Hawker Typhoon 1B – Hasegawa 1/48
Here is my build of the Hasegawa 1/48 scale Hawker Typhoon 1B. This is a great kit, even with nothing added. I used aftermarket decals for an aircraft of 137 Squadron RAF, June 1944 operating over Normandy. I also went with the Eduard flap set, which was quite difficult to use for a relative PE novice at the time. Getting the ribbing to line up while fixing it with superglue was tricky. It came out OK but it has made me wary of using flap sets ever since. The cockpit is also Eduard (flaps, intake mesh and cockpit all from one set, I believe).
The D-Day stripes are airbrushed as are the yellow ID panels. This was another challenge as the flaps added later had to match up with the invasion stripes I painted first. I did lots of careful planning during building and painting to achieve alignment and avoid bending the photo-etch flaps out of shape, especially when removing masking.
As for painting, the camouflage is Gunze, the black and white for the invasion stripes is Tamiya. Weathered with an oil wash over Tamiya Clear and pastels and matt coated with MM Acyrl Flat. I also did some chipping with a silver pencil. I am not super happy with the chipping effect but hopefully it looks convincing enough.
I feel a sentimental attachment to the Typhoon. One of my elementary school teachers was a Canadian Typhoon pilot who was shot down over Normandy. We boys were kind of in awe of him but he never much liked talking about the war. I later found a book on Canadian Typhoon operations (Hugh Halliday’s Typhoon and Tempest: The Canadian Story) that described a dogfight he was involved in and his downing by flak. I could understand why he was reluctant to relive it, especially to share with 5th graders. Although this is not his specific aircraft, Canadians did fly with 137 Squadron so this was as close as I could come to a tribute.
Hope you like it. Comments welcome as always.
24 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Ilan Shapiro said on April 24, 2020
Beautiful build and terrific story. So many of those long gone, whose stories went with them. My father was a red army surgeon awarded for heroism rescuing three wounded soldiers in the field under fire and I knew nothing about it until my sister found archive documents. I was too stupid/ selfish to ask him about his life.
Colin Gomez said on April 24, 2020
Thanks, Ilan. The medics seem to get the least appreciation and remembrance. It must have been some comfort to him to have been saving lives. I know Mr. Scambler was haunted by the death of the pilot he shot down. He wanted us to know that much. That he couldn't forget his face. He himself was lucky to survive the ferocious flak that killed many young Canadians. He was a POW for some months after he bailed out.
Tom Cleaver said on April 24, 2020
Really excellent work, Colin. I like this result.
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Tom. Great to get your feedback.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 24, 2020
That's a fantastic work, Colin. Spot-on tight line camo; extremely natural weathering, build is flawless, everything perfectly aligned. Got the same Typhoon to build, will use your build as my guideline. I also loved the story with your teacher: fascinating, but also some parts of it bitterly remembered. This is how the war stories more or less go. Modeling those adorable machines can for a great part be viewed as a tribute to those who fought for a higher cause.
All the best!
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Spiros. Good of you to notice the details. I try to go for the same painting technique they used in the British airplane factories, i.e. masks that had just the faintest feathering underneath from overspray. I always use paper tacked down with masking tape - never had much success with the strips of blu-tack or silly putty technique.
Tim T said on April 24, 2020
Brilliant Typhoon. Looks massive, even at 1/48. Very well crafted - flaps included.
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Tim. Massive was definitely the look I wanted when photographing the model. The Typhoon was a formidable beast to fly, especially loaded down with a couple of thousand pounds of rockets. I'm glad it looks the part.
Paul E. Owens said on April 24, 2020
A most excellent build Colin!
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Paul, I appreciate your kind comment.
Pedro L. Rocha said on April 24, 2020
Cracking work! I’m a Typhoon fan also, it’s a rather pudgy but fearsome aircraft
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Pedro. Looks like some kind of bearded ogre with that enormous chin radiator but somehow still a handsome aircraft in my view. It exudes brute power from very angle.
David Mills said on April 24, 2020
Lovely work Colin!
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, David. I am glad you like it.
Robert Royes said on April 24, 2020
An awesome build!
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Robert. Great to have your feedback.
dale travis said on April 24, 2020
Sharp work on this. I've got both the car door and this version in the stash and hopefully will get to one soon.
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Dale. It's a great kit and I really recommend it. Most photos have the flaps up (RAF regulations when parked, I believe), so you can easily build it OOB.
Michael Woodgate said on April 24, 2020
Great build Colin. She looks awesome!
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Michael. Great to get your comment. Happy modeling.
Tom Bebout said on April 25, 2020
Nicely done Colin excellent weathering as well as some great pics
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Tom. I'm especially glad you like the weathering. Typhoons went through some brutal action but most of them looked like their paint held up in the wartime photos I've seen. I weathered accordingly.
Greg Kittinger said on April 27, 2020
Great looking brute, with all those canons and rockets on the "pointy end!" Well done.
Colin Gomez said on February 10, 2021
Thanks, Greg. Just noticed your comment (didn't get a notification, for some reason).