The De Havilland Vampire was developed and manufactured by the legendary De Havilland Aircraft Company. The type was widely exported to many national air forces around the world; in both in its single seater DH.100 Fighter/bomber versions and in its twin seater DH.115 Trainer versions.
One such operator of both the DH.100 and DH.115 (T.11) Vampire was the Royal New Zealand Air Force. With the first 18 DH.100 FB.5 Vampires arriving at Ohakea Air Base, Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1951. The first three T.11 Vampire trainers entered RNZAF service in 1952. And would eventually operate, in total eleven T.11 Vampires.
The De Havilland T.11 would be flown by both No. 14 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron, in the flight training of many RNZAF Pilots over a 20-year period. During the 1950s the RNZAF T.11s wore yellow trainer stripes, over a bare metal paint scheme. By the start of the 1960s the paint scheme had changed. The RNZAF Vampire T.11s had the tail segment painted in a fluorescent orange colour. Along with the RNZAF’s fleet of North American T-6 Texan/Harvard Mk.II and De Havilland DH.104 Devon/Doves.
Due to costs involved to maintain the fluorescent orange colour. Which had a habit of fading and required constant repainting of said colour. By the end of the 1960s the fluorescent orange paint scheme, was dropped from all RNZAF. By the start of the 1970s the RNZAF Vampire T.11 had returned back to the bare metal finish, with the adoption of the new RNZAF Kiwi Roundel. That was adopted and applied to all RNZAF aircraft in 1971. Replacing the pervious 1956-1970 Silver Fern Roundel.
In 1972 after 21 years of RNZAF service, both the FB.5 and T.11s Vampires were retired from service. And were replaced by the A4 Skyhawk and BAC Strikemaster. Today a few ex- RNZAF FB.5s and T.11s Vampires are persevered and on displayed in various Air Museums around New Zealand.
THE MODELS
As a Kiwi Scaler Modeller, I was so happy that Airfix released their starter set 1/72 scale Vampire T.11 model kit. In the colours of a RNZAF T.11 Vampire circa 1971-1972. Like all modern Airfix aircraft kits it’s an easy build. Halfway through making the starter set I ended up buying and making the T.11/J-28 kit.
Instead of going for the inbox paint schemes. I decided to make the T.11/J-28 in colours of an early 1960s RNZAF T.11 Vampire. Which not only had the fluorescent orange tail, but all the infamous 1956-1970 Silver Fern Roundel. I ended up making the Starter Set in flight. With the model attached to a Minicraft Models Clear Display Stand. And the T.11/J-28 with its landing gear down. With homemade inkjet printer decals.
Thank you for watching this video and good luck with all your ongoing projects.
From
Shuttle Factory Scale Models