ICM British Torpedo Trailer (48405) 1:48

[Mike]

British Torpedo Trailer (48405)

1:48 ICM via Hannants

 

 

The British 18” Mk.XII Torpedo was an air-launched variant of the earlier Mk.XI that entered service in the early 30s.  The Mark.12 was the variant used by the Fleet Air Arm and RAF Coastal Command during WWII, and could be fitted with a break-off wooden tail fairing to reduce entry speed into the water, and the nose was painted red for a training round, or the less visible black for a live round, which goes against the “red for danger” methodology normally used.

 

The Kit

 

This kit is a single sprue of grey styrene in a small top-opening box that contains parts for a complete torpedo, plus a trailer to transport it around the airfield.  The torpedo is made first, built from two halves with a double layer screw and a pair of perpendicular fins at the rear, two of which are moulded in.  The optional break-off tail is made from two rectangular end panels, with a single horizontal plane stretching between them.  The wooden tail includes the tail fins of the torpedo and is a straight replacement to the standard fins, then a spacer and large spinner are fitted to the front.  The guts of the trolley consists of two scissor jacks, and these are both made from four parts each that are mounted onto a slotted base, then surrounded by a framework with two small balancing wheels at either end.  A short axle projects from the centre of the rails, and these mount a larger wheel with integrated tyre, plus a winder at each end that operates the scissor-jacks (on the real thing).  The torpedo is lowered into the cradle along the trolley’s direction of travel to finish off.

 

The instructions have a sprue diagram on the front page, the build steps spreading over the two central sheets, and at the rear are the painting instructions, with codes from ICM’s new paint range, plus Revell and Tamiya codes as well as colour names.

 

There are two painting suggestions, and from the box you can build one of the following:

 

 

 

Net photo – Copyright unknown.

 

Conclusion

A nicely detailed set that will complement any diorama scenario or even to personalise a model placed on the shelves of your cabinet.  Notice the Beaufort in the background on the box top?  Me too

 

Highly recommended.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

[Graham Boak]

The break-off tail (Monoplane Air Tail) was to permit release at higher speeds and greater heights, whilst keeping the torpedo in an optimum angle for entering the water.  It wasn't needed on Swordfish and the other biplane types because of the their ability to fly at slow speeds and low altitudes for the drop.  The faster monoplanes were unable to do this - and given the improvements in defensive firepower on the target ships faster aircraft were a good ides anyway.  Other nations had the same problem, and solved it in a number of similar ways - all involving a aerodynamic tail of some kind.   Presumably the longer time of flight after separation would result in some loss of speed by the torpedo, but that wasn't the design purpose.

 

A better representation of these in other scales would be useful, although it was modelled as early as the Frog Barracuda knowledge appeared to have been lost for some years.

[Mike]

8 minutes ago, Graham Boak said:

It wasn't needed on Swordfish and the other biplane types because of the their ability to fly at slow speeds and low altitudes for the drop

That's understatement of the week.

[Nickthebrief]

I'm just building one now. A bit fiddly but a nice little kit. (Although not a lot of plastic for the money...)

The photo above seems to show a different type of dolly - more akin to the type modelled, I think, by Flightpath in an etched set.

I look forward to posing mine next to something suitable - after February, a Beaufort perhaps?

Cheers,

Nick.