“A Typhoon with bite!” - Completed

[trickyrich]

Hah I’m going whole hog with this one….as if I didn’t have enough on the work bench already! 

 

Ok this is something quite different and very unique for this GB, a Hawker Typhoon and in 1/32nd and in full resin!!

 

 

Right first up this is probably a Company quite a few may not have heard much about, much less knew they did a Typhoon! They are a specialist company that does super high quality resin AM bit’s for models. They have done a couple of full resin models, Fairy Swordfish (I’ve heard it’s truly amazing), a Ki-61-I Hien (I have 2 of these), an Ar-234 (will sell my first born for this one!!!), and the Hawker Typhoon which was their first full model (have 2 of these as well). These full resin kits are rare and came about as they did lots of AM accessories for the Revell model and decided to produce their own model to go with them.

 

 

The fuselage is cast in 2 pieces just like a normal model it’s super thin with casting as good as Fisher Model & Patten models!

 

 

The wings are solid case, with amazing detail in the wheel wells.

 

 

These are the resin AM sets they also sell separately:

 

 

…plus the remaining pieces.

 

Plus there’s the 4 bladed prop as well which I’ll be using.

 

 

No external stores are provided so I’ve sourced some rockets from Special Hobby, plus I can use the leftover bombs from my Sea Fury. Unusually I'm adding plastic AM bit sot a resin model, normally it's the other way around.

 

 

There are some nice decals and schemes provided as well.

 

 

Plus I have some extra stencils from Aviaeology.

 

 

Ok so how does she fit into this GB????

 

Well I said she was unique, and not because of the model…..

 

One particular aircraft flown by Canadian pilots had Sharks Teeth painted on her! She was from 245 SQN part of 2ndTactical Air Force, and was flown by two pilots, F/L H.T. “Moose” Mosset (MIA Mar7/45) and later by S/L Tony Zweigbergk. She was the only known Typhoon to ever have a Sharks Mouth painted on her. Photo’s are quite rare and as a result there is some confusion with the actual details of the sharks mouth as to whether the inside of the mouth was red or the original camouflage colour. She continued to fly in this scheme post war with a couple of minor changes, blue spinner and blue/black checkerboard fuselage strip (I may do this scheme).

 

 

The supplied photo’s do show the sharks mouth to be quite worn and dirty, but a photo of her after the war shows the sharks mouth to be quite clean and tidy maybe it was spruced up at a later stage, I'm leaning towards this very for now.

 

I’ve also got some extra paint masks coming for her as well plus who knows what else will show up.

 

The only sad thing about this model is there isn’t a “Car Door” version or mod kit available as I’m dying to build one of the 3 RAAF test aircraft used in the Middle East!!

 

Ok just a wee bit of pre-start work before the actual start of the GB. 

 

Everything has been given a good wash and check over….there are a few issues with this model, the other one I have of her on checking is perfect. I really should build that one but where would the fun be!

 

 

A lot of the parts are slightly warped (if you’d seen the original box you’d understand! So a hot bath this time will be required for most of then.

 

The big issue is with the RH wing. The inner trailing edge is badly warped!

 

 

I have already tried to heat it up and straighten it, but not that successfully. It’s a solid cast wing and to get the heat needed to soften the thicker section, I run a real risk of damaging the thin sections. This is as good as I could get it.

 

 

To fix this I plan to laminate new sections of plastic card on the effected areas then re-sand it back into profile, this should work….if not I’ll re-cast the rear section from the good wing then just cut out the bad section.

 

Plus on both wings the main wheel well area has sagged near the fuselage join, they supply a resin part for the inner section of the wheel well, but I’ll replace this with brass to help reshape that area…….this will be explained a bit later with photos.

 

Been looking for an excuse to building her for ages, can't wait.....ok once the Viggen is off the bench.

 

Oh dear, just found another one of these plus another Ar-234B (both 234’s are over $200 USD) on evilBay………must …….resist……..urge....to bu.........

 

[Dazzio]

This looks interesting and scary at the same time. I'll be tagging along for this one.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Dazz

[trickyrich]

trust me this i'll be a way simpler build for me, even with the warped wings than the Viggen!!

 

Speaking of warped, I've noticed that quite a few other parts in this model were warped as well. Either this was a very early release or it wasn't stored very well. The other one which is fine comes in a completely different box (smaller) and is perfect.

