Jump to content

1/72 Hawker Typhoon RB396/G-TIFY


Recommended Posts

Hi all,
Currently there are two* airworthy Hawker Typhoon restoration projects underway, one in Canada and one in the UK.

 

RB396 is being worked on by Airframe Assemblies and ARCo in England and is hoped to be flying by 2024. The aircraft is a combat veteran and will be the star of many an airshow but that's in the future, and we don't even yet know what colours she will wear. But, using Neil Hipkiss' painting Warbird RB396 as a reference, I've built my interpretation of what G-TIFY - the UK civil registration reserved for '396 - might look like on the Duxford flightline.

 

49087523938_9309c69cf6_c.jpgAirfix 1/72 RB396 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
49088245827_3d5ef8391f_c.jpgAirfix 1/72 RB396 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
49088245857_392583de81_c.jpgAirfix 1/72 RB396 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
49087523888_efb4019328_c.jpgAirfix 1/72 RB396 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
49088245627_37be375236_c.jpgAirfix 1/72 RB396 by Zac Yates, on Flickr

 

This is the lovely recent Airfix kit - have I mentioned I love New Airfix? - with the XP-W codes cobbled together from the kit and part of the serial from my spares. I handpainted the Sheila noseart and would have posted the build two weeks ago, but I somehow lost one of the eight RP rails. Fortunately Airfix's spares department sent me a replacement (along with all seven of its brothers...) at no charge so she was finished today.

 

*OF COURSE I want to build JP843, the Canadian project, I just don't have another kit lying around. But if someone happened to have a spare Airfix A02041A and were feeling generous... 😇

  • Like 18
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A nice looking Typhoon and good to hear Airfix's customer care came up with thr goods.  Having just cracked the canopy on their new tool Harrier GR.1 I think I'll need to drop them a line.  It's a very exciting prospect that we may well have two airworthy Typhoons in the not too distant future.  Really chuffed that one will be based in the UK but also glad the Canadians will have one as well to commemorate 143 Wing 2TAF.  Hopefully the UK will also have two Mosquitos as well.  The work coming out of Aspecs in NZ regarding this is just outstanding.  The Fighter Collection's Beaufighter might take to the skies again and there's the possibility of a Tempest too.  There's even plans to restore a DH Hornet to the air, a type which was previously extinct.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Meatbox8 said:

There's even plans to restore a DH Hornet to the air, a type which was previously extinct.

The companies restoring Sea Hornet TT193 are about six hours' drive from me. You can bet I'll be there for the test flights!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, k5054nz said:

The companies restoring Sea Hornet TT193 are about six hours' drive from me. You can bet I'll be there for the test flights!

Wow.  Fantatstic.  Any idea how far they are with it?  Judging from what they had to start with it looks like it will be an epic restoration project.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/20/2019 at 10:23 AM, Meatbox8 said:

Wow.  Fantatstic.  Any idea how far they are with it?  Judging from what they had to start with it looks like it will be an epic restoration project.

From what I understand the remains are here but in storage while they gather parts and drawings etc. I've not seen any news recently - here's their website for you to keep an eye on 😎 They're currently keeping themselves busy with three or more P-40s, which I'm happy with!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, k5054nz said:

From what I understand the remains are here but in storage while they gather parts and drawings etc. I've not seen any news recently - here's their website for you to keep an eye on 😎 They're currently keeping themselves busy with three or more P-40s, which I'm happy with!

Thanks for the info. I would imagine finding parts for a Hornet must be a herculean task.   I hope one of their P-40s emerges in the markings of 'Wairarapa Wild Cat' of Geoff Fisken, 14 sqn RNZAF.  It's well up on my WW2 modelling list. Great markings and I only recently learned that he was the most successful Commonwealth pilot against the Japanese but he's not nearly as well known as the likes of Deere, Gray or Mackie.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice Typhoon!

Always loved the muscular look of this plane.

I have build Academy's 1/72 kit; however, I have heard a few comments about that kit's shape.

Perhaps I'll get one of these Airfix kits one day.  Wish they made a car door version, actually.

:goodjob:

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/21/2019 at 11:03 PM, Meatbox8 said:

I hope one of their P-40s emerges in the markings of 'Wairarapa Wild Cat' of Geoff Fisken, 14 sqn RNZAF.

I too am hoping we one day see an aircraft fly as NZ3072, but I'm not sure when it'll happen. I believe one of the P-40s Pioneer is working on will be in RNZAF markings but not an overseas aircraft.

 

There's an ex-RNZAF P-40N-1, NZ3125, flying in Australia...were I to win the lottery she'd be coming home and getting a repaint as the Wildcat! 😎

Edited by k5054nz
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...