Paul's Foxy Mermaid.....**FINISHED**

[PaulBradley]

I am buiding the Matchbox Fairey Seafox, first released in 1982. I'll be doing this as an overall Aluminium machine from mid-1939, from 718 Flight based on HMS Ajax. This was one of two Seafoxes that were carried by Ajax and saw service during the Battle of the River Plate against the Graff Spee. My thanks to John R for the decals!





The decal instructions would have you paint the model in a strange Aluminium/Lt Grey camo pattern - I haven't seen the photo that they are basing this on, but I strongly suspect they are being deceived by shadows. So, instead, I'm going with this scheme from Mike Starmer's Wings and Waves 'On Target Special' from Aviation Workshop:

[PaulBradley]

Swift progress last night and this morning:



A very simple kit (so far) and I'm building it basically OOB, though I did replace the seats as they were far too small. I'll be rigging with Aeroclub's lovely stretchy thread.

[iggie]

Looks good so far; it's an elegant little plane I've always thought

[PaulBradley]

Cheers, ig - me, too.

[PaulBradley]

Top wings on:



Aeroclub stretchy thread dangling for later attachment to the lower wings.

[PaulBradley]

Rigging completed successfully:

[JohnRatzenberger]

Before you get too far ...

These three pix are from Stuart Lloyd's "Fleet Air Arm Camouflage and Markings: Atlantic & Med 1937-41"

The caption is "Ajax's Seafox K8591 in the UK in Feb 1940. The metal surfaces and floats have a non-standard disruptive camo of an unknown colour applied over the original aluminum finish. The same disruptive pattern is evident in photos of K8591 at Montevideo immediately after the Battle of the River Platte in January 1940. It is probable that this is how the aircraft was finished during the action with DKM Graf Spee."





and their color interpretation (also with shadows) ...

[PaulBradley]

Well, doesn't that throw a cat amongst the pigeons?! Pretty conclusive that some sort of camo was applied, but very limited and to what intent? Definitely food for thought.

Many thanks, John!

[PaulBradley]

D'oh. I missed the obvious last night - it's immaterial what it wore at the Battle, given that the GB is for Between the Wars subjects.... So I'll be painting it overall silver dope, but - just like the real thing - I might add the camo before I bring it to Telford. I'll still need to work out what colour they used - likely a ship's paint - but I don't need to worry about it for the GB!

[JohnRatzenberger]

You are right, we lost the forest for the trees It'll look better with the camo added afterwards anyway ....

[JamesPerrin]

Some colour profiles are quite useless due to their artist nature rather than trying to convey information. Mike Keep's half-tone profiles in SAM from 20 years ago still have the edge because they are diagrams not pretty pictures.

[TobyC]

Nice choice and good work so far.

[fredk]

That were quick
Are you leaving out the inter-strut rigging?

[PaulBradley]

Cheers, guys!

Are you leaving out the inter-strut rigging?

That'll come next, along with the cabane struts. One step at a time...!

[fredk]

ahhh, I always do them first as they are awkward to reach.