Complete plastic kit from new moulds with clear injected canopies and 4 decal options (Korean war, France, Swiss, Dutch).
Day: March 9, 2024
lfmodels 1/48 PE4815 Raven – Goes to the NAVY (2xUS NAVY, 1x Royal Navy)
airfix 1/72 A06023 Boeing Chinook HC.1 Available to Pre-order
An aircraft which possibly underlines the capabilities of the modern helicopter more effectively than any other type, the mighty Boeing CH-47 Chinook has already been in military service for over sixty years and shows no sign of disappearing from world skies any time soon.
The distinctive tandem twin-rotor configuration of this heavy-lift helicopter cleverly counteracts the effects of engine torque by having each of its huge rotor blade stacks rotate in opposite directions, thus negating the need for the tail rotors traditionally associated with helicopters.
The impressive Chinook made its first flight in 1961 and since then, it has become one of the most effective aircraft designs of the post-war era, capable of operating in almost any environment, no matter how inhospitable the terrain. Clearly, this has made the Chinook invaluable when performing many roles, ably tackling a multitude of military and civilian applications.
As the world’s largest operator of the Chinook outside the US, the Royal Air Force ordered 33 of these heavy-lift behemoths in 1978, with No.18 Squadron taking the honour of becoming Britain’s first operational Chinook unit in August 1981.
These first helicopters were designated HC.1 (Helicopter Cargo Mk.1) and had hardly settled into service when events on the other side of the world required their first overseas deployment. Following the Argentinean invasion of the Falkland Islands in April 1982, five of the RAF’s Chinooks were wrapped in Driclad PVC protective covers and loaded on the deck of the requisitioned container ship Atlantic Conveyor.
Tragically, all but one of these helicopters was lost following an Exocet missile strike on the vessel, with that surviving Chinook earning legendary status within the RAF. Having already been in Royal Air Force service for over 42 years, the latest variants of the mighty Chinook seem certain to be in service for many years to come.
The unmistakable sight of an RAF Chinook, the Royal Air Force are the largest operator of the aircraft outside the United States. 
As the box artwork presentation for the new Chinook has already been circulated in support of this new kit’s announcement, we thought it appropriate to include here. 
new Chinook design will be a welcome addition to the Airfix range this year. No sooner had Britain’s Chinooks entered service, that events on the other side of the world would result in an early overseas deployment for the helicopter, one which would be the start of an incredible story for one particular aircraft and indeed the wider reputation of the Chinook as a military aircraft. Five of the RAF’s new Chinooks were loaded aboard the requisitioned container ship Atlantic Conveyor for the Task Force voyage down to the South Atlantic, each one stored on the deck of the ship and wrapped in Driclad PVC covers as a protective measure. Chinook ZA707 was offloaded at Ascension Island prior to continuing the voyage to the Falkland Islands and famous ‘Survivor’ ZA718 was in the air when the Atlantic Conveyor was struck by Exocet missiles and destroyed, with the remaining Chinooks lost. ZA718 ‘Bravo November’ would be the only Chinook subsequently available to the British Task force, but her historic exploits are certainly the subject of a future edition of Workbench 
One of the most successful aviation designs of the post war years, despite the fact that the Chinook has already been in RAF service for more than 42 years, an ongoing sustainment programme will surely see it continuing in service for many more years to come. 
This scan data image shows how no aspect of the Chinook’s design can escape the inquisitive gaze of a LIDAR scanner. 
Chinook scan detail overlayed onto new Chinook design. 
on a stage to plot out all his detailing, with each feature requiring of his design attention in the near future 
Just a design screenshot of a new Chinook fuselage half, however, this image represents as significant design stage 
replication of the engine sand filter design did take some overcoming, particularly when understanding the manufacturing constraints all Airfix designers have to adhere to. 
As the Chinook was his first helicopter design experience and helicopters have been a popular build subject for him over the years, he was determined to make his mark and provide solutions to modelling frustrations he himself had felt when building helicopter kits, providing those building the new Chinook in the future with some thoughtful assembly relief through clever design. 
