The Hawker Typhoon

The Hawker Typhoon was designed as a replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, and was intended to be a medium to high altitude interceptor, However, several design problems did not permit the Typhoon to meet this requirement. Initially the Typhoon Mk Ia was fitted with twelve .303 calibre machine guns, while the later version, the Mk. Ib, was fitted with four 20 mm Hispano Mk. II cannons.

Decal Sheet Contents

The subject of this review is a decal sheet that is 2 3/4" wide by 4" long, and includes national markings for one aircraft. Two sets of top wing insignia are included, along with the fuselage side and underwing markings, as well as the fin flash.

The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International - Winter 2015, features a photo of Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 B-291 of 15 TS in the snow during winter 1917-18 on the cover. The rear cover shows the result of an apparent RAF B.E. 12b collision just outside Penston aerodrome on April 28, 1918. This issue also includes a separate A2 size sheet in color covering Ordnance Survey maps that are marked up with the location of WWI aviation interest sties in Ireland. The back of this foldout provides maps showing RAF Areas and Groups for April 1918, November 1918, June 1919, and January 1920.

Note: The $40 price is for the 4-issue subscription.

This small brass PE kit is packed in a zip-lock bag attached to a peg hangar which protects the item. It consists of one fret with two identical fence sections. The fence is 0.2 mm (just under 1 scale inch) thick with slight raised detail on the out facing side to give some dimension. Removed from the fret they are 35.6 mm tall (4.08 scale feet) and 43 mm wide (4.9 scale feet) You need to fold over a small section at each end to attach to a fence post (not included). Plastruct square posts will work for this. There are bolt heads etched into the edge to add realism.

Removing the parts from the fret was very easy. The website recommends a PE folding tool to fold over the bends and this is probably a good idea. I used a straight edge with a flat edged X-Acto blade and had some difficulty. In working with these, the finials at the top of each rail are easily bent, but the brass is resilient enough to bend them back without permanent damage.

The German war machine produced some of the world’s most advanced aircraft designs from World War 2. The Luftwaffe's wonder weapons, when compared to their contemporaries, were clearly years ahead of their time. The Horten Ho 229 is the poster child of these machines and has always fascinated me. I’m always looking for modeling reference material on cutting edge German weaponry of the era and this publication fills in a lot of empty blanks. The book covers the story of the young Horton Brothers and the people who influenced them in their early years and during the war. The authors have compiled in great detail the most thorough technical study, complete development summary and operational record of the Horten Ho 229. Even though it was a promising design, throughout it’s operational life it continued to be a work in progress for the Horton Brothers.

Background

The 2.8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41 (sPzB 41) or "Panzerbüchse 41" was a German anti-tank weapon working on the squeeze bore principle. Officially classified as a heavy anti-tank rifle (German: schwere Panzerbüchse), it would be better described, and is widely referred to, as a light anti-tank gun as its construction was much more typical of an anti-tank gun. It was produced between 1940 and 1943 with a total of 2,797 seeing service.