Dunny Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 (edited) Hi All, With the Christmas festivities out the way it's time for a new project. Although I do have some odds & ends to sort out on a couple of other builds, I do enjoy starting a large build at this time of year, much like the breadbin-swapping modelling machine that is @AliGauld. At this time last year my employment status (or lack thereof) precluded such an extravagance, so it's nice to be able to kick off another 'heavy'. This time around I've been lucky enough to get my hands on Revell's Halifax B Mk.III, which was kindly transported to these parts by my parents. Now many of you may know that this kit is currently OOP, but the large-scale legend @tomprobert kindly agreed to part with his kit (he likes them bigger these days, he said 🤣). Anyhoo this rather large end-opening box is now in my possession: It's a BIG box! Tom very generously threw in a few extras - a set of Freightdog wheels: And an Eduard interior set, along with a rather obligatory mask set: Now there is a LOT of plastic in that box. Here's the sprues: The transparencies: A rather nice set of decals: The kit allows for 2 marking schemes, an RCAF aircraft 'Oscar' (which seems to be an oft-modelled option), and an RAF aircraft. I've decided to model a 100 Group RAAF aircraft, probably one of these two: (Both images copyright Australian War Memorial - for discussion only and will be removed on request). I am led to understand that the kit is a little deficient in the bomb department, so it might finally be time to add this to the pot: Now that's a festive mix! I might be a little slow getting this going, but it should be a hoot! Thanks for looking, Roger Edited December 26, 2023 by Dunny Grammar & spelling 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinneko Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 That'll keep ya busy! Would love to see the kangaroo version. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark.au Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 I’ll second the request for the roo scheme. Front row on this one. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted December 26, 2023 Author Share Posted December 26, 2023 9 minutes ago, marvinneko said: That'll keep ya busy! Would love to see the kangaroo version. 7 minutes ago, mark.au said: I’ll second the request for the roo scheme. Front row on this one. Thanks gents - I think it must be done. I concur... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Ooooooo nice,looking forward to seeing this Roger Been looking for the Pavla set for the old Matchbox kit Mk.II kit without success at the mo. Good luck with your build. Hope you had a great Christmas fella Chris 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted December 26, 2023 Author Share Posted December 26, 2023 7 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said: Ooooooo nice,looking forward to seeing this Roger Been looking for the Pavla set for the old Matchbox kit Mk.II kit without success at the mo. Good luck with your build. Hope you had a great Christmas fella Chris Thanks Chris, A lovely Xmas but nice to get back to it! I did contemplate a Mk.II Coastal Command version, but this one won the day! Looking forward to it - it looks like a cracking kit! Cheers, Roger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliGauld Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 What a lovely surprise. Unboxing Day indeed. Really looking forward to seeing this come together in the hands of a master. Cheers, Alistair 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Great to see this on the bench, Roger. I have a real soft spit for the old Halifax - an unsung hero of Bomber Command. Looking forward to seeing this unfold… Tom 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted December 26, 2023 Author Share Posted December 26, 2023 51 minutes ago, AliGauld said: What a lovely surprise. Unboxing Day indeed. Really looking forward to seeing this come together in the hands of a master. Cheers, Alistair Ha - Unboxing day! What a box too... 42 minutes ago, tomprobert said: Great to see this on the bench, Roger. I have a real soft spit for the old Halifax - an unsung hero of Bomber Command. Looking forward to seeing this unfold… Tom Thanks for making it possible Tom! Sincerely appreciated... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Dunny, this is going to be too easy for you, and I trust you'll run with it. One of my favorite bomber types! Are you sure you don't want to increase the challenge level and convert this into a Hastings instead? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Looking forwards to this Roger, just got my popcorn microwaved for the trip! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 I'll be watching this one, for sure. I noticed, when looking over my kit, in the stash, that the engine gear casings look very American, not at all like Bristol-built and there are no exhaust collector ring bracing struts. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 I am ready and waiting Roger. I can remember just, building the Airfix Halifax back in the 70`s on my Nan`s kitchen table. Simon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franky boy Posted December 26, 2023 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Excellent. Will be following this one with interest Roger. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted December 26, 2023 Author Share Posted December 26, 2023 8 hours ago, TheyJammedKenny! said: Dunny, this is going to be too easy for you, and I trust you'll run with it. One of my favorite bomber types! Are you sure you don't want to increase the challenge level and convert this into a Hastings instead? Thanks TJK - that noseart should provide some challenges! 3 hours ago, woody37 said: Looking forwards to this Roger, just got my popcorn microwaved for the trip! Thanks Neil - welcome aboard 3 hours ago, dogsbody said: I'll be watching this one, for sure. I noticed, when looking over my kit, in the stash, that the engine gear casings look very American, not at all like Bristol-built and there are no exhaust collector ring bracing struts. Chris Well noted Chris - have to see about fixing that... 2 hours ago, Spookytooth said: I am ready and waiting Roger. I can remember just, building the Airfix Halifax back in the 70`s on my Nan`s kitchen table. Simon Cheers Simon - I understand it can still be built into a decent Halibag! 46 minutes ago, franky boy said: Excellent. Will be following this one with interest Roger. James Welcome aboard James - should be fun! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted December 27, 2023 Author Share Posted December 27, 2023 (edited) Hi All, A bit of research prior to kicking this off properly, although I may start throwing primer around later. I've decided to model 'Matthews & Co. Express Delivery Service', as the noseart is just too cool not to! I discovered that the aircraft was coded DT*D from a bit of searching. A further bit of searching led me to this website: https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/9395 From this I found that DT*D carried the serial NA242 - I have yet to discover whether 192 Sqn aircraft carried the yellow stripes on their vertical stabilisers as per this 462 Sqn aircraft (again copyright Australian War Memorial - for discussion only and will be removed on request): I'm guessing that this was April/May 1945, and also guessing that 192 Sqn aircraft would carry the same stripes? A closer examination of NA242's nose indicated that a number of the windows had been painted over on the port flank: Here's the plastic as presented: I shall use the glazing to in-fill the 3 forward windows, leaving only the rearmost transparent - the starboard flank is anyone's guess! I suspect that the portholes on the rear fuselage would be similarly overpainted but cannot yet confirm this. All interesting stuff, Thanks for looking, Roger Edited December 27, 2023 by Dunny Grammar & spelling 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-21 Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 pm sent 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cees Broere Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Can’t have enough Halifaxes, but then again I am biased.🙃 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Nice, it's great to see the research unfolding on this one. Looking forward to seeing this progress. Chris 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliGauld Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 And he's off, Nice subject Roger. Definitely challenging artwork though. Cheers, Alistair 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick b Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 This will be another classic build of yours Roger. Odd how Revell cease production of what you would think is still in demand judging by ridiculous prices on eBay Mike 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Challenging as you say but a lovely subject to paint. I can just hear "Rolf" in the background. Simon. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 14 hours ago, Cees Broere said: Can’t have enough Halifaxes, but then again I am biased.🙃 Couldn't agree more Cees - a great aircraft 11 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Nice, it's great to see the research unfolding on this one. Looking forward to seeing this progress. Chris Thanks Chris - more to come! 11 hours ago, AliGauld said: And he's off, Nice subject Roger. Definitely challenging artwork though. Cheers, Alistair Thanks Alistair - I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but fortune favours the brave! 10 hours ago, mick b said: This will be another classic build of yours Roger. Odd how Revell cease production of what you would think is still in demand judging by ridiculous prices on eBay Mike Thanks Mike - yes, a curious decision on Revell's part, but I'm sure they know best.. 8 hours ago, Spookytooth said: Challenging as you say but a lovely subject to paint. I can just hear "Rolf" in the background. Simon. So long as that's where he stays Simon 🤣 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 Hi All, Some more interesting discoveries. @T-21 has been kind enough to furnish me with a wealth of information on 100 Group Halifaxes (much appreciated Nigel!) From this information I have been able to glean the following: - The aircraft in question actually carried the serial number NA242 (with codes DT-D). - This aircraft would NOT have carried the vertical stripes as seen on 462 Sqn aircraft (these denoted that the aircraft was fitted with the Airborne Cigar installation, which was only carried by 462 Sqn Halifaxes). - The aircraft would, however, have carried the Mandrel installation - I have a detailed layout of this and the various other antennae carried by 192 Sqn Halifaxes - 192's aircraft had provision for either 1 or 2 Special Operatives (SOs), EW specialists who were located between the main spars of the aircraft (presumably with their necessary gubbins). As this is well buried in the fuselage no further modification is required. - These aircraft carried provision for extra 'Windows', with both forward and rear hatches used for dispensing. I may include a Windows bale in the nose position. - From what I can tell these aircraft did not carry a bomb load, rather they travelled with the bomber stream. Bomb bay doors closed then... - I now have diagrams showing the number of (actual) windows on each side of the aircraft. Although I received this after I had fitted the glazing and primed, I'm pleased to confirm that my guess was correct: I'd figured that the starboard window would have primarily been to improve the pilot's field of vision - this was a good guess! I also need to include for a couple more portholes in the rear fuselage, but that is just a case of knocking out the relevant glazing to be later filled with Krystal Kleer after painting. This is turning out to be a fascinating subject which I am really enjoying learning more about! Thanks for looking, Roger 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 24 minutes ago, Dunny said: information on 100 Group Halifaxes Not sure what you were sent, just in case, this The aircraft of 100 group : a historical guide for the modeller, by Martin Streetly. Long oop, scans are about eg https://archive.org/details/aircraftof100gro0000stre Is as it says.... HTH 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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