Historical aircraft overlaps

[Dr Jekyll]

Someone I know is thinking of making a set of airfield dioramas using plastic kits to represent the history of the RAF. It's an interesting idea that will probably mean a lot of converting.

What he's thinking of is a series of airfield scenes such as:

A 2006 scene with a Typhoon and a late Canberra parked side by side.

An early 1950s scene with an early Canberra and a late Spifire.

A late 1930s scene with a Mk 1 Spitfire and an old??????

You get the idea.

So how to get from the RAFs founding on 1st April 1918 to the late 30s? A Bristol fighter would be good for 1918 and was still in service until about 1931. What was in service from 1931 to 1938?

The Fairey III was in use from 1918 until 1940 but I'm not sure it was operational on 1/4/1918 or whether there are any kits available.

[NM62]

Hawker Hind 1935-1938 or Try here

[davepoth]

Avro 504 would do the job - 1913 to 1934 (for the upgraded 504N), or even 1940 when a few were comandeered and used for target towing.

[CobolMan]

For 1931 to 1938 you could have the Hawker Fury.

[ecsrobin]

I know there was a year between the first typhoon squadron and the last canberra flight but we're the 2 ever together does anyone have a photo of the 2 together?

[Bisonhead]

ecsrobin said:

I know there was a year between the first typhoon squadron and the last canberra flight but we're the 2 ever together does anyone have a photo of the 2 together?

I dont have a photo but there was certainly Canberras and Typhoons/Tornados on the pan at Marham in 2007. I can distinctly remember watching the practice of the final Canberra display on the same day as a pair of Typhoons were at base to dogfight/airfield denial with some Tonkas at 2100...just as Green Wing was on

[ecsrobin]

Probably 06 the canberra was out of service before I joined up in 07.

[moribund]

Google found this - Jersey, 2005

http://www.jerseyairdisplay.org.uk/gallery/details...

Have a look in the background!

[Eric Mc]

What scale is he using?

There is most choice in 1/72 - slightly less in 1/48 and it starts getting difficult in other scales.

[Mutley]

Howabout the RFC? they used Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8s and Nieuport17s in 1917, and would have carried on with them as the Royal Air Force

[Eric Mc]

Mutley said:

Howabout the RFC? they used Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8s and Nieuport17s in 1917, and would have carried on with them as the Royal Air Force

Did you mean RE8s?

And don't forget the Royal Naval Air Service. Their Camel squadrons were integrated into the RAF in April 1918 too.

[IanMorewood]

The Avro 504 as a bomber/trainer had a long service life from early RFC to mid thirties. You could pair that with the Hawker Hind which would take you into a Spitfire. Then the Canbera leading you into a Hawk, Hawk into Typhoon......

[Mutley]

Eric Mc said:

Did you mean RE8s?

Yes i did,bloomin phone! Thanks for the catch Eric

[Dr Jekyll]

Eric Mc said:

What scale is he using?

There is most choice in 1/72 - slightly less in 1/48 and it starts getting difficult in other scales.

Good point, I think 1/72 because space for the finished products might be an issue for anything larger.