One aspect of the Chinook’s design which illustrates this perfectly is replicated the circular windows of his latest project. In order to make this delicate, yet distinctive feature more modeller friendly, he designed these parts in a slightly unusual manner. Usually, the raised lip or rim detail of the windows would be moulded as part of the main fuselage components, something which has traditionally made the fixing and painting of these parts really quite challenging. 
A pair of images which allow us to see some of the complex shape detail Paramjit had to incorporate into his Chinook design. 
The resultant design includes parts to allow three different configurations of the loading ramp to be modelled, either in the fully closed position, with the ramp lowered, or with the ramp lowered and auxiliary ramps deployed. Looking closely at the screenshot images supplied to illustrate this point, you can also clearly see the many shape/crease shapes which created so many challenges for Paramjit, particularly as we also now have a better understanding of the manufacturing perils his design must embrace and avoid – all clever stuff we rarely consider when enjoying our latest model build. 
eplicate the detail around the rear loading ramp, such a distinctive feature of the mighty Chinook 
Another really appealing feature of the new kit and something modellers will hopefully come to appreciate 
addressed the issue of replicating the windows of the Chinook. 
Providing the certainty any modeller will appreciate, Paramjit has included some drilling jigs to aid with the assembly options this impressive new kit supports. 
immediately thrust a partly assembled test build Chinook into my hands and said, ‘Squeeze it!’ As the Chinook has a well-earned reputation for being a rugged performer, 
determined that everything about his new design should be robust and in that regard, he has succeeded in some style. Despite squeezing the model with increasing commitment, it didn’t budge, much to delight. This is one robust model and those tackling it in the months to come will surely come to appreciate this rigidity. 
This final selection of Chinook design screenshots shows some of the impressive internal detail 
described how he was pleased with how his rotor blade design turned out and how the discernible droop which is such an appealing feature of the Chinook, but how this did require some clever thinking in a design sense, something we intend to investigate further. In summary 
post war aviation icon when designing the Chinook, but how he was determined to create something he could be proud of and something modellers would enjoy building 
plenty more interesting Chinook design details which we elected to save for a future project update, but for now, we would like to thank him once again for giving us his time so generously and for allowing us this insight into his latest new tooling design project. We are particularly grateful for the fascinating selection of images he sent us which illustrate many of the points raised so effectively, images which were taken straight from his actual design files Chinook
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
airfix 1/72 A09010 Consolidated B-24H Liberator Available to Pre-order
The second of America’s great four-engined heavy bombers of the Second World War, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator began development after the Army Air Corps approached the company to build B-17 Flying Fortresses. Unimpressed at the prospect, Consolidated proposed that they could design and produce their own bomber in the same time it would take them to establish production lines, and it would be better than a Flying Fortress.
When their XB-24 prototype took to the air on 29th December 1939, it was a very different-looking aeroplane to the B-17 Flying Fortress, with its shoulder-mounted thin wings, deep, yet narrow fuselage and twin-boom tail, it had a maritime aircraft appearance about it. Following its eventual USAAF introduction in 1941, the B-24 Liberator was produced in vast quantities, serving in every theatre during the Second World War, and making a vital contribution to the Allied War effort.
The introduction of the ‘H’ model addressed the aircraft’s vulnerability to frontal attack, something enemy fighter pilots had been exploiting since the B-24’s introduction. This variant was the first to be manufactured with an electrically operated Emerson A-15 nose turret but also had around 50 other modifications to make the Liberator a more combat-effective aircraft.
This was also the first variant to truly take advantage of America’s capacity for mass production and it was claimed that Ford could produce Liberators faster than the USAAF could process them into service. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator became the most heavily produced four-engined bomber in the history of warfare and America’s most produced aircraft of the Second World War. Quite simply, the B-24 was flown by more men, carried more bombs over greater distances and destroyed more targets than any other bomber in the history of aviation.
