Beagle B.206 Basset - Designed to take on the world
Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.
For this second blog post of the weekend, we enter the world of Airfix Vintage Classic kits and the latest impending addition to this ever popular range. It is interesting to note that when we launched a Vintage Classics related blog poll within Workbench towards the end of 2021, asking for suggestions as to which models readers would like to see joining future ranges, the response was truly astonishing and highlighted the affection in which these classic kits are held amongst modellers.
As we prepare to welcome another Airfix kit classic to this range, we will not only be looking at the details behind this latest addition, but also at some of the wider issues facing the Airfix development team when assessing which kits are available for future inclusion in the range and what actions have to be taken before any kit can call itself a Vintage Classic. With more models added to the range since our 2021 blog feature, if you would like to make some suggestions about models you would like to see joining the range in the years to come, if you drop us a quick e-mail to workbench@airfix.com, we will make sure that all suggestions are brought to the attention of the Airfix team at a future meeting.
For now though, we hope you enjoy this second blog post of the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Britain's stylish V-Bomber transport
One of the main reasons why Airfix has such a special place in the hearts of millions of people is how the brand played such a significant role in the formative years of so many and how the range of model kits available truly had something for everyone. During those glory days, it seemed as if no subject was too obscure for the Airfix design team, with even prototype aircraft and those which only went on to be produced in small numbers making it into the Airfix kit range. And then there was the famous Airfix subject diversification, something which could quite easily see aircraft and tank models sharing display shelf space with a spacecraft or even an Anti-Pesto van.
Within the extensive back catalogue of Airfix kits, there will be individual models which people hold in particular affection for a variety reasons. Perhaps it was the first model kit they ever built or the first one they bought with their own money, or simply the one they wanted to get their hands on so much when they were young, but never managed to do until they were much older. Whatever the reason, this affection for classic Airfix kits goes some way to explaining why the Vintage Classics range has been welcomed with such positivity across the modelling world and why successive additions to the range are always greeted with genuine affection.
The latest impending addition to the range is a definite Airfix classic and a kit which is a scale representation of an unusual aircraft which had the potential to be a commercial aviation world-beater, but never really achieved its undoubted potential. It did, however, go on to have a relatively short Royal Air Force career, with roles which included test pilot training and V-Bomber transport aircraft - we are of course talking about the cultured and attractive Beagle B.206 Basset.
As an incredibly stylish and capable executive transport aircraft, the Beagle B.206 Basset should have been a huge international commercial success for its parent company, however, its potential as a light military communications type and the ever changing military requirements imposed on it would result in just 80 examples of this extremely attractive aircraft eventually being constructed, even though the project had a break even figure of around 250 aircraft produced. The Beagle Aircraft Company (British Executive & General Aviation Limited) was formed following the acquisition of two famous old British aviation companies – the Auster Aviation Company, of Rearsby, Leicestershire and F.G Miles Limited, of Shoreham Sussex, by a former director of the Bristol Aircraft Company. This new company had some exciting plans within the world of general aviation, which quickly resulted in the first flight of their new B.206 aircraft – a twin engined light executive and transport aircraft, which had a very sleek and attractive profile.
From the outset, the new aircraft was designed with flexibility in mind, as the manufacturers were obviously looking to attract as many sales orders as they could, be they from civilian or military suiters. The generous cabin area could accommodate versions ranging from military training aircraft to luxurious executive transport and with a design brief for a stable, but rugged aircraft which was easy to maintain and operate, the future certainly seemed bright for the new Beagle B.206.
A page from the reworked instruction sheet for this classic Airfix kit and our representation of an unusual RAF aircraft.
A significant development in the history of the Beagle B.206 would be the construction of two 'R' designated military variants of the aircraft, which were eventually supplied to the Ministry of Aviation at Boscombe Down for evaluation. In March 1963, a fly-off competition was held at RAF Northolt in order to find a replacement for the venerable Avro Anson in the military communications role for the Royal Air Force, with the competing aircraft being the twin engined de Havilland Devon and the Beagle B.206R. The 206 would emerge victorious from this contest and an order for twenty aircraft immediately followed – the RAF Beagle B.206R was re-designated Basset CC.Mk.1, with the first service aircraft reaching RAF communications squadrons in May 1965.
The aircraft was powered by two Rolls-Royce/Continental GIO-470 engines, which were six cylinder, horizontally opposed designs, which gave the aircraft a maximum speed of around 220mph and a range of 1,650 miles. It also benefitted from a particularly spacious cabin, which allowed the Basset to carry up to eight people in some style and comfort, however, military service also brought something which was detrimental to the aircraft's performance and that was additional weight. One of the interesting roles intended for the Basset in Royal Air Force service was the transportation of fully equipped V-Bomber crews to dispersal airfields around the country and even as far as Malta.
