Czech Master Resin 1/72 Hawker Typhoon Prototype & Mk.IA By Jim Schubert

History

Back in 1937, when I was four years old and struggling with my first Comet “Dime Model” and before the first Hurricane prototype had flown, Hawker were already designing its successor. In 1938 they adapted their preliminary design to comply with air Ministry Specification F 18/37, Type N and Type R using, respectively, the experimental Napier Sabre H-24 and Rolls Royce Vulture X-24 engines. The Sabre was, essentially, two horizontally opposed flat 12s mated one atop the other and geared together; the Vulture was, essentially, four in-line sixes arranged at 90 degree intervals around a common six-throw, seven main-bearing, crank. Both had mechanically driven superchargers. The Sabre had rotating sleeve valves and the Vulture used conventional poppet valves. The Type R plane was named the Tornado and the Type N plane, the Typhoon. Development of the Vulture was slow and it, and the Tornado, were shelved after two prototype and one “production” airplanes were built. All emphasis then shifted to the Typhoon. The first prototype, P5212, became a developmental workhorse and went through many physical changes, as well as changes in colors and markings before it was destroyed.

The rest of the Typhoon story in WWII is well known to all.

The Kit

CMR provide parts, decals and instructions for seven airframes in the prototype and Mk.IA series - all with the ‘car door” style cockpit. These are:

1. 1st Prototype, P5212, with solid aft canopy and, later, quarter lights.

2. 2nd Prototype, P5216, with clear aft canopy.

3. Mk.IA, R7580, 56 Sqdn, Duxford, 1941, solid aft canopy.

4. Mk.IA, R7634, 26 Sqdn, (Rhodesian) 1942, solid aft canopy.

5. Mk.IA, R7681, 196 Sqdn. 1943, clear aft canopy.

6. Mk.IA, R7684, 1942, clear aft canopy.

7. Mk.IA, R7648, 56 Sqdn. Duxford, 1942, clear aft canopy.

In addition CMR provide two different styles of underwing pylons for the 1000, 500 and 250 pound bombs included in the kit. The original narrow-chord rudder and three-pipe exhausts are included to model the first prototype. Separate “car doors” are molded in “clear” resin so that you can pose them open or closed. If you choose, you can also cut out the top panel of the hood and pose it open too; it is piano-hinged on the left side. Unfortunately, the “clear” resin isn’t but the side windows wind down, as on a car, so you can cut them out and the translucence of the “clear” resin becomes of no concern.

This conventionally engineered kit comprises 56 parts well cast in pale cream colored resin, four in extra-strength white resin, four in “clear” resin and three optional clear vac canopies.

The exact colors and markings of the 1st prototype, P5212, are the subject of much confusion, conjecture and disagreement. My personal research on this continues. I will summarize my conclusions, when I have them, in the SPRUE BITS section of a future issue of this magazine. Let me know what you think I should conclude and why – all reasonable opinions are solicited.

Conclusion

CMR’s use of very soft, long-lived RTV rubber permits them to obtain some pretty incredibly detailed and complex resin parts. This kit reflects all the benefits of this and the other techniques employed and the result is another outstanding product.

Thanks to Czech Master Resin for providing the review sample.

References

• Famous Fighters of the Second World War, Volume one: William Green, Doubleday, New York, 1967.

• Profile No 81: Francis K. Mason, Profile Publications, UK, 1966.

• Camouflage & Markings, Hawker Tornado, Typhoon & Tempest, RAF Northern Europe 1936-45: R. C. Jones & R. L. Ward, Ducimus Books, UK.

• Famous Airplane of the World, Hawker Typhoon/Tempest, No. 63: Bunrindo Co., Japan, March 1997, ISBN 4-89319-060-1.

• Typhoon/Tempest In Action, No. 102: Jerry Scutts, Squadron signal Publications, USA, 1990, ISBN 0-89747-232-2.

• The Hawker Typhoon and Tempest: Francis K. Mason, Aston Publications, UK, 1989, ISBN 0-946627-19-3.

• British Aviation Colours of World War Two: John Tanner, Arms and Armour Press, UK, 1986, ISBN 0-85368-271-2.

• Scale Models magazine, November 1975, Hawker Typhoon Described & drawn by Arthur L. Bentley – these are the best drawings you’ll find.