Airfix - de Havilland Vampire T.3 - 1:48

Product Code: A06107

With the magnificent de Havilland Mosquito only just entering Royal Air Force service towards the end of 1941, designers at the company were next asked to turn their attentions to developing a new jet engine, one which was capable of powering a new generation of high speed fighter aircraft. Entrusted to the brilliant mind of engine designer Frank Halford, he was determined that his engine would be less complicated and of simpler design than the one being developed by his rival, Frank Whittle and he was ready to test his engine by April 1942. The first flight lasted just over 30 minutes, during which time the aircraft exceeded 400mph and showed great promise, however, it would be April 1945 before a production aircraft would take to the air, by which time the new jet fighter had been christened the Vampire. Despite its protracted development, Britain'™s second jet fighter to enter service would prove to be something of a classic and is now regarded as one of the most successful early jet aircraft in the world.

Scheme A) 'A06107' A - de Havilland D.H.100 Vampire F.3 VT812/N, No.601 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, North Weald, Essex, England 1952

Scheme B) 'A06107' B - de Havilland D.H.100 Vampire F.3 17018, No.442 ‘City of Vancouver’ Auxiliary Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force Station Vancouver, Canada, 1949.

Scheme C) A06107' C - de Havilland D.H.100 Vampire F.3 P42408/AE-B, Norwegian Air Force, Gardermoen Museum, Oslo, Norway, 2019

Paints Required but not included: (Scheme A) 11, 12, 19, 21, 33, 53, 61, 70, 83, 163 (Scheme B) 12, 21, 33, 53, 61, 70, 83, 163, 19, 11 (Scheme C) 11, 12, 21, 33, 53, 61, 70, 83, 163, 11.