In Box Review of MPC
(Scale Not Given)
Rescue Launch
Kit no. 1-5202
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1982
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1982
Out of production.
HISTORY:
During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force Air-Sea Rescue Service, whose motto was “The Sea Shall Not Have Them”, played a vital role in saving thousands of highly trained aircrews from the waters round the British isles and in overseas war zones.
The ASR Service used both aircraft and high-speed launches for its task. One of the most famous craft used was the British Power Boat Company’s Type Two 63 ft. HSL. Known as the “Whaleback”, because of its distinctive cambered deck , it was, without a doubt, the Spitfire of the ASR units.
Designed in 1937 by Hubert Scott-Paine, the far-sighted founder of the BPB Co. at Hythe. For sheer beauty of line, the “Whaleback” had few equals. The low cabin containing the wheel-house, chart room and sickbay was surmounted by two Armstrong-Whitworth aircraft-style turrets, each mounting a single .303in Vickers machine gun, paired .303in machine guns on “free” mountings on either side of the wheel-house and a single 20mm Oerlikon fitted on a strengthened rear deck.
For further protection, anti-shrapnel padding was applied around the forward cabin area. Maximum speed of the 63rd Type Two was a respectable 36 knots on the power of the three 500 hp Napier Sea Lion engines. Developed from the famous Napier Lion aero engine, the petrol-driven Sea Lions consumed 60 gallons an hour at maximum speed; range at 26 knots was some 500 miles.
The crew was comprised of nine personnel, including the Captain and medical orderly. Details of a ditched airman’s position could come from a number of sources, including his own radio before bailing out, from other aircraft of from the Navy. Flashed to one of the ASR units, the news scrambled an HSL to the pilot’s last known position.
Initially painted in a striking scheme of yellow and black, for greater visibility, the launches later adopted a more somber gray/black scheme after attacks by German aircraft. By D-Day, in June 1944, the RAF had 300 launches in service at ASR units covering the whole of the United Kingdom and many areas abroad including the Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean.
HSL 156, call sign “Seagull-70”, commanded by Flying Officer Geoffrey Lockwood, D.S.C., operated out of 28 ASR unit, Newhaven in 1943-44. Notable among the rescues by 156 was the successful retrieval of two American Fortress crews totalling 19 men from the middle of a minefield in October, 1944.
During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force Air-Sea Rescue Service, whose motto was “The Sea Shall Not Have Them”, played a vital role in saving thousands of highly trained aircrews from the waters round the British isles and in overseas war zones.
The ASR Service used both aircraft and high-speed launches for its task. One of the most famous craft used was the British Power Boat Company’s Type Two 63 ft. HSL. Known as the “Whaleback”, because of its distinctive cambered deck , it was, without a doubt, the Spitfire of the ASR units.
Designed in 1937 by Hubert Scott-Paine, the far-sighted founder of the BPB Co. at Hythe. For sheer beauty of line, the “Whaleback” had few equals. The low cabin containing the wheel-house, chart room and sickbay was surmounted by two Armstrong-Whitworth aircraft-style turrets, each mounting a single .303in Vickers machine gun, paired .303in machine guns on “free” mountings on either side of the wheel-house and a single 20mm Oerlikon fitted on a strengthened rear deck.
For further protection, anti-shrapnel padding was applied around the forward cabin area. Maximum speed of the 63rd Type Two was a respectable 36 knots on the power of the three 500 hp Napier Sea Lion engines. Developed from the famous Napier Lion aero engine, the petrol-driven Sea Lions consumed 60 gallons an hour at maximum speed; range at 26 knots was some 500 miles.
The crew was comprised of nine personnel, including the Captain and medical orderly. Details of a ditched airman’s position could come from a number of sources, including his own radio before bailing out, from other aircraft of from the Navy. Flashed to one of the ASR units, the news scrambled an HSL to the pilot’s last known position.
Initially painted in a striking scheme of yellow and black, for greater visibility, the launches later adopted a more somber gray/black scheme after attacks by German aircraft. By D-Day, in June 1944, the RAF had 300 launches in service at ASR units covering the whole of the United Kingdom and many areas abroad including the Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean.
HSL 156, call sign “Seagull-70”, commanded by Flying Officer Geoffrey Lockwood, D.S.C., operated out of 28 ASR unit, Newhaven in 1943-44. Notable among the rescues by 156 was the successful retrieval of two American Fortress crews totalling 19 men from the middle of a minefield in October, 1944.
THE KIT:
MPC was a prolific model company once based in Mt. Clemens, MI. I believe they have since gone out of business as I find no web site for them
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a RAF Rescue Launch speeding along. It has a black hull with a red water line at the bottom. Its control cabin is medium gray. It’s deck is light tan. It flies the RAF flag from its rigging above a mast. It is firing it’s 20mm anti-aircraft gun on its stern.
It has a large RAF roundel on the sides of its bow followed by a huge yellow number 156. Across the top of the bow there is a black and white checkerboard pattern band.
