1/72 Airfix D.H Heron II  

Royal Malaysian Air Force

by Brian Parameswaran

“FM 1054” on display at the RMAF Museum.

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History

The Heron entered service with the Royal Malaysian Air Force in 1963 and was inducted to be operated by No 2 Squadron (VIP Transport squadron) at the RMAF Station in Kuala Lumpur. The RMAF had a total of three Herons serial number FM 1053, FM 1054, FM 1055. The Heron was also the first four engine aircraft to be operated by the RMAF. The Herons of the RMAF were utilized along with the D.H Dove for communication, photo reconnaissance and VIP transportation within the RMAF. The Herons of the RMAF were faced out of operations in 1979 and today there is one Heron in RMAF livery on display at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum in Kuala Lumpur.

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The Model

This model is made by the Airfix company of England and is in 1/72 scale. The kit is from the “classic airliners” range of Airfix kits and comes with a bunch passengers and crew figures to be displayed with the aircraft. The fit of this kit is quite good for its vintage but interior detail is poor as with any other Airfix or Matchbox kit in this era. The kit was built strictly OOB with the only exception for the custom RMAF markings. Construction was fairly straight forward and instructions are easily understood. Model was finished using majority of Revell and Humbrol enamels namely Revell number 04 (Aircraft Colour), 350, (Blue Stripe Across Aircraft)& Humbrol number 165 (The Props). Overall an easy and fast build with limited problems and shortcomings.  Markings were custom made by me. The words “Tentera Udara Di Raja Malaysia” means Royal Malaysian Air Force in the Malay language.  

S.B. (Brian)