Atlantic Defender

[NARSES2]

Have you solved the navigation lights conundrum?
I was tidying up today and noticed that the picture on the top of the box you sent me the Sea Fury in it shows lights on the front corner of the tips of the horizontal tails.

Yup, when I looked at the instructions (shock, horror) I saw that  Made some progress and have written the scenario she appears in.

That looks different! I don't think i'll ever like the Flapjack's shape but yours is looking good in those colors!

Yup, its unnatural, difficult to handle while build as well 

Flying saucer reports at flooding the phone lines!
This looks awesome! Makes me want to try one.
Late 60s with sidewinders would work. Sidewinder missiles didn't need radar.

Cheers mate, suits the Folland scenario 

[NARSES2]

Well she's finished complete with giant boo-boo on the transfers  So just need to get photos taken and back story finished

[NARSES2]

Vought F5U-1 Discus (Flapjack) USN South Atlantic 1946

With the success of the Vought V-173 test bed the U.S.N. ordered the same companies XF5U-1 into production as the F5U-1 "Discus" although it was more commonly known as the Flapjack by those who had to work with or around it.

Development problems, particularly with the complicated gearboxes, meant that the first Flapjacks only entered service in 1946 and then only in very limited numbers. If they had been honest the U.S.N. would have admitted that it didn't really know what to do with the aircraft, but having spent the money they had to be seen to be something with it.

So they were sent to the South Atlantic to replace Wildcats as the fighter element in the small composite squadrons alongside Avengers and Buccaneers on the escort carriers. By the time they arrived in theatre the Great South American "Rucus" was almost over. The US it 'self had overcome a Fascist Mexico who, allied with Colombia, had conquered Central America in 1941. Brazil supplied by those vital convoys the Wildcats and Avengers protected, had finally almost overcome those nations which had attacked it in 1942. Argentina still held on but its forces had been driven steadily south and deprived of even the small amount of aid it had received from Germany was quickly running out of the ways and means to fight on. Thus the convoys continued and would continue as Brazil was now expected to pay its debts either in Europe or the Pacific.

Some U Boats still operated in the South Atlantic either from the few remaining ports in Argentine hands or on long range missions from home bases. However any raids by these were few and far between so whilst needing to remain vigilant most of the composite squadrons spent their time on long, boring, fruitless patrols.

So here we have a Vought F5U-1 Discus serving in the S Atlantic in the autumn of 1946. Armed with 4 x 0.5" mg's it is unlikely if any aircraft actually fired its guns in anger, however a couple are known to have dropped depth charges (they could also carry 2 x 500lb bombs as an alternative load) in anger.

The Flapjacks only remained in service with the U.S. Navy until the war ended in 1948 and were quickly phased out of service not going into the Reserve.

However this was not the end of the story as the Royal Navy received 15 aircraft in 1947 and quickly saw a use for them. With its extremely short takeoff and landing run the F.A.A. saw them as an ideal update of the CAM Ship idea, excepting that this time they would not be a one stop weapon. That story however is for another time.

So we have the Hasegawa boxing of the .......................... I was thrown at first by the size of the sprue gates and the fit ibn some places but once informed of the moulds origins I realized why. It's an awkward model to build, as there is nowhere to hold it properly whilst painting in particular, however it goes together well in the end, and is an enjoyable build. Paints are my usual mix, mainly Xtracrylic, Lifecolor and Humbrol, whilst the transfers are from the kit and the spares box.
I have no idea how I managed to get the propeller blade markings on the wrong side of one of the blades as I was conscience of the possibility and studied the drawings carefully. If I honest I'm still not sure how I screwed it up. I will probably replace these once I dig through my spares box

[Thorvic]

Nice little pancake you have their Chris 

[Old Wombat]

Well, we all make mistakes (me more than most! ) but the result is awesome, Chris!

[Captain Canada]

Looks great Chris ! Even better than I had imagined.

[rickshaw]

Very nice!   

[DogfighterZen]

Looks good!

[zenrat]

Very good Chris.