Airfix new-tool Fairey Swordfish Mk.1, 833 Sqn, HMS Biter "Sparks of Liberation"

[Manipled Mutineer]

This is the new-tool Fairey Swordfish Mk.1 from the Airfix Club "Sparks of Liberation" boxing. I built it in tribute to my Grandfather, Joseph Liam Guerin, happily still with us, whose ship RFA Brown Ranger supported the Operation Torch landings. It represents V4448, a Swordfish of 833 Sqn, aboard HMS Biter.

It is nicely detailed, and the final product looks good, to my eyes. Decals apply cleanly, although I would recommend some sort of setting solution such as decal fix, especially for the fuselage codes, given the profile of the area over which they sit. I was surprised how few stencils there were, but perhaps the FAA didn't go in for them? The moulding of some parts is very fine, which is great, but it does demand particular care in removing them, as the plastic is inclined to both bend and snap! The outer wing struts have a subsidiary strut behind them, and I broke both whilst extracting them, so I eventually abandoned my side cutters for the finer pieces. From the instructions I wasn't sure how to assemble the cockpit tub and made the wrong choice, making it slightly too wide, which it then needed a lot of glue, clamping and brute force to correct when I put the fuselage halves together. The efforts made by Airfix to simplify the assembly of the wings were effective, though.

This build for the first time I 90% finished painting the fuselage and inner surfaces of the wings before putting them together, which I found substantially easier, and will try to remember next time. I wish I had thought to put on the lower wing decals at the same time!

The Airfix painting guide doesn't show the standard RAF/FAA fin flash in use, but I found a French profile which did, and so followed that element of it. I also followed the other profile, and deviated from the painting guide, by roughly painting-out the "Royal" of "Royal Navy" above the port and starboard serial codes. To achieve the overall camouflage scheme, I applied an interpretation of the two schemes to create the camouflage pattern, as the Airfix painting guide showed the same pattern on both port and starboard sides, which seemed inherently unlikely, as well as being contradicted by the overhead view. It is also worth noting that some of the painting instructions given in the course of the build are different from those parts as shown in the painting guide, for example the bomb racks and rocket carriers, which are both 85 Coal Black according to the instructions, but 90 Beige Green (approx Sky) according to the painting guide. The kit comes with a torpedo and its impedimenta plus two extra rockets, and so is a useful source of spares. Overall a very good kit.

[stevej60]

Excellent build and a fitting tribute,never seen that scheme on a Swordfish before.

[Manipled Mutineer]

Thanks Steve, yes I thought it was quite eye-catching too. I'm looking forward to building the companion Hurricane at some point.

[HOUSTON]

M.M.

Your tribute to your Grandfather is highly commendable..

I bet he loved it as it is SUPERBly done..

A very fitting tribute indeed... Good job

Nice build and painting is lovely..

GORGEOUS Workmanship...

[Learstang]

Excellent Stringbag and very eye-catching with the American insignia! Once you do the Hurricane, you should do an Albacore (if you can find one!).

Regards,

Jason

[Manipled Mutineer]

Many thanks both, for your kind comments. An Albacore is definitely on the wants list, if, as you say, I can ever find one...