This specific requirement immediately highlighted some issues with the RAF's Bassets, which really struggled to adapt to this important task. The significant weight of a fully equipped V-Bomber crew and additional groundcrew-man was simply too much for the Basset and in this role, when the aircraft came in for a landing with a full passenger load, the weight would actually cause the undercarriage oleo struts depress so far that the tips of the propellers struck the runway. Obviously, this was potentially dangerous and needed to be rectified immediately, but the solution proved to be an unexpectedly primitive one - they simply cut off the outer sections of each propeller blade. Although reducing the potential for a ground strike and altering the appearance of these aircraft, the shortening of their propellers also resulted in a further loss of performance, something the Basset could ill afford in this military role.
Further compromising the effectiveness of the aircraft in its military role, an RAF V-Bomber crew carried so much kit and equipment, that many of these Basset crew positioning flights actually required the use of two aircraft, one to transport the crew and a second aircraft to carry their equipment! In the years following the service withdrawal of the Basset, some former RAF commentators cited the portly stature of V-bomber crews for the demise of the Basset CC.1, but you would be a brave man to suggest such a thing.
There is no doubting that the RAF Basset CC.1 was an extremely attractive looking communications and liaison aircraft, one which looked stunning when wearing its various military colour schemes and although many former aircrew would describe the Basset as a delightful air taxi, you don’t have to look too far to find some less than complimentary recollections regarding Basset operations. The more pragmatic commentators describe the Basset as something of a typically British aircraft design project of the era, overbuilt, overthought, heavy and rather expensive to operate. It was certainly finished with an extremely robust undercarriage and a useful, but heavy and expensive air-stair arrangement, which made crew and passenger access an absolute pleasure, but when added to the weight of avionics and additional equipment for RAF service, the military version of the Basset was just too heavy an aeroplane.
Some slightly more honest descriptions pin the blame of the aircraft's relatively short service life squarely on the British military procurement system and their ever changing specifications and requirements. Taking an existing civilian aircraft design from a fledgling company and modifying it far beyond the manufacturers expertise, how could they then expect the resultant aircraft to be a success in Royal Air Force service? They also describe how the Basset was cramped and noisy in operation, suffered from excessive vibration and was rarely serviceable. The motto of RAF No.207 squadron (who operated the type) is ‘Semper paratus’, which translates as ‘Always prepared’, but unfortunately, this was often something that many of the squadrons Basset CC.1s were not!
In RAF service, the Beagle Basset CC.1 eventually served with No’s 207, 32 and 26 squadrons and despite the aircraft being less than ideal in the communications and liaison role, it certainly completed its service with some style. Most people would describe the Basset as being something of a looker and when one made an appearance in an Airshow static display, it was always well photographed by enthusiasts wooed by its stunning good looks. It was also a very different aeroplane when transporting a small number of people between RAF bases, or just performing duties as a squadron hack, where it was a delight to fly. A particularly enjoyable tasking for No.207 Squadron crews was when they were charged with providing navigational support for the fighters of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, as they performed at Airshows up and down the country. The Basset would have made for an effective camera ship for those tasked to perform such support flights.
Scheme details for the Beagle Basset 206/CC.1 kit, which will allow one of three different RAF aircraft to be modelled.
Most of the RAF Basset CC.1s had been retired by May 1974 and had been flown to maintenance units to await sale to new civilian owners. Two aircraft were destined to have an extended lease of service life, as they were to be used in various flight-testing programmes within the UK. Basset XS765 was operated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down, until it too was retired in 2004, remaining at Boscombe to be used as a ground instruction and spares machine.
Even more impressive than this, Basset CC.2 XS743 only made its final flight at the end of 2014 and was operated by the famous Empire Test Pilot School, also based at Boscombe Down airfield. In the early 1970’s, XS743 underwent modification by the Institute of Technology at Cranfield, where it was equipped to perform advanced variable flight stability training operations. These complex modifications allowed ETPS pilots and flight engineers to simulate various sizes and configurations of flight control surfaces, such as ailerons, elevators and differing wing dihedral and the in-flight effects of these configurations. This aircraft turned out to be a real aviation workhorse and provided essential training for ETPS students over many years and wearing the distinctive colour scheme of the Empire Test Pilots School, was also arguably the most attractive of the 80 Beagle Bassets produced.
The kit joining the Vintage Classics ranks includes decal and serial numbers to represent one of three Royal Air Force Basset CC.1 aircraft, including XS766, which was the second aircraft produced for the RAF. Making its first flight in February 1965, it was delivered to the RAF the following June and is known to have served with the Northern Communications Squadron at RAF Topcliffe and No.26 Squadron at Wyton. She was photographed at Duxford in 1975 still wearing her RAF markings, but would later be sold to a civilian owner, eventually operating in both Brazil and the US. The other two serials are for aircraft which made up the 20 strong RAF Basset fleet and a quick web search will throw up images of the aircraft during their service careers, particularly at Airshow events the length and breadth of the country.
Basset - Becoming a Vintage Classic
As far as the Vintage Classics range is concerned, the impressive history of the Airfix brand can actually preclude a particular model from taking its place in the range, simply down to the length of time the tooling has been in existence and its whereabouts during that time. With some of the classic Airfix kit toolings being produced during the 1960s and 70s, not only have they been used for production runs several times since then, they have also endured long periods of inactivity, stored at various locations around the world. With the fluctuating nature of business, ownership changes and production factories going out of business, it was sometimes the case that tooling moulds had to be moved to new locations at times and often several times in the case of some models, where it was easy to misplace sections of a kit tooling during the process.
