De Havilland Heron Airfix 1/72
Discussion
This is one I actually started a few weeks ago whilst I was part way through my Hurricane build. It really is the polar opposite of the Hurricane regarding age and quality. Whereas that was a fairly recent and nicely engineered kit, the Heron is from a time in the dim and distant past when models were designed as glorified toys for kids to build and play with - and accuracy was not paramount.
The kit actually dates from 1959 (almost as old as me) but has recently been released under Airfix's "Classic" brand. As you can see, the Classic boxings have reverted to "classic" artwork although this painting is post Roy Cross. I think it first carried this painting when it was last re-released around 1993. In the Roy Cross era it featured an image of a Heron operated by Shell.
In fact, it has appeared in a number of different packages over the decades.
It comes with markings for G-AORG which was operated by Jersey Airways and was flying until recently in these colours.
However, I plan to finish it as a Queen's Flight aircraft and I have a set of appropriate decals.
Being of 1959 vintage, there are fit issues and a few damaged parts - but all is fixable. There is no interior passenger cabin detail (i.e. no seats) even though the passenger door can be posed open.
There is a cockpit with seats and even an instrument panel - quite advanced for 1959.
It also features oversized rivet detail which I have sanded away. Airfix had a tendency to overdo rivets although at this stage in their history they weren't anything like as bad as they got later.
As is my normal practice these days, I don't plan to add too many embellishments to the basic kit - just to try and make the exterior as neat and tidy as possible. As expected, there are plenty of gaps that need filling. I've already tackled the fuselage and am now working on the wings.
The kit actually dates from 1959 (almost as old as me) but has recently been released under Airfix's "Classic" brand. As you can see, the Classic boxings have reverted to "classic" artwork although this painting is post Roy Cross. I think it first carried this painting when it was last re-released around 1993. In the Roy Cross era it featured an image of a Heron operated by Shell.
In fact, it has appeared in a number of different packages over the decades.
It comes with markings for G-AORG which was operated by Jersey Airways and was flying until recently in these colours.
However, I plan to finish it as a Queen's Flight aircraft and I have a set of appropriate decals.
Being of 1959 vintage, there are fit issues and a few damaged parts - but all is fixable. There is no interior passenger cabin detail (i.e. no seats) even though the passenger door can be posed open.
There is a cockpit with seats and even an instrument panel - quite advanced for 1959.
It also features oversized rivet detail which I have sanded away. Airfix had a tendency to overdo rivets although at this stage in their history they weren't anything like as bad as they got later.
As is my normal practice these days, I don't plan to add too many embellishments to the basic kit - just to try and make the exterior as neat and tidy as possible. As expected, there are plenty of gaps that need filling. I've already tackled the fuselage and am now working on the wings.
I have a soft spot for Herons and Doves. We used to get them over the house in the 70's flying out of the local airport (Fairwood/Swansea) going to Jersey amongst other places.
A few years later and I was in the RAF working on the visiting aircraft section and we used to get a regular visit from Royal Navy Herons dropping mail and supplies off to be picked up later by either a Lynx or a Wasp.
A few years later and I was in the RAF working on the visiting aircraft section and we used to get a regular visit from Royal Navy Herons dropping mail and supplies off to be picked up later by either a Lynx or a Wasp.
Yep - it is only about 10 miles in a straight line.
Irish Air Corps aircraft used to practice CGA talk-down approaches at Dublin because Baldonnel didn't provide that service - so you would get all sorts of stuff coming over to practice GCA approaches - Chipmunks, Piston Provosts, Vampire T55s, Doves etc.
I had an uncle who was a technical instructor at the Aer Lingus ground school. He wanted to show a particular film to his students one day and was told that the film had been lent to the Air Corps at Baldonnel. He gave them a phone call and they confirmed they had the film. He asked if there was any chance they could get it over the Dublin Airport by the afternoon. They said "No problem". He assumed they'd send it over by one of their dispatch riders. Instead, about an hour later, A Dove taxied up with a chap standing at the back door waving the film cannister in his hand.
I always thought that was a funny story.
Irish Air Corps aircraft used to practice CGA talk-down approaches at Dublin because Baldonnel didn't provide that service - so you would get all sorts of stuff coming over to practice GCA approaches - Chipmunks, Piston Provosts, Vampire T55s, Doves etc.
I had an uncle who was a technical instructor at the Aer Lingus ground school. He wanted to show a particular film to his students one day and was told that the film had been lent to the Air Corps at Baldonnel. He gave them a phone call and they confirmed they had the film. He asked if there was any chance they could get it over the Dublin Airport by the afternoon. They said "No problem". He assumed they'd send it over by one of their dispatch riders. Instead, about an hour later, A Dove taxied up with a chap standing at the back door waving the film cannister in his hand.
I always thought that was a funny story.
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