Valom 1/72 Handley Page Harrow Mk II heavy night bomber

[adey m]

My father presented me with the the wonderful book Aircraft Of The Royal Air Force Since 1918 by Owen Thetford for my 13th birthday and one of the aircraft featured in it was a large high-wing twin-engined bomber named Harrow with large spatted fixed undercarriage which to me looked more like a transport aeroplane with gun turrets .................. which it basically was.

I loved that book, and still do, as it featured aircraft that I did not know about then, such as the Handley Page Harrow............ and Blackburn Botha....what is that !

 

Then when I was 15 I saw an advert in one of the model magazines for a 1/72 Harrow kit by Contrail, so I posted my Postal Order ( remember those ) of to the address and waited excitedly for it to arrive ( allow up to 28 days for delivery ) do you remember that. It arrived early one morning with the post delivered by a Royal Mail postman ( do you remember when post arrived before breakfast ) in his red Morris Minor mail van ( I always knew when he was coming up the hill to our farm by the characteristic sound those engines made ). " It's a model mum, just don't tell Roger ( my stepdad )" .

 

Anyway, needless to say it was not exactly what I was hoping for, being something they call a vacform kit, but I did get as far as cutting and trimming the paper-thin fuselage halves and cockpit canopy but that was as far as it got.

 

So, 43 years later and a model kit company, from what used to be somewhere behind the Iron Curtain back in 1975, called Valom, from the Czech Republic, provides me with what I have waited all those years for, an injection moulded Harrow in 1/72, and a couple of years ago I bought one at Scale Model World when it first appeared.

 

And a couple of weeks ago I started building it. I do not normally post builds as I do them incase they go horribly wrong, I get bored, it ends up in landfill , I fall off my motorbike , next door's cat moves in, the moon breaks in half , etc.................

 

But not this one, I am loving it apart from two or three little challenges along the way, and as she is nearing completion I thought well here goes.

 

I have built a couple of Valoms in the past so I know the sort of things to expect.

 

 

So here we have the attractive boxing which correctly specifies a Mark II, the serial numbers do belong to that version, a nice colour painting guide, clear and well drawn instructions and a few parts still on their sprues, and a wonderful looking decal sheet.

 

Now I need to dig out my references, especially for the interior.

 

 

mmmm ........... that looks bloody messy and complicated, pity that the Valom transparencies are so thin and clear.................... I need to work out what is going on here.

 

 

okay, so we can see a bit of the main structure here

 

 

nice shot of the cockpit, that chair looks lovely and comfy, mmmm the instrument panel slopes at an angle, must remember that, throttle quadrant...how many bloomin levers are there, how many engines does this thing have,  wonder what colour the interior was, the metal stuff looks like green probably, and the fabric appears to be white .............. white ?

 

 

the inside of the access door looks white too .................

 

 

this Driffield-based Harrow tragically crashed near Driffield in fog killing all the crew. But this photo shows the fabric interior was white.

 

okay time to cut some plastic ............

Edited May 1, 2020 by adey m

[bigbadbadge]

Another interesting subject Adey, good luck with the interior, how far back are you going to model.

It's a nice looking aircraft.

Good luck with your build

All the best

Chris

[Aeronut]

The one with the clear fuselage panels is a tanker used to refuel flying boats. The clear panels would allow the Hose Drum Unit operator to keep the receiver aircraft in view below the tanker (they did air to air refuelling slightly differently in the 30s).

Rather than being white I'd suggest the fabric is 'fabric' colour ie an off-white. It would appear that instead of using a red shrinking dope, that would have soaked the fabric and made it look pinky-red, a clear dope has been used which has sealed the surface and so prevented the silver and colour dope layers showing through.

[woody37]

If the moon does fall in half, 2020 is the year it will happen

 

looking forwards to your progress assuming we aren’t wiped out by a meteor!

[adey m]

2 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Another interesting subject Adey, good luck with the interior, how far back are you going to model

Hi Chris, glad to have you along. I intended to go to just behind the wireless operator in the front cabin, and to do some simplified structure around the mid upper turret area,

 

regards, adey

 

just seen that you have a Valom Hampden on the go, how are you finding it.

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by adey m

[Heather Kay]

Ooh! A Harrow! I’ve got the Sparrow boxing, so I’ll sit quietly here in the corner taking notes, if you don’t mind.

[bigbadbadge]

30 minutes ago, adey m said:

just seen that you have a Valom Hampden on the go, how are you finding it.

 

Hi Adey

I have only made a tentative start by widening the floor a bit, but then I have now got the corrected glazing for it so might need to reduce the floor again!!! I have not got back to it in the stash yet though as trying to finish some that are further along, and working on the house and working full time so not much time for modelling.  

I hope I make retirement!!!