One corner of the box art says it is a Golden Opportunity Kit (more about this later).
One side panel of the box begins with a one paragraph history of the Rescue Launches, followed by features of the kit: Four crew figures. Machine gun turrets and cannon. Full deck detail. Display stand. Molded in gray. Followed by a color photo of a side view of the model made up in the box art scheme and on it’s stand. It is flying it’s RAF flag on its stern.
For the modeler with intermediate experience. Molded in color. Cement is required for assembly. Model may be painted to match illustrations. Over 10” long. Paint and cement not included.
Copyright of the kit is 1982 over MPC’s address in Mt. Clemens, MI.
MPC was a prolific model company once based in Mt. Clemens, MI. I believe they have since gone out of business as I find no web site for them
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a RAF Rescue Launch speeding along. It has a black hull with a red water line at the bottom. Its control cabin is medium gray. It’s deck is light tan. It flies the RAF flag from its rigging above a mast. It is firing it’s 20mm anti-aircraft gun on its stern.
It has a large RAF roundel on the sides of its bow followed by a huge yellow number 156. Across the top of the bow there is a black and white checkerboard pattern band.
One corner of the box art says it is a Golden Opportunity Kit (more about this later).
One side panel of the box begins with a one paragraph history of the Rescue Launches, followed by features of the kit: Four crew figures. Machine gun turrets and cannon. Full deck detail. Display stand. Molded in gray. Followed by a color photo of a side view of the model made up in the box art scheme and on it’s stand. It is flying it’s RAF flag on its stern.
For the modeler with intermediate experience. Molded in color. Cement is required for assembly. Model may be painted to match illustrations. Over 10” long. Paint and cement not included.
Copyright of the kit is 1982 over MPC’s address in Mt. Clemens, MI.
The other side panel of the box says the kit was made and lithoed in the USA. Followed By 4 walk-around type color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. These are followed by 4 Golden Opportunity anchor tokens, that you use to get bonus MPC kits free. Offer is good in the USA. A leaflet in the kit gives details about this.
The scale of the kit is not shown at anyplace in or on the kit. Scale Modeler web site claims it is to 1/72nd scale.
The scale of the kit is not shown at anyplace in or on the kit. Scale Modeler web site claims it is to 1/72nd scale.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 3 medium-gray trees, a clear tree, decal sheet, printed RAF ensign, in a single sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 6 ½” x 9” page format, folded twice to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a one-paragraph history of the Rescue Launches, over READ FIRST instructions and international assembly symbol explanations.
The bottom of page 1 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 19 assembly steps.
There are no part-trees illustrations. However, the trees do have part number tables next to the parts on them. Color are called out for parts in the assembly steps.
The information sheet about redeeming tokens for the Golden Opportunity kits is a single sheet, printed on both sides in 6” x 12” format, folded 3 times to fit the kit.
The face side says that one dollar is needed for postage and handling of any kits redeemed with the anchor tokens. It shows what kits you can get for the amounts of tokens you gather:
10 tokens will get you either an aircraft or helicopter
15 tokens will get you a car kit
20 tokens will get you a car or ship kit
30 tokens will get you a ship, car or sci-fi kit
40 tokens will get you a car or rocket ship
5O tokens will get you a car or aircraft kit
100 token will get you a locomotive or fire truck
Trees are not alphabetized.
The first medium-gray tree holds: a hull half, life raft, cabin wall, figures, ventilators etc. (54 parts)
The kit holds 3 medium-gray trees, a clear tree, decal sheet, printed RAF ensign, in a single sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 6 ½” x 9” page format, folded twice to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a one-paragraph history of the Rescue Launches, over READ FIRST instructions and international assembly symbol explanations.
The bottom of page 1 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 19 assembly steps.
There are no part-trees illustrations. However, the trees do have part number tables next to the parts on them. Color are called out for parts in the assembly steps.
The information sheet about redeeming tokens for the Golden Opportunity kits is a single sheet, printed on both sides in 6” x 12” format, folded 3 times to fit the kit.
The face side says that one dollar is needed for postage and handling of any kits redeemed with the anchor tokens. It shows what kits you can get for the amounts of tokens you gather:
10 tokens will get you either an aircraft or helicopter
15 tokens will get you a car kit
20 tokens will get you a car or ship kit
30 tokens will get you a ship, car or sci-fi kit
40 tokens will get you a car or rocket ship
5O tokens will get you a car or aircraft kit
100 token will get you a locomotive or fire truck
Trees are not alphabetized.
The first medium-gray tree holds: a hull half, life raft, cabin wall, figures, ventilators etc. (54 parts)
The second medium-gray tree holds: the other hull half, more cabin walls, steering wheel, turret parts, 20mm ack ack gun etc. (60 parts)
The third medium-gray tree holds: the deck, more cabin walls, display stand parts etc. (10 parts)
The clear tree holds turret bubbles and cabin windows. (27 parts)
The decal sheet and the printed RAF ensign complete the kit’s contents.
Highly Recommended.