Popular Post Grey Beema Posted February 23, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 23, 2019 (edited) On the 12th April 1945 two 1770 Squadron Fairey Fireflys; DT941/S276 (Lt Thomson and S/Lt Miller) and DV119/S281 (S/Lt Stott and Lt Ward) took off from HMS Indefatigable at 07.45 on 12 April on a DUMBOCAP to rendezvous with, and provide cover for, a USN Mariner on ASR duties off Yonakuni Shoma searching for a downed Pilot after raids by the Fleet Air Arm on Northern Formosa during Operation Iceberg Oolong. During the Escort mission the two Fireflies engaged with five Ki51s and shot down two each. With two enemy aircraft confirmed destroyed and 3 confirmed shared destroyed (from earlier in the year) S/Lt Stott became the top scoring Firefly pilot. My model represents the aircraft of S/Lt Stott and Lt Ward. It is the Special Hobby 1/48 Fairey Firefly I, built out of the box (with the exception of a few bits of wire and some markings). Paint in Xtracrylics slightly lighted to mimic fading. The nearest I could get to a photograph of the aircraft I wanted to model is this:- IMG_1454 It is probably DT941/S276 Lt Thompson & Millers' aircraft used in the same action, which I decided to use as the template for my own. Of note is the fact that the Carrier letter 'S' and the aircraft number '281' appear to be painter in Sky rather than white (unlike my decal set), they also appear to be narrower that the decal set I had. I printed up my own decals but decided they were to dark and over painted them in Sky. TBH I was not in the best humour building the aircraft and I think shows. The Observers canopy is a little narrow, I think if i were going to build another I would go for an after-market canopy and would consider a canopy mask. Anyway - enough wittering - Hope you enjoy the pictures:- IMG_0284 IMG_0289 IMG_0298 IMG_0299 IMG_0310 IMG_0311 IMG_0305 IMG_0306 Thanks for looking in... Edited February 23, 2019 by Grey Beema My dodgy grammar 89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Nice! Mike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Lovley 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
426 Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Nice Firefly! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Lovely job. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ham Hands Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Fantastic! Lovely build. I just read Norman Hanson's book and in it, he spoke of firefly's. "Where were they?" Your build is very inspiring. Thanks for posting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Where's the "really, really like" button? Fantastic subject and execution Beema, I'm a big fan of your FAA builds. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Very nice Firefly and I love the backdrop for your photos. AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 Thank you for all of your over generous comments. I didn't think it is that good really. The background for the photographs is made of a piece of MDF painted in some non discript grey from the shed with a photo of KGV & Victorious from the IWM collection taped to the front of it.. Simple but effective. It's time to move on to the next model now. It's going to be an easier Aircraft this time converting the Tamiya F4F-F to a Grumman Martlet IV by way of converting the P&W Wasp power unit to a Wright Cyclone, lengthening the fuselage and shortening the cowling, be completed as FN112/Ø7*D. FN112 was involved with a couple of claims during Op. Torch 06.11.42 Bloch 175 Destroyed. 09.11.42 Ju88 Shared Destroyed (Italian Markings with German crew). During which it was flown by Lt DM Jeram.. I also need to procure a Seafire ready for the D-Day group Build (RM Crosley)... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Well, GB. You may not have been in the mood to build this, but it looks pretty damned good to me. Nice presentation and photography too.👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig88 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Wow!! Very nicely finished and well detailed. Lovely cockpits! Miguel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Love it, such a brute of an aircraft, yet sleek and elegant at the same time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 15 minutes ago, F-32 said: Love it, such a brute of an aircraft, yet sleek and elegant at the same time. I have it between a Seafire and a Corsair in the display cabinet. It dwarfs the Seafire but is only a little bigger than the Corsair. I'l take a picture later so that you can compare for yourself.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Superb build and finish GB,love the Firefly must build this kit someday. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 By way of size comparison - I thought I would take a couple of photographs of the Firefly beside other BPF fighters.... Seafire which of course you don't get into but strap on Corsair - which was apparently like driving a chariot!!! Hellcat - You could runaround inside the cockpit and hide.. When looking at these photos, it's not so much the size of the Firefly which is large but the fact that the Hellcat seems so much larger than the Corsair... Interesting to see also that KGV, Victorious and Formidable in the background have not broken formation.... 11 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cduckworth Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Great build - very realistic finish. