Revell 1/72 Blackburn Skua II
This is an old kit which has been re-poped several times. From what I've read it's totally inaccurate, but I just wanted an easy, quick build. The decals offer two options. I chose the No. 806 Squadron, FAA, HMS Illustrious 1940.
Besides being ugly, the Skua has some heritage. It was the Royal Navy's first monoplane, Britain's first naval dive bomber, first declanding aircraft to have flaps, retractable landing gear, and a variable pitch propeller.
By the start of WWII, it was already obsolete, but in a dive bombing role, sank the "Konigsberg", April 10, 1940. Withdrawn from active service in 1941, it became a target tug/trainer for the rest of it's days.
I went OOB, except for the exhaust pipe. It went together fairly easily, and the fit was not bad considering it's age. In retrospect, I probably could have added a lot, but I ended up with what I expected, so another goes anonymously on the shelf.
Looks pretty good Joe. Quick, easy build doesn't seem to be in my dictionary.
Joe,
Great job. It may have it's firsts but it is still ugly.
I forgot to add, first one I've built, and the last...
You are the King of the Oldies Joe…..nice work.
I am an oldie !
No your not...
Looks nice. I have some older Revell kits that I will be attempting. I knew nothing about the Skua until I read "Divebomer!" by Peter Smith from Naval Institute Press. History of divebombers from beginning through WWII. As you said, not the prettiest plane around.
Nice work, Joe, but something looks amiss in the landing gear department. My Roc, however, is uglier than your Skua...
Nice one Joe. An oldie and an ugly one. Nicely done though.
None of the graceful lines of later planes.
Well done Joe.
Looks like a WWII Japanese torpedo bomber. Nice build as always Joe!
I don't think any of your models can be labelled 'anonymous', Joe. It's a fine model of an unusual prototype.
If you think this is ugly, you should check out its cousin, Rock, with its four 303s in a Defiant-like turret. Now ugly, ungainly and unwieldy!