Halifax Mk 1

[hinoon]

Hi Gang

Here's an update it the Halifax. There was an earlier posting with the rear turret but I quess that got fried when things went south with the server. Anyway, here it is. Front Chin/Turret and Rear Wheel and Glider Tow Assembly. The front turret was a beast. Lots of pulling and pushing but I think it came out reasonably well. I don't have any good reference for the nose except from long shots so I don't know what the seat and gun placements look like. Not much photo reference for this version available on the net. Hope to order a book soon that has what I'm looking for. Any help in this area would be great. As always critiques and crits welcome.

[Spinner]

hinoon,
Looking good!
You're after the Boulton-Paul Type C in the nose, BP C or A for the mid-upper and the BP E or D for the tail. Earliest prod airframes had BP Type K as a ventral gun too.
I'll try to get a couple of scans done for you. Internal, external pics n diagrams. Got some good ref books on the UK and US turrets.
On the nose turret you have the slot panel rebated. They stand proud and the slots extend into the airflow to balance drag on the guns when they're turned to the beam.

[hinoon]

Thanks for your help Spinner. Yes, some detailed front end shots would do the trick. Do you know anything of the book, "In Canadian Service: Handley Page Halifax" I was thinking of getting it based on what I read

[Skyraider3D]

Looks great so far! Still love the subject. A B.Mk.III would have been prettier though! ;)

[kevjon]

Thats looking really good. Its about time someone decided to tackle this work horse of RAF bomber command.

[Spinner]

Do you know anything of the book, "In Canadian Service: Handley Page Halifax" I was thinking of getting it based on what I read

Its said to have one chapter for the kit modeller. Plans, profiles etc.
If you've a spare 20 quid its probably worth it. I find myself going to my ref books again n again. Some things just arent on the net.

[giant551]

Nice one mate, your turrets look great !!

[LegalAssassin]

It's a good plane you've picked, I'm looking forward to seeing it complete

[Bravo]

My great uncle Jack was a rear gunner on one of these planes. He was shot down over Germany and remained a prisoner of war until he returned after the war.
He never flew again.

[hinoon]

Interesting enough my uncle was a tail gunner too in a Halifax. He made it through but was put on discharge for shell shock. But he taught me a lot about life and culture which is why I'm make this plane in a tribute to him.

[Skyraider3D]

Any update? :)

[Nils]

Great subject.
I remember as a kid, they raised a MkII from a lake close to my grandmother, it was it a superbly condition back then in 1973. It had emergency landed east of Trondheim in Norway late spring on the ice covered lake, beeing damaged in a raid on Tirpitz in the Aasenfjord, where the battleship laid moored. The next morning when the germans came to the landing site, it had gone through the ice and sunk, but the crew had escaped away to safety in Sweden, less one or two injured crew members. I believe the plane is on display at Hendon today, preserved but not restored. I can still remember the pale yellow colour of the plane (it must have been some kind of bottom paint cover I guess) I was 14 that summer and probably a pain in the *** for the RAF guys raising the beauty... (Link to the story here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Halifax_II_W1048_TL-S_Being_Recovered_From_Lake_Hoklingen_Norway_1973. jpg)

[Lukem]

Do you mean this Halifax?

I like the fact that Hendon are trying to preserve the plane as is, like what they are doing with the Mary Rose. It's certainly an experience walking round the wreck - I'll try to get some better pictures on my next visit.

Thanks for the link.