Hawker Sea Fury F.B. Mk. II

**GEEDUBBYA** · 04-06-2007

Howdy Guys,

Well, I was "inspired" by one of the other threads in the forum "1:32 scale Fisher Sea Fury" and decided to build the model that I had of this aircraft.
My kit was Hobby Crafts 1:48th scale "Elite Series" model of the Hawker Sea Fury F.B. Mk. II.
This kit contains numerous photo etched parts but only took me about an hour and a half to complete.....painting included.
Anyway, here she is out on the driveway.

Have a good day all,

Greg

**Bluewavestudios** · 04-06-2007

Hi Greg,

The other thread you referred to on this plane was started by Nigel D who is sadly no longer with us having passed away late last year.
This plane was clearly a favourite of his and I am sure he would have loved the pics of this one too.
A very nice Model and a very Nice Tribute to Nigel's original thread too

Regards......Mark

Kiwi · 04-06-2007

Whats the story with the fin flashes?

**wonwinglo** · 04-06-2007

Greg,you must rank as one of the fastest builders in the world ! it would have taken me that long to find my modelling knife !
She certainly is a most impressive aircraft,Nigel D would certainly have loved to have seen your completed model of his beloved Hawker Sea Fury.

**GEEDUBBYA** · 04-06-2007

Howdy Guys,

Yes, I knew this was one of Nigels favorite aircraft, but had not remembered that fact until just now.I used to speak with Nigel via threads here often. He and others were the people who really got me interested in the commaraderie (sp?) of this site.
I just wanted to thank yall for the kind words about my various aircraft as I show them in the various threads.
As for me being a "speed builder"......well, yeah I am pretty fast, there are days that I can finish two complete models, but I am happy just completing one a day.
This particular model had markings for R.A.A.F., R.A.F., and R.C.A.F., I chose the R.C.A.F.mostly because it used the largest number of decals lol.
As for the fin flashes.....I am assuming that kiwki is speaking of the red and blue markings on the tail. Since this was a "speed build" and I was only using the marking guide provided in the kit....without doing any real research of my own, I can only assume that since this representation of the R.C.A.F. aircraft (immediately after wwII) would retain some markings from the R.A.F., ...ie....the red and blue markings on the tail. I know that alot of surplus aircraft was given to the R.C.A.F. after the war and some aircraft (not this type specifically) were given to Canada during the war. As a matter of fact, there were many bases in Canada that trained pilots for both the R.C.A.F. as well as the R.A.F.
Anyway, again, I just wanted to thank ya'll for the kind words.

Have a good day,

Greg

"hmmmm now what to build next......"

Kiwi · 06-06-2007

I hate to be one to rain on your parade but I was wondering. You mentioned you used the marking guide provided in the kit and I wonder where they got their information from as the scheme is one I have never seen before. The colours of the upper surfaces were normally Dark Sea Grey and the demarcation line was a "hard" masked line. This can be seen in the attached photo (albeit an American "restored" example. Note there is no stalk on the wing leaf) The other common scheme was Dark Sea Blue all over.
On the Fleet Air Arm aircraft (the RAF never operated any Sea Furies) fin flashes are never worn however they were present on some Canadian and Australian versions. However they are worn further down in the main body of the fin, touching the leading edge. and the red is ALWAYS forward.
Hope this helps.

alan2525 · 06-06-2007

Wasn't the Sea Fury a development of the RAF's "Fury" - with added arrestor hook, folding wings etc?

**GEEDUBBYA** · 06-06-2007

Howdy guys,

Well you learn something new everyday....this time I learned about "fin flashes"....I had never even heard of a "fin flash" until this thread lol.
As I said above, this was a "speed build" and I wasnt out for historical accuracy, just a way to pass some time on my day off.
The box art showed a more of a "blue" than gray in the rendering. The instructions were in black and white....poor black and white at that, not allowing me to distinguish whether the red at the left side of the aircraft, (western culture reads from left to right) I placed the red first with the blue trailing.
On the right side of the aircraft, (once again "reading" from left to right), I again placed the red first trailed by the blue. The decal placement instructions were vague and being black and white, I couldnt tell red from blue.
As for the sharp demarcation of the upper color and the white on the fuselage......well that was just "artistic license" I have been out of masking tape for about two weeks now, (the last bit having been used on the "Grumman duck"), so the sea fury got a blending line instead of a sharp line.
I do appreciate the information kiwi, it will be helpful on all of my future builds of U.K. aircraft ("U.K." covering its territories, and commonwealths).
As for the service of the sea fury, I really didnt do any research on the plane.......I just thought it was neat looking.

Have a good day,

Greg

alan2525 · 06-06-2007

It still looks like a good build to me! Despite all the critiscism it got!

One thing - that soft edged camouflage really accentuates the aircraft's FW 190 roots, the patently obvious heritage was lost on me until looking at those pics! I think the high contrast / hard edged line breaks up the outline of the aircraft a fair bit.

**GEEDUBBYA** · 07-06-2007

Howdy Alan,
First off, let me thank you for your thoughts on this build.
But I also wanted to give some "insight into my outlook" on critisizm. Many years ago when I was much younger, all the kids in my neighborhood got into building models. Models of aircraft, tanks, ships etc. When we would finish a build, one that was usually done in the privacy of our own homes, we couldnt wait for the chance to "show it off" to the other kids. Sure there was the usual critisizm between us kids of each others work...ie "you have a finger print in glue there" or "you built it with the wheels facing inboard instead of outboard", there was the occassional "the plastic is all melted here".
But, it didnt matter to any of us, we were doing something we all liked to do...building models. I am sure that some of us probably took offense to what others said at one time or another but, we learned from those comments or "critisizms" as some might call it.
Now all of the aforementioned comments that were uttered by us kids were critisims of "craftsmanship", not of "historical accuracy".
We all learned along time ago that with models, you can pretty much do whatever you like in the way of decorations, if it wasnt "historically accurate" so what, you had fun building it. But, knowing that it wasnt "historically accurate", because it was pointed out to you by the other kids, you learned and remembered...and your next build included what you had learned.
Now we were just kids and none of us were by any means "Historians", but we had all seen pictures on TV and in books and movies but we were no one to be "criticizing" the others on accuracy.
If you will really read what I have typed above, you will see that what I am saying is:
1. Build for the fun of it, if it makes you happy then great, thats what counts.
2. Never take others comments as "critisizm". Even though that may be the proper word for the comments, try to see the deeper meaning behind the comments, its not that what you built was bad, but there were flaws. Take note of them and learn from them, what better way to learn something than to learn it while you are doing something you enjoy....like building models.
3. Just because the box art shows the model one way, doesnt mean that the depiction is "historically accurate". The same applies with TV and movies....(and this is so true here because unless they are documentaries, they are probably fiction or inaccurate re enactments).
In closing, I do wish to say thanks to Kiwi also, as I tried to say above, I appreciate any comments, positive or negative.....moreso the negative because I can learn from them. This is not saying that I see your comments as being negative or for that matter, I dont even see them as "critisizm". I see them as someone imparting their knowledge to me on a subject that I know I have very little knowledge of...ie... the Hawker Sea Fury.
Now I have aged alot since those days of my youth, all of my old friends have moved away and are living their own lives, I am just happy that I have found a place that, when I build a model I can "show it off" to the other "kids" here.
Whether my models are accurate or not..........all comments welcome, ya'll are the kids in my neighborhood now.

Have a good day all,

Greg