No 56 Squadron, RAF, 'The Firebirds', 1918 - 2008.

[vikingBerserker]

Good God man, the font wheel alone looks awesome!

[Airframes]

Thanks very much indeed guys!

[Vic Balshaw]

A man after my own heart Terry. I stumbled on you article while looking for pictures of 56 Squadron Tornadoes. You are setting out on a path that I have been following for about 5 years now. I chose 56 Squadron as my theme because of my association with then during my RAF career. My first posting was to RAF Wattisham where 56 were just converting to the Lightning F1A. I was also lucky to still be there when they were the "Firebirds" display team. With Lightning's, that was really something.
As for the modelling of the squadron aircraft, I currently have 22 completed in 1:48 scale, these range from the initial SE5A to the impressive Lightning F6. In construction are 2 Phantoms (one for the Alcock and Brown commemorative flight cross the Atlantic in 1996) and 2 Tornados. Most of the kits constructed have been injection mould, but for many of the earlier types as well as the Swift F1 I had to resort to vacform.
In my collection I have also tried where possible to construct the varying Mk's of aircraft, i.e. Hunter F5 and F6 and also have added a know target towing Canberra which the squadron housed during its time at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. Another area where I was again associated with 56.
Anyway Terry, good luck with your quest and I hope you get as much fun out of it as I am.
Vic Balshaw

[Lucky13]

You forgot the pics Vic! Where's the pics of the above models!? I bet that when Terry get back to you, there'll be a certain poor wee lad that'll get the blame....
I'm doing the No. 74 Squadron myself (working on their F.6 Hunter) and a few of the No. 111 Squadron, which Terry tricked me into doing....

Welcome to the family Vic! Looking forward to see more from you, both stories and pics....

[Vic Balshaw]

That’s got me going, I had to get the models out and dusted down, pics now taken, six in all, but all are over 2Mb, and I've no idea how to reduce the size and don't want to overload the system. Anybody have any suggestions, all files are JPG in Adobe Photoshop. I'm not all that well up on computer literacy, modelling and cooking being my thing.

111 Sdn was at Wattisham at the same time as 56, both just converting to the Lightning. 111 at the time were still revelling in the glory of having been the "Black Arrows" display team with Hunters. The squadron actually hung onto a couple of the Hunters in the all black livery.

[Maestro]

That sounds like an interresting project, Airframes... Good luck with it.

I had a project that was about similar... Building an airfield (well, at least a part of it) in 1/48. I'm starting to have an interresting amount of RAF/USAAF planes and ground figures, however I still need to find a room for that large diorama.

[Lucky13]

You could always do what I do Vic, Photobucket! I upload my pics there....

[Airframes]

