Building MPM’s 1/72 Scale
Boulton-Paul Defiant Mk.I

by Glen Porter

images by Brett Green

MPM's 1/72 scale Defiant Mk.I is available online from Squadron.com

This is MPM's 1/72 scale Boulton-Paul Defiant Mk.I.

The MPM kit was released around the same time as the Pavla offering. Glen bought both models but feels that the MPM kit is clearly the better of the two, despite the fact that the Pavla kit includes resin interior details.

MPM's kit comprises injection-moulded plastic parts with crisply engraved panel lines. The canopy and turret are supplied in clear injection moulded styrene.

Glen added structural details on the interior of the aircraft between the turret and the cockpit. In the end, most of this detail was hidden.

An Eduard "Color Etch" pre-painted photo-etched harness was added to the pilot's seat, and some additional details were scratchbuilt and secured to the cockpit sidewalls.

The windscreen and sliding section of the canopy are moulded as a single part. Glen sliced these apart and replaced the sliding section with the vacuum formed canopy included in the Pavla kit.

Additional details included:

• The radiator flap was cut off and repositioned "open"
• Struts on the main undercarriage legs were replaced with plastic rod
• Aerial wires were added from monofilament (invisible mending thread)

Paint

Camouflage colours were sourced from the Testor Model Master enamel range. These comprised Dark Earth, Dark Green and Sky. The paint was sprayed straight from the bottle through Glen's Aztek A470 airbrush.

The model was prepared for decals with a coat of acrylic gloss.

Markings

MPM's kit decals were used. These performed flawlessly on the glossy paint finish. The stencil markings supplied were also terrific. The only criticism was that the red in the fin flash looked a little bright.

Please note that the camera has highlighted the red in the photos. The real colour is somewhat duller (and therefore more accurate) than it appears on this page.

Weathering and Finishing

Weathering was kept relatively light. The main weathering treatment was selective "chipping" of the camouflage colours. This was achieved with Tamiya Light Sea Grey applied with the tip of a very fine brush in the appropriate areas.

The finished model was finally sprayed with a coat of Testor's Dullcoat to flatten the colours and blend in the markings.

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Model and Text by Glen Porter
Images Copyright © 2003 by Brett Green  
Page Created 07 December, 2003
Last Updated 17 March, 2004

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