Classic British Kit Fairey Swordfish Chat

[Chris]

I don't have the kit delievered yet, but the box says an ark royal fish attacking bismarck, so that's teh one i am making.

[MerlinJones]

Seeing what Chris appears to suggest he may have picked, I'm concerned. My choices for the Airfix are for;
K8375, "2Q" of 810 NAS, FAA, aboars HMS Ark Royal, North Atlantic, May 1941, or
LS326, "l2" of 836 NAS, FAA aboard MAC Rapana, late 1943.

As the latter has an almost all-white fuselage, I rather go for the former and would choose that as my option.

[MerlinJones]

...And I'll SAP it!



Regards,
Bruce

[MerlinJones]

Swordfish Factoids;

It's the original TSR2.

The nickname "Stringbag" not only referred to its mass of rigging and antiquated look. At the time, you could put anything in a stringbag. A stringbag was considered to be a most useful and flexible item.

The Swordfish was one of the very few aircraft that began combat in 1939 and was still in frontline action in 1945.

Regards,
Bruce

[Chris]

Its also the only bi plane combat aircraft to serve throughout WWII, and one of the few aircraft to outlive the plane that was supposed to replace it (the albacore).

[JohnRatzenberger]

I saw a book in a bookshop today that was relatively inexpensive, and devoted entirely to the Swordfish, written by a pilot. I forget the name of the book. It might have been "War in a Stringbag" or something like that. If I had some money with me, I might have purchased it. It had a dearth of photos, though, so I was kind of reluctant on that score. I still haven't finished reading "Typhoon Attack" - and I had been wanting that book for so long, too.

See my reference thread -- the 1st image -- top flight book, pix or no ...

[jssel]

I am going thru my SAM's now. I have 4/84. The one I am having trouble locating is an Alan Hall build where he does his usual scratchbuilt interior. to the Airfix Swordfish. Could it be 7/91?

[PaulBradley]

I am going thru my SAM's now. I have 4/84. The one I am having trouble locating is an Alan Hall build where he does his usual scratchbuilt interior. to the Airfix Swordfish. Could it be 7/91?

Yes - there's a 4-page article, followed by 7-page article by Ian Huntley on wartime Swordfish camouflage - must take this one to work with me to read today!

SAM 15/10 Aug 93 has a corresponding article by Huntley on pre-war Swordfish camo.


SAMI 5/11 has a Caruana article on the Swordfish with 10 colour profiles and 1/72 scale plans.

[JohnRatzenberger]

...And I'll SAP it!



Regards,
Bruce

Had the same idea !!! Looks very tight & no need to detail the open cockpit ...

[jssel]

I have read that upon landing, ground crews had to lift the flight crews out of the cockpit as it was so bitter cold the crews were frozen. And it seems it was not an easy feat to get into the Swordfish on a good day.

[PaulBradley]

I'll talk to Phil to ensure we have different markings.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Is everyone still on board for this? I know Tom is ..

Yes, but it may be moot, my July has become loaded with family things -- visiting granddaughter, niece wedding, trip to visit son -- so my modeling days are few. I shall have to focus my time.

I am still up for the 'tween wars "floaty 'fish in silver" but I have not selected the specific aircraft and I must do that soon in fairness to any others who may wish to do the same.

I could do the kit aircraft, as I did before, but I do have a rather colorful set of Model Alliance decals for L9780/682 of 821 Sqn, HMS Ark Royal, 1939, however I have no pictures of that aircraft on floats. Since any Swordfish could switch between gear and floats, I wonder if it's OK for me to just not worry about a documented match of markings and floats ?

[PaulBradley]

Yup, still up.
I'd like to feature this GB in my SAMi column, so I will promise to include a photo of every finished model from the GB. Now there's an incentive for you!

[MerlinJones]

So we do the work, you get the dosh?

[MerlinJones]

I'm still in.