Historic Hawk heading for Airfix Club members

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.

In this latest festive edition of our weekly Workbench blog, we will be taking a look at the incredible success of the current Airfix Club and why so many people appear to be joining us at the present time. Bringing readers yet another exclusive, we will be featuring the Club kit offering we are producing for new joiners and renewals in 2022, taking a look at the many reasons why this dual kit release is a scale representation of one of the most significant individual aircraft in the history of British aviation and how it was presented at opposite ends of its impressive flying career. As you would expect, our review comes complete with an appealing selection of exclusive imagery, as we continue to spread the festive modelling good cheer, Airfix Club style.

Before we make a start, could we just take a moment to remind everyone who has yet to sample the delights of the 2021 Airfix Advent Calendar, you are missing out on all the festive fun. Taking its annual place on the Airfix Website, our advent calendar is packed with 24 days of competitions, development updates, exclusive 2022 range teasers and gift ideas, all with a magical sprinkling of Airfix modelling magic. With a new door to open each day, if you do not receive your invitation e-mail any day leading up to Christmas Eve, simply head for the main Airfix website and take a peek behind the latest door and all previous doors you may have missed, making sure to get your entry in for all available competitions. As this latest blog is published, there are already 10 open doors awaiting your inspection and there will be no let-up in the Advent pace from here - let the festivities begin, in true Airfix fashion.

Exclusive kits for club members

Members of the Airfix Club have access to an exclusive club model release, one which features fascinatingly unusual schemes which are of real interest to modellers everywhere.

Over the years, the Airfix Club has been something of a modelling phenomenon. A place were both regular and casual modellers alike can get just that little bit closer to the wonderful world of Airfix, enjoying a range of benefits which help them to not only get a little bit more out of their hobby, but also to feel part of a wider Airfix modelling community which has been enjoying a real renaissance over recent years. The current club offering has been disrupted somewhat by the problems the world has been dealing with over the past couple of years, however, the Airfix team were determined that our club members would not be disadvantaged and they have worked hard to ensure they continue to receive great value for their fantastic support. They must have been doing something right, because we have seen a huge surge in membership applications over recent months and we have ambitious plans to further enhance member benefits, as we head towards the New Year and beyond.

As part of the current Airfix Club package, members have not only enjoyed all the many benefits they have come to expect for their support, but have also had the opportunity to register for Members only experiences, taken part in competitions offering a great range of prizes, been given access to exclusive Airfix products and been offered handsome additional discounts linked to purchases from the Airfix website, because at the end of the day, our kits are still the main reason why most people maintain their memberships. The Airfix Club offers its members a selection of valuable benefits which can’t be obtained elsewhere and we are always looking at how we can enhance the Club proposition at every opportunity.

One of the most attractive benefits of Airfix Club membership is having access to the Exclusive Airfix Club kit, the subject choice of which is often slightly unusual and therefore may not have made it into the main range, even though it has real interest value for the modelling community. Significantly, these kits are only available to club members, just another reason why Airfix Club membership is proving so popular once more. The current Limited Edition club kit for members is a Nakajima B5N2 ‘Kate’ in 1/72nd scale, an offering which includes no fewer than four decal options, two of which are exclusive to club members and mark a fascinating period from the end of the Second World War.

Following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, the vast expanses of the Pacific region posed significant problems for Allied forces keen to enforce the transition to peace, without suffering further unnecessary loss of life. In order to signify their intention of surrender, all former Japanese military aircraft were instructed to be painted white, with the once feared ‘Rising Sun’ Hinomaru insignia needing to be completely overpainted and replaced by green crosses. This marking was chosen because it was felt that it could not be mis-identified for any other air force’s national insignia in the Pacific Theatre and even though escorting Allied aircraft would still be armed and vigilant, it was hoped these measures would allow the surrender process to proceed without delay. Performing the essential task of bringing an end to the fighting, these aircraft were quickly referred to as the ‘Green Cross Flight’, aircraft which proved to be quite active during the period immediately following Japan’s surrender.

A truly fascinating story from the end of the Second World War, this unusual presentation of a Japanese Nakajima B5N2 ‘Kate’ has been a real hit with Airfix Club members, but what can we look forward to next?

It is thought that the Kate depicted as one of the current Club model scheme options was one of the last remaining airworthy Japanese aircraft following their surrender in mid-August 1945. When the former Japanese airfield at Rabul was occupied by Australian troops, they found this complete B5N2 (wearing tail number 302), along with a collection of other Japanese types and their crews awaiting their arrival, with Allied surrender instructions clearly having been followed. There are some fascinating accounts of how four RNZAF No.16 Squadron F4U Corsairs escorted the Kate from Vunakanau airfield the relatively short distance to Jacquinot Bay in New Britain, on 14th October 1945. 

The lead Allied escort pilot reported that he immediately thought the Kate was heading in the wrong direction and had to fly alongside the aircraft, giving hand signals to indicate the correct direction of flight. At this point, he did admit to having doubts as the whether the Japanese pilot’s intentions might be hostile. The situation quickly became less tense as the other three escorting Corsairs began weaving low overhead the pair, so low in fact that the Japanese pilot appeared to sink in his seat and was noted to have been visibly shaking with fear – the lead pilot decided to allow him the benefit of the doubt. All five aircraft arrived safely at Jacquinot Bay, where the Kate would spend the next several decades simply rusting away where she sat. In the 1980s, the remaining hulk was dismantled and removed to where it could be displayed, but this period also resulted in the significant scavenging of parts by local souvenir hunters.

BAe Hawk royalty for Club members in 2022

British Aerospace Hawk T.1 XX154 has to be regarded as one of the most significant aircraft in the history of British aviation and makes for an idea Airfix Club subject model.

