172 Airfix HS Dominie T1  

by Stuart Porteous

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What to do for my first submission to ARC?  I normally build modern RAF stuff in 1/72, and have a long term goal of building one of everything in service since about 1975. My display case is therefore full of the usual Tornados, Jaguars and the like, but there are already plenty of models of those in the Gallery so I thought I’d start with something a little less well-represented.

The Dominie T1 is the military version of the Hawker Siddley 125 business jet, in service with the RAF since 1965 as a navigation trainer. The aircraft is currently operated by 55 (Reserve) Sqn at RAF Cranwell as part of No 3 Flying Training School. The original Viper engines were replaced with Garretts in the 1980s, and 11 of the original 20 aircraft were lengthened slightly and fitted with upgraded radar consoles from 1993 onwards. They still kept the T1 designation and were later painted in the latest black hi-viz livery as they went through maintenance.

This started off as a quick build straight out of the box in the original red white and grey livery, as this is how I remember them when they were based at RAF Finningley with 6 FTS.  However, after a bad experience with an ETPS ‘raspberry ripple’ Jaguar I decided that three-colour schemes with lots of parallel straight lines were a bad idea for the time being, even if Airfix had helpfully moulded tramlines down the fuselage to keep the masking tape straight. I therefore converted my half-built Dominie to the later version in black livery.

Click on images below to see larger images

The conversion involves adding a 4mm plug to the nose behind the original radome (which gives it a slight ‘broken nose’ effect), filling in two windows on the port side and creating two new ones on the starboard side. The original Airfix glazing was used as a template, although the windows were actually glazed with Crystal Clear as the Airfix glazing was very thick and badly distorted. The engine nacelles are still wrong as I didn’t know about the 1980s replacements until after everything was painted.  I still can’t see much difference although I think the later nacelles might be a bit fatter.

The kit is typical Airfix 1970’s with lots of moving control surfaces, crude landing gear, and raised panel and paint demarcation lines. A lot of the panel lines were damaged altering the windows and radome so I sanded the rest off and re-scribed the major panels. Fit was generally quite good; apart from the altered nose, filler was only really required between the engine pylons and fuselage.

The undercarriage was shortened by about 3mm as it appeared to me to be too tall (although I think I may have overdone it), and the torque links were way over scale so they were replaced with home-made brass ones.

Paints are all Humbrol enamels, and the engine nacelles, wing and tail plane leading edges were done in Bare-Metal Foil. This was the first time I had used BMF and I was really pleased with the results. I tried it for the front of the intakes as well but finished up using Alclad Chrome instead. The decals are a real mixed bag; roundels are by Xtradecal, serials by Carpena, and everything else either hand painted or out of the spares box, including some 1/48 Phantom decals ! 

This was a nice little kit, and Airfix are re-releasing it later this year. Now I just need to finish the Jetstream to go with it.

I really must say thank you to Steve B for providing us with this superb site. I’d have been in trouble a few times without it.

Stuart

Photos and text © by Stuart Porteous