 

Keep up the good work

All the best

Chris

[Marklo]

This should be good. I love those quirky interwar bombers.

[adey m]

This kit is very nicely moulded in a good quality tan coloured plastic with very little flash and beautiful fabric over structure effect. The main sprues contain optional parts for all the other versions of Harrow that Valom do, so we have the nose, dorsal and tail fairings of the transport Sparrow, and extra glazing parts too such as the early glazed nose and a closed dorsal turret. The glazing by the way is superbly clear and well moulded.

 

 

We also find some very fine and tiny etched brass parts such as throttle levers and seat belts and a lovely instrument panel with a printed sheet of dials for behind it.  And then we have the dreaded resin parts, oh I hate resin parts so much, which include pilot and wireless operator's seat ( why ), and two Pegasus radial engines which are rather nice, but you still have to add the valve sleeves to each cylinder yourself from plastic rod.

 

After much researching I managed to get enough of an idea about the interior to start cutting plastic and sawing resin ( yuk ), messy and fragile.

 

 

This is what Valom intend the cabin to look like. Parts labelled MP are etched brass and the seats and pilot's seat mounting are resin.

 

 

But if we study this photo something is not right with Valom's interpretation ( clutter ? ). The wireless operator is sat forward of the bomb bay, not on it. The gangway floor into the nose compartment should actually extend rearwards to the wireless and navigator's position. So out with the saw.

 

Anyway, I made a start scratchbuilding the rest of the cabin out of plasticard, plastic rod and bits from my spares. I added a plastic card floor over the bomb bay using the moulded bomb bay doors as a locator and then extended the cabin floor to the front of the bomb bay. Then I discovered that there was not enough room behind the pilot's bulkhead for the wireless operator, what is going on ............. then I spotted the problem which I should have expected as I had this before on a Valom kit, the moulded bomb bay doors were the wrong length and came too far forward. Anyway at least I spotted the problem and rectified it.

 

Tomorrow I will show you how I did the interior.

 

 

[adey m]

33 minutes ago, Heather Kay said:

so I’ll sit quietly here in the corner taking notes, if you don’t mind

as long as you don't start munching a packet of crisps like my wife does..................

 

you are very welcome Heather

 

regards, adey

[Martian]

1 hour ago, adey m said:

as long as you don't start munching a packet of crisps like my wife does..................

Is popcorn allowed? 

 

Martian 

[adey m]

5 hours ago, Martian said:

Is popcorn allowed? 

just not when I'm trying to paint those very fine window frames ....................... oh dammit

 

regards, adey

[Jonners]

Nice one, Adey - and some very good reference photos there. Do you have a plan for its final finish and markings yet?

Jon

[adey m]

12 minutes ago, Jonners said:

Do you have a plan for its final finish and markings yet?

Hi Jon, I really like the low viz markings of the Phoney War period rather than the garish bright ones in the kit. It would be good to do it in the codes of a Driffield based machine, especially as Driffield is local to both of us. These things probably flew over our 130 year old house.

 

regards, adey

[Jonners]

Just now, adey m said:

It would be good to do it in the codes of a Driffield based machine, especially as Driffield is local to both of us.

Agreed - I rather hoped that you might be thinking along those lines. I've just had a quick look in my copy of 'Strong Foundations' by Simmonds and Abraham  (you might well have a copy yourself) but unfortunately it contains only three photos of Driffield Harrows, and one of those is the crash near Tibthorpe that you've already posted. There is a pic of a 75(B) Sqn aircraft that shows the underwing serial and fuselage codes reasonably clearly and another less-clear shot of a 215(B) Sqn machine - if they might be of use I can PM you.

Jon

[adey m]

Hi Jon, thank you for the info on Driffield based machines, I do have a copy of Strong Foundations too.

 

I will have to think about this PDQ as model is nearly finished, I haven't built a model this damn quick in years, something to do with being furloughed off work possibly ...............

 

regards, adey

[adey m]

 

Here I have lowered the cabin floor and extended it back to the bomb bay. Resin pilot's seat in position. Kit's plastic cockpit floor and throttle quadrant, and etched brass rudder pedals, trim wheel and gear change lever, parking brake or whatever it is. Note that the tab for glueing the instrument panel onto is correctly angled for tilt........ thumbs up to Valom.

Who's left the door open...............

 

 

To help ease construction I built up the cabin interior as a module that slots into place in the fuselage. Matchbox wireless operator sat at scratchbuilt wireless equipment and table, navigator's table and co-pilot's folding seat, and tubular structure made from Aeroclub plastic rod. Pilot is from a 1960s Airfix kit. I made throttle levers from plastic instead of using the microscopic etched brass ones.

