Fairey Barracuda Mk II - Special Hobby 1/72

[Shake]

I hope I don't spoil your day, but it looks as if you assembled the flaps the wrong way around. You have them resting on the pylons, but they should be hanging underneath. I am sorry I didn't notice this earlier 😞.

 

This photo, I think I shameless  copied it from @The Baron's Barracuda build, shows the way they are situated.

 

 

An this is how I tackled it. As already mentioned several times, the instructions are very vague. 

 

 

Sjaak

[CedB]

6 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

Masking ‘ greenhouse ‘ canopies, even with pre-cut masks is always a pain, you have good reason to feel proud.

 

John  🇺🇦

Thanks John  

 

6 hours ago, Beard said:

You have every right to be proud.

 

Did I? 😊

Thanks Simon, you did!  

 

 

OMG look - locating pins:

 

 

They may be small, oh OK tiny, but they're there!

 

I even used the tyre masks:

 

 

Primed:

 

 

[CedB]

4 hours ago, Shake said:

I hope I don't spoil your day, but it looks as if you assembled the flaps the wrong way around. You have them resting on the pylons, but they should be hanging underneath. I am sorry I didn't notice this earlier 😞.

 

This photo, I think I shameless  copied it from @The Baron's Barracuda build, shows the way they are situated.

 

 

An this is how I tackled it. As already mentioned several times, the instructions are very vague. 

 

 

Sjaak

Sorry Sjaak, missed this one.

I think those flaps are extended? They'd cause a lot of drag if that's their 'up' position, but I'll look for more references.

[CedB]

Well that's a blow, I think you might be right… all the profile / scheme images show the flaps against the wing but all the photographs show them with a gap between the wing and the top of the flaps.

 

I'll have a look tomorrow.

[Shake]

You are not the only one who is confused by both Special Hobby and Fairey. At first I didn't understand the construction as well, as forerunner of the Firefly I expected a somewhat similar construction. Instead the flaps are hinged on the pylons and can only move down, and maybe they can move upwards, it looks as if there is enough room, but I can see no reason why they should be able to. 

 

 

Hope this helps you on your way. I am also curious if someone can explain the workings of the Barracuda flaps. 

 

Sjaak

[Graham Boak]

They do not fit flush with the wing.  That is their normal position because they are not only flaps but dive brakes.  Comment has been made the having the neutral position between the dive brakes and the flaps for pulling out is less than an ideal design feature.  On the later Firefly they do fit flush with the wing when retracted.

[Biggles87]

I think that someone in Fairy’s design office ( possibly named Youngman ) was tasked with designing the most complex flap system possible, along with the most complex wing fold system possible. Looks like he succeeded.

John. 🇺🇦

 

[The Spadgent]

Cripes!!!! Flap gate has landed.  Luckily it’s in the shadow of Masking Magnus opus!! ❤️. If you do reposition. TET is your friend here for wiggling out stuck on bits. 
 

Looking good Mr B.

 

Johnny Holiday. 

 

[CedB]

Thanks Sjaak, Graham, John and Johnny. 

 

I did a bit of research and found this on Wikipedia:

 

Fairey-Youngman flap
Drops down (becoming a Junkers Flap) before sliding aft and then rotating up or down. Fairey was one of the few exponents of this design, which was used on the Fairey Firefly and Fairey Barracuda. When in the extended position, it could be angled up (to a negative angle of incidence) so that the aircraft could be dived vertically without needing excessive trim changes.

 

I realise my error now but TET this morning had no effect - see below - so I'll have to live with it  

"Drops down"? Maybe they could be 'stored up'? Ho hum.

 

I started this morning applying some metal paste to the wheels. The masks worked well but as I hadn't primed the wheels the paint came off with the mask:

 

 

Oh well, they need more work anyway. Ahem.

 

I also pasted some other bits:

 

 

And then grabbed the main model. Note that the mask HAD lifted in one area:

 

 

As mentioned above TET soaked into the hinges but they refused to budge:

 

 

… so they'll stay as they are:

 

 

Ready for paint then. Wheel wells blocked:

 

 

and Sky applied:

 

 

Then the airbrush blocked  

Now then, it's been some time since I used this airbrush. It's special to me as it was a gift from Cookie and Edward for driving them about on 'The Grand Tour' (q.v.)

