 

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X48066

 

Page 2 of the 6 decal sheets

 

And it is in the right colour scheme too.

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39 sqn were based at Wyton until 1982 (before 1 PRU renumbered as 39 in 1992, then moved to Marham), so XH168 would definitely have been at Wyton in the late 60s-early 70s.

 

Edited by Lord Riot
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Thats great thank you.

 

I think I'll mark XH168 up in the NATO colours as a late 60's scheme, under 58 squadron, saves on new decal sheets as the boxed ones are pretty decent.

 

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Decals for 39 Squadron XH168 for RAF Wyton have been purchased.....Looks like this is turning into a tribute build for when my family was stationed at Wyton, 1971.

 

Ironically my brother who was born on the base, may be going back there with his work for the MOD too.

 

I think the rest of the build will be an out of the box build now.

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So it being.....all be it slowly at first as there's a small tournament in Russia that's going on that has taken some of my attention.

 

First up was the sourcing of a new control panel for the Cockpit with a bit more detail. My thinking is that to keep costs down and not to spiral out of control, which could easily happy. Not mu can be seen once the canopy is down but I wanted what could be seen to at least be good. SO I found this little beaut on eBay.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CMK-1-48-Canberra-PR-Mk-9-Instrument-Panel-Q48136/332352106619?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3Dd7c5e6ef50ef449d95e99d8eda5b8e58%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D332352106619%26itm%3D332352106619&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

 

Should be here by Thursday.

 

In preparation for the arrival I made a small start on the Cockpit but painting up the base for the panelling.

 

42416540894_140f377f56_c.jpgDSC_1386

 

I'm not massively impressed by the detail on the MB Ejector seats though...they seem to be lacking in detail. I'd have liked the to have at least their ejector pull cords?

 

43085955572_91b1da28a5_c.jpgDSC_1387

 

Pilots seat

7920306288_a4a4289baa_b.jpg

 

ejection-seats.jpg

 

Navigators Seat

 

43fb5df86bf2e6bf3bdd648704566244.jpg

 

I think Ideally I would try and scratch build the pull cords but insure what media to use.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I was thinking some fine wire bent into the appropriate shape then glued into place?

 

 

 

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The photo etch cockpit display turned up. Looks pretty decent too with extra detail on the cockpit.

 

42288321955_9142a9d5c0_c.jpgDSC_1388

 

With regards to the ejector pull chords I'm opting for the standard seats and fashioning some chords from some used guitar wire.

 

Pics to follow, if successful.

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Small update,

 

Managed to get some bench time last night, and has a slight brain ave....the smaller loop on a paper clip is seemingly the perfect size for the ejector seat pull cord. Cut to size and glued on very carefully.

 

42431344855_709d185fa6_c.jpgDSC_1475

 

OK, it may not be 100% accurate, but it gives the necessary effect when painted up, to which I am half way through at the moment.

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Managed some bench time over the weekend with the ejector seats and some of the cockpit built and semi painted...

 

The makeshift ejector pull cords seemed to have worked well with the seats painted up with some weathering. I may need a little more but not sure as yet.

 

42505607555_40bcef03a3_c.jpgDSC_1501

 

Cockpit partially built and on its way, first ejector seat installed....this is a BIG cockpit.

 

42505607445_f77b83c407_c.jpgDSC_1506

 

I also started on the CMK flight controls display, not entirely sure how I am going to install it in, but I'm sure I can figure it out.

 

43409552221_80caa8a058_c.jpg_20180714_214649

 

Thoughts, hints and tips as always are more than welcome.

 

 

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This was the kit that got me started on 1/48 kits.  Nice work so far.  Great having a link to the jet too.  I did XH134 as she was being returned to flight at the time & the kit came with those decals

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Thanks for support gents.

 

From speaking with my dad when he was at RAF Wyton, his bit was a unit with transport command that was separate to the operations to 58 Squadron and the PR.9's but they were still there.

