Making up my Father's RAF flying history collection

[ClimbingKarabiner]

Hi My name is Nick and I have over the past 10 or so years been collecting all the variant aircraft my Father flew in his RAF career.  He flew 63 variants in his time including various gliders in his early cadet days.  I started off with a number of standard die cast models and then a fair number of plastic models from around the world. I am now down to trying to find 5 early gliders, 10 planes and 1 helicopter most are fairly obscure variants.....  In my search I came across a reference to a 3D printed variant of the Beechcraft D55 Baron on this site by VFR Models but sadly it look like the modeller who created these beautiful models is no longer operating.  So I thought a good place to start was his old stomping ground to see if there are other out there who maybe able to help me complete what has now become a mission for me.  Sadly for me my Father passed away 2 years ago so he will not see the complete collection but I am determined to finish it and maybe create a legacy of some forgotten aircraft for perpetuity. 

Edited Saturday at 05:54 AM by ClimbingKarabiner

[ClimbingKarabiner]

These are the remaining models I am searching out - I have a lead from Welsh Models for a Vickers Valiant T1 hence I now only have 10 'missing' planes

 

Gliders:

Sedbergh T.21

Kirby Tutor Mk 2

Kirby Cadet Mk 3 T.31

Kirby Prefect

Jacobs DFS 108-30 Kranich

 

Planes:

De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide

Beechcraft D55 Baron

Beagle Husky

Scottish Aviation Pup

Northrop F-5B Tiger

Cessna 402B

Canadair CF-5A/R

Saab MF-15 Supporter/Safari

Piper PA-39 Twin Comanche

Marchetti SF-260

 

Helicopter:

Alouette 3

 

Any help or suggestions would be really appreciated.

Edited Saturday at 05:55 AM by ClimbingKarabiner

[Troy Smith]

2 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

Any help or suggestions would be really appreciated.

I presume 1/72nd?

 

Are there actually models of all the above?   

 

Just in case you have not found it, https://www.scalemates.com

Not perfect but a useful place to research what has been made. 

 

Kingkit is also good for searching for kits,  as is setting up searches on ebay,  also worth using the advanced search for completed listings, to see what has been sold and if an item is available.

 

I know there are 72nd kits of the Dragon Rapide, and there are F-5 kits,  and Heller did an Alouette,  but as to if they are the models required I don't know.

But, this is the wrong place for this,   you want to be asking in the Cold War

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/forum/24-aircraft-cold-war/

and the civilian areas. 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/forum/26-civil-aircraft-modelling-discussion-by-era/

 

Plenty of ex service personnel on here who will know what has been available.

 

so welcome and HTH 

[MikeC]

2 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

Beagle Husky

Alas, I know of no kit for this, as I'd like one too, having a few hours in  XW635 as a staff cadet on 5AEF.   Did your father fly it with them at Cambridge, or did he encounter it elsewhere? (For those unaware, this was the one and only Husky in the RAF.)

[ClimbingKarabiner]

1 hour ago, Troy Smith said:

I presume 1/72nd?

 

Are there actually models of all the above?   

 

Just in case you have not found it, https://www.scalemates.com

Not perfect but a useful place to research what has been made. 

 

Kingkit is also good for searching for kits,  as is setting up searches on ebay,  also worth using the advanced search for completed listings, to see what has been sold and if an item is available.

 

I know there are 72nd kits of the Dragon Rapide, and there are F-5 kits,  and Heller did an Alouette,  but as to if they are the models required I don't know.

But, this is the wrong place for this,   you want to be asking in the Cold War

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/forum/24-aircraft-cold-war/

and the civilian areas. 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/forum/26-civil-aircraft-modelling-discussion-by-era/

 

Plenty of ex service personnel on here who will know what has been available.

 

so welcome and HTH 

Thank you Troy this is really helpful,  I have exhausted Ebay I think.  1/72nd is ideal size as most of the others are to that scale.  Will definitely try the sites you suggested - I tried to post on the wanted section but could not see how to do it - suggested something about having to have 100+ posts before you could open a topic. I have most of his fighter pilot era planes it is the older ones when he was training and the overseas airforce ones form his days as O/C  Exam Wing which are proving a challenge .... N

[ClimbingKarabiner]

45 minutes ago, MikeC said:

Alas, I know of no kit for this, as I'd like one too, having a few hours in  XW635 as a staff cadet on 5AEF.   Did your father fly it with them at Cambridge, or did he encounter it elsewhere? (For those unaware, this was the one and only Husky in the RAF.)

