Scale Aviation Modeller International — February 2018

THE KIT

Clearly based on the surviving

airframe at the FAA museum,

and faithfully reproducing

the non-standard elements of

instrumentation and the observer’s

atypical seat, the kit is a typical

Special Hobby offering – 139

reasonable plastic parts, 21 terrific

resin parts, and 34 photo-etched

items, but sadly, no pre-cut

masks. Originally an MPM mould

from 2007, the plastic has been

released twice more: by Eduard

as a MK.I (stock 1130), with their

photo-etched enhancements and

masks; and here, as a “Hi Tech”

option with Special Hobby’s own

etched metal and the resin.

The plastic has the option of

different intakes and exhausts for

the MK.I/II, whilst the sprue for

the MK.II has the flame shields,

twin 0.5 cal gun inserts, and Yagi

aerial mounts for the night fighter

version. The decals provide for six

schemes: five for MK.Is, and a single

one for a MK.II, all researched by

Tony O’Toole, which automatically

confers significant pedigree.

The most disappointing aspect

of the package has to be the

canopy set, which, whilst cleanly

moulded, thin, and clear, only

allows for the cockpits to be closed

up – rather a waste of the detail on

offer, courtesy of the resin parts.

The engraved detail on fuselage

and flying surfaces is uniform

and restrained, and appears to

match the drawings in the 4+

Fairey Fulmar book (from Mark 1

publishers), and other references

I used. There was no significant

flash present and only a couple of

sink marks on the exhausts. The

sprues appear to include all the

plastic parts needed to complete

the interior without the use of the

resin, although there’s no reference

to this option in the instructions.

The colour instruction booklet

KIT DETAILS

KIT: FAIREY FULMAR MK.I/MK.II “OVER

THE MEDITERRANEAN AND INDIAN

OCEAN”

MANUFACTURER: SPECIAL HOBBY

SCALE: 1/48

PRODUCT CODE: SH48157

PANEL LINES: RECESSED

NUMBER OF PARTS: 139 PLASTIC,

INCLUDING 11 CLEAR; 21 RESIN; 34 PHOTO-

ETCHED

TYPE: INJECTION MOULDED PLASTIC

STATUS: NEW

DECAL OPTIONS: 6

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