Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Username: Airframes.
Name: Terry.
Category: Judge - non competing.
Aircraft: Hawker Sea Fury FB II.
Kit: Hobbycraft.
Scale: 1.48th.
Accessories: 'Airwaves' PE wing fold, 'Squadron' vac-form canopy, 'True Details' resin wheels, 'Eduard' Tempest drop tanks, scratch-built rocket pylons other bits, home made and spare decals.
Hawker Sea Fury FB II, VX 691, '130 T', 807 Naval Air Sqn, FAA, HMS Theseus, Korea, 10th April 1951.
I've been meaning to build this kit since I first obtained it, over 20 years ago, and this is the perfect excuse! I did make a start all those years ago, long before the advent of all the PE and resin parts now available, by cutting one wing with a view to scratch-building the wing folds and displaying the model with folded wings, and it was originally going to be modelled as an aircraft from the naval Air Station at Stretton, not far from where I live. When the 'Carrier Aircraft' GB was decided upon, I left the kit in the stash, and have been looking forward to the start of this GB ever since.
This was one of the first Hobbycraft kits I bought, and although it is a little basic in parts, I was at the time impressed by the fine panel and surface detail, and test-fitting indicates it should go together well. So far, it seems reasonable value for money which, then, I think was around £10 or less. But more on the kit during the course of the build.
Background.
Developed as a Naval fighter from the outwardly similar Tempest II, the Sea Fury first flew in February 1944, but was too late to enter service and see action in WW2. Originally delivered as the MkX, a pure air defence/ air superiority fighter, it was later strengthened and slightly modified, from the fifty first airframe, to meet a requirement for a Fighter Bomber, when it was then designated FB II.
The first of the new breed, the ultimate piston-engined fighter, entered service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in May, 1948.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, Sea Furies were soon in action, when the carrier HMS Theseus sailed to join the US Navy, arriving on station on 5 October, 1950, with the 17th CAG on board. This consisted of the 21 Sea Furies of 807 Naval Air Squadron, and 810 Sqn, equipped with 12 Fairey Firefly FR5s.
Five days later, on October 10th, the Sea Furies were in action with a strike in the Changyan area, losing one aircraft to ground fire, with the pilot being picked up by a USAF helicopter whilst under fire. Operations were flown regularly, up to four per day, with aircraft flying in very poor weather conditions during this period, where ice and snow made landings and deck handling difficult and hazardous. Targets were attacked with either 3 inch RPs, carried on three, twin mount rails per wing, or with 180 pound 'Triplex' rockets, normally two per wing, although six rockets could be carried, as well as 500 or 1,000 pound bombs, one under each wing. The targets included railways and rolling stock, bridges, supply depots and vehicles, as well as water transport.
At the end of the year, the Squadron was awarded the Boyd Trophy, which is presented for outstanding merit.
HMS Theseus withdrew in mid-April 1951, being replaced on station by HMS Glory, after she had launched 3,489 Operational sorties, and suffered losses to both Sea Furies and Fireflys.
I need to finish the Tornado and the Halifax before starting on this model, but hope to do so by the end of this month - watch this space!
EDIT: - Oops! Forgot to add the 'Carrier GB' to the thread title, if a mod wouldn't mind correcting it for me.
Name: Terry.
Category: Judge - non competing.
Aircraft: Hawker Sea Fury FB II.
Kit: Hobbycraft.
Scale: 1.48th.
Accessories: 'Airwaves' PE wing fold, 'Squadron' vac-form canopy, 'True Details' resin wheels, 'Eduard' Tempest drop tanks, scratch-built rocket pylons other bits, home made and spare decals.
Hawker Sea Fury FB II, VX 691, '130 T', 807 Naval Air Sqn, FAA, HMS Theseus, Korea, 10th April 1951.
I've been meaning to build this kit since I first obtained it, over 20 years ago, and this is the perfect excuse! I did make a start all those years ago, long before the advent of all the PE and resin parts now available, by cutting one wing with a view to scratch-building the wing folds and displaying the model with folded wings, and it was originally going to be modelled as an aircraft from the naval Air Station at Stretton, not far from where I live. When the 'Carrier Aircraft' GB was decided upon, I left the kit in the stash, and have been looking forward to the start of this GB ever since.
This was one of the first Hobbycraft kits I bought, and although it is a little basic in parts, I was at the time impressed by the fine panel and surface detail, and test-fitting indicates it should go together well. So far, it seems reasonable value for money which, then, I think was around £10 or less. But more on the kit during the course of the build.
Background.
Developed as a Naval fighter from the outwardly similar Tempest II, the Sea Fury first flew in February 1944, but was too late to enter service and see action in WW2. Originally delivered as the MkX, a pure air defence/ air superiority fighter, it was later strengthened and slightly modified, from the fifty first airframe, to meet a requirement for a Fighter Bomber, when it was then designated FB II.
The first of the new breed, the ultimate piston-engined fighter, entered service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in May, 1948.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, Sea Furies were soon in action, when the carrier HMS Theseus sailed to join the US Navy, arriving on station on 5 October, 1950, with the 17th CAG on board. This consisted of the 21 Sea Furies of 807 Naval Air Squadron, and 810 Sqn, equipped with 12 Fairey Firefly FR5s.
Five days later, on October 10th, the Sea Furies were in action with a strike in the Changyan area, losing one aircraft to ground fire, with the pilot being picked up by a USAF helicopter whilst under fire. Operations were flown regularly, up to four per day, with aircraft flying in very poor weather conditions during this period, where ice and snow made landings and deck handling difficult and hazardous. Targets were attacked with either 3 inch RPs, carried on three, twin mount rails per wing, or with 180 pound 'Triplex' rockets, normally two per wing, although six rockets could be carried, as well as 500 or 1,000 pound bombs, one under each wing. The targets included railways and rolling stock, bridges, supply depots and vehicles, as well as water transport.
At the end of the year, the Squadron was awarded the Boyd Trophy, which is presented for outstanding merit.
HMS Theseus withdrew in mid-April 1951, being replaced on station by HMS Glory, after she had launched 3,489 Operational sorties, and suffered losses to both Sea Furies and Fireflys.
I need to finish the Tornado and the Halifax before starting on this model, but hope to do so by the end of this month - watch this space!
EDIT: - Oops! Forgot to add the 'Carrier GB' to the thread title, if a mod wouldn't mind correcting it for me.
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Terry... 
