BPF Torpedo Strike

[NARSES2]

In early 1946 812 Squadron F.A.A. which had just started to get the best out of its Barracudas was told to return to Singapore and begin working up on the new Blackburn Firebrand TF 5. Whilst the CO of 812 tried to persuade his men that this was indeed a great compliment being paid to the aircrew of 812, the aircrew spent the trip to Singapore trying to figure out just which member had been breaking those mirrors !

Eventually 812 managed to get the Firebrand ready for active service but it was a fraught process for the aircrew and even more so for the maintenance guys. One problem of course was the emotional one of having to say goodbye to all the navigators as the Firebrand, or Fin as it became known for obvious reasons, was the FAA's first single seat strike aircraft for a long time. The second and more practical problem was that the aircraft had just been rushed to quickly into service.

Whilst designed principally as a torpedo strike aircraft a dearth of targets for this weapon meant that the aircraft was mainly used in either the shallow dive bombing role for which it was armed with two 500lb or occasionally 1,000lb bombs or as a strike aircraft with 8 or 16 3" RPs.

So here's a representative 812 Sqd Firebrand TF5 based on HMS Vengeance in Spring of 1946. The kit is the Czech Master one and is one of their earlier productions. The wing is supplied to be shown folded and is in honestly a bit of pig   Still nothing a heap of Miliput can't cure. paints are Lifecolor and Xtracrylic in the main and the markings are from Xtradecal for the BPF roundels,  think an old Frog sheet for the numbers and letters and a Freightdog sheet for the serial which is from an Avenger.

In the end after a lot of work I like her, would I build another ?  I doubt it

[sandiego89]

I like it, nice job on the paint.  MPM can be a real challenge to make into a good model, which you have obviously done, but they have some rare subjects.  Is the canopy offset to port a bit?  Maybe just an illusion. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Menacing bird! 

Only thing I'd critisize is the "wavy" waterline at the wings' leading edge - the whole aircraft looks great and "natural", but that detail stands out.  Might be easy to correct, though.

[Librarian]

Oh!!! The Firebrand...take it home and marry it. Gorgeous job .

[TomZ]

Ohhhhhhhhh,


Nice!


TomZ

[Glenn Gilbertson]

That looks very aggressive in those colours!

[Thorvic]

Looks good Chris, now are you doing a Valom Firebrand MKII for the earlier war

[NARSES2]

I like it, nice job on the paint.  MPM can be a real challenge to make into a good model, which you have obviously done, but they have some rare subjects.  Is the canopy offset to port a bit?  Maybe just an illusion.  

You made me realise I'd just done MPM a great disservice - it's Czech Master resin. Sorry   And yes I think the canopy is slightly offset, I blame the sweat running down my glasses  

Only thing I'd critisize is the "wavy" waterline at the wings' leading edge - the whole aircraft looks great and "natural", but that detail stands out.   Might be easy to correct, though.

Yup does stand out Dizzy doesn't it ? I'll have to tidy her up a bit if she's going out to shows. Must admit I normally don't worry to much about the leading edge but this one is so thick it really shows.

Looks good Chris, now are you doing a Valom Firebrand MKII for the earlier war

Yup, it's in the stash and is lined up for the batch after next  

Thanks for looking gents

[sandiego89]

You made me realise I'd just done MPM a great disservice - it's Czech Master resin. Sorry   And yes I think the canopy is slightly offset, I blame the sweat running down my glasses  

Oh not a criticism of the offset canopy- I thought it was perhaps intentional- either for the real airplane or your WHIF- seeing over the nose of a long engined radial was always a challenge when approaching the carrier (like in the corsair) and I thought a slight offset to the port side would help when turning final for the carrier.

[NARSES2]

If I get asked "why ?" at a show, I'll use that  No wish I could say it was, but it was unintentional and all me 

I've often wondered what it would be like to land on board with that nose in front of you. Difficult to say the least. Just hope the Batman was having a bad day

[PR19_Kit]

Maybe they flew 'Seafire approaches' with the Firebrand? With the Seafires the FAA pilots flew them in on a curve the whole way, at least until the last few yards by when they could see the batman out of the port side of the cockpit. Rather them than me though!

[NARSES2]

Maybe they flew 'Seafire approaches' with the Firebrand? With the Seafires the FAA pilots flew them in on a curve the whole way, at least until the last few yards by when they could see the batman out of the port side of the cockpit. Rather them than me though!

Yup and if you look at the stats an awful lot of them crashed ! Dad always reckoned he'd rather have US built aircraft aboard the carrier, wasn't as dangerous for the gun crews in the gun well. Of course he always had a soft spot for the Swordfish as he reckoned the ship had to back up under it in certain conditions 

[Mossie]

Very believable build Chris, good work!

[pyro-manic]

Very smart!

[kitbasher]

Nice Firebrand, sir.  They are such brutes!