Profile Photo
John Healy
151 articles

1/48 Fairey Firefly FR.I

September 11, 2014 · in Aviation · · 20 · 2.7K

mania continued unabated in my workshop all summer! This is the newish kit completed as an example from 1770NAS, HMS Indefatigable during the "Operation Lentil" strike on Japanese refineries in Malaya. It still bears Eastern Fleet markings, just prior to the introduction of the BPF American style roundel with bars. I finished the kit with Humbrol enamels ( #90,#102,#123) and decals from an AZ Firefly kit. In my opinion, this kit is far superior to the AZ offering. I also used the PE intake screens from the AZ kit, as well as Eduard seatbelts. The wheels are resin from Roy Sutherland's Barracuda Studios. I added the antennas and rocket's pigtails from brass wire and sealed it all up with a blast of dullcote.

I really like these Special Hobby Fireflies and have another to do as a RAN Korean War FR.5.

Thanks for looking.

Reader reactions:
8  Awesome

5 additional images. Click to enlarge.


20 responses

  1. Nice to see a different Carrier based plane.
    Well finished John and some nice pics too.
    Thanks for posting.

  2. Very good job on an aircraft you don't see to often.

  3. Fantastic build John ! Thanks again for sharing your talent with us. Keep em coming !

  4. John,
    Beautifully done. Not an easy kit to build but you have done masterful work on it.

  5. Now that's cool John. Everything is superb. Great job!
    California Steve

  6. Nice clean build of this rarely modelled aircraft.

  7. John, your Firefly is looking great, well done. As said above, it is good to see
    a more uncommon type.

  8. John, excellent job. Your enthusiasm for the Firefly is easy to see.

  9. Great response to that John, I really like that scheme, didn't find the build as easy as you though.

    • Thanks John. I just had good luck with the two I've built so far. I'm getting the urge to do a Special Hobby Barracuda or Loire-Nieuport dive bomber next.

      BTW, I took your lead and picked up some Airscale instruments for my Revell 1/32 Spitfire Mk.II after seeing how much they added to your 1/48 Airfix Vb.

Leave a Reply