S
snapper41
Guest
Hi all;
Well, the finishing line for 41(F) Sqn in 1/48 is in sight! Here is my latest addition, a North American Harvard T2b. What, I hear you ask?? Wasn't 41 Squadron a fighter squadron?? Well yes it was - but in April 1947, for just 14 months, 41 became RAF 12 Group's instrument flying training squadron, cashing in its Spitfire 21s for Harvards and Oxfords, before going on to become a fighter unit again in June 1948 with DH Hornets. They were based at RAF Church Fenton for this (dark) period in the Sqn's history. This 'downgrading' to a training sqn seems to have happened to a lot of famous fighter units at the time, perhaps due to post-war restructuring of the RAF (if anyone knows, I'd like to find out).
This particular machine (KF627) was operated by 41 Sqn for just 3 months between August and November 1947. It was lost in a collision with another Harvard, KF959, near Ternhill in 1952 whilst serving with No 6 FTS.
This is the old Occidental kit, reboxed by Italeri. Not bad, with a few fit issues here and there (notably the glazing) - nicely detailed cockpit and engine. Finished with RAF Trainer Yellow from a Humbrol rattle can, after some pre-shading over white primer. I used MIG Neutral Brown panel line wash afterwards. I took a guess at Trainer Yellow, as it seems that the Silver scheme didn't come in until around 1950 or so; looking at the Air-Britain Harvard File, there are plenty of shots of yellow aircraft dated around 1946/7. The File also shows that 41 Sqn Harvards carried no Squadron-specific codes or markings.
Well, the finishing line for 41(F) Sqn in 1/48 is in sight! Here is my latest addition, a North American Harvard T2b. What, I hear you ask?? Wasn't 41 Squadron a fighter squadron?? Well yes it was - but in April 1947, for just 14 months, 41 became RAF 12 Group's instrument flying training squadron, cashing in its Spitfire 21s for Harvards and Oxfords, before going on to become a fighter unit again in June 1948 with DH Hornets. They were based at RAF Church Fenton for this (dark) period in the Sqn's history. This 'downgrading' to a training sqn seems to have happened to a lot of famous fighter units at the time, perhaps due to post-war restructuring of the RAF (if anyone knows, I'd like to find out).
This particular machine (KF627) was operated by 41 Sqn for just 3 months between August and November 1947. It was lost in a collision with another Harvard, KF959, near Ternhill in 1952 whilst serving with No 6 FTS.
This is the old Occidental kit, reboxed by Italeri. Not bad, with a few fit issues here and there (notably the glazing) - nicely detailed cockpit and engine. Finished with RAF Trainer Yellow from a Humbrol rattle can, after some pre-shading over white primer. I used MIG Neutral Brown panel line wash afterwards. I took a guess at Trainer Yellow, as it seems that the Silver scheme didn't come in until around 1950 or so; looking at the Air-Britain Harvard File, there are plenty of shots of yellow aircraft dated around 1946/7. The File also shows that 41 Sqn Harvards carried no Squadron-specific codes or markings.
