Airfix 1/72 Hawker Sea Fury FB.11

AIRFIX 1:72 HAWKER SEA FURY FB.11
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
- A Built up review of this kit exists on this site - see the respective fully built kit review index to locate review

AIRFIX # A02045 1/72 HAWKER SEA FURY FB.11

Having written a little about the Sea Fury in my Trumpeter Inbox review I will just give the basics here. The Sea Fury was the ultimate piston engined fighter and was powered by a 2,480 hp 53.6 litre 18 cyl. Bristol Centaurus engine had fixed armament of two Hispano 20mm cannon and a length of 34’8’’ and a span of 38’4’’.

This 2008 kit consists of forty three parts on three sprue in grey plastic and three parts in clear, all sealed in a plastic bag. No pilot or stand is included but two drop tanks and four rockets are. Instructions consist of an eight step guide and two four views of the two decal options. Humbrol colours are quoted. All this is sealed in a top opening box with rather plain artwork.

With only forty six parts this is a simple “no frills” kit. The cockpit consists of a seat, rear bulkhead and floor but with no pilot or dashboard. The canopy / windscreen are in one piece and fairly thick so unless a vacform canopy (Aeroclub CO43) is used, not much can be seen inside. The wheel wells are too shallow and there a couple of slight dimples on the fuselage that will need a touch of filler. The exhaust stubs need to be added The wheel hubs look a bit strange but may look better after painting and I think that I will give the drop tanks a miss as they look a little “plump” compared to photographs but maybe they are ferry tanks as opposed to the normal drop tanks. Although the instructions don’t mention it, the holes for the rocket rails and drop/ferry tanks require opening before the wings are assembled. There is no option to have folded wings. Somehow this kit didn’t look like an Airfix kit and Airfix confirmed that they didn’t manufacture the dies in fact this is the Pioneer/PM (PM40020) kit. The parts match the plans very well and unlike the Trumpeter Fury, this kit’s prop and spinner looks just right. You may think that I lack enthusiasm for this kit but that is not so. It is a pocket money kit at pocket money price in the best tradition of “Matchfix” and anyone should be able to produce an acceptable model from it.

There are two decal options, one, as expected, being Lt. Carmichael’s mount from 802 Sqn. on HMS Ocean, Korea August 1952 with Korean war stripes and the other being the RN Historical Flight aircraft based at Yeovilton in February 2008. Both are extra dark sea grey over sky but with different demarcation lines. The decals although shiny look to be first class and unlike the Trumpeter decals, provide all the many stencil markings. This kit is possibly worth the price for the decals alone.

Naturally many will compare this kit with the Trumpeter kit and in that there is no contest, the Trumpeter kit is magnificent but remember it is more than twice the price of this one (as are the Special Hobby ones)! They are both good value and are aimed at different markets. Trumpeter or Airfix? Trumpeter! As the Trumpeter model really needs a replacement for its anorexic propeller and spinner as that looks to pointed and more comprehensive decals and where can you buy all of them for only the price of the Airfix kit? A good reason to buy the Airfix kit! In fact as I intend to make both kits I had better pop out and buy another one.

References can be found in Profile #126, Squadron Signal “Hawker Sea Fury in Action” #117, Warpaint #16, Scale Aircraft Modelling of March1989 and Aeroplane “Database” of May 2008. I used the Aeroplane plans which require “blowing up” to 72^nd scale.

RHS.08

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