ththtttu7 Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) Hi, Starting with these two, I'm building a 1/48 scale Airfix Vampire F3 for each of the North Weald based squadrons: 72, 601 & 604. This kit builds well in my experience, with attention needed for nose weight and careful forward fuselage alignment. 72 Squadron markings were assembled from aftermarket sources. This head-on photo, really emphasises the clean lines of the Vampire The Vampires join the existing collection of other North Weald based types: 111sqn Meteor F8 and Black Arrows Hunter (not pictured); and the Spitfire F22, PK624 which was the 604 Squadron hack. Edited February 26, 2022 by David A Collins 44 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Nice collection of well-done models. 20 minutes ago, David A Collins said: ... Black Arrows Hunter (not pictured) ... I believe 111 were at Wattisham when the Black Arrows formed - that's certainly where they were based for most of that team's existence, and traded their Hunters for Lightnings there. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 12 minutes ago, MikeC said: Nice collection of well-done models. I believe 111 were at Wattisham when the Black Arrows formed - that's certainly where they were based for most of that team's existence, and traded their Hunters for Lightnings there. Hi Mike, According to the RAF North Weald history book, 111 formed the display team with 5 black painted hunters in 1956. This number was expanded to 9 aircraft in 1957. The squadron+display team finally left North Weald on 19th February 1958 to North Luffenham, then Wattisham. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Very nice collection there David,.... lovely stuff. Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 36 minutes ago, David A Collins said: Hi Mike, According to the RAF North Weald history book, 111 formed the display team with 5 black painted hunters in 1956. This number was expanded to 9 aircraft in 1957. The squadron+display team finally left North Weald on 19th February 1958 to North Luffenham, then Wattisham I see, I must re-read my Jefford and brush up on my Wattisham history. My apologies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Lovely Vampires David, great work. The in-flight model does show how sleek the Vampire was and looks gorgeous. Great work Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 1 minute ago, MikeC said: I see, I must re-read my Jefford and brush up on my Wattisham history. My apologies. No worries, it's a shared history that 111sqn has between two airfields. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Those are beautiful, and the display with one on a stand looks amazing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Very Nice. I have the trumpeter 1/48 vampire on the Shelf of Doom undergoing corrections. Too stubborn to just bin it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampiredave Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 With the confirmation that 111 Squadron had been chosen as the RAF's premier aerobatic team in 1957 (it was already the official No.11 Group team) the first Hunter to be sprayed in the all-black scheme by Cellon at North Weald was XG201: B in late February / early March 1957. It also featured the temporary application of the squadron's black and yellow bars on the fuselage. With the imminent closure of North Weald, the squadron was temporarily detached to North Luffenham in February 1958 while the new runways were being resurfaced at Wattisham, to which it moved in June 1958. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Real good Vampires David !! Then, I love builds with historical background or theme, North Weald is a great place, even today... There are a lot of warbirds up there, including Vampire !! I paid a visit in the '90s Congrats my friend !! Now I'm waiting for the black Hunter Sincerely. CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dyck Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Outstanding models! I mostly like „in flight“ version! Fantastic! Cheers Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 3 hours ago, Andy Dyck said: Outstanding models! I mostly like „in flight“ version! Fantastic! Cheers Andy The flying example is my favourite too 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) This is the 1/48 scale Academy Hunter F.6 I built, probably 10 years ago. Various modifications and corrections were incorporated, the main one being to include a correct scale cockpit and ejection seat! The kit item was closer to 1/72 scale??? Also, here are 1/72 examples of a Frog Vampire F.3 in 601 markings, and a Heller Spitfire LF.16e in 604 markings. Edited February 25, 2022 by David A Collins 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) This is the fantastic Airfix 1/48 scale Meteor in 111 Sqn markings. And another view of the Academy 1/48 Black Arrows Hunter. Note flaps opened slightly. This was a setting for the display aircraft, I understand. Edited February 25, 2022 by David A Collins 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) As promised elsewhere, here is my 1/72 Airfix Vampire T.11, XH313 of the North Weald station Flight. I wish they would up-scale this kit to 1/48. It would be very popular I'm sure, with so many international users. Edited February 25, 2022 by David A Collins 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcanicity Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 Brilliant collection! I think the Black Arrows Hunter is my favourite but they're all top notch. The stand is almost invisible in the first photo of the two Vampires, I did a double take wondering how VT821 was just hovering there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Nice moddels all round. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 Lovely models. I like modelling to a theme.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Great collection with a great theme, oh the glory days! Not very often you see an old Airfix stand either...👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 (edited) Thanks all. It would have been nice to have these all in the same common scale too, but good options are limited for some. I'd really like to find 604 Sqn markings for a 1/48 scale Vampire too, but none seem to be available anywhere? Edited March 22, 2022 by David A Collins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted June 15, 2022 Author Share Posted June 15, 2022 Result! Alley Cat have released some 1/48 decals for the Vampire, and these include 604 Squadron. These have been duly purchased and will find their way into another Airfix Vampire F.3 in due course 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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