Hi Vic, great to hear from you! First, to re-size your pictures, the eaisest and quickest route is to download, for free, 'Irfanview'. This will allow you to re-size your pics quickly and easily - just follow the sequemce, and don't forget to 'Save' the re-sized image, or t'll return to original size once you exit the programme. For forum use, anything up to 800 x 600 pixels, max, is fine. If you need any help with this, just ask!
Now, down to business and a few questions! As you will have discovered, there are a number of types used by 56 Sqn that aren't available in 1/48th scale kit form. I'm not too concerned about the pre-war aircraft, sticking to representative types from the formation of the R.A.F. to the begining of WW2. These will be the SE5A, Bristol Bulldog and Gloster Gladiator - I'll omit the Snipe, Grebe,Siskin and Gauntlett, although a kit of the latter is about somewhere I believe.
WW2 will be covered by Hurricane Mk1, possibly a MkIIB also, the car-door Typhoon and the Tempest MkV. The Spit MkIX I'm leaving out as they were only used for 2 months, and are not fully representative of Squadron types. However, the post-war period is lacking. I can do a Meteor F4 or, at half the price, the Tamiya Meteor F3 - more on this one later!
To save on space, and financial outlay(!), I'll only do one of each representative type, rather than all Marks of individual aircraft used. But, I haven't been able to find a Swift yet. Do you know which company produced a kit, vac-form or otherwise, and if it is still available?
Next question! On the Meteor F3, I want to display the transition from camouflage to overall 'silver'-painted finish, which I think these aircraft would have worn towards the end of their Squadron service, as the Meteor F4 did. Do you happen to know A) if this is correct, and B) if the 'adopted' codes 'ON' were worn during this later period of service, or if they reverted back to the ofiginal 'US' codes displayed on the Meteor F4?
I've asked my cousin, who was in Air Traffic at Waterbeach, briefly, before moving to Acklington, but of course he only remembers the F4, as the F3 had 'retired' by then.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, and it's good to know I'm not alone in this project! I looked long and hard at 'favourite' squadrons before finally choosing either 56 or 43, and would really like to get this project completed. I draw the line at modelling a 1/48th scale Sentry though! Anyway, '56' now isn't the same '56', being on totally different types and duties!
I was fortunate to be able to see the Lightnings in the 60's, including the 9-ship formation with 'The Firebirds', a sight and sound I'll always remember! As for pics of the Tornados, I found a couple of good shots on the 'net, dated between the mid '90's to retirement in April 2008, and one aircraft I can't resist, as it bears my initials as the tail code!
I'll be using the Airfix kit for the Tornado, which I understand has some fit issues, but Hobby Boss are also bringing out a kit of the F3 in 1/48th scale, sometime soon.
BTW, welcome to the forum!
Terry.

[Lucky13]

(pheeeew!)

[Airframes]

Well, at least I got the questions out of the way in one go, old boy!!

[Vic Balshaw]

Greetings from OZ
Thanks for the info on pics, managed to crack it myself last night.
Ok Terry, first things first, great to hear from you and I'm kind' a glad I've not upset the apple cart to much and I'm only to glad to pass on what I know to aid in your project.
Yes, the Gauntlet Mk II is available from Hannants Hannants - Plastic model kits and accessories and Aeroclub model and in injection mould @ £25.93, I have it in vacform waiting to be built, but I'm not that fond of vacform especially with the rigging so may reinvest in the injection.
I agree that the Spitfire was only with the squadron for April to June 44, but this was a crucial time in the invasion of Europe with allied aircraft identified by the hastily painted black and white stripes, so I included it in my collection.
I also found the Swift a hard nut to crack the kit I used was vacform and metal that had to have a couple of modifications done to it. I note that it is also available from Hannants in a Falcon vacform kit @ £26.03.
You are spot on with the Meteor, the squadron retained US code but in April 1946 at RAF Bentwaters when the squadron reformed from 124 Squadron before moving to RAF Boxted in Sep 46, for a while they had the ON code with camouflaged aircraft. This was changed sometime in 1947 back to US and the silver aircraft with the red and white check badge. ON codes and tail numbers that I have for that time are ON-H EE271 later changed to US-H, ON-N EE365 and ON-T EE391. They also has an F.4 with code ON-S EE459 later changed to US-S. Needless to say, with the F.8 the code had been dropped.
I was greatly saddened and upset to see the disbandment of 56 from a fighter squadron to group of intelligence gatherers at Waddington. Lets hope the phoenix will rise again, maybe with an F.35?
I currently have two Phantoms and two Tornados on the go, the phantoms are Hasegawa and good kits, with a little bit of filling and sanding, one is for the Alcock and Brown trans Atlantic crossing in 1979 flown in a 56 Phantom by Sqn Ldr Alcock and Flt Lt Browne both 56 pilots. The other is with the red tail in the final days of the Phantom. The Tornadoes are an Airfix (yuk) and an Italeri. Airfix Tornado will be with 1993 display red tail and the Italeri as the 2000 millennium Firebird tail. Being a gluten for punishment, I'm thinking of a third Tornado with the 2005 display colours.
Yes, the Airfix Tornado needs a lot of work, it's a very chunky moulding with loads of pin marks and lots of filling to get the intakes right. At one stage it almost went in the bin, but I to a deep breath (several) and carried on.
I've a number of tail numbers to hand right across the range and am always on the lookout for new info, so if I can help more, just drop a line, direct if you like.
And now to the photo evidence:
Pic 56-1 from left front to back: SE 5a. Sopwith Snipe. Gloster Grebe. Right rear to front: Siskin IIIa. Bristol Bulldog Ia. Gloster Gladiator I.
Pic 56-2: Hurricane Mk I (US-Z). Hurricane Mk IIb (US-R). Typhoon Mk Ia (US-A). Typhoon Mk Ib (US-H).
Pic 56-3: Spitfire Mk XI (US-L) Battle of Britain markings. Tempest Mk IV (US-T). Meteor F.3 (US-N). Meteor F.4 (Tail VT283).
Pic 56-4: Meteor F.8 (Tail VZ480) at back. Swift F.1 to left. Hunter F.5 back right. Hunter F.6 foreground. Vampire T.11 for target towing.
Pic 56-5: The big boys-Lightning F.1a "Firebirds Display Team" rear. Lightning F.3 right. Lightning F.6 foreground.
Pic 56-6: Canberra B.2 for target towing at Akrotiri, Cyprus.