Hi Mike, The day before (11th May 1977) he was flying Bulldog T1s at Cambridge UWAS. It is silent as to where the flight was the next day but probably the same location -The flight in the Beagle was with a Fg Off Caroll as 2nd Pilot / Pupil. I do not have the reg for this in the spreadsheet - so will need to go back to his logbook for the extra details - but as you say if it was the only one then it would have almost certainly been XW635. thank you for the extra details - now I can find a photo for the markings. N

[MikeC]

I was there staff cadetting in 1977, so yes, it was there at that time.  If you let me have an email address, I can send you a photo or two if you like.

@ColinChipmunkfan you may be interested in the 5AEF connection...

Edited Saturday at 05:47 PM by MikeC

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Hello Nick …   from across the pond from you in Chicago USA. Personally I’m mostly a military aircraft builder, though will take on the odd piece of armor or the occasional ship now. I’ve been building since 1979 and nothing really makes me want to stop. I’ve slowed down in the last couple of years from health issues but thats about it.

 

 

Dennis

[Troy Smith]

11 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

I tried to post on the wanted section but could not see how to do it - suggested something about having to have 100+ posts before you could open a topic.

Hi Nick

correct.   It's so new members can't just come on an try to sell things or ask for bits,  if you do a build on here, and contribute to other threads,  you will soon reach 100 posts.

I saw a fellow club member today at South Downs show in Worthing,  who had some gliders on display, and maybe able to add some suggestions of kits for the ones you asked about

15 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

Gliders:

Sedbergh T.21

Kirby Tutor Mk 2

Kirby Cadet Mk 3 T.31

Kirby Prefect

Jacobs DFS 108-30 Kranich

@Paul J ?

 

I see you have also found members who have more information on aspects of your research.    It's a good community,  and has very knowledgeable and helpful members.  You may even find some who knew your father.

 

Are you aware of The Aviation Bookshop in Tunbridge Wells?   They have recently moved,  probably the best place in the country for aviation books, they usually have a few second hand kits in as well.

 

HTH

[ClimbingKarabiner]

40 minutes ago, Troy Smith said:

Hi Nick

correct.   It's so new members can't just come on an try to sell things or ask for bits,  if you do a build on here, and contribute to other threads,  you will soon reach 100 posts.

I saw a fellow club member today at South Downs show in Worthing,  who had some gliders on display, and maybe able to add some suggestions of kits for the ones you asked about

@Paul J ?

 

I see you have also found members who have more information on aspects of your research.    It's a good community,  and has very knowledgeable and helpful members.  You may even find some who knew your father.

 

Are you aware of The Aviation Bookshop in Tunbridge Wells?   They have recently moved,  probably the best place in the country for aviation books, they usually have a few second hand kits in as well.

 

HTH

Troy, my research has moved on at pace since joining the group and your guidance.  I found the Heller Aloutte III on amazon of all places and it arrives in a few days! I am aware of the bookshop but assumed they only did books - my son father-in-lw is an avid modler builder but loves the painting sid more.  so for those kits I do find I have been sending them to him to complete - but I understand he has about 200 unmade kist in the pipeline so for now it is a question of finding the model then working on the paint scheme for the reg my Father flew the most hrs in.  If Paul is able to help that would be brillinat as the gliders do seem to be the hardest - I found the primary glider kit and it turns out the two schemes they offered were one with the outer shell and one without - both though were from Maidstone grammar school ATC - which was where my Father first flew.  The year before him flew the glidre into a building and it lost it's outer shell so the one he flew was without.  I now have both models made up which was a real win. I will try to post some of the ones I have found as they are pretty cool! (slightly biased veiw point though I suspect).  Thank you all once again. N

[ClimbingKarabiner]

1 hour ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Hello Nick …   from across the pond from you in Chicago USA. Personally I’m mostly a military aircraft builder, though will take on the odd piece of armor or the occasional ship now. I’ve been building since 1979 and nothing really makes me want to stop. I’ve slowed down in the last couple of years from health issues but thats about it.

