The Sea Fury rumour thread 2

[Scooby]

On 2018-02-07 at 6:51 AM, JeffreyK said:

Got my kit today. While I'm very happy about a nice, new 1:48 Sea Fury kit (I don't do many prop planes, but when I do...), I can't understand what's going on at Airfix regarding the quality. The company, their image and reputation and the pride and effort of the designers are let down by poor production and QC.

 

 

I work in the medical field and a good deal of our competition in the radiopharmaceutical world is in India. Their QC and gmp standards are supposed to be the same, they aren’t.

[Homebee]

Sea Fury corrected resin cowling by Aerocraft Models

Source: http://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/sea-fury-cowling-2

 

 

V.P.

Edited March 12, 2018 by Homebee

[Scooby]

Did I read somewhere buyers were missing their clear sprues? Mine were not in my kit.

 

I don't have a short shot though. Just no clear sprue.

[janneman36]

On 2/3/2018 at 9:44 PM, NAVY870 said:

Just a heads up.

The gun sight mounting in the Eduard seat is somewhat wrong.

The gun sight mount sits on a plate that is welded to a beam that sits across the top of the panel.

Pics to follow

 

And do you allready have the some pics of the plate and beam construction?

 

Cheers, Jan

[Ali62]

I have a few new sets for the Sea Fury, please see my post in the vendors section of Aerocraft Models.

 

cheers Ali

[NAVY870]

2 hours ago, janneman36 said:

And do you allready have the some pics of the plate and beam construction?

 

Cheers, Jan

I do.

Is it for personal or commercial use?

 

[janneman36]

16 hours ago, NAVY870 said:

I do.

Is it for personal or commercial use?

 

Just for my own Sea Fury builds and my Baghdad Fury(the one build that stalled here on BM)

 

Cheers, Jan

[Homebee]

Barracuda Studios new dedicated resin cockpit set - ref. BC4837

Sources: 

http://barracudacals.com/proddetail.php?prod=BR48347&cat=33

https://www.facebook.com/groups/848474938507986/permalink/2073449569343844/

 

Quote

Here's a little pick-me-up for the weekend! Sneak preview image of the new 1/48 Sea Fury cockpit, BC4837, designed for the new tool Airfix kit. These are in production now and will be released, along with 5 other new sets, next week. I think you will find this to be a relatively quick and painless installation and will add a lot to your next Sea Fury office! Enjoy your weekend (already in progress for some)!

 

 

V.P.

Edited July 24, 2018 by Homebee

[Bedders]

Give me 1/72.

 

JB

[Homebee]

Aerocraft Models dedicated resin Sea Fury Engine set - ref.

Sources:

https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/super-detailed-sea-fury-engine

http://www.hyperscale.com/2018/reviews/accessories/aerocraftseafuryenginesetreviewbg_1.htmµ

 

 

V.P.

[ICMF]

Bunch of Barracuda sets released - Diamond Tread wheels, Block Tread wheels, cast brass landing gear and a cockpit.

 

http://www.hyperscale.com/2018/reviews/accessories/barracudacastbr48343previewbg_1.htm

[Homebee]

Barracuda Studios new dedicated sets

- ref. BR48345 - Sea Fury Brass Landing Gear - Early Style

http://barracudacals.com/proddetail.php?prod=BR48345&cat=33

 

 

- ref. BR48344 - Sea Fury Mainwheels - Block Tread

http://barracudacals.com/proddetail.php?prod=BR48344&cat=33

 

 

- ref. BR48343 - Sea Fury Mainwheels - Diamond Tread

http://barracudacals.com/proddetail.php?prod=BR48343&cat=33

 

 

V.P.

[Andre B]

Och, please give me those brass landing gear but in 1/72...

 

Would they go for an Tempest as well?

 

/André

Edited October 12, 2018 by Mike
Removing unnecessary photo quote from the post above.

[Homebee]

Source: https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/a-flight-of-airfix-hawker-features

 

Quote

Hawker Sea Furys under foreign skies

In support of the second release from the new Hawker Sea Fury tooling, the artwork features the two RAN Sea Furys flown by Royal Navy exchange pilots during the 1955 shooting down of a rogue Auster Archer off the coast of New South Wales

 