 

In the next couple of days or so I'll give them a hot bath, that should sort them out.

[CliffB]

What a fabulous box of bits 

I've said it before (and I always get shot down!), but I'm a big fan of using my electric oven to heat up large sections of resin.  You can bring the temperature up incrementally, to allow the heat to soak in.  There's actually much more control than say, using hot water.  If you're lucky, the parts come out smelling of roast potatoes too - win, win!

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Interesting idea Cliff, i was actually laughing at the resin smelling of roasted potatoes. 

[trickyrich]

1 hour ago, CliffB said:

What a fabulous box of bits 

I've said it before (and I always get shot down!), but I'm a big fan of using my electric oven to heat up large sections of resin.  You can bring the temperature up incrementantly, to allow the heat to soak in.  There's actually much more control than say, using hot water.  If you're lucky, the parts come out smelling of roast potatoes too - win, win!

Dam, now I feel like having some hot chips!!

 

My oven is straight from the bowels of hell, think Beelzebub was the original owner, it's either off or fire and brimstone mode, no half measure with this one, makes cooking interesting! Just not game enough to stick resin in there, have thought about it but only to give some horrible resin model (or plastic) a Valkyrie send off!

 

Have been paying with hot water today and almost got it sorted (all the other bits are sorted). Have a feeling there was an issue with this straight from the cast. The other one I have is absolutely perfect and all the resin they've used appears to quite different!

 

I may end you building that one to save me too much hassles, will have a think on it, would like a nice straightforward build for a change. Whatever I decide I'll fix up the wing now I've got out.

[helios16v]

5 hours ago, trickyrich said:

I may end you building that one to save me too much hassles, will have a think on it, would like a nice straightforward build for a change. 

Right.....🤣

 

 

It's all relative I suppose.  🍻

[Christer A]

Tiffy with a big big sharkmouth!?

My knees goes all wobbly just thinking about it. It's the perfect match!

Here's one I made earlier (See! I actually CAN finish a kit once in a while)

 

But that resin looks challenging enough though. Have fun!

[trickyrich]

6 minutes ago, Christer A said:

Tiffy with a big big sharkmouth!?

My knees goes all wobbly just thinking about it. It's the perfect match!

Here's one I made earlier (See! I actually CAN finish a kit once in a while)

 

But that resin looks challenging enough though. Have fun!

Ooooo very nice!!!!! 

 

That's the mouth I expected her to have when first painted, I think later in her life when she was re-painted with blue radome a checker band, that that's when the red was added to the mouth. I'm now really leaning towards that direction.

 

What scale is that? She looks awesome, great job. I'm so itching to build the "Car Door" version, I just need a canopy in 1/32nd!

[Christer A]

I wanted the war time Sharkmouth, hence no blue spinner or checkers or even red.

It's the Airfix 1/24 kit, build log can be found over here

 

[trickyrich]

Nice.....I may have to jump up a scale if i want to build my RAAF Tiffy!!

[trickyrich]

11 minutes ago, Christer A said:

I wanted the war time Sharkmouth, hence no blue spinner or checkers or even red.

It's the Airfix 1/24 kit, build log can be found over here

 

wow, i have to go back and finish reading the build, awesome work. One question, the MDC instructions with mine mention the cockpit interior is painted Interior Green. Is that correct? I haven't had a chance to go through my reference material yet.

[Christer A]

Interior colors on Tiffys is one of "those" subjects...

I went with aluminium for everything, the reasoning being that it was a late built one, and at that time corners were cut quite drastically to shorten build time (as was done on Spitfire). Tubing were done in painted aluminium I'm almost sure of 😉

All Tiffies(except for 15) were produced by Gloster so even though all Tempest were Interior green, that's because they were made by Hawker.

[trickyrich]

yeah.... I've just been reading about them!!!  It's seems they interiors are another of life mysteries!! Either painted aluminium or Interior Green up to the top of the cockpit frame then black above, it's a 50:50 with the experts. A lot of info seems to be based on the museum restored aircraft and from previous experience I have no faith in the accuracy of resto aircraft!

 

Think I'll have to go of and do some more research!

 

[Christer A]

Also, a lot of of the guesses comes from how the Tempest looks.

I've done 3 Tiffys now, in 3 scales, all of them painted differently in the cockpit!

Which of them is correct? 

