Grey Beema

Good luck with your model. If it’s similar to the FM-1 then it’s a nice kit. I am currently building their FM1 as Wildcat V JV384/6°F (no build thread). Assuming the kit is similar to the FM1, the lower U/C fuselage section was a pain to fit without seam lines. The undercarriage is a bit flimsy and fiddly to build but it looks good once done. It might tighten up once permanently fitted. You might want to consider the underfloor fuel tank as well to stop the straight through view through the lower fuselage windows.

You’ll enjoy this kit, take your time, it really is a lovely model. I have built 5 and have 3 more in the stash. Only real issue is the join across the flaps across the underwing, filler and sanding is your friend.. Do you have ant particular aircraft in mind?

I would definitely do the ignition leads on the engine. I use wire for them rather than etch, round rather than flat. I just think it enhances the very visible engine front .. Another thing I would do is replace the bar under the headrest, the seat belts come over the top of it so it is noticeable, I would say even with the pilot in it will be noticeable.

Bit of a slow start, other "Life" distractions getting in the way but, a start none the less. All of todays attention went into the Sea Fury, adding the, never to be seen again etch to the cockpit. Instrument Panel looks OK. I know that I need to wander around it with the paint brush, I also need to put some paint around the Gyro Gunsight before I add the the glass panels on top. The same goes for the cockpit floor, seat frame and seat. I think I need also to make a padded back rest for the seat too as well as the seat harness. Next weekend will be about getting some paint on the side frames and internals of the cockpit. Anyway, that's then this is the status as of now in pictures.. Mandatory Seafire 47 Sprue shot.. Sea Fury Sprue shot.. and a few extras This afternoons progress. Pictures taken using iPhone. Ill take better next time out.. Next weekend I'll try to complete the cockpit and start that of the Seafire.. Thanks for stopping by

The cord of the MkIV was shorter and the fuselage lengthened to compensate. I converted a 1/48 Tamiya F4F-4 to a MkIV by doing just that (as well as rebuilding the P&W engine to a Wright Cyclone..

Perhaps too, we should not forget the Fleet Air Arms contribution to the Battle of Britain..

Some early war Fleet Air Arm fighters.

Looking forward to this build. I did the FRS1 - the fit of the wing was poor especially the underside fuselage joint. I think it may have been improved for the FRS2 wing but a point to watch out for.. Good luck with your build..

I'm going to keep an eye on your build if I may, I have two in the stash. I think there may be a few Seafires in this GB, I am going to be building a Mk47 as part of my GB effort. Good luck with your build..

I’ll keep an out out for this. I like a good Fulmar build and a MkII to boot.. A friend at my modelling club described it as a “Sea Hurricane with a conservatory built in”.

Thanks Andy, you are too kind. Strangely I have that article in my Seafire folder, which I had completely forgotten about. Thank you for reminding me. I also have an Aeroplane Monthly article on the Sea Fury in the same folder. How did you know? 🤔

Thanks Pete, I was reading this article:- https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/Article_Forgotten_Cruise.htm?cmtx_page=2 Which tells of how a few Seafires were cannibalised to keep the others going, that the far east was scoured for Seafire and Firefly MkIs to try and keep 13th CAG in the air. By the time of the end of the engagement in Sep ‘50 only three Seafires and eight Fireboxes were still operational. Scouring the Interweb to find a Triumph Seafire with RPs and tanks. I think one picture shows Seafires with tanks and RP stubs but that doesn’t really prove anything..

Schools is always a favourite of mine. Most powerful 4-4-0 in the UK and an elegant design to boot. The D1 model is pure class. Many years ago there was no option but to build Southern Locos if you wanted to model lines in North Kent. I moved to N modern image and that is packed away now. I'll go back to it sometime.

Just to prove I am not just a one trick pony... FAA Falklands War.. Westland Wessex HAS.3 XP142 (Humphrey), 737 NAS, HMS Antrim, Operation Corporate, South Atlantic May’ 1982 1/72 Revel Westland Wessex HAS.3. Detailing included cockpit, gearbox grills, rear cabin, dipping sonar etc BAE Sea Harrier FRS1 XZ451/006. 801 NAS, HMS Invincible, Operation Corporate, South Atlantic May’ 1982 1/48 Kinetics kit - Almost OOB

FAA seeing stars... Fighters from Operation Torch... All 1/48 Grumman Martlet MkIV FN112/Ǿ7*D. 888 NAS HMS Formidable Operation Torch Nov-1942 06.11.42 Bloch 175 Destroyed, 09.11.42 Ju88 Shared Destroyed Lt DM Jeram Tamiya Grumman F4F-4, conversion included, rebuilding the P&W engine as a Wright engine, shortening the engine cowling, extending the fuselage. Removing rebuilding and repositioning the Flaps Hawker Sea Hurricane MkIIb JS355. 800 NAS HMS Bitter Operation Torch Nov-1942 08.11.42 DW520 Destroyed LtCdr JM Bruen Hasegawa Hawker Hurricane IIb. Conversion included removing the lower rear fuselage and replacing with the Airfix Sea Hurricane lower fuselage. Addressing curvature of rear fuselage. Removal and repositioning of control surfaces. Supermarine Seafire MkII MB156/06*G. 885 NAS HMS Formidable Operation Torch Nov-1942 08.11.42 Douglas DB7 Destroyed SLt JD Buchanan Special Hobby Supermarine Seafire II. Almost OOB Thanks for looking

