Hawker Typhoon – the British fighter

The “Typhoon” aircraft was built in 1938 by the “Hawker” company. It is equipped with a powerful engine, designed by the “Napier” company. After state tests, the aircraft entered operational service in 1941. The first series of “Typhon” Mk. IA was armed with 12 .303-inch “Browning” machine guns and had a so-called "car door" type cockpit canopy with side doors, that opened like car doors. The “Typhoon’”s was to become formidable opponents of the new German Focke Wulf FW-190 fighters, but in the first clashes with them, the “Typhoon” suffered heavy losses, which were caused by inexperienced pilots and fundamental errors in the aircraft's design. The incorrect construction of the rear fuselage part often caused the tail section of the aircraft to break off, when flying at high speeds. This was the reason alone for 135 crashes. Critical engine defects were also quite common. After eliminating these shortcomings, production of the “Typhoon” Mr. IB version began. The rear part was reinforced with hexagonal plates, visible from the outside, the cockpit canopy was also replaced and the aircraft was armed with 4 x 20 mm “Hispano” cannons. But even this version of the aircraft was effective against its competitors only at low altitudes, so it was mostly used for strike missions, destroying enemy communications and military facilities in occupied France. The armament was increased by 2 x 500–1000 lb bombs, suspended on special racks under the wing. Additional fuel tanks could also be hung on these racks. But the most successful was the version with unguided rockets, suspended on special mountings, and such aircraft became a real terror for German units in 1944 in the battles in Normandy and throughout the Western Front. By the end of 1944, 3330 “Typhoon’”s had been produced, of which 3076 were IB versions.

A medium-complexity, well-designed and excellently detailed model for modelers of any experience. From the publication You can make a model of an aircraft of the British RAF 198 Division, which fought in Normandy in August 1944, with a full cockpit, fairly excellent landing gear detailing, and eight unguided missiles, suspended under the wing. For advanced beginners and modelers with little experience, we advise assembling this model under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, making a simplified (without cockpit interior, with an opaque cockpit canopy, retracted landing gear) model in the flight phase, and this should not be one of the first more complex models. Antiquarian publication.