Although the following details have previously been communicated to Club members, we are delighted to be in a position to put a little more meat on the bones (or should that be plastic on the sprue) of the next kit to be made available to new and renewing Airfix Club members in 2022. The British Aerospace Hawk jet has to be considered not only one of the most successful post war jet aircraft, but also one of the most important British designs in the history of aviation. Now in its 45th year of operational service, the Hawk has far exceeded the time in service of such iconic aircraft types as the Spitfire and Tornado, and is still performing the roles for which it was introduced back in 1976. Amongst the many accolades bestowed on this magnificent aircraft, there is one particular airframe which stands as an aviation beacon to the achievements of the Hawk, a magnificent aircraft which is the subject of our next Aircraft Club model release.

British Aerospace Hawk T.1 XX154 is without doubt one of the most historic British jet aircraft of the post war era. She was the first development aircraft within the Hawk programme, the first of an aircraft type which would not only go on to be a hugely important aircraft for the British military, whilst at the same time becoming a stunning export success for the British aviation industry. Making her first flight from Dunsfold airfield on 21st August 1974, XX154 would spend her entire service life as a test and development aircraft, helping to ensure that this magnificent training aeroplane achieved its full potential and with over 1000 aircraft built to date, she certainly excelled in this task. 

Spending time with such famous units as the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment, Hawk XX154 would spend the final 20 years of her service life with the Empire Test Pilots’ School at Boscombe Down and after undergoing her final major service, emerged from the hangar wearing a smart gloss black colour scheme, in recognition of her outstanding service. Also sporting a representation of the ETPS crest on either side of her tail, a gold coloured Griffin, XX154 would end her flying days as one of Britain’s most attractive military aircraft.

The first and the last schemes worn by British Aerospace Hawk T.1 XX154 during her impressive career as a test and development aircraft.

This profile artwork shows the scheme which XX154 wore on her first flight from Dunsfold on 21st August 1974.

Befitting an aircraft possessing such a rich history, the final scheme applied to Hawk XX154 was this stunning gloss black finish, with gold detailing. She can be viewed at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection in these very markings.

The 2022 Airfix Club model includes parts to complete both representations of Hawk XX154, at either end of her flying career.

When this very special aeroplane made her final flight in December 2018, she had clocked up an impressive 6000 flying hours, the limit originally imposed for Hawk airframes. This famous and extremely hard working aircraft was making a valuable contribution to British aviation right up until the end of her flying career.

Although Hawk XX154 made her final operational flight in December 2018, she would take to the air one final time, but in rather unusual circumstances. With her airframe fatigue life now expired and with this magnificent Hawk possessing real historic importance, it was decided that she should be placed in the care of the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, which has its display facilities at Old Sarum Airfield. Rather than transport the aircraft the short distance to Old Sarum by road, discussions regarding the possibility of arranging a more appropriate method of transportation for an aircraft of this pedigree had been taking place at the highest level. 

On the afternoon of 21st August 2019, a Boeing Chinook HC.6A from RAF No.27 Squadron at Odiham arrived at Boscombe, determined to let this famous Hawk feel the wind beneath her wings just one final time, as the helicopter was scheduled to transport XX154 the short distance to Old Sarum as an unusual, if rather historic underslung load. The date chosen for this re-location flight was also significant, as it was exactly 45 years to the day since this pre-production development Hawk had made her first flight from Dunsfold. With the BAe Hawk success story continuing to this day, it is fitting that this historic first aircraft will now be preserved as a unique piece of British aviation heritage for the benefit of the nation.

Adding another final fascinating twist to the story of this historic aircraft, the owner of the aircraft is Mr Chris Hodson and his father Gordon was Head of preliminary design for the Hawk programme back in the 1970s and was instrumental in driving the development of the aircraft. It is also thought that his father also provided drawings and technical information to the Airfix team at that time, who were producing a new kit of the Hawk, which was eventually released to market in 1975.

The delights awaiting new and renewing members of the Airfix Club in 2022, definitely a case of all killer and no filler!

Undoubtedly one of the most famous aircraft in the history of British aviation, this stunning new Club kit will provide a fitting scale tribute to an aircraft which was airlifted to retirement with the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection 45 years to the day since she made her first flight. 

BAe Hawk XX154 ‘First & Last’ - A dual kit which will help to mark the achievements of this magnificent British jet.

Our stunning Limited Edition Airfix Club model for 2022 contains parts and decals to complete two models, both featuring 1/72nd scale representations of BAe Hawk XX154 at opposite ends of her flying career - the ‘First & Last’ schemes this famous aircraft was presented in. The images we have used to illustrate this feature show two Hawk kits finished in the ‘First and Last’ Hawk XX154 schemes and include several views of the box artwork presentation which will grace this special model, one which is surely destined to be of huge interest to Airfix Club members. Featuring one of Britain’s most historic aircraft, we very much look forward to our next Club model helping to tell the story of this incredible British Aerospace Hawk in scale model form. 

To find out more about the Airfix Club, please click on this link or head for the club page on the Airfix website.

That’s all we have for you in this latest festive edition of Workbench, as we wanted the Club Hawk kit for 2022 to have the blog stage all to itself this time. We will be back next week with more modelling news and exclusive images from the wonderful world of Airfix, but as always, if you do have any comments about the blog or would like to suggest a subject you would like to see covered in a future edition, please do drop us a quick line at our usual workbench@airfix.com address.

Please also remember those last pre-Christmas posting dates if you intent to add any Airfix goodies to your present list and the fact that our warehouse staff will be extremely busy over the next couple of weeks. If it’s going to make Santa’s sleigh, the sooner the better for our little warehouse elves please.

To catch up with all the latest Airfix news, please check our various official social media sites, or head for the Airfix website.

Thank you for continuing to support our Airfix Workbench blog.

The Airfix Workbench Team.