Classic Airframes 1/48
Vampire T.11

Background

The prototype Vampire first flew in September 1943 and the first T.11 flew first in 1950.

Just like with the Mosquito, De Havilland used wood in the construction of the Vampire.

The T.11 trainer used the side-by-side configuration as opposed to the inline setup.  

Power was provided by a De Havilland Goblin 35 Turbojet and the Vampire could reach 866km/h.

As a trainer the T.11 was successful for the RAF and numerous countries that were using the plane as an introduction to jet flying.  The T.11 was flying well into the 1970s.  There are still T.11 flying at airshows even today!

The Kit

The Classic Airframes T.11 is the first accurate injected two-seater model.

Classic Airframes released the T.11 in the middle of a continuing stream of Vampire variants.  The styrene quality and molding is as good as it gets for limited run kits.  It has gotten to the point were most intermediate skill modelers can crank out a very credible model.

Since this kit is derived from the single seat Vampire some sprues are identical and the comments applicable can be found in this review.

The changes are found in the fuselage halves, the resin and of course the injected canopy.

Lets start from the resin bits.  The parts are looking really good with very good molding, no defects and a sharp look.  The ejection seats have the harnesses molded on.  There are resin pieces to represent the sidewalls with good detail molded on to them. The cockpit tub will look good once completed and painted with lots of goodies making up for a busy cockpit that would beg for a cut open canopy.

Speaking of the canopy.  I wish there would be a vacuform canopy included in the kit.  The modelers that buy limited run kits cannot possibly want a plastic canopies and should not be lacking the skills to use one.  Having said that, the canopy in the kit is clear and will look good after a dip in Future.

There is a complete set of stencils provided in a separate decal sheet as well three sets of decals in big decal sheet covering three schemes.

• One for an Aluminum/Gray T.11 with red stripes representing an Central Air Traffic School, circa 1966
• Another Aluminum finish with Day-Glo Red highlights from the Flying Training School , circa 1961
• And lastly a Sea Vampire in Extra ark Sea Gray/White from Yeovilton, circa 1963

Conclusion

This is another nice kit from Classic Airframes.  The quality has been getting better and better through the years and it really looks that it has reached a very comfortable maturity level. 

I cannot imagine anybody collecting British aviation subjects or early jets passing on this one.

Recommended.

My sincere thanks to Classic Airframes for this review sample!