Sydney Camm and his Hawker design team did not just possess an impressive record in producing attractive jet aircraft for the RAF and Fleet Air Arm, they could also boast arguably the most aesthetically pleasing and certainly one of the most potent piston engined fighters amongst their unrivalled design credentials. The Hawker Sea Fury can trace its origins back to the accidental landing of a Luftwaffe Focke Wulf Fw190 fighter at an RAF airfield in South Wales, presenting British military planners with a pristine example of this new fighter, which had ruled the skies since its introduction during the late summer of the previous year. In order to combat the threat posed by the Fw190 and its subsequent variants, the Air Ministry issued a requirement for a new high performance fighter, which should be more capable than any other aircraft currently flying. Based around flight data obtained by evaluating the captured Focke Wulf, the new aircraft was to be lightweight in design, heavily armed and utilising the most powerful engine that could be married to its diminutive airframe - Hawker’s design submission bore an uncanny resemblance to the Fw190, but replaced its rugged, workmanlike appearance with that of a cultured fighting thoroughbred. Although the new fighter was later dropped by the RAF, the Fleet Air Arm were delighted with this potent new fighter and welcomed the Hawker Sea Fury into naval service in 1945.

 

There are some kit releases you just know are going to be popular with modellers all over the world and that was certainly the case with our 1/48th scale Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 which arrived earlier this year – a larger scale example of one of the most attractive aircraft ever produced and another product of the prolific Hawker design team. With built examples of this new kit gracing the Airfix stand at last year’s Scale ModelWorld show, it seemed as if everyone was planning to add one of these beauties to their 2018 build schedule and we are certainly hoping to see plenty of examples on display at this year’s show. Indeed, the release of this kit was slightly delayed at the beginning of the year and it did prove rather difficult to obtain an example of the Sea Fury at first (if it had not been pre-ordered), with available stocks only just arriving in model stores over recent weeks. The exclusive artwork reveal featured above confirms that the second release from this popular new tooling is also just around the corner and this time features Sea Furys which operated under the colours of overseas air arms – Export Furys. This new kit will be supplied with three attractive scheme options, each one possessing an interesting story all of its own, but perhaps none so unusual as the one attached to the lead scheme and the incident which inspired the fantastic box artwork.

 

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VW645, No.805 Squadron, Royal Australian Navy, Nowra, New South Wales, Australia, August 30th 1955. Aircraft flown by Lieutenant John Bluett (RN), who shot down an unmanned Auster J/4 Archer (VH-AET) over Broken Bay.

 

Full scheme details for the Auster killing Sea Fury FB.II frown by Fleet Air Arm exchange pilot Lt. John Bluett on 30th August 1955

 

As Royal Navy Officers Lt. John Bluett and Lt. Peter McNay prepared to embark on their latest training sortie on 30th August 1955, little did they know that this day would see them involved in one of the most bizarre incidents in the history of Australian aviation and allow one of them to apply a unique kill marking to his Hawker Sea Fury FB.11. The men were on exchange posting with the Royal Australian Navy, which allowed them to fly their aircraft in conditions which were usually much better than the weather back in the UK and spend some valuable time with another major Sea Fury operator. As they planned a gunnery practice sortie, both Sea Furys were fuelled and armed in readiness for what should have been a routine training flight and another uneventful entry in their respective log books.

 

On the same day at Sydney’s Bankstown Airport, a private pilot had hired an Auster Archer J-4 for some practice flying and a series of take-off and landing circuits at the airfield. Flying alone, his first landing proved to be rather eventful, with the engine cutting out on final approach, but as the aircraft was only ten feet above the runway, he gently brought the aircraft down and safely came to a halt. With the brakes applied, the lone pilot set the throttle, climbed out of his seat and attempted to swing the propeller himself, confident that the aircraft did not have an underlying technical issue – the engine sprang into life and immediately resulted in the unmanned aircraft accelerating down the runway. The brakes had failed to hold and despite his best efforts, the hapless pilot was unable to prevent the Auster from gaining speed and climbing into the air without him, narrowly missing the control tower but seemingly in a relatively stable manner. Circling the airfield for a few minutes, a rising wind altered the course of the unmanned aircraft, sending it in the direction of the city and the much larger international airport. Clearly now causing significant concern, a general alert was issued and a navy aircraft was diverted to intercept the Auster and shadow it, providing real-time reports on its position and flightpath to authorities. It was soon joined by a pair of RAAF Sabres, but as these were unarmed, there was little that they could do and left the scene after being informed that an armed Wirraway trainer was on the way, with orders to shoot the Auster down.

 

That should really have been the end of the situation, but it proved to be just the beginning of a bizarre series of events which saw this incident last much longer than it should have done. With the pilotless Auster now over the sea, the Wirraway was cleared to shoot it down, but as this was being done using a hand held Bren gun fired from the open rear position and the aircraft were now at much higher altitude, the aircraft made two unsuccessful passes, using up the entire magazine – unfortunately, the operators hands were now so cold that he was unable to change the magazine and the Wirraway had to withdraw from the chase. The matter appeared to be firmly in hand when a No.75 Squadron Meteor arrived shortly afterward and lined up behind the Auster, with the aircraft squarely in its sights. Firing its guns, strikes were noted on the wing of the Auster, but after only ten rounds were unleashed, the Meteors guns jammed and the unmanned aircraft continued on its course – Auster 2, RAAF 0.