 

 

 

Etched brass control wheel from kit. It's okay, don't worry, I will be able to paint it once it is assembled ....................mmmmmm

 

 

Better make sure it fits. Fuselage fuel tank in foreground.

 

 

And better fit the fuel tank in place. Instrument panel now in place too.

 

 

Note instrument panel angled correctly. Wish somebody would close that door .....................

 

 

Some basic fuselage structure has been added around the mid upper turret area. I think " view to the cockpit " is a lot less of a mouthful than " pohled do pilotni kabiny ", unless your Czech of course .......

 

 

" What are you swearing at love .....? "     " Nothing dear ".............

 

 

Social distancing and wearing of face masks compulsory ..................

 

 

Now painted and in place. How thoughtful to give the wireless operator a nice big window through which to watch the scenery drift slowly by.

 

 

The final photo I took before closing up the fuselage. A bit of structure and panel added just forward of rear turret.

 

Okay, need to go and get another coat of black on the undersides, see you later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2020 by adey m

[Timmas]

This looks terrific. Love those crew figures!

[adey m]

 

Fuselage joined up but unfortunately I think I made things a bit of a problem for me by overdoing it on the plasticard tabs along the fuselage joins to help align the halves up.

It ended up with requiring filler along the seams to match things up. I masked off eitrher side of the seams so as not to damage the lovely fabric effect either side. All fuselage openings have been sealed with tape to stop filler dust getting inside.

I have assembled the three turrets, which were very fiddly indeed, and painted the interiors of the nose and tail turrets green.

 

 

Fuselage joins filled and sanded. Portholes in roof behind cabin have been drilled out. A few of my sketches help me understand what I need to do or consider.

 

 

Front and rear turrets and cockpit glazing now attached. I used white PVA wood glue to attach the turrets and cockpit glazing, it is water-based, does no damage to the clear parts, holds them sufficiently in place allowing final adjustments to be made, and any gaps can be sealed with it too and smoothed with a wet finger. It dries clear and glazing can be removed later if required with no damage. The brand I used was Gorilla wood glue, if gorillas use it then it must be strong enough.

Other major components now assembled. The fuselage, wings and spats have been brush painted with Humbrol Matt 119 Light Earth.

 

 

The resin engines have been assembled and painted. Each of the nine cylinders on each engine required a valve sleeve adding from fine plastic rod. The propellers have a brass rod shaft installed to the hub which then push fits into a hole drilled in each engine centre.

 

 

As I did with the Heyford I have made sure that the wheels are free to rotate and I have filed a flat into each tyre.

 

 

And then that exciting stage arrived, the fitting of the wings. I would recommend that the wing spar that is provided is not glued to the fuselage before fitting the wings, then any loose play in the spar will make it easier to match up the wings to the fuselage ( guess who did not do this ) mmmm . The fit and dihedral was excellent with hardly any fettling required   .............  EXCEPT that the wing root is slightly too long at the rear fillet, but a small bit of carving sorted that out.

 

 

Edited May 1, 2020 by adey m

[Pete in Lincs]

Adey, Good to see you back at the bench and having fun by the sound of it.

Nice detail work inside. In the light earth, somehow it reminds me of a Beriev seaplane! 

[adey m]

 

And then it was time to fit the tailplanes.

 

 

The two main colours I had used up to this stage with my painting tools ready for inspection. At this point I became aware of how heavy this model had become, which is strange because there is no nose weight required and I have only added a bit of plastic to the interior.  What was bothering me was the very thin and weak looking undercarriage struts provided in the kit, so I have raided my spares for something stronger.

Edited April 30, 2020 by adey m

[Heather Kay]

4 minutes ago, adey m said:

What was bothering me was the very thin and fragile looking undercarriage struts provided in the kit, so I have raided my spares for something stronger.

Yes, I have read other builds where the undercarriage was of some concern. I’m keen to see what your solution is.

[adey m]

8 hours ago, Heather Kay said:

I’m keen to see what your solution is.

To leave it like one of Pete's Beriev seaplanes I think Heather

Edited May 1, 2020 by adey m

[adey m]

 

I don't think we should load any more of these things, we might break it. Note how slender the struts supporting the undercarriage are and to create those to scale in plastic on a 1/72 model and retain some strength is going to be a problem. Note also how polished the wheel spats are, I have noticed this on other Harrows too, maybe to do with RAF Bull and polishing ones boots.

 

This Harrow was undergoing armament tests at Martlesham Heath. I spent many happy childhood years in that part of Suffolk and we would cross the runway on our trips to Felixstowe.

Edited May 1, 2020 by adey m

[AdrianMF]

Looks like a nice kit, and your interior is a great improvement. Strange that they had both this and the Bombay in the RAF at the same time. I find it hard to tell them apart!

 

Regards,

Adrian