I started this build probably near the end of 1989, the year this kit was released. I got as far as airbrushing the Sky Type S paint on to it but stopped and left it on my shelf. Many times I have picked this up but could never get myself to complete it. As time went by the box and the rest of the parts for this kit disappeared but I did saved the Almark decal sheet that was bought for this build. Missing are the undercarriage's main gear doors, wheels, rear wheel assembly and tail hook. My game plan on these parts are to rob the wheels from an Eduard Tempest kit since they supply both plastic and resin wheels, scratch build the main gear doors and see what I can come up for the tail wheel assembly. The pitot is also missing, that will need to be made too.
When this kit was first released, it was a big deal. Later on Trumpeter released theirs and from what I have seen on the web, it was not perfect but better. Some mixed both Hobbycraft and Trumpeter to come up with a somewhat better build. Soon Falcon had a beautiful vacauform kit. Around 2016 AMG released their Sea Fury and the latest is from Airfix. For this build I will stay with what I have started back then but use some resin parts to replace the spinner and propeller, add on drop tanks and a couple of heat exchanger louvers that Hobbycraft forgot to include.
4 attached images. Click to enlarge.