1/72 Airfix Boulton Paul Defiant

MkI converted to a MkII

by Polly Singh

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  India Republic Day 

 

The Indian Air Force received a handful of Defiant TT Mk III ac in mid 1944 to augment such motley types as the Tiger Moths, Lysanders and Wapitis at the Anti Aircraft School at Karachi and the No 22 AA Flight. The AA School had evolved out of the Anti Aircraft and Coastal Defence Wing of the school of artillery also at Karachi.  The Defiants served alongside Fairey Battles and Wapitis in the target towing roles.  Although pictures of that period indicate only the temperate scheme and ACSEA markings of blue and sky, I  have used the more striking yellow/black target tug markings typical on all ac so employed.

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I’ve seen very few attempts at modifying the MkI into the TT Mk III (the TT Mk III has now become available in 1/48 scale) and I now understand why.  The effort required requires a very strong motivation and will power to stay the course, but as I had decided to do all of the Indian Air Force’s 112 types that it has operated since 1932, in 1/72 scale, I had no choice..

So here it is, lots of plasti card, putty and acrylic sheet for the operators position plus some spare bits for the air driven winch and then some more putty for the under belly drogue and its housing.  The ac was hand painted in house hold enamels and decals are from the spares box.

Polly

Photos and text © by Polly Singh