Hawker Typhoon 1B Conversion
Tropical Trials Unit Attached to 451 Squadron RAAF, North Africa, 1943

Red Roo Models,1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Xtradecal's 1/32 Fw 190 Stab Decals will be available online from Squadron.com

The Hawker Typhoon’s only drawback as a modelling subject is, perhaps, its limited colour palette:  pretty much anything you like so long as it’s Dark Green and Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey.  Red Roo Models’ simple conversion allows you to break this convention by finishing your Typhoon in the RAF’s desert colours of Dark Earth and Middle Stone over Azure Blue.  The conversion is available in 1/72 (for the Brengun or CMR kit) and 1/48 (for the Hasegawa ‘car-door’ kit), with the 1/48 set being reviewed here.

The Typhoon’s Middle East sojourn was comparatively insignificant.  Three ‘car-door’ Mk.1bs were sent to Africa in mid-1943 and – after installation of modified air filters – performed garrison duties with the RAAF’s 451 Squadron until the last was struck off charge in August 1944.  Red Roo’s instructions describe these events in detail, with specific reference to the fate of each airframe.

This is probably the easiest-to-use conversion set I have seen.  There is one resin part:  the modified tropical air filter that – according to the instructions – was “fitted to the underside of the aircraft wing centre section, behind the radiator”.  The part in the review sample is perfectly cast, with a thin attachment to its casting block that will be easy to cut through and clean up.  Installation should be similarly straightforward, with the filter simply glued on “with the scalloped end attached to the round air duct on the kit wing centre section”.  You might need to brush over some Mr Surfacer or Tamiya Liquid Putty to achieve a perfectly smooth fit, but that should be it.

The decal sheet is also simple, reflecting the plain markings of the subject aircraft.  Two of the three converted Typhoons wore only national markings and serials, while the third – DN323 – also carried the code letter ‘Y’.  The decal sheet provides these codes, and three sets of serials.  No national markings are provided, with Red Roo making the not unreasonable assumption that these can be sourced from kit decals. 

The decals appear to have been well produced, and half a page of the instructions is devoted to their application.

The four-page instruction leaflet is up to Red Roo’s usual high standards.  I’ve already mentioned its comprehensive history, decal and conversion application sections.  Rounding this off are full colour port and starboard profiles of each aircraft, generic overhead and undersurface plans, and a small but promising bibliography.

This is a high quality release from Red Roo that reflects interest in, and thorough research of, the tropicalised Typhoons of 451 Squadron.  Highly recommended if you want your 1/48 or 1/72 Mk.Ib to stand out from the Typhoon crowd.

Thanks to Red Roo Models for the review sample

Red Roo Models products are available online from their website

Review Text Copyright © 2017 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 30 March, 2017
Last updated 30 March, 2017

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