Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ⅰb

The photos represent a plastic model of the Hawker Typhoon Mk. Ⅰb fighter-bomber made in 1:24 scale from the Airfix kit. Pictures were taken at the 9th Competition of Cardboard and Plastic Models in Świdnik, Poland in April 2015.

The Hawker Typhoon was built in Great Britain as a fighter plane. During operation, it turned out that it has a poor climb and the aircraft performance drops significantly with increasing altitude. However, at low altitudes it performed very well and was suitable for attacks on ground targets. For this reason, it was equipped with hooks for bombs and unguided rockets. With such additional armament, it was being used as an attack aircraft.

It was the first British aircraft to reach a speed of 600 km/h (373 mph). Mass production ran from May 1941 to November 1945. The fighter was produced in various versions. A total of 3,330 copies left the factories.

The Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ⅰb version, the model of which is presented in the photos, was equipped with four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons. Another version of the aircraft, designated Mk.ⅠA, was armed with twelve 7.69 mm (0.3 in) machine guns. However, a small number of these machines were produced, only 105 pieces.

Over time, the plane was being modernized. The photos show a model of a later version of the aircraft. It has a four-blade propeller and a distinctive drop-shaped cab cover that slides back. The plane cockpit has no door. Earlier machines had a three-blade propeller and the cabins had side doors and a hinged top cover.

The plane was powered by a 24-cylinder H engine. Such an engine is compact but difficult to service and has been rarely used in aviation. During the production period, the aircraft was equipped with engines of different power: 1625.6 kW (2180 metric HP), 1640.5 kW (2200 HP) and 1685 kW (2260 HP).

Some technical data for the Mk.ⅠB version from the beginning of production, with an engine power of 2,180 HP

• Wingspan: 12.67 m (41.57 ft),
• Length: 9.73 m (31.92 ft),
• Height: 4.52 m (14.83 ft),
• Empty weight: 3992 kg (8800 lb),
• Takeoff weight: 6010 kg (13,250 ft),
• Max speed at 5485 m (17,995 ft): 652 km/h (405 mph),
• Time of climb at 4570 m (14,993 ft): 5 min 55 s,
• Range (empty): 982 km (610 mi),
• Range with bombs (910 kg - 2000 lb): 821 km (510 mi),
• Service ceiling: 10670 m (35,000 ft).

Armament:

• four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons (140 rounds for each cannons),
• 2 bombs 454 kg (1000 lb) each or 8 rockets 27 kg (59.5 lb) each or an additional 205 l (USA - 54 gal, UK - 45 gal) fuel tank.

Another model Typhoon aircraft in the Gallery

Sources:

• Książka: Wojskowe samoloty śmigłowe. Od 1914 do dnia dzisiejszego. Autor: David Donald. Dom wydawniczy Bellona - 1999,
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Typhoon
• http://www.samolotypolskie.pl/samoloty/1201/126/Hawker-Typhoon
• http://calypteaviation.com/2012/06/silniki-historia-i-budowa-cz1-silniki/

03 Sept 2017