I seem to be late to the opening threads. I have been doing some deliberating over what to build (built a Fulmar and Sea Hurricane already this year so it was down to a Corsair, Seafire III or Hellcat) and where I do have a Wildcat MkV in progress but very much under 20% complete, I am not going to build that as part of this GB. Instead I am going to move away from my usual WWII fare and I am going to build two aircraft from the Korean war. Two in parallel is a bit of a stretch for me so we'll see how it goes. The first aircraft I will be building is:- Its the Airfix 1/48 Sea Fury FB11. I have some etch and some after market for it, so we'll see how that goes. This will be completed as Hawker Sea Fury FB11 WJ223/O106, 802 NAS HMS Ocean. Korea - Jun '52. The aircraft that SLt B "Smoo" Ellis has now been credited with destroying a Mig 15. I have the Fundekals set for this aircraft - so I'll be using them. The second aircraft for this GB will be this rather elderly:- Airfix 1/48 Seafire FR47. Again with a little bit of aftermarket (new prop blades are on their way). This will be completed as an aircraft assigned to 800 NAS, 13th CAG, HMS Triumph, Jun - Sep 1950. I need to research a specific Aircraft / sortie / pilot for this model (or just use the box markings). I know they often carried RPs on Armed reconnaissance sorties and am thinking aux tanks and RPs with RATOG rockets but am unsure about the Tank/RP combination. Any ideas? I will carry on with the WIldcat and await the order to start engines..

Stunning as usual Roger. Lovely finishing that most of us just dream of. Beyond museum quality. You must have a very impressive display cabinet by now….

Good luck with your Fulmar. I see lots of filler and sanding in your future..

As Graham states, the early fleet fighters were not really designed to fight land based aircraft but acquitted themselves well. In terms of fleet defence, forcing your opposition to jettison their weapons or not take time to aim properly was also considered success. Below are Cdr JM Bruen’s victories by type. Blackburn Skua II · 03.07.40. (1830) Curtis Hawk Damaged. (1910) Moraine 46 Damaged. (1930) Breguet Br.521 Damaged. · 06.07.40. Shadowing flying boat Shared Destroyed · 09.07.40. Z506B Shared Destroyed. · 02.08.40. Z01 Shared Destroyed. · 31.08.40. 1/3 Cant Z501 Shared Destroyed, ½ S.79 Shared Destroyed, off Balearic Isles. Fairey Fulmar I · 21.03.41. Ju88 Destroyed. Nr Gaudhos Island. · 22.04.41 ½ Ju88 Shared Damaged. E. Tripoli · 08.05.41 ½ He111 Shared Destroyed. Alexandria-Malta. · 26.05.41 ½ Ju88 Shared Damaged on ground. Create area Sea Hurricane I · 12.08.42. Ju88 Destroyed, S79 Destroyed, S84 Shared Destroyed, Ju88 Probably Destroyed. Sea Hurricane IIb · 8.11.42. DW520 Destroyed over Oran airfield. Regards

Thank you Richard. The Skua & Fulmar are both Special Hobby (1/48) The Sea Hurricane I is Airfix. The Fulmar was part of the Salty Sea Dog GB earlier this year.

Well, I wouldn’t go that far but thank you. Now I’m thinking Sea Fury for the FAA Group Build but I might start a Wildcat V in the meantime….

Cheers Roger. I think I’m going for something OOB for my next build. I need a small break from complicating builds….

This is a conversion of the Hasegawa Hawker Hurricane MkIIb boxing to represent Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.IIb JS355 800 NAS. HMS Biter Operation Torch, Nov ‘42 Lt Cdr JM Bruen This is the last aircraft Bruen scored an air to air victory in. I should do a family shot as I have built an aircraft, flown by Bruen of each type he scored in Skua, Fulmar, Sea Hurricane I and Sea Hurricane IIb. Kit: 1/48 Hasegawa Hurricane IIB Work done:- · Removed Lower kit fuselage and in its place grafted in the lower fuselage of the Airfix 1/48 Sea Hurricane I kit which was adapted to fit. · Fixed the curvature of lower fuselage walls which was missing from the Hasegawa kit. · Reshaped the top of the engine cowling to better represent the rounded top of the Hurricane nose. · Sanded the wing tips to the triangular cross section. · All control surfaces removed, reshaped where necessary and refitted slightly animated. · Various lumps and bumps removed from the cowling to better represent the Hurricane IIb. · Pilot harness from paper. · Paint is Sovereign Hobbies Colourcoats enamels. · Nationality Markings are sprayed using homemade masks. Serial number is homemade decal. Stencils are kit decals. Big call out of thanks to @Troy Smith for his help and advice. The Hurricane Guru. I hope I got it about right (though I need to sort out that prop blade tip). The stencils have silvered which is a shame as I thought the surface was smooth enough but note to self to do it better next time. Lastly the aircraft of its display base. Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I need to go figure what I am going to build in the Fleet Air Arm Group build now...

I am calling this one finished, been beavering away at it but life kind of of got in the way, been asked to dig a project out of the mire which is taking up all my time.. I'll put more photos in an RFI. Thanks for Stopping by..

Nicely nailed together and nicely finished Chris. FAA cabinet must be filling up nicely by now..