Oxford Diecast Boulton Paul Defiant

Oxford Diecast Boulton Paul DefiantThe Boulton Paul Defiant, manufactured by the British company Boulton Paul Aircraft, was designed by John Dudley North. Built as a two seat fighter, night fighter and subsequently as a trainer and also in an air sea rescue role, just over 1000 were built and used by the RAF, as well as the Air Forces of Canada, Australia and Poland. The Defiant entered service with the RAF in December 1939. Nicknamed 'Daffy' by its crews, it had been designed as a

The Boulton Paul Defiant, manufactured by the British company Boulton Paul Aircraft, was designed by John Dudley North. Built as a two-seat fighter, night fighter and subsequently as a trainer and also in an air sea rescue role, just over 1000 were built and used by the RAF, as well as the Air Forces of Canada, Australia and Poland. The Defiant entered service with the RAF in December 1939. Nicknamed 'Daffy' by its crews, it had been designed as a turret fighter with no forward gun firing capability. This omission put it at a serious disadvantage against the enemy aircraft, particularly the Messerschmitt. However, it saw greater success as a night fighter and it is in this capacity that our 1:72 scale replica is based.

151 Squadron RAF started World War II as a day-fighter squadron but in November 1940 turned its activity to piloting night-fighters, the Boulton Paul Defiant being one, which the squadron operated alongside the Hurricane. The Boulton Paul Defiant was only deployed with 151 Squadron for a short time into 1941, following which it turned exclusively to flying the Mosquito.

Our aircraft is decorated in black with humorous and colourful 'shark toothed' nose art. Numbered N3328 DZ-Z, the cockpit is moulded in dark green behind which the rear facing gun turret is finished in black. The RAF roundel with a bright yellow surround features on the fuselage with red, white and blue markings on the tailfin. The RAF logo in red and blue also appears on the upper wing surfaces.

It is sad that only one original Boulton Paul Defiant survives today, on view in the RAF Museum in Hendon. It is also a night fighter. It is sad too that its number is different from our valiant little model, which in real life obviously didn't make it out.

Dimensions and Weights

Packed: 19.3cm x 19.3cm x 8.2cm ( L x W x H )

Unpacked: 16.5cm x 15.2cm x 11.2cm ( L x W x H )

Excludes shipping carton

Scale

1:72 scale means that this is 72 times smaller than the full sized vehicle(s)

For a much more detailed explanation of scale and the history please follow this link.