The Hawker Typhoon Including the Hawker Tornado

A Complete Guide to the
RAF’s Classic Ground-Attack Fighter

Valiant Wings Publishing
Airframe & Miniature No.2, Second Edition

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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Valiant Wings’ Airframe Albums are unashamedly pitched at modellers with their visual emphasis on airframe details, focus on variant differences, colour schemes, and modellers’ information section. Nonetheless, they should also appeal to aircraft enthusiasts as well, provided that they are not seeking any sort detailed operational accounts or service history.

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The first edition of Airframe & Miniature has been out of print since 2014, and included:

• 128 pages packed with vital information that no active aviation modeller should be without

• 40+ pages of technical information

• 20+ pages of walkaround images and technical diagrams

• 5+ pages of camouflage and markings

• 25+ pages of model builds and modelling information

• 200+ photographs including wartime images

• Colour side views and four-views by Richard Caruana

• 3D isometric views of all variants by Jacek Jackiewicz

• 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale full kit builds

• A full set of fold-out 1/48 scale plans

The second edition reviewed here adds an extra 48 pages of content including:

• Extra pages of walk-around images and technical diagrams.

• Extra 1/72nd full kit builds by Steve A. Evans of the Brengun and new-tool Airfix kits. These have been specially commissioned for the book.

• A specially commissioned build of the 1/24th scale Airfix kit by Daniel Zamarbide.

It is distinguishable from the first edition by its specially commissioned new front cover artwork by Jerry Boucher.
The graphic design of the book is most pleasing, and it is laid out in three main sections; chapters and topics within each section are as follows:

Airframe

• Evolution – Tornado. Development details and history concerning the prototypes, their camouflage and markings, and is illustrated with photos and scale profiles.

• Evolution – Typhoon. As for the Tornado above.

• Typhoon Production Variants. An exhaustive and very detailed list of specific features pertinent to, and differentiating, thirteen production batches and variants. Also included are technical specifications, photos and scale profiles.

• Drawing-Board Projects. Similar information and images to Chapter 3 above, covering seven projects; these being annular radiator equipped, night-fighter, carrier-borne fighter, and four Typhoon II (Tempest) prototypes.

• Camouflage & Markings. An in depth account supported by photos and useful tabulated illustrations of national insignia, squadron codes and serial numbers applicable to various wartime periods.

• Survivor. A detailed record of the sole complete surviving Typhoon (MN235) from production to its unveiling at Hendon’s display hall to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, 2014. This chapter also includes a list with brief details of other Typhoon sections and replicas.

Colour Profiles

Twenty colour profiles and three plan views by Richard J. Caruana illustrating various Typhoon colours schemes and markings.

Miniature Chapters

• Hawker Typhoon Kits. No less than 19 pages of thorough in-box reviews covering numerous Typhoon kits released over the past 57 years in 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scales.

• Building a Selection. Over 30 pages of build articles, some that include the use of after-market accessories, covering the following kits:

• 1/72 Scale. The Academy, new-tool Airfix, and Brengun Mk.Ib (late production), and CMR Prototype/Mk.Ia;

• 1/48 Scale. The Hasegawa Mk.Ib;

• 1/32 Scale. The MDC Mk.Ib; and

• 1/24 Scale. The Airfix Mk.Ib.

• Building a Collection. Isometric drawings illustrating variant-specific features for five Tornado and 22 Typhoon versions (includes three Mk.II’s that were Tempest prototypes).

• In Detail: Covering just the Typhoon, this chapter is broken down into sections covering to major components; namely: cockpit & canopy, fuselage, cowling, engine, wings, undercarriage, tail, armament, ordnance, sighting, drop tanks, and miscellaneous. It uses a combination period and recent photos, plus many technical manual drawings to illustrate these features. This is a particularly useful and interesting chapter due to its thoroughness, explanatory notes, and high levels of detail provided. The modern photos are in colour and include many restoration shots of MN235 presented in walk-around style. A cutaway drawing from the official service manual is also included.

Appendices

These provide comprehensive lists concerning their subject area and include numerous images:

• I  Tornado & Typhoon Kit List.

• II  Tornado & Typhoon Accessory Lists.

• III  Typhoon Decal List.

• IV  Tornado & Typhoon Production.

• V   Bibliography.

Scale Plans

Attached inside the rear cover are eight fold-out pages of well-drawn 1/48 scale plans that include cross-sections. These cover the bubble-top and car-door Typhoon Mk.Ib.

The overall quality of production is very good, logically laid out, and easy to read.

This is a superb reference for anyone interested in the innermost details of Hawker’s Tornado and Typhoon. Obviously, the book is more devoted to the Typhoon as the far more significant aircraft of the two.

The level of detail and information provided is almost mid-blowing in its thoroughness; it is all clearly and logically laid out, easy to read, and superbly illustrated.

The detailed and informative in-box reviews of the majority of Typhoon kits ever released are very handy guides, as are the numerous build articles on the leading kits in all the popular scales from 1/72 to 1/24. The appended list of kits, accessories and decals released to date are the most complete I can recall seeing.

Aimed very much at modellers, this book should not be overlooked by the pure plane enthusiast with an interest in the nuts and bolts aspects of these two interesting and closely related aircraft.

This is the best example of an all-embracing single-type aircraft reference for modellers I can recall reading. Quite simply, it is absolutely a must-have for anyone seriously interested in the Typhoon and/or building a scale model of one. I cannot recommend this Airframe & Miniature title highly enough.

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2016 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 16 June, 2016
Last updated 16 June, 2016

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