Boulton Paul Defiant
TT.Mk.I / III Target Tug

Classic Airframes, 1/48

Reviewed by Brett Green

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale Defiant TT Mk.I and III kit is available online from Squadron 

Classic Airframes released their newly-tooled 1/48 scale Defiant Mk.I/II Day Fighter and Night Fighter kits almost exactly two years ago. At the time, a Target Tug was also announced. Proving that all good things come to those that wait, the TT.Mk.I / III kit is now available.

I was surprised to see just how many new and different parts are included in this kit. It certainly makes for an unusual variation on the Defiant theme.

Classic Airframes Defiant TT.Mk.I/III kit comprises 65 parts in grey styrene, 23 parts in grey colored resin, 2 clear injection moulded parts. The plastic parts feature the same shiny finish as the first two Defiants in the series, as well as crisply recessed panel lines. The fuselage halves are completely new. This variant was not fitted with the adjustable rear deck or the turret, so you will not have to deal with the complications associated with that aspect of construction with the earlier kits. Instead, there is a well-detailed compartment for the target tow operator.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Moulding quailty is generally very good, but there are noticeably sink marks on either side of the base of the rudder.

Clear parts are bit thick, but are quite clear. I have found that Classic Airframes' canopies usually respond well to a batch on Future floor polish before painting too.

Resin parts are just gorgeous, focusing on the front and rear cockpits, wheel wells and target towing equipment.. Some of the casting blocks are substantial, so a razor saw or Dremel will be helpful for preparing these parts.

The seats are cast without harnesses, so you will have to source your own.

An interesting inclusion is a giant resin Vokes tropical filter for the Fleet Air Arm option. This big resin part replaces the bottom of the engine cowling, which has to be cut off. Some experience will be helpful if you decide to take up this option.

Three widely varied marking options are supplied.

• RAF Defiant TT Mk.I of 26 AACU in Egypt, 1945, in broad black and yellow stripes overall

• USAAF Defiant TT Mk.I of the 8th AF based at Bovington in 1943 finished in black and yellow striped undersides with RAF Dark Earth and Dark Green fuselage sides and upper surfaces, and

• Defiant TT Mk.III, 733 NAS, Royal Navy in 1945 with black and yellow striped undersides and silver painted fuselage sides and upper surfaces. This aircraft features small blue and white SEAC markings.

Decals are supplied on two sheets. They are thin, in perfect register and the colours look good.

You have to give Classic Airframes credit for releasing some intriguing subjects that nobody else would even consider. The creation of a Target Tug Defiant is no minor tweak compared to the fighter variant. The all-new fuselage and the resin parts would represent a serious investment. Who knows, perhaps there is a gigantic unseen community of Target Tug fanatics who have been clamouring for this kit for years.

Even if there is not, for the rest of us this is a very interesting variant on the Defiant theme, bristling with propellers, towing equipment and bulging drogue fairing, decked out with a very complete interior and finished in wild colours. This model will certainly draw comments and questions on model club and competition tables.

As with any Classic Airframes kit, keep in mind that you will need to spend more time planning construction, preparing parts (especially the resin) and test-fitting everything before committing to glue. Experienced modellers who heed this advice should enjoy the experience.

Phil Hale has already built one of these kits and shared his impressions and images here on HyperScale. You can follow this link to see Phil's article.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Classic Airframes for the review sample.

• Boulton Paul Defiant, Warpaint Series No. 42, by Alan Hall.

• The Boulton-Paul Defiant, by Richard J. Caruana, Scale Aviation Modeller International, April 2003.

• Boulton Paul Defiant – Aircraft in Detail, by Alan Hall, Scale Aircraft Modelling, August 1996.

• Aircraft Archive, Volume I – Fighters of World War Two, Argus Books Limited (OOP)

• http://fly.to/Polishsquadrons

Classic Airframes kits are available worldwide through hobby retailers and from Squadron.com

Review and Images Copyright © 2006 by Brett Green
Page Created 20 October, 2006
Last updated 21 February, 2007

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