 

The Meteor pilot tried everything he could to bring the Auster down, performing a series of close-up, high energy manoeuvres, attempting to disturb the airflow around the aircraft, but with his guns firmly jammed and with the Auster happily maintaining its course, his fuel situation necessitated a return to base and another RAAF Meteor being ordered to the area. The radio chatter had been picked up by the two British Sea Fury pilots who were by now in the air in their armed aircraft and ready to lend their expertise. Informing the incident controller of their availability, the two fighters quickly arrived on the scene, just before the second Meteor and made short work of their civilian target. Having circled the rogue aircraft for a short while and ensuring the necessary clearances were in place, Lieutenant John Bluett lined up the Auster in his sights and gave it a short burst, sending it crashing into the South Pacific Ocean and ending what proved to be a rather eventful morning. The pilotless Auster had managed to fly itself for over two hours, taking a track over the suburbs of Sydney and up the coast of New South Wales, before falling to the guns of one of the world’s most capable piston engined fighters.

The two British exchange pilots landed their Sea Furys at Sydney’s International Airport, before returning to their base at Nowra, presumably to enjoy the attention of their now famous exploits, although they will have probably cited low fuel as the reason for their divert. On arrival back at Nowra Naval Air Station, the pair were greeted enthusiastically by ground crews aware of their unusual ‘victory’ and it was not long before Hawker Sea Fury FB.II VW645 was adorned with an unusual kill marking on its port side fuselage, under the front canopy framing.

 

Hawker Sea Fury FB.II TG113, No.803 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS Warrior, Canada, 1948.

 

 

The handsome colour scheme adopted by the Royal Canadian Navy certainly helped to highlight the stunning good looks of what is considered by many to be the ultimate piston engined fighter

 

As one of the most potent piston engined fighter aircraft ever produced, the Hawker Sea Fury entered service just too late to see action during the Second World War and occupies a place in aviation history where the ultimate piston designs were having to give way to the advent of jet powered aviation. Even though the Sea Fury could match the performance of many of the first generation of jet fighters, it represented the zenith of piston powered technology and with jet power clearly set to define aviation development in the years to come, the world’s navys were already looking to get jet aircraft on their carriers. Despite this, for a few glorious years, the Hawker Sea Fury proved to be an extremely effective fleet defender and strike/attack aircraft and secured some lucrative overseas orders for Hawker Aviation, who by now were already working on aircraft such as the Sea Hawk and what would become the Hunter.

 

With a requirement for a capable fleet defender and replacement for their ageing WWII types, the Royal Canadian Navy were admirers of the Sea Fury and would eventually take 74 aircraft to serve from their carrier HMCS Warrior and at land based stations, protecting their ships and providing cover for other more vulnerable naval aircraft. Identical to the aircraft serving with the British Fleet Air Arm, the Canadian aircraft were initially drawn from existing Royal Navy inventory, with later batches constructed under new contracts. The Canadian’s loved their Sea Furys and used the aircraft successfully until the summer of 1956, when their aircraft were placed in storage and their carriers saw the arrival of their first jet aircraft, the American McDonnel F2H-3 Banshee. It seems that a number of the stored Canadian Sea Furys had very few hours flying time on their airframes, some as little as 4 hours, having only been flown during post production test flights. Stored in a large wooden hangar, it appears that many were destroyed when this hangar set ablaze, before the aircraft could embark on a new career as unlimited air racing aircraft in the US.

 

Sea Fury FB.II TG113 is a fine representation of a Royal Canadian Navy Sea Fury FB.II and wears the classic scheme applied to these beautiful aircraft whilst in Canadian service. Although the colours appear similar to the ones applied to Fleet Air Arm machines, the Canadian Government published specific painting instructions for their Sea Furys, although these were written guidelines, supplied without the benefit of any physical colour references. This has led to some modelling confusion over the years, with many simply assuming that standard Royal Navy colours were applied to all Canadian aircraft. This has proved to be incorrect, however the lack of definitive colour references ensures that this remains something of a hot topic and one which still requires exhaustive research. Thankfully, whatever colours are applied to the Sea Fury, it is not possible to detract from the handsome profile of this magnificent looking aircraft.

 

Fokker built Hawker Sea Fury FB.Mk.51 6-46, aircraft flown by LtZV1 Rolf Idzerda, ‘Aerobats’, VSQ 860, Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service, NAS Valkenburg, The Netherlands, 1953.

