1/48 Banner Tow

Gallery Article by Alvis 3.1

Silly Week 2009

 

After WWII, the RAF contracted out many services to private concerns. One, seen here, was the job of towing banners around the sky so eager young pilots could get gunnery experience. This company, Norris-Vincent Aerial Target Towing Company, used out of production Meteors for their aircraft of choice. A bold, bright paint scheme was chosen to avoid the unpleasantness of being shot down, and to further the ability of the recruits to recognise the plane as not a target, a second canopy was painted upon the bottom of the fuselage. This made it apparent it was a manned aircraft, regardless of it's orientation.

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"There I was, at 8,000 feet, and suddenly, the banner just popped up right in front of me!"       "Sorry sir, but your flap just dropped off!"

Kits used: Tamiya Meteor III, with ICM RAF pilots and crew . Decals from my inkjet printer. Base made from a chunk of pine, bought for $1.80 CDN at my local hardware store. Plane was painted with Tamiya spray paints, for that nice glossy finish.

Alvis 3.1

Photos and text © by  Alvis 3.1