Looking back at my builds I probably haven't used it since 2021!

Should have cleaned it first.

I also used white spirit to thin the Colourcoats instead of their thinner.

 

I will remember 'the old ways', eventually.

[CedB]

All done

 

[Beard]

This is a kit you won't forget in a hurry.

[81-er]

This one's still proving to be a bit of a rollercoaster, but you're getting there, Ced. The Sky undersides look good, as does that airbrush. A variant of the H&S Infinity?

 

Hopefully you're going to treat yourself to a nice Tamiya kit after this one!

 

James

[giemme]

Looking forward to how the liquid mask works for you, Ced

 

Neat job with the primer! The flap thing is annoying, but better not prying if TeT didn't work.

 

Ciao

[Mr T]

This kit is fighting you every step of the way, but I am sure you will come out on top. Was hoping to add an innuendo, but full of homemade beef stroganoff, apple cake and wine. My enthusiasm for building this kit as a possible GB entry for next year is waning rapidly, which is a shame as I have always fancied building one. 

[Keeff]

Was this a total blockage or just a case of dry tip @CedB?  (Oooh errr Mrs!) 

 

Its a shame about the flaps, but who knew about this fandangled design.... apart from Mr. Youngman of course and those inexplicable instructions? 

 

Anyway, looking positively resplendent in sky ...  nice work and my prediction of paint comes true! 

 

This will be a build you'll be proud of and want to forget all on one go! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

Edited August 4 by Keeff

[Cookenbacher]

Your perseverance is very admirable on this one Ced, and is it should be mentioned that this is turning out to be quite the looker - very menacing looking aircraft!

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

5 hours ago, Cookenbacher said:

Your perseverance is very admirable on this one Ced, and is it should be mentioned that this is turning out to be quite the looker - very menacing looking aircraft!

I have the same kit in the stash, Its going up for sale. It’s too much for my patience to handle. 

[Chuck1945]

Definitely bonus points for perseverance!

 

I built the original MPM version of the kit when it was relatively new and I got this boxing when it was released but I’m nowthinking it will just stay in the box and I can relive the hazy and much less troublesome memories of the earlier project 😎

[Biggles87]

You’re definitely winning, apart from the airbrush mishap.
I looked at my 1/48 version the other day and I don’t think it will be any easier than yours. I remember thinking when I bought it that I might fold one of the wings ( stupid boy! ) but now think that perhaps displacing the elevators would be enough of a challenge.

 

John. 🇺🇦

 

 

 

 

 

[Terry1954]

On 8/3/2025 at 11:53 AM, CedB said:

 

That's better! Everything looks wonderful with a decent coat of sky underneath.

 

On 8/3/2025 at 11:53 AM, CedB said:

It's special to me as it was a gift from Cookie and Edward for driving them about on 'The Grand Tour' (q.v.)

 

I get that. A very appropriate gift from our American friends.

 

As for the next kit, I can think of one that is very unlikely to give you any assembly problems at all, Ced. It may be a long build though. Clues ........... 1/32 ........... big ......... beautiful .......... one previous careful owner. Just saying 😉

 

T.

 

 

[Biggles87]

I keep forgetting to mention.

Do you thing that the young lady in the above picture is looking up the tyre pressures on her mobile?  😜

[Terry1954]

35 minutes ago, Biggles87 said:

I keep forgetting to mention.

Do you thing that the young lady in the above picture is looking up the tyre pressures on her mobile?  😜

 

Facetiming her boyfriend I reckon!

 

T.

[The Spadgent]

Sky’s the limit! 
🧥

[Keeff]

6 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

I keep forgetting to mention.

Do you thing that the young lady in the above picture is looking up the tyre pressures on her mobile?  😜

Trying to complete the day's Wordle or figuring out how those flaps work?  

 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[Grey Beema]

I don't know if this helps.  A little bit of googling...

 

Youngman Flaps deployed as flaps to assist lift.  Hinged down at the training edge up to 20 deg (?)

 

 

Deployed as dive breaks.  Trailing edge hinged up, up to 30 deg (?)