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Sea Fury, Korea. A token of respect and gratitude for an old aviator.


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My wife and I would regularly visit her Father (now sadly deceased) in a care home in Fife, and I couldn't help noticing a magnificent poster sized drawing on the wall of the occupant of the room next door. The picture was a beautiful framed print of an 802 Sqn Sea Fury landing on the deck of HMS Ocean during the Korean War. Inevitably we got chatting and as it turned out, this chap had flown Sea Furies with 802 during the conflict, and chatting to him about his days as a FAA Pilot was always rewarded with big happy smiles.

 

My building skills are limited as anyone who has seen my previous posts will know, but I felt I was improving, and I resolved to use some lock-down time to build a Sea Fury from his Squadron to present to him as a reminder of his Service days, and hopefully to trigger memories of his flying days.

 

This is a 1/48 Airfix Sea Fury FB11, using the Aero-Craft resin cowling and gun-sight, Eduard seat belts, and 802 Sqn decals from Barracuda showing Brian Ellis's machine from August 1952. The base is from Coastal Kits and represents the deck of HMS Ocean during the Korean conflict.

Paints are Vallejo Model Air. Weathering was deliberately kept light and no pin wash was applied as the panel lines already look quite prominent.

 

Fit of the kit was excellent and there were none of the short shots that I have read about in previous build reports. Any problems were largely of my own making......like realising that the black Invasion Stripe lines showed through the white portion of the wing roundels - should have seen that coming!     My first time with the tricky masking of invasion stripes (and the area of background fuselage colour bearing the "106" code).

I learned a lot doing this build and overall I am pleased with the result - more importantly, so is the recipient!

 

On to the pics......

 

50201724211_ba025c55d3_b.jpg20200806_092302 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201987762_55f253ddf7_b.jpg20200806_092228 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201724476_5767ebf2bd_b.jpg20200806_092217 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201987902_25ae8b10fc_b.jpg20200806_092207 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201180333_afae156623_b.jpg20200806_092137 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201988322_7782f05ff1_b.jpg20200806_091946 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201725106_603ab8c22a_b.jpg20200806_091858 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201180838_514681903f_b.jpg20200806_091825 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201725521_9b17c3dff3_b.jpg20200806_091741 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201725581_484401e233_b.jpg20200806_091723 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

50201181838_b02e06b01d_b.jpg20200806_091613 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

And finally a pic of Douglas with the completed build.

50330869311_e58065d684_b.jpg20200911_111647 by Niall Robertson, on Flickr

 

 

A salute to the brave men who flew in combat, and a promise that they are not forgotten.

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I have to disagree with your statement regarding your building skills being "limited". Your work is very good and the model is quite impressive. Great that you have a caring heart and the recipient got a momento worthy of the service he provided his country.  I commend you for excellence in modeling and, even more, for such quality character.

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You have done a superb job, both with the model which is a beaut,..... but also by making a veteran very happy,..... the last picture is fantastic and I`m so glad that he likes it.

Cheers

           Tony

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A nice job on the Sea Fury and an even nicer backstory. Your friend Douglas looks well pleased.

I’m about to start Airfix’s 1/48 Sea Fury in RAN colours.

Edited by SteveMc
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Grateful thanks for all your comments.......it's nice to have objective opinions that my work is improving - most encouraging.

 

9 hours ago, noelh said:

are you of Airfix  magazine of old?

'fraid not ..........though I was an avid reader in my yoof

 

Q

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Thank you for your contribution to an old aviator. I have no doubt you made his last days full of fond memories. My wife's dad ( who died before we were married) was a USMC aviator. In the few years I knew him before he passed, I built him a Panther, Bearcat and Skyhawk, all of which he flew and had fondness for. He treasured those models and I was proud to give him the pleasure of his memories in plastic. We should all try to make those small contributions to our hero veterans who were instrumental in world freedom.

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