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1/72 DH.100 Vampire Mk.I, Special Hobby


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Hello colleagues. Its me again. This time with the Vampire. A little history about the pilot:
DH.100 Vampire Mk.I, TG/287, HF-L, Squadron Leader Frank J Howell DFC and Bar, No.54 Sqn RAF, based at Odiham, April 1948.

In 1940, whilst with 609 (F) sqn, F/Lt Howell shot down several enemy’s aircraft, achieved the squadron’s 100th victory (a Ju 88 shared with P/O SJ Hill) and was awarded the DFC. In 1941 he formed and commanded 118 Sqn and also claimed its first victory, a He 111 on 8 July and was awarded a Bar to his DFC in November. In the winter of 1941-42, he commanded 243 Sqn at Kallang to defend Singapore and flying a Buffalo, he shot down a Ki-27/Type 97 fighter. Captured by the Japanese in February 1942 and released just after the Japanese surrender in August 1945. In January 1948, he took command of 54 Sqn at Odiham only to be killed on 9 May 1948 while making a cine film of the squadron’s Vampires, one of which struck him on the forehead with its wing tip.
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As always a beautiful build, Fuad.  Outstanding paintwork.  Must get one of these.  I have a Vampire F.1 shaped hole in my collection. 

 

Thanks for the pilot's background story.  What a tragic end.  Working in the televisual industry I can vouch for how dangerous it can be to film 'live' aircraft.  Once you are looking down that viewfinder you lose a lot of your spacial awareness and it can be scary how close you can get without realising it.  The moral of the story is always have an assistant with you.

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On 7/20/2019 at 11:26 AM, Graeme H said:

Nice model, but I question that a Post War new RAF aircraft would be that weathered

Of course, you are right, sir. But at the same time, not every plane fits absolutely "clean look". Some of them want to give a little "vitality."  In the end, I am almost an artist - I see the world like this))).

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I'm not always a fan of heavy weathering (mostly because I haven't got the skill to do it well) but this really looks the part.  You can just about smell the burnt kerosene.  Lovely job on an iconic aircraft.  Sad story, though.

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16 hours ago, Fuad said:

Of course, you are right, sir. But at the same time, not every plane fits absolutely "clean look". Some of them want to give a little "vitality."  In the end, I am almost an artist - I see the world like this))).


That is an excellent model ; which riveter did you use ?

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On 7/22/2019 at 2:22 PM, Fuad said:

Of course, you are right, sir. But at the same time, not every plane fits absolutely "clean look". Some of them want to give a little "vitality."  In the end, I am almost an artist - I see the world like this))).

Beautiful work Faud.

 

Actually I would support this Vampire being a little weathered. The Matt painted finishes on the Vampire F1 and Hornet F1 I have photos of show lots of dirt, boot scuffs, smoke and oil stains already by 1946-47. 

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1 hour ago, ArmouredSprue said:

Fantastic model as usual.

Can I ask which decals are these?

Thanks

I made main identification marks from stencils, and the remaining decals are from the SH box. But I will immediately say - they turned out to be of poor quality, because reacted very poorly to special adhesion fluids.

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