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Hawker Sea Fury FB.11

 

Fisher Model & Pattern, 1/32 scale

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number: Fisher Model & Pattern Kit No. 3204 - Hawker Sea Fury FB.11
Scale: 1/48
Contents and Media: 81 parts in grey resin; 11 parts in clear resin; 3 parts in cast brass; one photo-etched fret; one clear sheet of plastic; printed acetate sheet (instruments); markings for six aircraft.
Price: USD $195.00 plus postage and handling available online from Fisher Model and Pattern website
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Beautifully detailed; excellent surface features including crisply engraved panel lines where appropriate; separate control surfaces; perfectly cast; clever engineering; minimal preparation of resin parts; simple parts breakdown; optional folded wings; detailed instructions; beautiful decals
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Brett Green


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F i r s t L o o k

 

Fisher Model & Pattern has been casting high quality 1/24 and 1/32 scale car models for some time now, but they made their first splash in the aircraft modelling market during 2003 with an impressive 1/32 scale F9F-5 Panther. This was followed up a little over a year later with a 1/32 scale F9F-8 Cougar, and then a "Twogar" kit, all produced to the same high standard.

Fisher's newest release sticks with the naval aviation theme, but crosses the Atlantic to deliver a spectacular 1/32 scale Hawker Sea Fury FB.11.

The new Sea Fury is more ambitious its predecessors, comprising 81 parts beautifully cast in pale grey resin, 3 parts in cast brass; one photo-etched fret; one clear sheet of plastic; printed acetate sheet (instruments) and markings for six aircraft. The contents of the stout yet fairly anonymous box are arranged into separate bags sorted by sub-assembly, then lovingly wrapped in tissue paper before final packing.

The first part to grab our attention is the one-piece main fuselage. This is a remarkable hollow casting. There is a slight casting scar on the bottom of the part, but there is no casting block even though this is one large piece of resin. The photo below suggests just how large. Even without the long nose casting, the 1/32 scale Fisher fuselage dwarfs my ancient Hobbycraft 1/48 scale Sea Fury.

 

 

In fact, there are no casting blocks on any of the main parts. Most are almost ready to use straight from the box. Smaller parts are cast onto strips, although the optional faces for the wing fold assembly are cast onto a wafer of resin.

Surface detail is tastefully restrained, taking the form of recessed panel lines. These are quite crisp and very fine indeed, as is appropriate for the type. There is nary a rivet in sight.

The wings are supplied in two parts - a full span upper wing with the lower wing panels cast in place, and the lower centre wing. This breakdown may seem unorthodox but it does permit the installation of a separate - and gorgeously detailed - wheel well, and offers a simple option for cutting off the outer wings and using the supplied parts to depict the wings folded.

 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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The cockpit is a detailed model in its own right. The cockpit tub is cleverly cast with much of the detail already in place, while the seat is cast presented with a convincingly quilted backrest. The harness and instrument panel are supplied as photo-etched parts, and two acetate instrument sheets will add a further air of authenticity to the front office.

I recommend that you read the instructions carefully before assembling the cockpit, as it will require a very specific method for installing in the one-piece hollow fuselage!

 

 

The nose assembly includes a two-part engine, which will be totally hidden by the close-cowled opening and the gigantic spinner. This has not prevented Fisher from casting fine cooling fins and crisp plumbing onto the engine.

The exhaust stacks are all hollowed out.

A chunky jig is supplied for aligning the pitch of the five-blade propeller - a thoughtful touch.

 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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The landing gear for this large model is supplied in cast brass. These parts will require a little cleanup, but will be well worth the effort in terms of detail and robustness.

 

 

The canopy is clear resin, and it is extremely well done. The windscreen and opening section have been pre-dipped in Future - they positively gleam. The sliding section, which has been removed from its block and is ready to paint, is so thin and flexible it almost feels like a vacform part.

The navigation, landing and formation lights are also supplied in clear resin, but you will have to dip these in Future yourself!

 

 

Kit engineering has been cleverly designed to ensure perfect alignment, and for relatively simple assembly. I have test-fitted the wings and tailplanes to the fuselage, and all looks positive.

Control surfaces are all cast separately except the rudder. The flaps are fixed in the closed position.

 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Plenty of ordnance is included. There are eight rockets on separate rails, two bombs and two drop tanks.

Markings are supplied for six British, Canadian, Australian and Dutch options - five in Extra Dark Sea Grey over Sky, with the RAN version in overall Glossy Blue.

The decals are supplied on three separate sheets, and they are presented to the same very high standard as the rest of the kit. There are a lot of them too, with one full letter-sized sheet, a smaller sheet with generic markings and stencils, and a small ALPS printed sheet with ordnance markings. The decals are thin, perfectly in register and well saturated.

 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Conclusion

 

Fisher Model & Pattern's 1/32 scale Sea Fury FB.11 is a luxurious and clever model of a magnificent subject.

Detail is superb, accuracy looks spot-on, the decal sheet is gorgeous, and the kit should be within the skill range of any modeller who has a few multimedia kits under their belt.

This Rolls-Royce elegance is matched by a Rolls-Royce price tag, but I can't help concluding that this kit is still good value considering the marvelous hand-cast contents of the box. I can only imagine the premium that this kit will command on Ebay in a couple of years' time.

For a select few, Fisher's 1/32 scale Hawker Sea Fury will be the crown jewel in their model collection.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Paul Fisher for the sample

Fisher Models are available from their website

Images Copyright © 2007 by Fisher Models
Page Created 15 January, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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