In this design view of the new B-24 Liberator kit, you can see just how much detail 
The modelling hobby really does allow us an appreciation of the complexity of the Consolidated Liberator and just how effective the manufacturing process must have been to enable around 18,500 of these beasts to be produced during times of war. 
the following series of images in a folder entitled ‘First Shot part frame issues’ and has included descriptions to help aid our understanding of the issues highlighted. 
First Shot part frame issues’ and has included descriptions to help aid our understanding of the issues highlighted. 
Each stage of this process brings with it new areas of concern for the Airfix designer and whilst each successive round of assessment and report submission will result in an ever-decreasing number of issues which need addressing, absolute attention to detail is required throughout, because when it comes to the design a new Airfix model kit, project delays mean additional cost and that must be avoided at all costs. 
On to our exclusive first look at the Liberator part frames themselves and how the new B-24 kit’s going to be taking up quite some space on our workbenches following its Spring release. 
As for areas of concern with the Liberator tooling, Chris said that these stemmed right back to the very beginning of the project and were around the size and rigidity of the larger parts within the kit, namely fuselage halves and wing sections. Chris did include strengthening measures within his overall design, but on receipt of the first test frame components, he could clearly see that there was some warping/fouling evident on the parts, something which simply had to be rectified. 
Calling on all his previous experience and knowing that his design was sound, consultation with the toolmaker soon highlighted the problem, which proved to be nothing more than a production timing inaccuracy. It transpired that during the moulding process, insufficient cooling time was being given to the parts before they were being ejected from the tool and therefore, how the still warm plastic was being manhandled by the tooling injector mechanism too early and thus creating the problem. Adding a little more cooling time into the process completely cured the issue, but does serve to illustrate how the close collaboration between designer and toolmaker is crucial in this kind of work and how the combined experience of both will overcome almost any highlighted problem in no time at all. 
A robust understanding of all aspects of the design and manufacturing processes in injection moulding technologies really does come as standard for Airfix product designers and whilst Chris has sent these images to illustrate the points raised above, he did want to qualify the situation by confirming that nothing in relation to the B-24 Liberator project proved to be particularly problematic for him. 
A feature of Airfix kits which always provides enduring modelling inspiration for us all, the new Liberator box artwork features our lead scheme B-24 showing how a tight formation and lots of lead from .50 Cal machine guns would give any Luftwaffe fighter pilot plenty to think about. 
Scheme A – Consolidated B-24H-10-FO Liberator 42-52234 ‘Corky Burgundy Bombers’, 733rd Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group, USAAF Eighth Air Force, Old Buckenham Airfield, Norfolk, England, 1944. 
Full scheme details for this Old Buckenham based 453rd Bomb Group Liberator. 
Scheme B – Consolidated B-24H-15-FO Liberator 42-52699 ‘Valiant Lady’, 831st Bomb Squadron, 485th Bomb Group, USAAF Fifteenth Air Force, Venosa, Italy, 1944. 
More colourful nose artwork adorns this Italian based USAAF 15th Air Force Liberator. 
New Airfix B-24H Liberator 12 ‘O’ Clock high! Best keep your eyes peeled for this beauty.
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
airfix 1/48 A04104A de Havilland Tiger Moth Available to Pre-order
From the perspective of a student pilot, the de Havilland Tiger Moth was a relatively stable and forgiving aircraft to fly, possessing few handling vices and being generally supportive of the odd silly mistake by the novice pilot.
It quickly gained a reputation as being an ‘easy aeroplane to fly, but a difficult one to fly well’, qualities which seemed to make this the ideal aircraft to serve as a primary/basic trainer for large numbers of pilots destined to fly operationally during WWII.
At the start of the war, the RAF had around 500 Tiger Moths in service, but would requisition hundreds more from flying clubs up and down the country.
A computer rendered image created from the design files produced in support of this 1/48th scale de Havilland Tiger Moth kit. Most Workbench readers would probably agree that the vast majority of aviation enthusiasts have a particular fascination for fighting aeroplanes, those which contested both world wars and continue to patrol world skies to this day, but how did all those pilots who flew those aircraft so expertly gain their wings in the first place? Certainly, during the Second World War, all new pilots would have had to successfully negotiate the flight training programme of their respective air forces and if you were a British and Commonwealth student pilot, that would invariably mean spending time at the controls of the same aircraft, the de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth. 
