bentwaters81tfw Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 The saying goes 'From Hell, Hull and Halifax'. In this case the Hell and Halifax come from Fonderie Monster Miniature. Do not believe the horror stories they tell you about this kit, it's all lies.....it's much worse! I know a few of us have been fighting this thing for a while. I collected it from a fellow Britmodeller at Telford last year, and got stuck in. Having been warned about it's idiosyncracies , I applied my long favoured tactic of ignoring the instructions, and building it the logical way. I soon tired of this pile of poo, as nothing fitted, and worse still, nothing stuck together. It defies regular glues, and needed superglue, often repeatedly , as the seams would pop as soon as any pressure was applied. It gathered dust from Christmas until a month ago, when it went from two fitted out fuselage sides, to what you see below. A month of my life I will never get back, working from breakfast to midnight most days. It's a tribute build to a late friend of mine, who flew this example, and others in WWII. Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax Mk VI RG618 was built by English Electric and delivered to No 76 Squadron at Holme-0n-Spalding Moor on 04.04.45 and coded MP I. On 25.04.45, it was being flown by F/Lt R L ‘Bob’ Perry, as part of a mission to Wangerooge where 76 squadron was tasked with bombing a heavy gun installation on the island. Following bomb release and turning on to the return course, two of the attacking force collided: RG553 MP T flown by P/O G.W. Lawson was struck by RG591 MP A flown by W/O J.R. ‘Scrappy’ Outerson. Following the collision, the ‘Bail Out’ command was given. Gerald Lawson was thrown clear, but the remaining crew of RG553, and the entire crew of RG591 were unable to escape, and were killed in the subsequent crashes. The post strike camera in F/Lt Perry’s aircraft caught the image of RG 553 broken in two, with the tail unit ahead of the main airframe. RG618 only flew two missions with 76 Squadron before being transferred to 158 Squadron on 01.05.45 following 76 being re-tasked to India flying C-47 Dakotas. Bob Perry survived the conflict, and later went on to fly the EE Canberra and Avro Vulcan before retiring from the Royal Air Force. RG553 P/O G.W.Lawson RCAF POW F/O M. Slaughter RCAF + F/O C.R. Morrison RCAF + F/Sgt A.G. Artus + P/O R.I. Sweat RCAF + Sgt D.B.N. Stanes + P/O L.L. Slavenwhite RCAF + RG591 W/O J.R. Outerson RCAF + F/Sgt C. Livermore RCAF + F/O J. Ramsey RCAF + Sgt J. Nicholson + F/Sgt E.T. Sutton + Sgt E.J. Burdall + F/Sgt G. Gibson + It will be at Telford, warts and all. 51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mancunian airman Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 I think that is wonderful ! Its clearly a Halifax and I think you have done more than justice to it, a nice tribute to boot. We just dont see enough larger scale Halifax bombers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve27752 Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Your perseverance has paid off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Very nice build and no signs of the problems it gave you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 You've hidden the battles well, it looks superb, can't wait to see it in person next weekend. All the more fitting that it's a tribute to someone that you knew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Great job, one day I hope to build a Halifax in 1/48 if another manufacturer fetches one out, my two FM ones were sold a long time ago so I can only admire your skill and perseverance. Hope to see it at Telford. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don149 Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Lovely job ! . The only possible criticism is that it`s just too pristine . I remember seeing Coastal Hali`s at Dishforth during the war and they were a bit stained ,but they were mostly white ! .I`ve had the FM kit of the Do 24 for about 20 years and never had the courage to start it ! . I take my hat off to you . ( oh ! for one in 1/32nd ). Don . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Great to see this finished, Frank - you have certainly triumphed where I have failed! Seeing this and @woody37’s efforts are certainly inspiring me to give mine a second go. I’ll look forward to seeing this next weekend. Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 You’ve managed to tame the beast! Well done, much braver than I.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Don149 said: Lovely job ! . The only possible criticism is that it`s just too pristine . I remember seeing Coastal Hali`s at Dishforth during the war and they were a bit stained ,but they were mostly white ! .I`ve had the FM kit of the Do 24 for about 20 years and never had the courage to start it ! . I take my hat off to you . ( oh ! for one in 1/32nd ). Don . Ah, but it is depicted here as a new machine, factory fresh, and devoid of mission markings. As above, it only flew 2 missions with 76 before moving on after less than a month. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Wonderful work on the Halifax. ... Thank you for the history and may the crew RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Excellent job. And a sad story too. It always seems more tragic when crews got the chop so close to the end of hostilities. That was, I believe, the last raid flown by main force Halifax squadrons. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Excellent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwitrogg Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Congratulations and very well done on finishing this less than stellar kit. Now sit back and enjoy it Cheers Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chillaton Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Well done! I built the Halton version of this "kit" and started by discovering that one fuselage half was 1/4 inch longer than the other!! It got worse after that. Yours looks fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 (edited) Well done on finishing the brute to such a high level,........ I`ve not picked up the courage yet to start mine!! What a great tribute too,....lest we forget. Cheers, Tony Edited November 4, 2019 by tonyot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 A terrific build of what I am told is a truly horrible kit. Well done for persevering with it. It was definitely worth the effort. Thanks for the background story too. Such a tragedy, especially when so close to the end of the War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Looking good. I know how much this fought you. The big Voodoo will be easy now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 From what I hear about this kit, just finishing it in any half-decent way is a major triumph. You've done a whole lot better than that, in spite of all your trouble in the build. Congratulations on a fine result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyclarke300 Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Hi, we have a member in the 76 Squadron Facebook Group who's relation was the rear gunner in BB199 in which Bob Perry was the pilot. Bertie Hoskins was the only member who died in this accident. They're looking for any photos of the original crew. Thanks for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 That you successfully produced a great looking model from such a horrible kit is truly amazing and inspiring. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted March 18, 2021 Author Share Posted March 18, 2021 34 minutes ago, garyclarke300 said: Hi, we have a member in the 76 Squadron Facebook Group who's relation was the rear gunner in BB199 in which Bob Perry was the pilot. Bertie Hoskins was the only member who died in this accident. They're looking for any photos of the original crew. Thanks for your help Bob was very cut up over that crash, in his own words 'It was a very bad night.' IIRC he lost two engines on a night exercise. I know he spent some time in hospital afterwards. It was almost 40 years ago he related the tale to me, and it was obvious he still felt badly about the events. I do not have any photos sadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyclarke300 Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 There's a photo of Bertie with 2 other airmen. We think we have names one but not the other. Would you mind joining the group on Facebook to have a look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 Sorry I don't do Farcebook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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