1/48 Aeroclub DHC Chipmunk

by Colin Whitehouse

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  Thailand National Day 2004 

 

I thought that my collection of post war 1/48th British aircraft should have a Chipmunk in it so purchased the Aeroclub kit a while ago. However on a trip to the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Bangkok Airport I found 2 Chipmunks and was inspired to build one up in Thai markings. The Thai's used several schemes from Black and White to Silver to Red and White. I choose the latter scheme to give some colour to the collection and its 'similar' to the RAF scheme. The Royal Thai Air Force were big Chipmunk users and operated them for many years. At least a dozen survive with the 2 in the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Bangkok Airport and another 3 at a semi private collection called Tango. There is also a local version with a Horizontal Lycoming Engine, a slightly wider nose and a few other mods.

The kit was built almost out of the box with a bit more detail added to the cockpit and the flap actuators added to the lower wing. Paints from Xtracolour, Roundels came from the Siam Scale Spitfire sheet, stencils from the kit and serials from the spares box. Construction was a doddle and it was probably the easiest Aeroclub job to date. I've only ever seen one other built up which is a shame as its a lovely kit of a lovely aircraft.

Click on images below to see larger images

So that's how a not so British aircraft in a not so British scheme ended up in a collection of British Aircraft.

Colin

Photos and text © by Colin Whitehouse