Short Feature Article Airfix

Hawker Typhoon Mk.1b Chris E Build

1:24 scale

with

Chris Evans

(July 2020)

Copyright www.scalemodellingnow.com 2020

A note from Geoff C…

If you haven’t seen Chris’s other builds in SMN, then you are missing out hugely - take a look! His work is simply stunning

and his most recent contribution was his build of the epic Airfix 1:24 Grumman F6F Hellcat.

Julian S has done a very in-depth build of the Airfix 1:24 Hawker Typhoon Mk.1b and you’ll also find that in the SMN Aircraft-Finished Now-Airfix pages.

Chris has sent through what are mostly photos of his completed model and with these and his short account of his experience there is too much to simply reduce it to an entry in the Subscribers’ Gallery and that simply wouldn’t do it justice. For that reason it’s all here so that we can all take in the beautiful work Chris has put into this project - I love it, and I’m sure you will do too!

Here’s a quick look at how it all tuned out - how cool is this…

And just in case you missed it, I did an in-box review of this kit back in 2014 around the time to its release (and before our more usual video reviews that are standard practice now in SMN).

Over to you Chris…

Construction…

This build of Airfix’s 1:24th Typhoon was done soon after it’s release in 2014. I saw it at the unveiling at IPMS Scale Model World and decided then that I had to build it.

It is a masterclass in engineering, allowing easy construction steps and sub-assemblies to be built up. The surface detail is exquisite, and the Napier Sabre engine is a kit in itself.

Saying that, the kit does have its faults. The parts have extensive mould seams that take very careful removal, particularly on the cockpit tube framing. Ejector pin marks are also evident.

The one big weakness, literally, is the undercarriage. The kit plastic parts, while being superbly detailed and realistic, don’t seem to be up to the job of supporting the weight of the finished model. This would be even worse if aftermarket extras are being used, adding even more weight. I actually had an undercarriage failure and had to carefully remove both main legs and drill and pin them for extra strength. In hindsight, if I had done this whilst assembling this would not have been a problem…my bad…

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) do a metal undercarriage set that replaces all the kit plastic with metal. I thoroughly recommend using this upgrade.

The ammo belts were from Live Resin, LRE-16001, and are actually 1:16th scale .50 cal belts. After some measuring and calculating, these were found to be a good match for 1:24th scale 20mm rounds.

I used some aftermarket sets on this build, and they are detailed below:

• Barracuda Studios Resin

o BCR24201 Wheels

o BCR24202 Carb Intake

• Eduard Photo-etch

o ED23017 Engine

o ED23018 Landing Flaps

o ED23021 Wing Armament

• HGW

o 124505 Seatbelts

• Master Gun Barrels

o MCR24004 Hispano Cannons

o MCR24012 Rockets

• RB Productions

o RB-P24007 Radiators

Painting was done with a black base of Alclad2 Black Primer, followed by the camo scheme freehand sprayed using Tamiya acrylics.

All of the front end panels were permanently left off to reveal the fantastic Napier Sabre engine.

Conclusion…

This is a fantastic kit by Airfix. The detail and engineering are superb and will make up a very impressive model straight from the box.

Pros:

• Great engineering for ease of assembly

• Exquisite surface detail

• Fantastic Engine

Cons:

• Mould seams

• Ejector pin marks

• Weak undercarriage

Chris E.