Airfix 1/48 Defiant Mk.I by Roland Sachsenhofer

Airfix 1/48 scale
Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I

by Roland Sachsenhofer

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I

Airfix's 1/48 scale Defiant is available online from Squadron for only USD$19.54!

Description

The Boulton Paul Defiant is the better known of Britain´s two turret fighters. Unlike the Blackburn Roc, the Defiant gained some initial success during the early stages of the “Battle of Britain”. That was mainly gained through the fact, that she looked pretty much like the contemporary British fighter designs like the Hurricane. Misjudging German pilots attacked this assumed single seater from above and behind….

After having learned about the real nature of the Defiant the hard way, the turret fighter was an easy prey. Being outclassed by its lacking manoeuvrability and by the fact, that it possessed no forward firing armament, the Defiant had to be withdrawn from front line service a day fighter.

Being originally conceived as a bomber-killer, firing broadsides while flying parallel with the enemy bombers, the Defiant got a second chance to do its intended job as a night fighter. During 1941 the –then radar equipped-Defiant showed itself as a quite suitable night fighter. After being more and more replaced by twin engine types, the Defiant got a third life as target tug and in the vital role as air and sea rescue plane.

My model shows NI1572, a Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I, flown by No.II (Army Cooperation) Squadron from RAF Hatfield Woodhouse/ South Yorkshire during September 1940.

The build was quite a joy, the rather under-detailed wheel wells and wheel struts have been upgraded with the exterior set from Eduard as was the cockpit. Airfix did its job very well, especially the turret, which can be displayed with open hatches, is a real pleasure.

Thumbnail panels:

If you are interested in the building process, please have a look on the workbench at Scalemates:

https://www.scalemates.com/profiles/mate.php?id=10148&p=albums&album=36258

As ever, remarks will be appreciated: ro.sachsenhofer@gmx.at

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