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Wow,.... another corker in your BPF collection and it looks superb,...... especially against the others! You always get your TSS spot on,...well gel!! I intend to do an Indefatigable Firefly some day,..... but don`t hold yer breath! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 1 hour ago, tonyot said: Wow,.... another corker in your BPF collection and it looks superb,...... especially against the others! You always get your TSS spot on,...well gel!! I intend to do an Indefatigable Firefly some day,..... but don`t hold yer breath! Cheers Tony Thanks Tony, I always think I over weather, even though I try to follow photographs, so thank you for you comments. In the BPF Part of my build theme I only really have a Crosley's Seafire to finish the collection but I have to fill in a whole bunch of spaces in my FAA Aces theme. I intend to start with DM Jerams Op Torch Martlet, do RM Crosley's D-Day Seafire as part of the D-day Group build and DM Jerams 213 Squadron Hurricane as part of the Battle of Britain GB. Then it's down to Barnes & Tillard Fulmars though their aircraft are considered unknown and I am not sure how to positively identify them. Before then however Airfix will release their 1/24 Hellcat II and I'm thinking Hellcat II JX762 or JW779 both from HMS Indomitable and both flown by S/Lt WHI Atkinson to destroy enemy aircraft (decision depends on identifying side number) .. (hoping that @iangnew BPF book answers that question) So lots of work on my collection still to do. I guess this is just just illustrating my CDO (like OCD but with the letters in the correct alphabetical order).... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 4 hours ago, Grey Beema said: Thanks Tony, I always think I over weather, even though I try to follow photographs, so thank you for you comments. In the BPF Part of my build theme I only really have a Crosley's Seafire to finish the collection but I have to fill in a whole bunch of spaces in my FAA Aces theme. I intend to start with DM Jerams Op Torch Martlet, do RM Crosley's D-Day Seafire as part of the D-day Group build and DM Jerams 213 Squadron Hurricane as part of the Battle of Britain GB. Then it's down to Barnes & Tillard Fulmars though their aircraft are considered unknown and I am not sure how to positively identify them. Before then however Airfix will release their 1/24 Hellcat II and I'm thinking Hellcat II JX762 or JW779 both from HMS Indomitable and both flown by S/Lt WHI Atkinson to destroy enemy aircraft (decision depends on identifying side number) .. (hoping that @iangnew BPF book answers that question) So lots of work on my collection still to do. I guess this is just just illustrating my CDO (like OCD but with the letters in the correct alphabetical order).... I didn`t know that Ian was doing a new book,....... well that is one to look out for then,........ looking forward to that! You`ll get there with your collection,...... just enjoy it and don`t rush it because like me you`ll soon be out of room! If I can help in any way just give me a call mate, Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abat Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Wonderful build. The weathering and paint chipping is masterfully done. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85sqn Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Oh Yes Phil, very nice! I love what you’ve done with the rear canopy and I like the background too! makes me want to do another! Nick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank083 Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Craking build! Very nice looking. I want this kit! bravo Frank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted February 25, 2019 Author Share Posted February 25, 2019 14 hours ago, tonyot said: You`ll get there with your collection,...... just enjoy it and don`t rush it because like me you`ll soon be out of room! If I can help in any way just give me a call mate, Cheers Tony Thanks Tony, yes I'm led to believe that Ian G is currently writing a book on the British Pacific Fleet. In terms of my own collection - this is what I am currently developing. Those that are completed are ticked Green. Those on the extreme right are those I am planning to build at some point although I think some will not be built and some cannot be built as the individual aircraft cannot be identified. Dont worry, I'll be taking my time. I build at glacial pace and there are a lot of aeroplanes to work out the identity of, kits to buy and build so hopefully years of entertainment and study.... I know most will. Find this nerdy and probably DCO but I enjoy finding out about the people as much as about building the kits... In terms of space, some 1/72 built models will be sacrificed... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djos Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Simply BEAUTIFUL....and i mean BOTH MODELS! Regards Djordje 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Great build and finish on the Firefly, which is one of my favourites especially in BPF service. I was blown away in my first encounter with a Firefly as to it's size, it's a lot bigger than you would think. Cheers Dennis 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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