The RAF's recce Fulmar build

[PR19_Kit]

OGL asked for a replacement for the Spitfire PRXIX at Cosford and I looked around for a suitable model that I could build fairly quickly. I
had a Vista Fulmar MkI/II kit that I'd listed for sale before Christmas, but everyone decided it wasn't worth buying, so it was available
and also NOT up in my Loft!

After a short amount of thought I could just see a Fulmar in PRU Blue but it needed some suitable mods of course. I also had a couple of
resin ex Spitfire PR XI Merlin 60 engines complete with the PR specific large oil tank under the nose and one of those seemed a reasonable
match for the Fulmar. The Fulmar's large under nose radiator looked a tad ugly to my mind so that was replaced by two Spitfire IX underwing
radiators from a KP donor kit. The wings needed to be extended (naturally.....) and a few feet were added on each tip from the same Academy
P-51B Mustang that had already assisted the build of my MB8 Marlin and Welleseley BPRIII. (One day I'll build an Academy P-51B, it looks to
be a cracking kit) Although I built it with the squarish tips of the P-51 the shape didn't suit the rounded planform of the Fulmar's tail so
some hefty strokes with a big file sorted that. I'd envisaged the removal of the guns and ammunition for the PR task and the spaces freed up
used for extra fuel and added a couple of underwing bulges to cover the sump pumps that would have been needed, also from the Mustang kit.

As a PR aircraft it needed cameras so suitably sized holes were drilled under the rear of the long cockpit, and I even added some camera
magazines on the decking fore and after of the Operator's seat. It also seemed a good idea to give him a periscope to locate his target and
an oblique camera just behind his seat too. Then I added a few more camera ports to the rear of the fuselage just because I felt like it...

The model needed mucho PSR work as the wings didn't fit all that well, and the long canopy glass was a RIGHT pain to fit, but eventually it
submitted and the transparent parts were masked off. The Fulmar and the two new Meteor PR19s that are mentioned elsewhere were to be my
first ever foray into the world of airbrushing. Up to date I'd been a died-in-the-wool brush or Halfords rattle can painter but I'd got two
airbrushes and a good compressor, but I'd never used them. i won't go into the details of the spraying, suffice to say it was LOTS more
difficult than I thought it would be and I nearly reverted to brushes again! I did use Halfords grey primer at first but the Humbrol PRU
Blue eventually went on a treat, after 3-4 coats, and it was finished off with some superb Vallejo acrylic matt varnish. The decals came
from an Aviation Workshop Spitfire PTXI sheet and the Far East roundels from a Modedecal sheet. Then some detail paint on the props and
landing gear, plus the Klear camera windows finished the job.



The basic components, with one wing tip already sawn off and resin engine ready to be grafted on




Fuselage with new engine fitted and cockpit interior done, note camera magzines fore and aft of the Operator's seat.




Modified wing with Spitfire type underwing radiators and extra fuel pumps. Note original square wing tips.




Primed and airbrushed airframe waiting for decals and matt varnish.




The finished article

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Backstory here :- http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,34928.0/highlight,fulmar+priiid.html

[RotorheadTX]

Flippin sweeet!! Well done!

[The Rat]

Just the job! 

[rickshaw]

The wings aren't long enough, Kit.  Just not up to your usual standard of extra-long wings!

Only kidding.  Looks as good as all your other PR machines. 

[PR19_Kit]

The wings aren't long enough, Kit.  Just not up to your usual standard of extra-long wings!

Only kidding.  Looks as good as all your other PR machines. 

Tell me about it! I built it in such a hurry the only wings within reach were the ones off the P-51B and I used the entire length of them that would align with the various tapers involved. One thing you re-learn about in this whiffing business is geometry!

Glad you like it gents, I quite enjoyed the final result even if the build was a bit of a grind.

Has anyone built an Airfix Fulmar and could comment on its buildablity too? I've never even seen one.

[The Wooksta!]

The canopy *never* fits on that kit because the fuselage is too wide.  Needs a tad shaving down on the mating surfaces, about .25mm.

I've one somewhere that I was going to do as a developed version of the original light bomber prototype.

[Vulcan7]

Beautifully done Kit, looks the business 

[pyro-manic]

Very nice indeed! I've been pondering doing something similar to a Battle.

[kitbasher]

Has anyone built an Airfix Fulmar and could comment on its buildablity too? I've never even seen one.

Vista, Smer, Revell and Airfix - same Fulmar kit, Kit.  I've a Smer edition in the stash waiting to be built.

There were plenty of 2nd hand Airfix Fulmars on numerous stalls at Cosford.  But then again you were 'not buying kits during Lent', weren't you!   

[PR19_Kit]

Vista, Smer, Revell and Airfix - same Fulmar kit, Kit.  I've a Smer edition in the stash waiting to be built.

There were plenty of 2nd hand Airfix Fulmars on numerous stalls at Cosford.  But then again you were 'not buying kits during Lent', weren't you!  

Ahah, you learn something new every day, thanks very much. I hope the Airfix and Revell versions have better instructions though!

And no, I'm not buying kits during Lent, or at any other time either.                                              Well, not many anyway............