1/72 Airfix Handley-Page Halifax

by Don Bryans

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Here are some photos of my Halifax.  The model was built straight out-of-the-box, and is finished to represent a 578 Squadron aircraft, MZ519 'U'.

Another Airfix "oldie", the kit went together surprisingly well.  I only had to undertake a little filling around the wing-fuselage joins, around the cockpit, and the lower fuselage.
I used the kit canopies, and I soon wished I hadn't - Close up they look awful!
I have since corrected the "deliberate error" (!) on the cockpit canopy - Can you spot it?
A not-so-deliberate error is the H2S blister - I have since discovered that very few (if any) 578 Squadron aircraft were fitted with this device.  Never mind, I'll know next time.
 
The model is brush-painted, using Humbrol enamels.  Decals are from a mix of aftermarket sources, and are applied over a coat of Precision Paints gloss varnish, and sealed with a coat of satin varnish from the same manufacturer. 

Click on images below to see larger images

  

On 6 July 1944, while returning from Operations to the V-1 sites at Croixdalle, MZ519 crashed near the village of Farnsfield, near Newark, Nottinghamshire.  Sadly, there were no survivors.
See here:
http://macr.moonfruit.com/#/halifaxmz519/4517527254 .
(As usual, a small piece of wreckage from the crash site is enshrined within the model.)

In 2004, the model appeared at the Memorial Service to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the crash.  It attracted much interest, and was actually "blessed" by the RAF clergyman who conducted the service!

Don

Photos and text © by Don Bryans