BAe Cambridge T.1

[K5054NZ]

British Aerospace "Cambridge" T.1

In the early 1990s the Royal Air Force realised they needed a new primary trainer to replace the capable but aging de Havilland Canada Chipmunk. British Aerospace steeped up to the plate with their P.1492. This was a design featuring a turboprop powerplant, large "glasshouse" canopy giving superior visibility, and a very manuevrable airframe.

The prototype P.1492 took to the air on a grey May day in 1992 (as seen in the accompanying photography), piloted by Flg Off Thomas Johnson, graduate of the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down. The aircraft performed well, fulfilling all expectations. The RAF signed a contract ordering 250 on the spot. They were assigned the name "Cambridge", appropriate as the Cambridge University Air Squadron was later to receive 30 of the type.



The final aircraft was delivered in 1994, and to date several have also been sold to countries as far afield as New Holland and also, just last year, New Ontario.



The prototype Cambridge is preserved at RAF St Athan, awaiting installation in the Imperial War Museum's AirSpace exhibition. Through a curious series of events and bureacratic bungling, she originally flew with the serial XR219, coincidentally assigned to the prototype of the TSR.2 strike aircraft (which had entered RAF service in 1984). This was rectified after her tenth flight, when it was changed to XX219.



Today, however, she once again wears the serial XR219. This will undoubtedly be rectified upon completion of AirSpace, as the TSR.2 XR219 will be on display mere feet from the Cambridge. - History courtesy Aeroplane magazine

Airfix produced a kitset model of the Cambridge T.1, with decals for XR/X219 and a CUAS machine, but when I purchased mine the roundels, finflash and fuselage serials had been removed. Unable to scrounge suitable replacements from my decal box, I simply hand-painted them. I hope you like it - she was made when I was ten!

I make no apologies for the shaky paintjob, glue-encrusted canopy and broken tailwheel - I was a pre-teen for God's sake!  So here she is in all her rushed glory!

[The Rat]

And a fine early effort it is too! Ever think of a wee 'refurbishment'?    

[Ollie]

Wicked little thing Zac!

 

[Brian da Basher]

Zac that beats the pants off most of my early efforts! Mine were so abysmal I think I ended out demolishing them with firecrackers! I see signs of your future greatness in this one.

Brian da Basher

[lancer]

Very nice job Zac.

Mine were so abysmal I think I ended out demolishing them with firecrackers!

Mine normally ended up on the firing range being plinked at with my air rifle.  

[anthonyp]

Nice job there, Zac!

   

[Martin H]

are your mad? giving the UAS idiots something with turboprop power....they were bad enought with the bulldog LOL.

[B777LR]

Brillllllllliaaaaaaaaant!

[K5054NZ]

Brillllllllliaaaaaaaaant!

  Cheers!


Thanks for the praise guys.



Um, I have something to confess - I only finished the Cambridge yesterday, not 9 years ago. I wanted to finish a model as a quickie, actually, I just wanted to finish a model! Hence the gaps, glue smears, bad paintjob etc etc.


Base kit: FROG/Novo 1:72 Miles Magister.
Donor kits: 1:72 Airfix Chipmunk, Monogram 1:48 P-39, Airfix 1:72 TSR.2
Build time: two weekends, spending about an hour on her each day. Sigh.........

[B777LR]

Donor kits: Airfix 1:72 TSR.2

Huh? I dont see any parts from the TSR 2 there!

[K5054NZ]

You can't see 'em, but the underwing serials XR219 are from the Airfix kit. I'll upload a pic tonight.

[Captain Canada]

Looking good, Zacman !

Neat to see somat so far from the usual fighters and bombers we seem to build.

Cool !

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

Good little plane, Zac...
That's funny, when I saw it, I immediately thought about those 70's training birds, you know??