 

 

Dennis

Hi Dennis,  Thank you for your response - I did some work in Chicago a few years ago - you ahev a lovely city!  you maybe able to help wth some of the Canadian aircraft as. my Father went on exchnage with the Canadian airforce and flew a few of their equivalents of the F-5 Tiger.  Do you still build kits? N

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

2 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

Hi Dennis,  Thank you for your response - I did some work in Chicago a few years ago - you ahev a lovely city!  you maybe able to help wth some of the Canadian aircraft as. my Father went on exchnage with the Canadian airforce and flew a few of their equivalents of the F-5 Tiger.  Do you still build kits? N

Yes I still build when I have time. Sadly a lot of outside distraction’s (real life). I’m available to do research and possibly have answers for you. If not I probably know who might. 

[Troy Smith]

15 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

my research has moved on at pace since joining the group and your guidance.

good  to know.

I would suggest starting other topics in the areas I linked above,  breaking down your requests into smaller sections, in Cold War one on RAF/ATC glider kits, One for other types,  one in the civilian area of the civilian types.

This makes the requests more specfic, and answers more manageable. 

 

15 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

  I found the Heller Aloutte III on amazon of all places and it arrives in a few days!

Amazon sell a lot of things

15 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

I am aware of the bookshop but assumed they only did books

They only do a few kits, nearly all second hand, so a very random selection.

 

On 10/05/2025 at 06:49, ClimbingKarabiner said:

De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide

Heller did one, it was later reboxed by Airfix.

was issued again by Heller in 2017

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-80345-dh-89-dragon-rapide--1209795

 

15 hours ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

you maybe able to help wth some of the Canadian aircraft as. my Father went on exchnage with the Canadian airforce and flew a few of their equivalents of the F-5 Tiger. 

there are various F-5B listed here

https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION[]=All&q=*northrop+f-5b+1%3A72

 

I suspect many are reboxes, the Revell is probably the Matchbox kit.

Again, a post in the Cold War section is going to get far better responses,  it's well worth asking about to find the better kit.

 

We have plenty of Canadian members,   you would likely want to ask about the Canadair CF-116D Freedom Fighter, as that is probably what your father flew.

 

On thing, make your thread heading a clear question, and don't worry about asking very specfic questions,  you can get amazingly detailed answers on here from doing this.  

 

HTH

 

[Graham Boak]

The SF.260 was fairly recently produced by Special Hobby.  Hannants don't have any listed but you may be able to get one from East European sources.  (Or do we call them Central European sources nowadays?)    Try MPM as the master company for Special Hobby and others.

 

PS  Kingkit have one but it is 1/48.

[Tigerausfb]

Your father might have flown me, I was up in a Bulldog around May 1977 and had couple of trips in the Husky.

 

Andrew

[ClimbingKarabiner]

19 hours ago, Tigerausfb said:

Your father might have flown me, I was up in a Bulldog around May 1977 and had couple of trips in the Husky.

 

Andrew

Hi Andrew, I do not know if you kept a logbook - I have my Father's and he recorded his student / 2nd Pilots.  He would have been either Sqn Leader or Wing Cmdr Michael "Mick" Ryan) around that time - he was O/C Exam Wing CFS through until around 80/81. Based initailly out of Cranwell but latterly RAF Leeming in N. Yorkshire. If you let me have your surname, I can check his log. He flew a few Bulldogs out of Camb UWAS between 9 May and 11 May - looks like they were with cadets.

Edited Monday at 03:23 PM by ClimbingKarabiner

[ClimbingKarabiner]

On 11/05/2025 at 15:07, Graham Boak said:

The SF.260 was fairly recently produced by Special Hobby.  Hannants don't have any listed but you may be able to get one from East European sources.  (Or do we call them Central European sources nowadays?)    Try MPM as the master company for Special Hobby and others.

 

PS  Kingkit have one but it is 1/48.