 

 

As the first export customers for the Hawker Sea Fury, the Dutch Navy were also the recipient of some licence built Fokker constructed aircraft, including this machine, which represented VSQ 860’s ‘Aerobats’ formation display team in 1953

 

Significant as the first export customer for the Hawker Sea Fury, the Royal Netherlands Navy were early admirers of the potent naval fighter and used the aircraft from both their land bases and on board their carrier HNLMS Karel Doorman, formerly the British Colossus class aircraft carrier HMS Venerable. The Dutch were also granted a production licence for additional aircraft, which were manufactured by Fokker and designated FB Mk.50 for the FB.10 and FB.Mk.51 for the definitive FB.II variants. Despite their admiration for the aircraft and securing production rights, the Dutch would only use the Sea Fury for a relatively short period, replacing it with another Hawker design, the jet powered Sea Hawk in 1957.

 

Dutch Hawker Sea Fury FB.Mk.51 6-46 initially served with the Fleet Air Arm, but was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1946, where it was assigned to HNLMS Karel Doorman. Wearing these distinctive markings, it was one of four aircraft which made up No.860 Squadron’s aerobatic display team, ‘The Aerobats’, who performed precision aerobatic display demonstrations using this most potent of piston powered aircraft. In the summer of 1953, the Aerobats unexpectedly attended the large NATO air display held at Soesterberg air base - led by LtZV1 Rolf Idzerda, the team delighted the huge crowds with their thrilling displays of aerial prowess and the striking appearance of their specially presented Sea Furys, which were resplendent in their bright orange cowling and spinners. In August the same year, the team were awarded second prize at the Dutch National Formation and Aerobatics Competition, quite an accolade for a team which operated these mighty fighters, with their huge propellers and powerful engines – not the most appropriate aircraft in which to fly formation aerobatics. August 1953 would prove to be a significant month for this particular Sea Fury, as it would go on to suffer a landing accident whilst recovering to its home carrier, sustaining damage which was serious enough to see the aircraft written off as uneconomical to repair – a sad end for a rather distinctive Sea Fury.

 

 

With three attractive scheme options to choose from, this November release will be a popular choice for a little Christmas build project

 

With three interesting and attractive schemes to choose from, it is going to be difficult to decide which of these export Sea Furys to finish our models as, following the November launch of this second 1/48th scale release, but as each one tells an interesting story in the history of this most potent of piston powered fighters, it not a problem that will cause us too many sleepless nights. Perhaps the most pressing issue will be whether to compete the Auster killing Sea Fury as it appeared during the shoot down incident or following the addition of its unique artwork applied afterwards – such modelling pressure.

 

V.P.

[Col.]

Well played Airfix. Well played  

[Paul J]

Just as I was about to give up on doing any more 48th a very likeable scale for me but space issues....this is one to be added to my stash for a rainy day.  

[Biggles81]

They could start a theme and release another boxing of the Meteor with the approriate 75 Squadron markings from the Auster debacle. Then all we need is a new tool Auster and Wirraway in 1/48 scale of course.

Edited October 12, 2018 by Biggles81

[Biggles81]

Or at least Sqnldr Holdsworth’s A77-880 which fired 16 rounds according to the 78 Wing A50 (or 15 as reported in another document but not ten per the Airfix narrative). Unfortunately neither the 78 Wing or 75 Squadron diaries record the serial for Fleming’s jet which arrived 1 minute too late to engage the Auster. If someone has access to Jim Fleming’s logbook the second Meteor could be easily identified assuming someone like @Magpie22 hasn’t noted it already.......

 

Edited October 15, 2018 by Biggles81

[Col.]

2 hours ago, Paul J said:

Just as I was about to give up on doing any more 48th a very likeable scale for me but space issues....this is one to be added to my stash for a rainy day.  

Fold the wings and you'll have room for a couple Paul  

[ICMF]

At least two more aftermarket sets are in the works, hopefully to be released at SMW.

[Homebee]

New Barracuda studios decals ref. BC48379

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/848474938507986?view=permalink&id=2253335681355231

 

 

V.P.

Edited November 4, 2018 by Homebee

[ICMF]

Wonder if they'll release any other Sea Fury sets.

[ICMF]

On 11/4/2018 at 4:51 PM, ICMF said:

Wonder if they'll release any other Sea Fury sets.

Turns out, they will!  😀

[Tbolt]

40 minutes ago, ICMF said:

Turns out, they will!  😀

Yes that cowl looks rather nice.

[Ali62]

I will have the standard and the detailed cowlings on my shared stand at the show, Aerocraft will be on the Blackbird Models stand, in hall 3 near Eduard.

 

cheers Ali