Matchbox 1/72 Handley Page Heyford Mk I of 99 Squadron RAF Upper Heyford 1934

[adey m]

 

I bought this model from a local newsagent shop back in 1985 but I only started it recently.  I decided to scratchbuild the interior which became quite an involved build in itself and also to make the ventral dustbin turret retractable.

 

 

The forward fuselage with wireless operator's cabin, wireless equipment, camera, parachute, cockpit with double control column yoke that actually moves, then forward navigator/bomb aiming compartment with equipment and spare ammunition drums.

 

 

Left hand side of forward fuselage. Trailing aerial winch, camera, parachute, trimming wheel, pilot's seat and cockpit, bomb aimer/front gunner's compartment with firing step and spare ammunition drums.

 

 

Right hand side of forward fuselage. Bomb aimer's control panel, firing step, navigator/front gunner's seat, co-pilot's folding seat, wireless equipment, table and morse signaller and wireless operator's seat.

 

 

 

 

The rear fuselage with retracting and rotating lower dustbin turret, upper gunner's position with firing steps and spare ammunition drums, parachutes stowage, ladders which were carried onboard for maintenance when aircraft were operating away from their home airfield, opened up crew access hatch and electrical panel.

 

The model was completed just over a week ago and has just been featured as a Work in Progress topic.

 

The kit dates from 1980 and is typical of Matchbox with well moulded parts but in three different colours, which actually were not too crazy for this particular model being dark green, olive green and black, thankfully not red and cream like the Gladiator was.

 

The kit contains optional parts and decals to build all three of the operational Marks and also includes optional early type wheel spats fitted to the prototype aircraft.

 

I decided to build a Mark 1 with two-bladed props and wing mounted generators in the kit markings of 99 Squadron at RAF Upper Heyford near Oxford in 1934..

 

 

Close up of retacting dustbin turret. The gun mounting can be unclipped and removed before retracting the turret. The upper gunners came with the kit, the pilot is Airfix and so is the dustbin gunner I think. The Lewis guns are from the kit with extra details added. The model was brush painted with Humbrol Matt 224 Dark Slate Grey and then given a coat of Klear floor polish.

The rigging is stretched plastic sprue glued into place with white PVA glue which dries clear.

 

 

The dustbin turret retracted. A small brass rod hook provides something to get hold off to pull the turret out.

 

 

The rear fuselage fabric-covered effect was achieved with glued on thin plasticard which had been scribed on the inside face with a ball point pen. Gun mountings scratchbuilt from brass tube and plastic sprue.

 

 

 

The kit's tailwheel is too small, I found a more suitable sized one in my spares.

 

 

Note wing mounted generators. The Mark II and Mark III had engine driven generators.

 

 

Under the fuselage we have the downward identification lamp then the open camera hatch and then just aft of the V struts we have the opened crew access hatch.

 

I decided to model the bomb bay doors in the lower wing centre section in the closed position.

 

 

The unusual layout of the Heyford was to facilitate rapid bombing-up and refuelling and also gave the upper gunners a good field of fire. Refuelling and oiling points were located in the side of each main wheel spat. The engines were so high off the ground that the propellers had enough clearance to allow groundcrew to safely rearm and refuel the aircraft with the engines running.

 

 

 

Awaiting collection from Handley Page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The propeller clearance for the ground crew can be seen here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decals are the 35 year old ones from the kit and behaved well.

 

 

It has only got one wing, it does not look safe, it will never catch on ..................

 

 

A Heyford night bomber in its natural element.

 

Thank you all for looking, that has been my Handley Page Heyford night bomber.

 

regards, adey

 

 

 

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by adey m

[SAT69]

Brilliantly done!

[keith in the uk]

Outstanding result , well worth the 35 year wait . 

[qn30jEkPz7]

That’s a lovely build, well done!

[tonyot]

You`ve done a fantastic job there Adey and the photography is spot on too,... really impressive,

Cheers

           Tony

[Antti_K]

Beautiful work Adey! I like this a lot. Your masterpiece has that little something, that "spirit".

 

Cheers,

Antti

[JWM]

Very nice indeed! I am watching with particular interest - it is in my stash, so some tips and hints are very interesting to catch : ), I am going to do yellow glider towing machine from 1940/41...

Regards

J-W

Edited April 28, 2020 by JWM

[Michael51]

A lot of skill, application and patience in that fine piece of work,

 

Michael

[Harry Lime]

Superb modelling superbly presented!

 

Mark.

[mackem01]

Fantastic build, excellent finish. I've always fancied one of these oddities, unfortunately I only do 48th - anyone?

[trickydicky210]

That’s a cracker 👏👏👏👏

[CMSCHLOM]

Love his bomber!  Beautiful rigging!  Must have been a beast to fly.

[Graham T]

Knockout build!

[RMCS]

Fantastic 

[adey m]

1 hour ago, CMSCHLOM said:

Love his bomber!  Beautiful rigging!  Must have been a beast to fly.

Hi there CMSCHLOM and thank you. Pilots apparently loved this aeroplane once they first became accustomed to starting and finishing every flight from about 20 feet off the ground, it was quite manoeuvrable for its size and a number were even looped .............

 

regards, adey

[Bangor Lad]

Fantastic build. I really enjoyed the WIP and it has made me want to dig out a Matchbox kit from the stash. They give you a great canvas to make as many of as few improvements or refinements that you need or want to do. The only drawback is that I don't have one of these in the stash...tragic!

Great job and it's got the creative juices flowing!

Thanks

[adey m]

Thank you all for being such a wonderful audience.

 

regards, adey

[adey m]

3 minutes ago, Bangor Lad said:

it has made me want to dig out a Matchbox kit from the stash.

go on Dave, that sounds like a great plan.

 

And thank you

 

regards, adey

[dogsbody]

Nice!

 

 

 

Chris

[invidia]

Looks fantastic 

[Joe M]

Hi Adey,

Beautifully done. I have one in the attic insulation will have to did it out now.

A question, how did you manage to get such fine lines around the nose of the bombs?

Cheers

Joe M

Stick & String Rule O.K.

[Moggy]

It's a fantastic example of modelling.

 

Cheers, Moggy

[adey m]

8 hours ago, Joe M said:

A question, how did you manage to get such fine lines around the nose of the bombs?

Hello Joe, I hand paint the lines around the bombs with a very fine brush, I don't worry if I get them wrong or too uneven because I have another brush to hand which is wetted in white spirit and simply remove the mistakes with it while the paint is still wet, I do the same when painting transparency framing.

 

regards, adey

[Rabbit Leader]

If there ever was a reason to finally crack open one’s Heyford, which still remains unbuilt after being gifted as a 12 year old... then this certainly is it! What a cracking build Adey and the photography is just as impressive and inspirational as your fantastic Airfix Sunderland and Frog Shackleton builds. 
 

Cheers and thanks for the inspiration.. Dave 

[Eric Mc]

Lovely job.