Home List of Clear-Vax sets Canopy hints & tips Kits & conversions Search this site

back

Clear-Vax set 31: RAF Fighters, World War II (1/48 scale)

1. Hawker Sea Fury. Suggested kit: Hobbycraft Sea Fury FBII.

The Clear-Vax canopy directly replaces the kit item.
Suggested reference: Argus Specialist Publications Plan Pack No.3046; Squadron/Signal In Action No.117.
2. Hawker Typhoon. Suggested kit: Monogram Typhoon IB.

The drawing shows the canopy in the open position.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal In Action No.102; Argus Specialist Publications Plan Pack No.2808.
3. Hawker Hurricane. Suggested kits: Airfix Hurricane Mk.I, Hobbycraft Hurricane Mk.II.

The drawing shows the canopy slid fully open. Note the rearview mirror, and the grab handle on the rear section.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal In Action No.72; Hurricane at War (Ian Allan); Argus Specialist Publications Plan Pack No.3015.
4. Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V. Suggested kit: Tamiya Spitfire Mk.V.

This canopy represents the late type fitted to all Spitfires and Seafires from the Mk.V to the Mk.21. The sliding section is designed to overlap the fixed rear piece.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal In Action No.39; Argus Specialist Publications Spitfire Collection.
5. Gloster Gladiator (early). Suggested kit: Lindberg/Pyro/Inpact Gladiator.

The Clear-Vax canopy directly replaces the kit item.
Suggested reference: Scale Aircraft Modelling 14(7) April 1992, and 3(8) May 1981; Syomen Ilmavoimien Historia 12 (excellent coverage of Finnish Gladiator and Hurricane usage); Argus Specialist Publications Plan Pack No.2714.
6. Gloster Gladiator (late). Suggested kit: Lindberg/Pyro/Inpact Gladiator.

This canopy represents the late type with armourglass windscreen Most aircraft so fitted also had a three-bladed propeller.
7. De Havilland Mosquito FBVI (late). Suggested kit: Airfix Mosquito FBVI.

This canopy represents the late type with side bulges, as fitted to most late production Mosquito fighters. Add a windscreen wiper from stretched sprue or wire The dotted lines on the drawing show the position of the internal framing.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal In Action No.139; 'Mosquito at War', by C. Bowyer (Ian Allan).
8. Curtiss Mohawk IV. Suggested kit: Hobbycraft Mohawk IV.

This canopy represents the armoured windscreen type that was fitted to most Mohawk IVs Note the external rearview mirror; this is shown very clearly on the box artwork, but is not provided in the kit. In order to fit the Clear-Vax canopy, cut away the kit fuselage at the lines marked X and Y. Use the kit side windows.
Suggested reference: Replic No.18 February 1993; AIREnthusiast 2(1) January 1972; FineScale Modeler 12(3) March 1994.
9. Hawker Typhoon, 'car door' canopy (early type). Suggested kit: Monogram Typhoon IB.

This canopy represents the early type with a small blister on top containing an internal rearview mirror. Doors are supplied for display in the open position The drawing shows the correct position for the doors (the dotted lines indicate the incorrect position moulded on the kit fuselage). Other modifications required to the kit are a three-bladed propeller and unshrouded exhaust stacks.
10. Hawker Typhoon, 'car door' canopy (late type). Suggested kit: Monogram Typhoon IB.

This canopy represents that fitted to the majority of "car door" Typhoons. See the instructions for canopy No.9.
11. De Havilland Mosquito FBVI (early). Suggested kit: Airfix Mosquito FBVI.
See the instructions for canopy No.7.

Other items

We highly recommend the following detail items to further enhance your models:

top of page