[Airframes]

Hi Vic. Brilliant collection of great models there mate! You've got me started now though - I've been trying every excuse not to get a Canberra, now it looks like I'll have to! I've been humming and harring whether or not to include the Spit, but, as you say, 56 did use them during a very important period, so yes, in it goes too! The ICM or Italeri kit I think.
Thanks for the info regarding the Gauntlet and Swift, I'll probably include at least the Swift now, and the info regarding the Meteors is very useful. Just one thing though, the info I have to date shows black code letters on the 'silver' Meteors, which is in line with similar markings on 'Meatbox's' from other squadrons - were white codes, as on your model, used during a specific period?
Sounds like the Airfix Tornado is as bad as I thought, I've been on the lookout for the Italeri F3, but it's nowhere to be had, but at least I can get the Airfix kit for half price. But, by the time I get around to the Tornado, there's a very good chance the Hobby Boss kit will have been released, so I might just wait and see what it's like.
If you need any detail and cockpit shots of the Tornado F3, let me know. I've got the excellent book by Ian Black (Tornado and Lightning pilot), chock full of superb colour pics, all pre-56 Sqn usage unfortunately, but useful for detail work.
I'd be interested to know which kits you used for the Bulldog and Gladiator. I'll be using the Inpact Gladiator kit, which is still good after more than 40 years, and possibly the Smer Bulldog (only £5 !!), although I've found a source for the Inpact Bulldog also, which is three times the price, but maybe worth it.
No doubt I'll be in touch during the course of my builds, if I need to check any details, particularly from 'your' era!
Thanks again for your help and interest.
Terry.

[Vic Balshaw]

Your right Terry, the F.3 should have black markings, my slip up.
Thanks for the offer on the Tornado, they are at thr ready to spray stage now. I'll post them when done.

[Lucky13]

Great looking models Vic!

Well, at least I got the questions out of the way in one go, old boy!!

Well, I was expecting some sort of verbal abuse, "it's his fault for this and that, such and such"... I'm glad that I slipped through.
Just the ONE Canberra old chap? Need to find a Phantom for that camouflaged bird from No. 111, d*mn she's tasty!

[Airframes]

The best place is TAHS old boy, they've got both the RAF Phantoms, from the original Hasegawa issue, at around 22 of the Queens folding stuff. The one you need for that particular aircraft, is the FG1, advertised under the Hasegawa title of 'RAF Phantom Mk1'. Not sure if the kit has 111 Sqn decals; although it probably has, as only 111 and 43 used the FG1, but I'm sending them to you anyway, and it'll have the rest of the national markings etc.