ID Models/Tigger Models 1/32 Short Stirling
By Tom Probert
Short Stirling MkIII, BK716, of 218 Gold Coast Squadron, RAF Downham Market, Norfolk, March 1943.
Here’s the culmination of a just-over-three-year project: the old ID Models’ (now available from Tigger Models) kit.
I had begun this project back in 2014 but, I must confess, I had bitten off more than I could chew by opening up various wing panels for detailing and I lost steam. I consigned the model to the loft with a plan to ‘get back to it one day’… Fast forward to 2022, and a conversation with fellow Bomber Command enthusiast and member Cees Broere who offered his also-stalled build of the same kit to me, and I was back in business. Using Cees’ untouched wings and my untouched fuselage, I was able to combine parts of both kits and was once again up and running.
Kits of this nature are very much a blank canvas, devoid of any interior, detail parts, surface details or anything other than the basic shell. (picture courtesy of Tigger's blog page)
However, kits like this are just the challenge I love, although they require a lot of extra work compared to your mainstream injection-moulded kit. Having an almost unique model at the end of it is what it’s all about for me – and I really enjoy solving the various problems builds like this throw up along the way.
A summary of the work is as follows:
- Wholly scratch-built interior
- Scratch-built bomb bays, wheel wells and undercarriage
- Scratch-built dropped flaps
- All surface detail scribed onto to the model
- Engines and props from 2 x Revell 1/32nd scale Beaufighters
- 3D printed canopy cupola framing (and vacformed clear piece) courtesy of Peter at Airscale – as well as the main wheels. Thanks, Peter!
- Turret interiors from the HK 1/32nd scale Lancaster
- Bombs courtesy of Tim Perry – thanks, Tim!
- Scratch-built incendiary carriers
- Markings a mixture of home-made masks and the spares box
My model represents BK716, a Stirling MkIII of 218 Gold Coast Squadron, based at RAF Downham Market and as it appeared in late March 1943. I chose this particular machine as it has an interesting story, as well as having a connection to Cees, considering he helped me greatly in getting restarted on the project.
BK716 was lost on only its third operation on the night of 29th/30th March 1943, returning from a raid on Berlin. Having reached the target and turned for home, it was intercepted by Lt Werner Rapp and Unteroffizer Hans Ortmann in their Messerschmitt Me-110 over The Netherlands, where it crashed into Lake Markermeer, just north of Amsterdam. All 7 crew members were subsequently reported as missing.
In 2008 a boat’s anchor became tangled in some aircraft wreckage whilst fishing on Lake Markermeer which, when brought to the shore, warranted further investigation which began in 2019. Soon identified as a Short Stirling, initially with the serial BK710 which was thought lost in the area with its crew, a full recovery was planned. However, a cigarette case belonging to Flying Officer John Michael Campbell was discovered which in fact pointed to the fact the wreck had been misidentified and was instead BK716. With the recovery of engines and substantial parts of the airframe, the identity of BK716 was indeed confirmed. Sadly, all 7 crew were still on board. As part of the meticulous recovery operation, they were identified and buried with full military honours at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery in The Netherlands. They were:
- Sgt Ronald Kennedy, RAF, Flight Engineer
- Sgt Charles Bell, RAF, Bomb Aimer
- Fg Off John M Campbell, RAF, Wireless Op
- Fg Off John Harris, RAF, Pilot
- Fg Off Harry G Farrington, RCAF, Navigator
- Sgt John F McCaw, RCAF, Rear Gunner
- Sgt Leonard R J Shrubshall, RAF, Mid-upper Gunner
Cees was involved in the recovery operation and thus, as a tribute to the crew and him, I felt it apt to replicate BK716 with my model. Lest we forget.
Today, a wonderful memorial stands as tribute to 7 brave men who never made it home. Using one of KB716’s mighty Bristol Hercules engines and a beautiful bronze sculpture of a crewman, this fitting tribute stands near Lake Markermeer as a permanent reminder to the sacrifices made on that fateful night in March 1943.
Many substantial parts of the wreckage have made their way to the Stirling Project – a dedicated group who are building a Stirling fuselage from the ground up and hoping to revive at least part of this now extinct aircraft.
I hope you see this model as a small tribute to the supreme sacrifice made by 7 young men a long time ago. For more on the journey, check out my build thread in the Work in Progress forum.
I now think I’m going to take a bit of break from big vacs, but I have a 1/32nd scale Super Constellation, 1/32nd scale Catalina and 1/32nd scale Beaufort in the stash and ready to go… decisions, decisions.
© Tom Probert 2025
This article was published on Friday, October 17 2025; Last modified on Sunday, October 19 2025