- 1. Handley Page Halifax Mk.I/II. Suggested kit: Matchbox Halifax
B I/II
The
kit nose pieces (parts 2+3, 8+9) are 2.5 mm too long. Cut 2.5 mm from the
rear of the nose pieces as shown shaded in the drawing, then fit them to the
fuselage. In order to fit the Clear-Vax pilot's canopy, cut the kit fuselage
away at the lines marked X, Y and Z. Backfill the inside of the shaded area
on the starboard side with modelling putty; then after fitting the canopy,
sand this area to match the corrected section of the canopy. The small window
marked A should be repositioned as shown. The kit floor and instrument panel
will need to be altered to match the shortened nose. If you are building the
version with a nose turret, note that we have supplied both the front and
rear of the turret, and the rear piece has been widened to suit the nose section.
Thin down the insides of the nose piece for a neat fit. If you are fitting
the later nose cap, no modifications are necessary. Both the Boulton Paul
"A" four-gun turret and the "C" two-gun turret are supplied.
For the "A" version, cut the top section from the kit turret and
replace it with the Clear-Vax item. The "C" version simply sits
on the lugs inside the fuselage. The rear turret directly replaces the kit
items.
- 2. Handley Page Halifax Mk.III. Suggested kits: Airfix Halifax
B III.
In order to fit the main canopy, cut the kit fuselage away at the lines marked
X, Y and Z. Note that the line Z is 2 mm in front of the windscreen, and that
line Y on the starboard side follows the kit panel line and not the
sill line. The remaining canopies fit as on the B.II version.
Suggested references: Aerodata International No.7 (very good 1/72 plans
of Merlin engined variants); Squadron/Signal In action No.66; 'Halifax Second
to None' (Airlife).
- 3. De Havilland Mosquito B XIV, PR XVI. Suggested kit: Matchbox
B IX.
The Clear-Vax canopies directly replace the kit parts. Use the small nose
windows from the kit. Some modification to the basic kit is required, depending
on the version to be modelled.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal In Action No.127.
- 4. Gloster Gladiator. Suggested kit: Heller Gladiator.
The drawing shows the canopy in the open position. The pilot's sliding section
is designed to overlap the fixed rear piece.
Suggested references: Profile 98; Scale Aircraft Modelling, May 1981;
Scale Models, Jan. 1981.
- 5. Short Stirling. Suggested kit: Airfix Stirling I/III.
The Clear-Vax nose turret, bomb aimer's window and pilot's canopy directly
replace the kit items. For better accuracy and fit of the nose turret, fill
in the shaded areas on the fuselage with modelling putty. The mid-upper turrets,
tail turret, astrodome and wing landing-light cover fit in the same way as
the kit items.
Suggested references: Squadron/Signal In Action No.96; Scale Aircraft
Modelling, Aug. 1987.