From the perspective of the current development team, they actually face quite a challenge when deciding whether a classic kit tooling is suitable for inclusion in the Vintage Classics range or not, something which actually involves quite a bit of detective work. If they manage to confirm the location of the tooling moulds, they then have to see if all the parts are there, if any have suffered damage and if so, how difficult it will be to rectify. In the majority of cases, the main part of the tooling, which is known as a Bolster, is relatively easy to locate, however, these kits also include much smaller mould inserts for components such as the clear parts, which can be the problem. These metal tooling inserts can often be as small as the box your mobile phone came in and over time, have been the most likely parts of a model tooling to either go missing or suffer significant damage.
Ordinarily, the cost of repairing or actually re-tooling these lost tool parts would be both financially prohibitive and technically challenging, therefore eliminating that particular model kit from future inclusion in the range, but thankfully, the Airfix team are a resourceful bunch and they were determined to rise to this challenge - these potentially lost classic kits would have their day one again. Using modern techniques and design skills, they have already reverse engineered the mossing parts from several classic Airfix kit moulds and enabled these kits to take their place in our popular Vintage classics range, a list of kits which now also includes the soon to be released Beagle Bassett 206.
Thanks to Matt, we are able to share this fascinating selection of design images from the Basset project. The first two show scan data of the original kit components, which allowed Matt to start his work.
The next two show the start of the reverse engineering process and elements which were essential to allow Matt to design the new parts to fit. We are used to seeing these images associated with new tooling projects, but it is interesting to see how Matt uses the same process to make new parts for an existing, historic tooling.
The final two images show the culmination of his work, how the new parts fit onto the original fuselage and how the newly designed clear part frame will look, including the addition of individual part numbers.
Once again speaking with our Design Manager Matthew Whiting, he told us that when considering adding the Basset to the range, they discovered that the clear part insert mould was missing and despite everyone's best efforts, it was simply nowhere to be found. The team had already reverse engineered missing clear parts for both the Bristol Bulldog and Henschel Hs.123 which were subsequently added to the Vintage Classics range, however, if the Basset was to join them, they would be facing a much greater challenge.
Matt told us that the first step in this process was to get hold of an Airfix Basset kit and build the fuselage to where it was ready to receive the clear parts. Next, the kit and its original clear parts were scanned at high resolution using a tabletop scanner, something which resembles a 3D printer and a machine which is used extensively in the jewellery industry. Once Matt had the files in a format he could use, he imported the information into his CAD program and re-designed the surfaces of the kit, basically re-engineering the original.
During this process, it became clear to Matt that as the tooling had already been used to produce tens of thousands of model kits over the years, there had been a little loosening withing the tool, however, the beauty of this process was that he was actually able to design the new parts to fit the model, rather than simply make a direct copy of the originals. What he actually made was a representation of the original part, but one which would be a better fit in the original kit tooling, using today's CAD advances to make it fit better than had he simply reverse engineered the original part - very clever and absolutely fascinating for us modellers to learn.
Once he was happy with the new design files, he was able to produce the new parts using our in-house 3D printer and test them for fit accuracy, making slight design adjustments where necessary and well before committing the tooling insert for production. In fact, this process proved to be so successful that several aspects of the Basset's clear part design were improved to give the kit more refined detail and a more pleasing appearance. The part frame structure did stay true to the original, however, in addition to redesigning the clear parts, Matt also added the part numbers to the frame, as these were actually missing on the original tooling, even though the individual part numbers were shown on the instruction sheet.
Using the company 3D printer, Matt used his new design files to produce rapid prototype parts. These parts could be married with the existing kit components to check fit accuracy and modified if required.
Test fitting of the parts, to ensure Matt's new designs fitted the original Basset kit fuselage effectively, making slight alterations wherever necessary.
Worthwhile effort. Matt's work has allowed the handsome Beagle Basset 206 kit to take its place in the growing Vintage Classics range.
This is quite an interesting development for the Vintage Classics range and highlights how modern technology can help to breathe new life into classic Airfix kits, using the creative skills of our design team to overcome the issue of missing tooling inserts, producing new designs to supplement the originals. Importantly, it brings the exciting prospect of allowing more classic Airfix kits to take their place in forthcoming kit ranges, something which can only enhance the appeal of this incredibly popular range. Which classic Airfix kit would you like to see in production once more?
For his help with both of the blog posts this week, we would like to thank our Design Manager Matthew Whiting for talking us through both projects and for supplying us with a fascinating selection of supporting images to share with our readers.
That’s all we have for you in this particular edition, but we will be back with more project updates for you next week. As always, we are interested to hear your views on all things Airfix and particularly in relation to our Workbench blog, so if you ever feel like dropping us a quick line, please use our workbench@airfix.com contact e-mail address.
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