De Havilland’s intention with the Moth series was to produce aircraft which would have wide appeal across the world of aviation, possessing qualities which put them at the forefront of the industry when it came to effectiveness and usability. Central to his thinking was to produce a training aeroplane suitable for Royal Air Force use and whilst he thought his DH60 Moth was eminently suitable for this role, the Royal Air Force were less enthusiastic. Although the DH60 was loved by flying clubs up and down the country, the RAF felt that with the top wing being located over the forward cockpit, if an instructor or pilot had to get out of the aeroplane in an emergency, they might have difficulty doing so whilst wearing a parachute 
Two design screenshot images produced during the design phase of this exciting 1/48th scale tooling project. 
Pilot maker extraordinaire, the de Havilland Tiger Moth has to be considered one of the most important aircraft of the 20th century and continues to provide the same flight training support it was originally designed to do back when it made its first flight in 1931. Construction of the aircraft was of relatively traditional design, with welded steel tubing being covered with fabric and the extensive use of wood throughout. Adopting traditional flight controls, the flight instrumentation was almost identical in both cockpits, however, only the rear cockpit had a mixture control lever for the 4 cylinder in-line inverted 130 hp Gypsy Major engine. To maintain the aircraft’s centre of gravity, if the aircraft was being flown by a single pilot, they would use the rear cockpit, hence the placement of the engine mixture controls 
Always a highlight in any edition of Workbench, new box artwork serves to identify and inspire modellers looking for a new build project, but if you are looking to add a fabulously historic project to your 2024 build schedule, you’d do well to find one more appealing than this latest Tiger Moth release. 
Another development look at one of the files produced during the Tiger Moth design project. As Britain prepared for possible invasion during the early summer of 1940, there were even advanced plans for the mild-mannered Tiger Moth to show a much more aggressive side of its nature, supporting the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots of Fighter Command they had previously helped train by attacking any potential invasion force by all means at their disposal. ‘Operation Banquet’ called for the use of every available aircraft in the defence of Britain’s coastline, equipping even the most unlikely aircraft with bomb racks and giving them an offensive capability. Should a German invasion have been attempted, there would have been the very real possibility of seeing swarms of bomb laden Tiger Moths raining fury down on the enemy troops below, as Britain planned to hurl everything at any such cross-channel invasion, ensuring it had little chance of success. Thankfully, due in no small part to the contribution this effective ‘pilot maker’ made in training the heroic pilots of Fighter Command, Germany’s invasion plans for England were indefinitely postponed following the Luftwaffe’s inability to score a decisive aerial victory during the Battle of Britain, and the distinguished Tiger Moth didn’t have to besmirch its reputation by being forced to carry bombs. An aircraft which possesses an enduring heritage which can only be matched by a handful of historic types, the de Havilland Tiger Moth was clearly an aircraft which attracted the attention of Airfix designers and in our own heritage, a scale representation of the Tiger Moth was one of the first aircraft kits to join the growing range, which it did in 1957. This original 1/72nd scale kit was replaced by a newly designed model kit in 2014, however for many modellers, what they really wanted was a Tiger Moth in the larger 1/48th scal 
Scheme A – de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth BB852/E, Britannia Flight, Britannia Royal Naval College, Roborough, Plymouth, Devon, 1st July 1965, the last biplanes to land on a British Aircraft Carrier (HMS Eagle). 
Full scheme details for this completely fascinating Royal Navy Tiger Moth. 
Scheme B – de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth N-9496/17, No.9 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, Royal Air Force Ansty, Warwickshire, England, October 1940. 
Full scheme details of this No.9 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth, an aircraft which had not yet benefitted from the addition of anti-spin strakes. 
box presentation 
Full branded box presentation for what will only be the second release from our new 1/48th scale de Havilland Tiger Moth tooling.
You must be logged in to post a comment.