Acklington Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 I've had this resin kit unmade for decades, but finally gave it a go. There are only about eight lumps of resin main parts (some were warped), plus rather crude metal bits for the various details. There are no decals provided. The poorly detailed vacuform canopy I swapped for the spare vacuform canopy from the Pavla Martinet kit. Considerable trimming was required to fit it to the Magna model as the Pavla one has part of the fuselage structure incorporated into the canopy moulding. The metal Magna propellor was also made to rotate, with difficulty. HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (5) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (6) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (7) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (8) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (10) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (16) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (17) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr HP147, Ouston Station Flight, early 1943 (25) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr The model represents Miles Martinet TT.1, HP147, delivered new in early 1943 to RAF Ouston Station Flight in Northumberland. This aircraft went on to serve with 1490 (Fighter Gunnery) Flight, also at Ouston, before re-joining the Station Flight. Subsequently it was transferred to the nearby RAF Acklington Station Flight, followed by 1 Air Gunners School at Pembrey, and finally the Central Fighter Establishment. It was struck off charge in January 1947. This is another addition to my 'RAF Ouston Research' project and website. 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werdna Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Great work. Martinets used to fly from the local airfield here and I'd love to find a suitable kit in 1/48.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Nice one Philip, for what sounds like a somewhat dodgy kit, you've made it look really good. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick b Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Excellent result. Admired Magna for the subjects they chose but the resin moulding was often of a poor quality. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 It sounds like you tamed a beast of a kit and produced a fine finished result. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the device projecting out from the left side of the fuselage at the instructor's cockpit? I've never seen anything like that before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Beautiful job on this subject! It looks like a labor of love indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acklington Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share Posted August 11, 2020 14 hours ago, SAT69 said: It sounds like you tamed a beast of a kit and produced a fine finished result. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the device projecting out from the left side of the fuselage at the instructor's cockpit? I've never seen anything like that before. Many thanks everyone. I've been left with nothing but admiration for the TTO (Towed Target Operator) in the back seat. The 'seat' folds up against the right fuselage wall, the shoulder harness being strung from a beam across the rear of the cockpit. After take-off the TTO gets down on the floor where there is a permanent very large hole, and he sticks his arm out to thread the cable and attach the drogue, which I assume is in the 'target box' between the exhausts. He then operates the propellor/winch device, with the drum of steel cable being mounted sideways inside his cockpit, at face height, and inline with the propellor device. The propellor is rotated to face forward in to wind, and the model shows it in the stowed position to reduce drag. A hole in the floor, a drum of steel cable whizzing round in front of your face, and a trainee Biggles firing canon at you from behind. Delightful. Many Martinets had a different winch, electrically driven off the engine, with no external propellor device. The large electric winch was mounted on the cockpit floor, nicely placed with the whizzing steel cable between the TTO's legs! Some 1200 Martinets were built from 1942, seeing widespread world service including the Fleet Air Arm and foreign users, and they remained in service until 1955 when they were replaced by the Tempest TT.5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 Really great result! Regards J-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 Excellent model, true modelling skills ! Wulfman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 Top job! TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85sqn Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 Well done! I have the Magna Models Master MkII and it just been on the shelf of doom for years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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