I tend to believe that interior green was more common on the Car-Door Tiffy though.

But of Chris Thomas can't say for certain, then I guess we're allowed to play it fast and loose.

[Stalker6Recon]

Along for the ride..... She looks gorgeous!

[Basilisk]

You certainly going whole hog with this build

 

Looks like a great kit and I am sure you will make an impressive model from it.

Cheers, Peter

[spitfire]

It may be a challenging build but it does look good when it is finished, mine also had some wonky bits that the hot water trick did not fix (fuselage nose) I had to resort to clamps for that one, here is a link to the build, it's definitely not perfect but may contain some info for you.

Cheers

 

Dennis

[trickyrich]

15 minutes ago, spitfire said:

It may be a challenging build but it does look good when it is finished, mine also had some wonky bits that the hot water trick did not fix (fuselage nose) I had to resort to clamps for that one, here is a link to the build, it's definitely not perfect but may contain some info for you.

Cheers

 

Dennis

Thanks for that Dennis, I'll have to have a good read of it.

 

Nup I agree, the hot water/boiling water sort of helped but there is still a wee bit of an issue with the wing. I spent yesterday giving all the problem bits a good bath/bathe in boiling water (hot water just wouldn't do it). Other than the wing all the rest came out ok. The wing is much better but had other issues which I'll post about once this build gets underway.

 

I think at this stage I'll build the second model instead, it's perfect. I'll repair the wing though and go through the process of how to do stuff like that. Plus it has some mould issues with the cockpit framework, poorly moulded. Ultimately I'm thinking of replacing/rebuilding the whole cockpit framework completely with plastic rod (brass would be nicer but it's not something I really work with, especially silver soldering, but if I can get the gear together I may even go down that path). But that build will be a much later project for me. 

[trickyrich]

@spitfire gee you did have a bit of a fight with her, but she turned out amazing!!! 

 

Those wing end-plates!!! bot of my wings had sagged over the wheel well opening, the LH wing came back to shape with hot water, the RH nup! I have photos of what I did, I sort of had to make and end-plate out of brass sheet then did the boiling water trick.....pretty well fixed it.

 

I'll be using masks where I can, but i have feeling I'll have to use decals for the code & serial numbers. I'll be using my fav lacquer acrylics for the main coats so I should be able to get a nice surface for the decals.

 

again thanks for the link and info, much appreciated.

[spitfire]

2 hours ago, trickyrich said:

@spitfire gee you did have a bit of a fight with her, but she turned out amazing!!! 

 

Those wing end-plates!!! bot of my wings had sagged over the wheel well opening, the LH wing came back to shape with hot water, the RH nup! I have photos of what I did, I sort of had to make and end-plate out of brass sheet then did the boiling water trick.....pretty well fixed it.

 

I'll be using masks where I can, but i have feeling I'll have to use decals for the code & serial numbers. I'll be using my fav lacquer acrylics for the main coats so I should be able to get a nice surface for the decals.

 

again thanks for the link and info, much appreciated.

You are very welcome, the kit has given me a rather nice looking Typhoon in my display case no matter what it's faults.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[rob85]

You have gone in feet first with this one! Looks a beautiful kit, good luck!

 

Rob

[trickyrich]

thanks, though I'm taking it a little bit easy with this build, only one bit of plastic AM for a change. 

[Biggles87]

Looking forward to this.

I stupidly sold mine when I bought the Airfix 1/24 kit, wish I hadn't now.

 

John

[trickyrich]

23 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

Looking forward to this.

I stupidly sold mine when I bought the Airfix 1/24 kit, wish I hadn't now.

 

John

actually you may have gotten the better deal with the Airfix one!

 

I've been looking over the second model and whilst it looked good in the box, careful examination showed it to has issues as well! Someone had fitted some tape around the fuselage, I don't know if this cause it or not but the second fuselages are/were very flat!

 

I tried the hot/boiling water trick as per the first model and proceeded to turn the fuselages into spaghetti! The resin used is totally different and needed little heat to soften, but I managed to rescue them. The wings, while both are straight they do have some slight mould and bubble issues, I may end up using the originals yet.

 

I'm currently now thinking of using the 2 models to build one, taking the best from each. The leftovers are probably going to go towards the "RAAF Car Door" version which will help improve the 1970's Revell model, but that's for a later build.

 

I'll try an post some pics of my adventures soon.