Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk.I and Mk.III by Phil Hale (Classic Airframes 1/48)

Classic Airframes new 1/48 scale
Defiant TT Mk.I/TT Mk.III

by Phil Hale

Bolton Paul Defiant TT Mk I/TT Mk III

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

Construction

Classic Airframes’ new 1/48 scale B P Defiant TT Mk I/TT Mk III (kit no. 482) is based on the newly-tooled Defiant Mk I and Mk II released during 2005. You are given a new fuselage and canopy parts plus resin parts to make the target tug version.

The drogue box fairing is molded as part of the new rear fuselage section. My references showed the Mk I version flown by the USAAF did not have the drogue fairing. Since I had picked the US version, I had the cut and sand the fairing off the underside. Then I had to fill in the opening with plastic and super glue. This was the hardest part of the build.

Nor did the US version have the wind mill generator on the starboard side. I left this off but I could not determine if the generator fairing was there on the real thing. I left the generator fairing alone.

The kit went together well and with little filler other than the drogue fairing. I left off the underside radiator until I painted the black and yellow stripes. This made it easier to mask.

Painting and Markings

The decals went on well but there was no upper wing roundel for the right wing upper surface. The USAAF version had RAF roundels on the right upper surface and the left underside on the wings. I found one that was just about the right size from the decal box.

The Defiant is a neat looking plane and this color scheme really makes it stand out. There are two other striking schemes in the box. One is a a Royal Navy machine with silver upper surfaces and black and yellow under sides. The other scheme is over all black and yellow.

If you are looking for something different and striking, then you should pick up one of these kits.

Thanks to Classic Airframes for the sample