THE EMPIRES TWILIGHT

[noxioux]

This is one of the coolest threads of all time!

[thedarkmaster]

During 1962 Hawker siddley aviation submitted a proposal to the air staff of the RAF and the New Commonwealth for a new Transport capable of carrying 18 fully euipped troops or 11 stretcher cases

The new transport to be called the Mansfield was design to fly from dirt strips in hot conditions with the minimum of maintainance and back up, just right to help police theImperial possesions and to help with the new defence comitments of the New Commonwealth.

The RAF ordered 38 examples, the RAAF 16, RSAAF 24 and the RRAF 6, with the RNgAF operating second hand types later.

The aircraft was neither loved or hated by it's crews, it never won plaudits or accolades for it's service, it just soldiered on, much like the people of town it was named for, it turned up for work, got on with it, went home and didn't make a fuss.

Now mainly forgotten by all but the most dedicated of post 91 historians or enthusiasts, no examples exsist and none where believed to be flying during the 91 diasaster.

The aircraft modeled is from 344 sqd based at RNgaf base Port Harcourt during 1975, it wears a none standard RAAF cammo scheme, worn by 7 aircraft transfered to RAF service on the production line.

















The photo quality is poor as we are moving and the camera is somewhere in the temple of cardboard boxes we have built.

The kit is a Vacform monster i aquired in a e-bay purchase, it came san's engines, instructions, undercarrige and any idea what it was !

The paints are White ensign and the decals Freight Dog, engines came from spares but i believe they are Aeroclub and undercarrige is spares box.

I would like to thank all whom sent my wife and i kind words and thoughts and again thanks to all whom included us in their prayers after our resent loss...........thank you all,       Tim n Geri

[pyro-manic]

Very cool! You really don't see enough of the old Middle East Air Force type paint schemes, it must be said. Looks great.

Good luck with the move!

[Just call me Ray]

The kit is a Vacform monster i aquired in a e-bay purchase, it came san's engines, instructions, undercarrige and any idea what it was !

Hmmm...looks like a Scottish Aviation Twin-Pioneer - which would mean the only thing that would really qualify as "whiffy" would be the backstory and maybe the paint 

[thedarkmaster]

yeah thanks for that nice comment 

BUT, it is actually a Miles Marathon, without it's four engines and two new fitted and a fixed undercarrige oh yes and a modified tail . hope that clears it up for you



there she is

[kitbasher]

Looks a hell of a lot like a Twin Pin - a 'Miles Mansfield' could be a smaller version of the real life Marathon and competitor to the Twin Pioneer, perhaps? 

[Just call me Ray]

yeah thanks for that nice comment 

BUT, it is actually a Miles Marathon, without it's four engines and two new fitted and a fixed undercarrige oh yes and a modified tail . hope that clears it up for you



there she is

Oh, well ya fooled me 

[Mossie]

Me too.  I guess it's such a rare bird you managed to fool even us lot!

[ysi_maniac]

I DO love your stuff

[kitbasher]

Actually, it's not  amillion miles away from looking like a de Havilland Flamingo (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/De_havilland_DH95_Flamingo.jpg), either.   

[thedarkmaster]

The original work started two years ago was to make one of these, a Scherbakov Sche-2





but you know what it's like you lose interest and another idea forms in your mind, plus i needed an easy finish after whats happened recently

tim

[Just call me Ray]

Hmm, that thing looks like it could've evolved into the An-28 (yes yes I know, different lineage :p)

[lancer]

You've referenced a couple of times in the backstory about some terrible incident in 1991. What was it? You couldn't shed a bit of light on it for us enquiring minds could ya???

[thedarkmaster]

don't want to reveal too much as a couple of builds i have in mind lead up to it, but it involes India joining the New Commonwealth ( licensed built soviet aircraft in the RAF, oh the joy ), a disputed election and a 3 power cold war, as well as the iron will of the Princess Royal and Churchill's will.


Not much help i know,

[thedarkmaster]

The New Commonwealth looked to it's heros and royalty to set that image of self sacrifice and honour that it so wanted it's fighting forces to aspire to, and the three that spring most to mind are Winston churchill, Lord Mountbatten and the Princes Royal, all admired and reveared figures in the UK and other member states.

The Princes Royal was in late 1982 appointed by Her Majesty as Govenor General of Canada and served for a little over three years until 1986, she was a popular figure in Canada with her no nonsance approach and her refusal to be browbeaten by the United States on any issue what so ever. When she annonced that she must leave the position forthwith in 1986 it came as a shock to the Canadians but, in a spirit of generosity they allowed her to take with her her own personal mount of a De Haviland Canada Twin Otter .

This is the famous aircraft that the Princess Royal used to fly to Warsaw to deliver the secret wishes of winston Churchill's will to the Polish people, starting a train of events which i will cover in other posts.

The aircraft is portrayed as a craft of the Royal Squadron, was mainly painted by my son and makes me proud.














the photo quality is poor and harsh, but he likes them so what the hell