ianwau Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 (edited) On 30 August 1955 (nearly 66 years ago), an Auster J4 Archer at Bankstown Airport (Sydney, Australia) had engine trouble on landing and rolled to a stop. The (solo) pilot hopped out to swing the propeller but failed to set the brake and the throttle was a little too advanced... The Auster duly took off (empty) and spent some hours circling Sydney with interceptions from scrambled RAAF Wirraway and RAAF Meteor failing - and eventually shot down by a RAN Sea Fury (piloted by RN pilots mumble mumble). The recent Airfix 1/48 Sea Fury (Export Edition) features the incident on the box art. tells the story in the instruction sheet and includes the markings for the successful combatant! However the featured Auster has not been kitted in 1/48 and conversion from other Auster models are rather extensive. So let's scratchbuild one? If you've been following the WIP build you'll have already watched the progress. Anyway - it's now considered done (by my standards!) And the underside - before completion (obviously) And a bit of fun with a hapless chap (the ex-pilot). Suspect I'll get around to painting him - but figure painting is new to me. Maybe post this photo again when I've learned the trade! . Oh, I do have the Airfix Sea Fury kit as well - although not sure what scheme I should choose for that? Not? Edited August 8, 2021 by ianwau add tags 31 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 That is scratch-built? WOW! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 Absolutely superb in every single way well done! 👍👍👍 TT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 Wow! Beautiful model and a story that I was not aware of! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 This is superb modeling! Thanks for sharing it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 I like that a lot. A well scratched model. I don't know how you do it! Thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 Master class modelling! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 Great model , I enjoyed your thread immensely and am in awe of your skills. Love the backround info too. The pilot running after it diorama will be wonderful too. Great work. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Beautiful work Ian, she's turned out fantastic! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacificmustang Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 That is absolutely awesome tidy work Bruce 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 I've just stumbled across this, stunning! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 Cracking job and some fine scratchbuilding. That must have been the easiest kill for the Sea Fury, that is also a great story. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted October 18, 2023 Share Posted October 18, 2023 On 8/7/2021 at 9:02 AM, ianwau said: On 30 August 1955 (nearly 66 years ago), an Auster J4 Archer at Bankstown Airport (Sydney, Australia) had engine trouble on landing and rolled to a stop. The (solo) pilot hopped out to swing the propeller but failed to set the brake and the throttle was a little too advanced... The Auster duly took off (empty) and spent some hours circling Sydney with interceptions from scrambled RAAF Wirraway and RAAF Meteor failing - and eventually shot down by a RAN Sea Fury (piloted by RN pilots mumble mumble). The recent Airfix 1/48 Sea Fury (Export Edition) features the incident on the box art. tells the story in the instruction sheet and includes the markings for the successful combatant! However the featured Auster has not been kitted in 1/48 and conversion from other Auster models are rather extensive. So let's scratchbuild one? If you've been following the WIP build you'll have already watched the progress. Anyway - it's now considered done (by my standards!) And the underside - before completion (obviously) And a bit of fun with a hapless chap (the ex-pilot). Suspect I'll get around to painting him - but figure painting is new to me. Maybe post this photo again when I've learned the trade! . Oh, I do have the Airfix Sea Fury kit as well - although not sure what scheme I should choose for that? Not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted October 18, 2023 Share Posted October 18, 2023 Hi, A great model and an interesting history. I am building an open scale indoor Freeflight model of the J4. Do you have a three view of the J4? I can only find a J1 - there are minor differences. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted October 19, 2023 Author Share Posted October 19, 2023 9 hours ago, MartinWales said: A great model and an interesting history. I am building an open scale indoor Freeflight model of the J4. Do you have a three view of the J4? I can only find a J1 - there are minor differences. Thanks Martin. Just do a google search on Powakits Auster J4 - and you should come up with some basic plans. Here's a PDF version I found (again) just now https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19968641&postcount=7152 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Thanks. They are the most complete drawings I have seen. It is too late for me to change the livery of my competition model now, but VH-AET would be an ideal free-flight scale subject. No need to include a pilot and an interesting history. Blue and silver stand out well against grass - a bonus for retrieval. I have jigs and patterns for the J/4 now, and a spare (if heavy) fuselage and wing…. I could make another one. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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