Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB
Early Version

Czech Master Resin, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Glen Porter

CMR's 1/72 scale Typhoon IB Early Version is available online from Squadron.com

The Hawker Typhoon was one of those aircraft that had so many teething problems it almost didn't make it into production. Although it didn't work as an interceptor due to it's poor rate of climb and high altitude performance, by the end of the war it made such a good ground attack weapon that enemy forces were not game to move during day-light.

CMR kits are the Rolls Royce of 1/72 scale modelling. Very expensive, excellent quality and detail, every option imaginable but not for beginners.

Just over twelve months ago, I reviewed CMR's 1/72 scale Typhoon Prototype and Mk.IA. In that review, I mentioned an earlier IB kit. This is not that kit. It is a new casting and the older one has been removed from their website so I was unable to compare them. Many of the parts in this kit are in common with the Typhoon IA, so I'm not going to repeat it all and would suggest you read it first. Instead, I will point out the key differences between this and the Mk.IA kit.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

In the Mk.IA review, I mentioned some warpage in the fuselage halve, there is none here but it may develop over time so don't let it sit on the shelf for too long.

The main difference between the IA and the IB is that the IB was cannon armed, but you don't just get 4 cannons as there were 3 types, so you get 12.

The other options in the IA kit were 3 types of bombs and drop tanks and their mounts. These are all included in this kit but you also get a complete set of 60 lbs rockets and their rails.

And then you get the beautiful Eduard pre-coloured PE set. It covers the instrument panel, seat belts, throttle quadrant and trim wheel. The instrument panel and lap belts are optional as they are also provided in resin.

The Eduard masks cover both complex canopies, main undercarriage wheels, clear resin car-door windows and wing landing lights. There is a separate instruction sheet for both Eduard products with PE on one side and the masks on the other.

Decals, by MPD, are well printed with good register and minimum film and the Sky of the squadron codes looks particularly good but not so the red which, to my eye, looks too bright. There are no stencils on this sheet but there is a full set of national markings, codes, serials and personal markings.

 

There are markings for three aircraft, the first being Typhoon IB, R8893, XM-M of 182 Squadron RAF late 1942. This is finished in the standard Day Fighter Scheme of Dark Green, Ocean Grey and Sea Grey Medium with a Sky band on the fuselage. It also has a White nose, including the spinner, 12” wide Yellow band on the top surface of each wing level with the inboard cannon and the Black and White Typhoon ID stripes on wing under surfaces.

Next comes a IB, R7752, PR-G flown by Wing Commander Roland 'Bea' Beamont of 609 (West Riding) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force. However, this aircraft may be depicted slightly earlier than when flown by WGCDR Beamont, in which case its pilot would have been Sqn Ldr Paul Richey*. It is in the same scheme as above but with only the 12” Yellow upper wing marking.

Last of all is another IB, R7698, Z-Z flown by Wing Commander D. E. Gillam, Duxford Wing, September 1942. This one is also in the same scheme as Beaumont's aircraft but the codes and fuselage roundels are much larger.

To assist in painting and decaling, there is an A5 sized sheet with a B&W photo of Beaumont's Tiffy airborne and six other shots of a Typhoon on the ground.

* Thanks to John Green for the additional information on this aircraft.

With a level of detail you won't find in any 1/72nd scale injection moulded kits and yet nothing too difficult for someone experienced with multi media modelling and the addition of the Eduard bits makes this one of those kits that is just crying out to be built.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to CMR for the review sample

CMR Models are available online from Hannants in the UK,
NKR Models in Australia and quality specialist model retailers worldwide.