Thank you Graham, I will have a look - I am making good progress on some of the others thnaks to people's input - found a polish site with 2 gliders the DFS Kranich and the Kirby Cadet Mk3 T-31. Thank you for your help. Nick

Edited Tuesday at 10:02 AM by ClimbingKarabiner

[ClimbingKarabiner]

Does anyone have experience of the Welsh Models - the ones I have found are 1/144 scale - a little concerned these maybe very small - the two aircraft in question are: Jestream T1 and the Varsity T1 which are both largish aircraft so it maybe okay in a set mainly consisting of 1/72nd scale fighters / light training aircraft. I know the smaller models are difficult to get decent paint jobs on ... N

Edited Tuesday at 10:15 AM by ClimbingKarabiner

[Graham Boak]

They are all 1/144, and rather nice models, check out their website if you haven't already, but there is a  recent 1/72 AModel Jetstream for which markings are available: I have a spare set if you need it.  You may need to get it from abroad.   The Jetsream is not a large aircraft. I think that there was a Varsity vacform long ago  but there is a recent 1/72 Viking so there may be hope.

[ClimbingKarabiner]

38 minutes ago, Graham Boak said:

They are all 1/144, and rather nice models, check out their website if you haven't already, but there is a  recent 1/72 AModel Jetstream for which markings are available: I have a spare set if you need it.  You may need to get it from abroad.   The Jetsream is not a large aircraft. I think that there was a Varsity vacform long ago  but there is a recent 1/72 Viking so there may be hope.

On your response - I have ordered the two from Welsh Models 🙂 - I have found this one from a UK supplier Puzzle Craft Ltd: A-Model 72331 1:72 BAe Jetstream T.1 RAF 45 Sqn METS £28.58 plus shipping - but will see what the Welsh Models look like when they get here. I already have a Dominie Mk 1 in 1/72nd which I believe is s similar size aircraft - so do not want them to look too out of sync next to one another - Thank you once again. N

Edited Tuesday at 11:16 AM by ClimbingKarabiner

[ClimbingKarabiner]

Here are the photographs[hs of the models I have so far - for those who might be interested....

[Dave Swindell]

46 minutes ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

A-Model 72331 1:72 BAe Jetstream T.1 RAF 45 Sqn

That's the best model of an RAF Jetstream in 1/72 - short run injection moulded, should be fairly straightforward to put together with a bit of care by your average model builder.

For a Varsity in 1/72 I think you'd be restricted to a vacform, best of the bunch if you can find one would be Aeroclub, then Broplan, Formaplane and Airmodel in that order.

[ClimbingKarabiner]

1 minute ago, Dave Swindell said:

That's the best model of an RAF Jetstream in 1/72 - short run injection moulded, should be fairly straightforward to put together with a bit of care by your average model builder.

For a Varsity in 1/72 I think you'd be restricted to a vacform, best of the bunch if you can find one would be Aeroclub, then Broplan, Formaplane and Airmodel in that order.

Dave,  Thank you for this - I will take a look and see if I can find the 1/72 Varsity from Aeroclub or one of the others - the search for the models is almost as rewarding as completing the collection. N

[Dave Swindell]

13 minutes ago, ClimbingKarabiner said:

Dave,  Thank you for this - I will take a look and see if I can find the 1/72 Varsity from Aeroclub or one of the others - the search for the models is almost as rewarding as completing the collection. N

Vacforms aren't for everyone, they do take a bit of extra work as the parts need careful cutting out from the backing sheet and sanding to fit, they require care, patience and some modelling skill to get a good result - here's a pic of the Airmodel kit as supplied

 

The Broplan kit has some injection moulded detail parts, and the Aeroclub kit has Resin and White metal detail bits

[ClimbingKarabiner]

1 minute ago, Dave Swindell said:

Vacforms aren't for everyone, they do take a bit of extra work as the parts need careful cutting out from the backing sheet and sanding to fit, they require care, patience and some modelling skill to get a good result - here's a pic of the Airmodel kit as supplied

Wow - I see what you mean! I will have to read up on the tips around using these - presumably the art is to not cut too close and to remove excess once applied etc. N