The Canberra F.18

[Gondor]

Kitbasher, the P.2 is on Page 144 of Battle Flight by Chriss Gibson and published by HIKOKI publications https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Flight-Defence-Projects-Weapons/dp/1902109260/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19JPIS57EPEE5&keywords=Battle+Flight.+RAF+Air+Defence+Projects&qid=1657386128&s=books&sprefix=battle+flight.+raf+air+defence+projects%2Cstripbooks%2C48&sr=1-1

Anyway, back to the aircraft's designation. Going by what Colin writes in the paperwork that accompanies the conversion set, the kit airframe could be based on the fuselage of an Airfix B(I)8 with the wings of a PR.9. Others, OGL included have previously stated that the Matchbox PR.9 will do and that is why I am suing that as the basis of my build.
Further, Colin writes that the General Arrangement drawings for the P.12 were dated 5^th March in 1956 which ties in with the development of the PR.9 at roughly the same time.
The U.10/D.10 was being built from earlier aircraft by this time, the B(I)12 and T.13 were allocated if not built by then for New Zealand and the U.14/D.14 was being built as well. The B.15 and B.16 designations were also in use for the NEAF aircraft too and the T.17 was also allocated as a radar trainer!
Now we get to the TT.18 which I saw flying while I served in the RAF. The winch system it used was not cleared for use until 1970 so I could pre-empt the marke number and change the P.12 to an F.18 as even if it took a few years to get into service it would still make it by the mid sixtiesthus kicking the TT.18 a little bit further out number wise.
To get to this point I have used Wikipedia's entry on the EE Canberra and the Crowood Aviation Series book on the English Electric Canberra and Martin B-57 by Barry Jones as well as the write-up by Colin Strachen for his excellent Canberra P.12 conversion set.

Gondor

[kitbasher]

Thanks for the tip, Gondor, every day a school day!  I've seen and thumbed through the book but don't have (nor have read) a copy, you've certainly piqued my interest regarding the P.2.

Canberra mark number jiggery pokery for whif purposes can be difficult, but there were so many variants (a number of which were very similar) that it is possible to insert a 'new' mark without disrupting the rest of the Canberra timeline.  Did it myself with this: https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=50442.msg957614#msg957614, although it's much less of a P.12 than your build.

Looking forward to seeing your Canberra fighter come together.

[Freightdog862]

Its really good to see some of my items make this group build, look forward to seeing it progress.

Colin

[Gondor]

Its really good to see some of my items make this group build, look forward to seeing it progress.

Colin

A lot more would make the Group build if I had the time and build speed Colin.

Right then, regarding this build. I have finally decided that the Aircraft will be an F.18 for the reasons mentioned previously, it will belong to 60 Sqn and be stationed in the far east. I am thinking that 60 Squadron would be a composite Squadron with a flight of Lightning F.6 VG's and a flight of Canberra F.18's. This allows me to have My VG Lightning in the same pictures as the Canberra and also show off two of Colin's very nice conversion sets at the same time too.
Talking about conversion sets reminds me that I decided to upgrade some of the parts for the Airfix Canberra PR.9 I have in my stash, this means that the cockpit and undercarriage bays from the Airfix kit are now available for the Matchbox kit that is the basis of this build. If this was furniture they would call is upcycling, me I simply call it upgrading a very basic kit. 

Gondor

[Gondor]

Done something eventually. It does fit better than it looks in this picture too.



A bit of fettling to get the Airfix parts to fit and I have shortened the interior floor as it was way too long for this build. Some of the Matchbox kit has been ground away, mainly ridges inside the nose used for location of the kit's interior and not used or just getting in the way. Unfortunately the lip of pilots instrument combing came away when I was removing it from the sprue so I have to rebuild that. It's next on my list of things to do as I will need to trim away some more of the kit's fuselage to get that to fit. It's not wonderful but it is a vast improvement on what was supposed to go in there that came in the kit.

Gondor

[Gondor]

Managed to get the combing repaired.



It's not perfect but it will do well enough as this is 1/72 scale after all

Gondor

[PR19_Kit]

Good enough for Government work. 

[Gondor]

Good enough for Government work. 

Exactly

Gondor

[Gondor]

Would someone move this to Aircraft please, not going to be finished anythime soon. Thanks!

Gondor

[NARSES2]

Moved as per request

[Gondor]

Moved as per request

Thanks! 

Gondor