1/48 Hasegawa Hawker Typhoon Mk1B

Gallery Article by David Walker on Apr 9 2010

 

Hawker Typhoon Mk1B 198 Squadron MN951

The inspiration to build this Model came from being gifted 3 years ago , an original small Wartime Photo of a Hawker Typhoon serving with 198 Squadron with 8 RAF Pilots visible.

After researching the background to this aircraft MN951, I was able to name all 8 pilots and discover that it was flown by Denis Sweeting, who is in the middle with a cap on, and who had her named "The Uninvited", mainly thanks to the help of the now-sadly defunct 198 Squadron Association.

The picture was taken in September 1944 .

I used the Aeromaster decal sheets Storms in the Sky Part 9 and part 12 to create The Uninvited Typhoon, with the name being hand painted on the fuselage. The JT60 Hasegawa 1/48 Typhoon Mk.Ib with Tear Drop Canopy is typical what you expect from Hasegawa nowadays, which is high quality injected moulded plastic with detailed engraving.

The kit itself consists of 85 injected plastic parts, with the 8 page foldout instruction sheet with colour references for Gunze-Sangyo paints.

Starting with the cockpit, I built up the kit as per the instructions also using Eduard photo etch to add extra fine detail. The interior builds up very nicely with no significant problems, I also replaced the plain Hasegawa Pilot’s seat with the Canadian ULTRACAST Resin Seat which has far more detail, I used the one with no Sutton harness already moulded on, as I prefer using the Eduard Etch Seat Belts to add real depth and realism.

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The only major construction hurdle of the entire kit was the fitting of the fuselage inserts (J1, 2, & 4) that permit Hasegawa to offer both the early and later variants of the Typhoon with the same basic mould. As is usually the case, the inserts do not fit all that well and some puttying was needed. I chose to install the inserts so they would line up with the panel lines and the basic curvature of the fuselage. This left a small gap along the spine joins that required filling. In addition, since the rear portion of the inserts does not fall along panel lines, putty was required there also.

This was the only bad mark that I gave the kit. Unfortunately, it changes the build from an incredibly easy one capable by anyone to a slightly more complex build best left to modelers with some experience at lining up parts and gap filling.

Main wing assembly and installation was flawless, without the all too typical Hasegawa wing root gap. Filing off the mould lines and dry fitting the horizontal stabilizers will also permit a flawless, putty free installation. After a quick sanding down of all the joins (no putty needed) the model visited the paint shop where it was painted, decaled, and weathered before final assembly took place.

For final assembly I installed all the landing gear components, 8 Rockets, fuselage pieces and fitted the Ultracast 4 bladed propeller and Engine Exhausts, both of which are highly recommended, as they are far better than the kit examples with the exhausts having hollow tips, unlike the Hasegawa exhausts.

I also used the Ultracast Radiator with Eduard photo etch added, the reason for fitting the Resin Radiator is because the Hasegawa Hawker Typhoon Radiator is inaccurate, as there is no ‘ X ‘ fitted to the inner circle of the radiator unlike the real aircraft.

Please note that the sole surviving RAF Museum Hawker Typhoon at Hendon has a false radiator fitted as the original was lost whilst in America postwar.

The final addition to the model was that I used MONONGRAM Wheels as they are non-flattened, and I prefer this look.

The upper surface colours were Gunze Sangyo Aqueous Hobby Color H-330 Dark Green and H-75 Dark Sea Grey.

Lower surfaces were painted a mix of 70% H-307 Grey and 30% H-11 Flat White.

I applied MicroSol setting solution and the decals responded very well to the setting solution with no permanent wrinkling.

After drying overnight, I wiped the decals off with a Polly S Plastic Prep to remove any residue and after drying I shot a very light coat of Future thinned with rubbing alcohol (50:50 mix) over the decals to seal them.

For weathering, I chose to accentuate the engraved panel lines and surface detail with pre-paint undercoat and panel wash with black paint .

David Walker

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Photos and text © by David Walker