Fleet Air Arm gets faster

[chicharrero]

Wow Gary, Big thanks.
And, what about a Seafire FR-47.
The last of the family.
I think it is not a paper model.

[Don Boose]

A Seafire F.R.47 would be welcome. So far as I know, of the Fleet Air Arm aircraft in Korean War markings, only the Sea Fury and Firefly Mk. I are available (as a John Bowden repaint of a Nobi [ThaiPaperwork] model. We need the Seafire F.R. 47, the Firefly FR/AS Mk V/VI, Supermarine Sea Otter, and Sikorsky H-51 Dragonfly (available from Fiddlers Green, but not in KoWar FAA markings).

Incidentally, the Seafire F.R.47s only flew off Korea (with white and black combat recognition stripes) from July to October 1950 aboard HMS Triumph (Tail Code "P"). Twelve Seafire F.R.47s equipped No. 800 Naval Air Squadron as part of 13 Carrier Air Group, which also included 12 Firefly FR/NF Mk Is of No. 627 NAS and Supermarine Sea Otter JM960 ("Neptune's Daughter").

Sources:

Fleet Air Arm Officers’ Association, available at http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/fleet_air_arm_history/history.shtml, accessed October 11, 2007.

Fleet Air Arm Archive, available at http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Squadrons/Index.html, accessed October 11, 2007

Davis Hobbs, “British Commonwealth Carrier Operations in the Korean War,” Air & Space Power Journal, Volume XVIII, No. 4, Winter 2004.

Tony O'Toole articles on the Triumph air group and on building plastic models of FR.1 (Mk.I) and AS.5 (Mk.V) Korean War era Fireflys in the September 2007 issue of Model Aircraft Monthly, available from the U.S. firm, Squadron Shop (http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=SAA0609) and is probably available cheaper in the UK.

Tony O’Toole, “The Forgotten Cruise,” http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/Articles/Forgotten_Cruise.htm

“HMS Triumph,” HMS Triumph

Don

[ashevilleangler]

There's a Mk47 Seafire at, where else, of course, ecardmodels.com.

1/50 Supermarine Seafire F.R Mk.47 Paper Model - ECardmodels.com Shop - Downloadable models and

Camo livery from Hairston Aviation.

Curt

[Don Boose]

Thanks, Curt. That's a nice FR47. Now, if someone could recolor it in HMS Triumph 800NAS Korean War markings . . .

Don

[Gixergs]

Hms Triumph was in Chatham Dockyard for many years and I would see her every open day so a Seafire from her would be great.

[hatsudoki]

There is an RCN Firefly Mk.IV available at: papermodelairplanes.com, or at least there was a few days ago. The site now says "We apologize that all models are currently unavailable for purchase", not sure what is going on but the pictures are still there and look good.

[Don Boose]

Those are good-looking models and the Firefly looks very similar to the versions that flew off the British and Australian carriers during the Korean War. It is already in the correct color scheme and would only need to have the serials, carrier identification tail letter, and combat stripes added.

Don

[looker]

There is an RCN Firefly Mk.IV available at--whaddever-- or at least there was a few days ago.

Might it be that what we were told here RCAF Harvard Mk IV goes some way to explaining the current non-availabilty of some $10 downloads?

Curious

[hatsudoki]

Originally Posted by looker

Might it be that what we were told here RCAF Harvard Mk IV goes some way to explaining the current non-availabilty of some $10 downloads?

Curious

There definitely seems to be some sort of connection, many thanks for the link. But the papermodelairplanes ones are specifically featured as electronic downloads - maybe Ken Uhrig's models have been digitised? The Firefly was available a couple of weeks ago, I was planning to order it. I will just have to wait and see.

[looker]

Digitizing of a manually drafted paper model is most easily done by scanning. What is not clear in this case is who did the scanning and with what authority. I would expect a site to explain (and perhaps be a bit proud of) the achievement, but no information is given. Also why have the downloads become unavailable at about the same time as other events. If the downloads become available again perhaps the vendors could be asked.