Popular Post tonyot Posted February 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) Hiya Folks,........ Something a little different, here is the Airfix 1/72nd Dakota built as the aircraft gifted to British Airborne Forces which resided in Aldershot for so long before it was moved with the Parachute Regiment to Colchester where it has recently been refurbished. During its RAF service this aircraft was a VIP transport and amongst the units which operated it was the RAF Coastal Command Communications Flight at RAF Bovingdon, Herts from 1958 until the 1960`s. I built it for the Patrol and Coastal Command GB and here is the WIP including photos of the real aircraft with one from my own collection showing it wearing its Coastal Command colours; And here is the model; Here is the real aircraft,......in 1958 wearing its Coastal Colours (from my own photo collection); And now as seen outside Merville Barracks in Colchester,.....home of 16 Air Assault Bde; Cheers, Tony Edited February 15, 2019 by tonyot 92 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 know that aircraft well, walked or drove past it for two years. Excellent work as usaul. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Lovely Dak Tony. Very interesting history in your WIP and nice to have a personal link to the aircraft. Cheers Malcolm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Great Dakota Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 tasty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I too know that aircraft well from when it was at Aldershot at the Paras museum. I may be wrong but I believe it was flown for some time at Farnborough before it became a static display: if so I have seen it in the air on numerous ocassions. That is a superb model in very different colours - very well done indeed. P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 1 hour ago, pheonix said: I too know that aircraft well from when it was at Aldershot at the Paras museum. I may be wrong but I believe it was flown for some time at Farnborough before it became a static display: if so I have seen it in the air on numerous ocassions. That is a superb model in very different colours - very well done indeed. P Thanks P,...... This one flew into Odiham and was then transported to Aldershot by road. I think that you are thinking of the Dakota which is currently used by the BBMF at Conngsby as it was at Farnborough back in the 80`s wearing its raspberry ripple scheme,..... I used to see it regularly. I even saw it landing on the day that one of the undercarriage legs gave way, leaving the outer wing to scrape along the runway in a shower of sparks,..... I was watching from the training area. I believe that the damaged wing panel may have been swapped with one from our Dak in Aldershot? Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Superb Dak Tony,great scheme too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) Beautiful model, Tony! I do wish they had kept her in that scheme when she was displayed. It seems to be as with Lancasters - every single displayed example has to be painted in WWII colours, even though they both enjoyed (and the C-47 is still enjoying) long post-war careers. Regards, Jason Edited February 16, 2019 by Learstang 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Learstang said: Beautiful model, Tony! I do wish they had kept her in that scheme when she was displayed. It seems to be as with Lancasters - every single displayed example has to be painted in WWII colours, even though they both enjoyed (and the C-47 is still enjoying) long post-war careers. Regards, Jason I know what you mean Jason,...... but the aircraft is representing the Dakota`s used in the Airborne Forces role and although the VIP scheme is nice,...and it was indeed retained for many years on display (see my WIP)....... in this case it wasn`t suitable for the role and when it needed repainting it had camouflage colours applied to make it look more war like. All of the VIP interior had been ripped out before delivery too. Cheers mate, Tony Edited February 16, 2019 by tonyot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Very smart Dak Tony. I too used to drive past this in Aldershot on my way to work (civvie job!). Interesting to read a bit about its history. Cheers John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 A great looking Dakota, Tony. I too remember this aircraft well from its days at Aldershot, having visited the Airborne Forces Museum on a number of occasions by bike back in the 70s. I have a distinct memory of standing by it watching a Saab Viggen being put through its paces from the Farnborough Air Show. I really like this post-War scheme. May I ask what paint you used for the natural metal? It looks really good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Meatbox8 said: A great looking Dakota, Tony. I too remember this aircraft well from its days at Aldershot, having visited the Airborne Forces Museum on a number of occasions by bike back in the 70s. I have a distinct memory of standing by it watching a Saab Viggen being put through its paces from the Farnborough Air Show. I really like this post-War scheme. May I ask what paint you used for the natural metal? It looks really good. Cheers,...... and yeah happy memories eh? I used rattle can Tamiya Bare Metal Silver,..... with matt varnish brushed over it,...... I find that it dulls it down and in this way is quite a good match for RAF High Speed Silver. The White was rattle can, as was the cheatline for which I used Tamiya US Navy Sea Blue. All the best Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Thanks Tony. A good tip to tone down the silver with a matt varnish. It gives it a much more 'lived-in' look. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Joyce Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Great job on the Dakota, Tony! I really like it in that scheme. Cheers, Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Another stunner Tony! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habu12 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Such a pretty, pretty Dak! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig88 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Splendid job! Well done, it looks great! Miguel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickoshea52 Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Very nice Tony. I used to pass Browning barracks and this Dakota on the way to school and spent many a quiet weekend afternoon in the Airborne Forces Museum; the new one at Duxford isn’t a patch on the old one. I had a black and white photo of my dad posing in front of the Dakota after his successful completion of his Parachute Regiment training, sadly it was lost. Thanks for your build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Very tasty indeed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goggsy Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Superb, lovely work. Really looks the part. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 Thanks again for your very kind comments,... they are very much appreciated. On 3/3/2019 at 3:38 PM, Rickoshea52 said: Very nice Tony. I used to pass Browning barracks and this Dakota on the way to school and spent many a quiet weekend afternoon in the Airborne Forces Museum; the new one at Duxford isn’t a patch on the old one. I had a black and white photo of my dad posing in front of the Dakota after his successful completion of his Parachute Regiment training, sadly it was lost. Thanks for your build. Cheers mate,.... then you`ll know very well how special this Dak is to the `family',....... and yes the old museum at Browning Barracks was superb,...... it feels too clinical at Duxford. Sadly Browning Barracks and Monty Lines are no more,......... they were a dump,..... but they were `our' dump and full of memories. Aldershot seems a bit dead without the Airborne Forces in town,...... there is going to be a paratrooper statue unveiled in Princess Gardens in July,..... money raised by ex Para`s. All the best Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeyboy76 Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Great build. I also know her well. I road moved her from Aldershot to Colchester via North Weald where she was repainted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 I had my first ever flight in her as G-AMPO. It was at the RAF Waddington in 1978/1979 (ish) and I think she was in Air Anglia markings at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 35 minutes ago, Hockeyboy76 said: Great build. I also know her well. I road moved her from Aldershot to Colchester via North Weald where she was repainted. Well you are a thief then, as it belongs in Aldershot!! .......Only kidding mate,........ it belongs with the Brigade wherever it moves and well done on the move,....... I bet there were a few seized bolts and the need for some WD-40??? Didn`t realise that the re paint was done at North Weald either. Glad you like the miniature version too,..... it is nice to hear that from somebody who knows her `intimately'!! Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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