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Next from FR.... Halifax

mike_cyul

mike_cyul

SOH-CM-2025
While I'm still in the mood to do four-engined aircraft , thought it might be interesting to do one that's off of the beaten track, so to speak. While the Avro Lancaster gets a lot of attention, perhaps because there are still two flying, the Handley Page Halifax seems to be often overlooked. With over 6,100 Halifax's built and an impressive WWII history (and post-war history as a cargo aircraft), I thought I'd try my hand at it. It's very early days for the project, and detail info is a little sparce, but as at least the external model is starting to look like a Halifax Mk.III. Here are a few WIP screenshots as things are now. When things are further along, some screenshots will go up on the Facebook page as well.

There's another reason I'd like to do the Halifax. Back when I was still flying real aircraft, the person in the hangar whose aircraft (a Tiger Moth) was in front of mine, was a former Halifax tail gunner. We all knew he'd been shot down, but he was not one to chat with anyone, and so the full story was always a mystery. Joe and his yellow and black Tiger Moth were a fixture at our airfield, however, much loved by all, and an excellent AME. Joe passed away in 2008, but recently for some reason he came to mind and I looked up his name on the web. Sergeant Joe H. was in Halifax EQ-B, an all RCAF crew, flying from Linton on Ouse on the night of March 7 1945 to bomb oil refineries in Hemmingstedt, Germany. His aircraft was shot down over Nordhastedt, after being hit by both flak and a Nightfighter. Four of the crew were killed, and Joe and two others made POW for the remaining months of the war. Quite the thing to carry with you. And so in some way doing the model feels like a small personal homage to Joe.

Black and white screenshots for now...lots left to do on the model. Have barely started on the VC, so no pics there yet.

One discovery has been that the Halifax had 32 bomb bay doors!


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Looking great even at this early stage Mike.

A Halifax will indeed please a lot of people!

Cheers

Paul
 
Great idea Mike. The Halifax and its derivatives the Halton have been sorely neglected. Leonard Cheshire VC spent a lot of time in Halifaxes. It being overlooked tells you that it was a dependable and sturdy aeroplane and served its country well during WW2. Look forward to progress on this one. SOLD.
 
A great choice Mike , something different , yet a historical RAF aircraft that deserves your attention to detail ! Mike :applause:
 
I’m reading The Other Battle just now on the bomber and nightfighter war over Europe. The Halifaxes and others had a hard time of it, so this is a great idea.
 
hairyspin said:
I think the Short Stirling was in service before either. Short as in short wingspan...
Click to expand...

I think your right, the halifax was pre lanc, however its payload was quite larger of the pair until the lanc arrived

I do recall seeing a doco where they used the stirling as a para deployment plane via a hatch in the rear
 
Interesting project and this model is one of the better versions, I always thought the early Halifaxs were a waste of four Merlins. :biggrin-new:
The original trio of heavies were an odd bunch, both the Stirling and Halifax hobbled with strange bomb bays, the Stirling with that ridiculous wing span restriction and the Manchester cursed with undeveloped engines.
Looking good so far Mike.
 
My Godfather got a DFC flying Stirlings in Bomber Command. I think they were lucky whatever heavy they flew just to survive.
 
Great to see this neglected aircraft getting some attention.
I think Friday the 13th at Elvington is the only example left and for many years the fuselage was used as a chicken shack, so I very much doubt it will ever fly again. So sad we let history slip away.


Ian
 
IanHenry said:
Great to see this neglected aircraft getting some attention.
I think Friday the 13th at Elvington is the only example left and for many years the fuselage was used as a chicken shack, so I very much doubt it will ever fly again. So sad we let history slip away.
Ian
Click to expand...

There's an unrestored one at the RAF Museum at Hendon, displayed as she was found.

There's also the one at the National Air Force Museum at Trenton, Canada :-

http://airforcemuseum.ca/en/special-exhibits/the-story-of-halifax-na337-2p-x-part-1-of-5

 
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