Post by acklington on Aug 4, 2023 18:30:51 GMT 1
I'd been planning to add an Airspeed Oxford to my RAF Ouston collection, when I realised that the 'Oxford' diecast company had produced a 1/72 diecast model of the Airspeed Oxford that is in the RAF Museum at Hendon. It has the BAT (Beam Approach Training) and GEE Training markings, plus the code letter 'G' that I needed. Only the serial number needed changing, and it all seemed like a good way of avoiding having to paint a complicated colour scheme on a plastic kit.
The diecast model is reasonably accurate, but did require its prominent joints to be filled and painted. There were details missing from its paint scheme, in the engines, props, undercarriage, ailerons, etc, etc. So all these have been added, just like doing a plastic kit. The roundels were too glossy, and have been matt varnished. The replacement serial number was the biggest challenge, so as to match the underlying colours of the diecast model and avoid 'silvering' of the new transfers.
The diecast model has no aerials provided, and it has been difficult to figure out the complicated aerial system of the real thing. I have plenty of reference material, including the excellent 'Air Britain' book, but good photos of the BAT/GEE Oxfords are few, none of which clearly show the aerial system.
Anyway, here is the end result. LX613 'G' first served with 1508 (GEE Training) Flight at RAF Ouston, Northumberland, from 26 June to 8 August 1944. The Flight was then absorbed into the resident 62 Operational Training Unit, becoming 'C' Flight doing Beam Approach Training (BAT). 62 OTU was part of Fighter Command, training all of the airbourne interception radar operators for Beaufighter and Mosquito night fighters. LX613 stayed at RAF Ouston until 62 OTU closed in April 1945. The aircraft continued in RAF service post-war, lasting until 1954 on communications duties.
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (8) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (9) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (13) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (7) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (5) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
The diecast model is reasonably accurate, but did require its prominent joints to be filled and painted. There were details missing from its paint scheme, in the engines, props, undercarriage, ailerons, etc, etc. So all these have been added, just like doing a plastic kit. The roundels were too glossy, and have been matt varnished. The replacement serial number was the biggest challenge, so as to match the underlying colours of the diecast model and avoid 'silvering' of the new transfers.
The diecast model has no aerials provided, and it has been difficult to figure out the complicated aerial system of the real thing. I have plenty of reference material, including the excellent 'Air Britain' book, but good photos of the BAT/GEE Oxfords are few, none of which clearly show the aerial system.
Anyway, here is the end result. LX613 'G' first served with 1508 (GEE Training) Flight at RAF Ouston, Northumberland, from 26 June to 8 August 1944. The Flight was then absorbed into the resident 62 Operational Training Unit, becoming 'C' Flight doing Beam Approach Training (BAT). 62 OTU was part of Fighter Command, training all of the airbourne interception radar operators for Beaufighter and Mosquito night fighters. LX613 stayed at RAF Ouston until 62 OTU closed in April 1945. The aircraft continued in RAF service post-war, lasting until 1954 on communications duties.
LX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (8) w by Philip Pain, on FlickrLX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (9) w by Philip Pain, on FlickrLX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (11) w by Philip Pain, on FlickrLX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (13) w by Philip Pain, on FlickrLX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (7) w by Philip Pain, on FlickrLX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (5) w by Philip Pain, on FlickrLX613, G, 62 OTU, Ouston, August 1944 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr