View the full build of the Airscale Hawker Typhoon Mk.1b 1:32 from Max
The Hawker Typhoon is the second kit produced by Peter Castle, who is well known for his range of Airscale cockpit features such as seat belts, instrument panel decals and placards. His first kit, the Boulton Paul Defiant was groundbreaking in that it was entirely designed and 3D printed by Peter, however the Typhoon differs in that, whilst much is 3D printed to a very high standard, the fuselage, wings and tailplanes are injection moulded by a company in Ukraine, though still based on Peter’s 3D printed masters.
The quality of every aspect of the kit, from the box art onwards, is supreme: Peter has thought of every aspect even down to the owner’s reaction on delving into the sturdy top-opening box.
The instruction box is cleverly presented as an Air Ministry Publication:
….and commences with an introduction (written by yours truly) about the two Typhoons which can be built from the kit, namely R8884 of 183 Squadron and JP843 of 197 Squadron. The differences in fit and equipment are highlighted throughout the concisely written instructions.
Peter has also included some very useful build tips at relevant points in the instructions:
Comprehensive colour profiles (drawn by Darren Prior) and guides are shown for the two Typhoons, plus clear drawings showing the positions of stencils and colour guides. On each colour profile is a QR code which when scanned takes you to a website where downloadable marking masks are available.
Also included in the kit is a set of Airscale seat belts and masks for the canopies of both types, internal and external. Decals are clear and comprehensive, produced by Fantasy Printshop. (sorry, I’ve used some of them!)
Most of the information which has enabled Peter to produce such a detailed and accurate kit has come from Ian Slater and his work restoring Typhoon JP843 to flying condition in Canada. In return, Peter is donating a percentage of his sales to Ian’s Typhoon Legacy project. Ian’s help is acknowledged in the instructions.
And the back page fittingly pays tribute to the brave and largely unsung pilots who flew the Typhoons defending England’s shores and latterly as the war was taken to the enemy over Europe.
Max W.