RAF turrets as separate large scale models

[Timothy Huff]

I've written to Airfix a couple of times over the years asking about the possibility of them creating a number of models of wartime RAF gun-turrets for the principle RAF 4 engined, and twin engined bombers. I've built a pair myself at 1:3.7 scale, for the front and rear turrets of a Mk 1C Wellington. Predominantly made of 3d-printed SLS Nylon, largely held together with M1 and M1.6 machine-screws, these FN5's (built by Frazer Nash) took about 6 years in all to draw and make.

I was wondering, if there was enthusiasm here for a range of turrets, I suggest in 1:3.7 scale, and 1:6 scale, whether Airfix would consider offering such a range of turret-models?

Finished FN5 turrets, front and rear - YouTube

new MKIII gunsight with working reticule - YouTube

moving rams - YouTube

[Pretty Mediocre Modeller]

Hi Timothy,

Unfortunately I don't think Airfix would be interested in producing turrets, but had a look at your work on YouTube and... WOW, that is some impressive scratchbuilding there. Now all you need to do is build the Wellington Model to go inbetween the two turrets!

[Timothy Huff]

Hi Timothy,

Unfortunately I don't think Airfix would be interested in producing turrets, but had a look at your work on YouTube and... WOW, that is some impressive scratchbuilding there. Now all you need to do is build the Wellington Model to go inbetween the two turrets!

 

 

Thanks. Out of curiosity, why do you think turret-kits would be not interesting to Airfix? The way I see it, it would create a whole new range of possible subjects, which could extend to cockpits and other crew-stations. There must be thousands upon thousands of modellers, or erstwhile modellers who'd like to model "grandad's" turret, cockpit nav-position as a reminder to their own kids.

 

 

Because the models were 3d printed, rather than injection-moulded, there'd be no significant tooling costs, and no need to carry large-stocks, as such kits could be printed more on an "as required" basis. Furthermore, especially at the larger scale of 1:3.7 there's ample scope for working interior lights and the gunsight, as well as electric and/or pneumatic elevation/traverse of the turrets, this would potentially allow Airfix to move into new territory (both in subject and means of kit production) with virtually no up-front costs, If I were them, I'd at least consider it carefully.

 

 

There is an additional possible market here, with radio-control modellers wanting to fit turrets to models, the quality of which currently is fairly poor. 1/6th or 1/10th scale would be optimal for that market.

 

 

The Wellington is currently stalled as the small internal fittings in the geodetics have proven exceedingly expensive to produce. Until I can solve that issue, the whole build method remains unviable, unfortunately.

[Pretty Mediocre Modeller]

Hi Timothy,

I'm not an employee of Airfix and have no insight into their business model, but I think they would probably be not interested as it is outside their usual business model (pardon the pun). They mainly produce scale models of complete aircraft in either 1/72, 1/48 or 1/24, with occasionally a venture into armour. I think they wouldn't go for your turrets as it's too far away from this, and would probably only appeal to a small market. Maybe a smaller or more specialist producer than Airfix would be interested? However I do stand to be corrected.

Again, your work here is amazing, and I do wish you success in your ventures.

[Timothy Huff]

Many thanks for replying. I was really asking you all whether, were a kit of distinct crewed area of an aircraft available to model at a much larger scale than Airfix do normally, if this is something you might want to build? My thinking is that Airfix have limited themselves to the typical scales, and whole aircraft, for 50 years or more, and that exploration of a new format/scale, especially when it requires next to no tooling costs, is worthwhile. So a wholly new type of kit, might be of some interest? It could be extended to the footplate of steam locomotives, to (moving) engines such as the Merlin, to crew position models on the B17/Lanc/Halifax etc. or the turret of HMS Hood and so forth. These are all subjects which could be addressed with 3d printed SLS nylon parts, screwed together with small machine-screws, with multiple moving parts. (SLS Nylon readily accepting threads cut with small taps in pin-vices. Plainly such a kit would require some extra tools, but the material is well-suited to moving parts with minimal end-play. I'd be reasonably confident that an engine with moving parts would be well within the scope of what's possible.

Prior to designing this FN5 turret, I'd not made a kit since boyhood over 40 years ago, and taught myself CAD, using an Airbrush, vac-forming and more besides during the course of the project, so it requires patience but little expertise to build and paint, and of course the average modeller would mot have to learn CAD or vac-forming.

[Ratch]

I'm not an Airfix employee either, but I cannot see the volume of sales required to make this viable. you are obviously passionate about this project Tim, but I have not yet seen anyone else who builds this type of thing. I prefer whole subjects myself.

[Timothy Huff]

I'm not an Airfix employee either, but I cannot see the volume of sales required to make this viable. you are obviously passionate about this project Tim, but I have not yet seen anyone else who builds this type of thing. I prefer whole subjects myself.

 

 

Hi,

 

 

I confess I'm a little surprised. It seems to me that there are practical limits, even with after-market PE parts, to how much detail can be incorporated into structures such as cockpits or turrets etc, or indeed seen through "perspex" canopies at the typical scales used to represent whole aircraft. By instead viewing the aircraft more from an interior point of view, and at a much larger scale, it becomes possible to model, in very great detail, portions of the aircraft in a wholly new way. That no other manufacturer is offering such models is I think, and with the greatest of respect to all involved, something of a missed-opportunity to create new and interesting takes on well loved subjects. It is, I know, something of a mental adjustment to see an aircraft - say a Lancaster - as a series of large scale model of individual crew positions, rather than the whole aircraft. But I think it's worth looking at, precisely because no other manufacturer has done this. The reason is I think obvious, the tooling costs of injection-moulded parts are considerable, and for uncertain sales, a risk most manufacturers will not wish to take. However, once 3d printed parts are used instead, then that financial objection is no longer valid.......

 

 

I'm delighted to be able to debate this with you chaps, I attach some stills of what's possible even by my fairly amateur standards.

 

 

PS apologies for the post of mine above, I'd tried replying and my pc locked-up somehow, didn't think the post had gone through successfully.

 

 

General view of interior without cupola fitted

 

 

 

 

Working collimating gunsight (4.5v, built in collaboration with Tim Noack)