 

The seats are basic and I did almost fork out for the MK3 MB seats, but they look decent enough for the subject.

 

One area I want to try and custom build is the large 14" camera in greater detail with our forking out for the resin replacement.

 

If anyone has any pictures or reference material to the belly camera bays that would be superb :)

 

Will try and do more to the Cockpit soon

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Finally managed to download this so I'll tag along if I may.

My abiding memory of the PR 9 is a fantastic display by one at Fairford a few years ago, probably about 1991-2. Unfortunately the public didn't get to see it as the flying control committee didn't like it and the pilot refused to amend it and went home.

 

Looking forward to more.

 

John

Edited by Biggles87
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Welcome along John, I'm taking my time with this build.

 

I've watched quite a few displays and documentaries on the Canberra during my lunch breaks at work. though it's not a PR.9, this is an interesting variant of the B-57 Canberra with NASA as a high altitude research aircraft. Could be a great subject for someone to perhaps build one day?

 

 

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9 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

Finally managed to download this so I'll tag along if I may.

My abiding memory of the PR 9 is a fantastic display by one at Fairford a few years ago, probably about 1991-2. Unfortunately the public didn't get to see it as the flying control committee didn't like it and the pilot refused to amend it and went home.

 

Looking forward to more.

 

John

Saw something similar in 1989/9 at Fairford where the PR9 did its display landed and then about half an hour later took off and went into the clear blue yonder. I was told a few days later at work by someone who used to work on PR9s and still had connections there that the pilot had been told off about his display so took umbridge and went home. 

 

Your build is coming along nicely. I used to work at Wyton 1981-87 (1st posting) on 51 Sqn Nimrods, but did manage to help replace a tailplane when 39 Sqn was disbanding on one aircraft that was going to stay flying but the tailplane had been damaged (that is a different story) with an aircraft that was going to become one of Wytons gate guards. I think that the Transport Command aircraft that your dad was with may have been on Bassetts. There were a detachment of Devons at Wyton when I was there, but I think that is something totally different.

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I think we're talking about the same thing Jabba, but I didn't realise it was that far back. It was a great display, not too low and all the turns were away from the crowd line ( great for me because I was on the other side of the runway ) so we didn't know what there was to complain about and never found out.

 

John

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Thanks Jabba,

 

By 1981 we were back or just coming back from Germany to then be posted up to RAF Stafford. I tried to find some footage of this Fairford display, but it would appear it does not exist, unless I am mistaken?

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Managed to finish off the cockpit this weekend, and I think I may have cocked it up....

 

the aftermarket control panel, although superb in detail is a bugger to actually fit into the cock pit......by that I mean it sits too high by about 5-6mm.....the only way I could see to install it was to cut a grove into the resin and slide it over the control panel in front to make it sit some how.

 

28686385987_899c7529c1_c.jpgDSC_1517

 

29702982858_3d810b48dd_c.jpgDSC_1518

 

42855919144_1c841e46e2_c.jpgDSC_1519

 

42855918034_d6d2cbe231_c.jpgDSC_1520

 

43572907811_3f861b3a63_c.jpgDSC_1522

 

I think I managed to make it fit with out any major issues.

 

However, the fuselage is now going to be problematic. Trying to make this sit in the right position was tricky, and I still don't think I have it quite right. 

 

42855079394_b8bd7352b3_c.jpgDSC_1524

 

43526192602_9ddd1c6b0a_c.jpgDSC_1525

 

I then tried a dry fit to the rest of the fuselage and there are huge panel gaps and issues to deal with. For starters the port side dips into the fuselage too much now.

 

28685557167_18da8773e2_c.jpgDSC_1526

 

I'm hoping that when I come to install the cockpit I can address this with some cleaver gluing and positioning.

 

As always, hints, tips or advise is always welcomed.

 

Cheers

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

Edited by Mikey-1980
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