Post by acklington on Nov 2, 2020 16:37:51 GMT 1
Just finished, and a very nice kit, although I'm annoyed with myself for rushing it and not spotting two errors. The spine in front of the fin is too long, and I only realised when trying to fit two aerials in the space between the spine and the rear of the cockpit. I think that the rear cockpit is a bit too long as well. The other fault is the two missing interior canopy pulleys which are very obvious on the real thing, located on the upper fuselage inside the rear canopy.
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (21) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (17) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (16) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
It is a Boulton Paul Balliol T.2, WG220, of Durham University Air Squadron at RAF Ouston in Northumberland in the winter of 1955-6. The RAF had a surplus of unwanted Balliols, and it seems to have been something of an experiment to issue two to Durham UAS, the only UAS to get any, but given up after only a few months. The Balliol has been described as "not for novice pilots", and "something of a handful in the wrong hands". However present day warbird operators (including the BBMF) greatly regret that none were saved for future use, as its Merlin 35 engine, side by side seating, and challenging habits were ideal for its intended role - an advanced trainer for aspiring piston-engined fighter pilots.
The two DUAS Balliols WG220 and WN128 do not seem to have had any unit markings, and the red propellor spinner was a relic of its previous service with 238 OTU at North Luffenham, where they acted as targets for trainee radar operators in Bristol Brigands.
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (21) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (17) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (16) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (11) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
WG220, Durham UAS, RAF Ouston, 1955 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
It is a Boulton Paul Balliol T.2, WG220, of Durham University Air Squadron at RAF Ouston in Northumberland in the winter of 1955-6. The RAF had a surplus of unwanted Balliols, and it seems to have been something of an experiment to issue two to Durham UAS, the only UAS to get any, but given up after only a few months. The Balliol has been described as "not for novice pilots", and "something of a handful in the wrong hands". However present day warbird operators (including the BBMF) greatly regret that none were saved for future use, as its Merlin 35 engine, side by side seating, and challenging habits were ideal for its intended role - an advanced trainer for aspiring piston-engined fighter pilots.
The two DUAS Balliols WG220 and WN128 do not seem to have had any unit markings, and the red propellor spinner was a relic of its previous service with 238 OTU at North Luffenham, where they acted as targets for trainee radar operators in Bristol Brigands.