A pair of Airfix 1/48 Chipmunks - in MAAF and KAF service

YK GOH · September 14

Presenting a pair of 1/48 scale Airfix DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10s in the markings of the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force (MAAF) and the Kenya Air Force (KAF).

In choosing the subject to display at a local Military Hobby Fest, which was held last weekend (7th – 8th Sep 2024), I decided to pay tribute to Singapore's pioneer military pilots who flew with the Singapore Squadron of the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force (MAAF).

The MAAF was formed in 1950 to train local volunteers to fly military aircraft and to assist in the defence of the colony. It has three squadrons. One in Kuala Lumpur, another one in Penang and the third in Singapore, based at RAF Tengah. The Singapore Squadron was initially equipped with four Tiger Moths and four Harvards, and for a brief period with three Spitfires. These were replaced by four DHC-1 Chipmunks in 1957, which by then the Squadron had moved to RAF Seletar.

I was honoured to have met the late Jimmy Chew K.T. who was the first Singaporean to be awarded the MAAF Wings. Jimmy flew all the three types (Tiger Moth, Harvard and Chipmunk) which were recorded in his Flying Log Books.

Chipmunk WD338 was one of the four operated by the Singapore Squadron and was flown by Jimmy on many occasions.

After MAAF was disbanded in 1960, WD338 was transferred to Kenya Air Force where it continued to serve with its Flying Training School.

The two models depict WD338 in both MAAF and KAF liveries, reflecting its distinguished service history.

These two models followed closely to the Vampire which I completed couple of months earlier (after a 30 year drought ! )

There were some mistakes made along the way and some heartaches in applying the dayglo decals from aftermarket decal sheets.

The Kenya AF roundels and fin flash were printed by a friend.

Overall, the completed pair is not perfect and not competition standard, but I am quite satisfied with the outcome in my tribute to the MAAF pioneers and the history of WD338.