Scale Aviation Modeller International — February 2018

(Jacob Rumans) #1

Fairey Swordfish Mk I


Airfix 1/72 Fairey Swordfish Mk I by Don Robson


SCALE: 1/72
KIT NUMBER: A04053A
TYPE: Plastic injection moulded Kit
PANEL LINES: Recessed
KIT PARTS: 120 in grey plastic, plus 5 clear
DECAL OPTIONS: 2
MANUFACTURER: Airfix

O


n account of its appearance
and history, the Fairey
Swordfish, or “Stringbag,”
is a firm favourite amongst
aircraft enthusiasts. The first
Swordfish flew in April 1934, and
was not retired from military
service until July 1945. With a
wingspan of over 45 feet, and
over 36 feet long, it was a large
aircraft for its day, weighing
in at over 9000 lbs with its
single Bristol Pegasus engine.
Its main advantage in combat
was its ability to hang around,
in a way that other, more
powerful, aircraft could not.
The Swordfish could carry up to
a crew of three, all accommodated
in open cockpits. The pilot and
observer in the front were usually
commissioned officers, while in the
rear sat a Telegraphist/air gunner
(TAG), who was normally a rating.
The normal range was 450
nautical miles, but that could be
extended by fitting an additional
fuel tank under the fuselage,
or in the observer’s cockpit, in
which case the observer sat in the
TAG’s position. The maximum
speed was 125 miles per hour, but,
especially when fully laden, even
100 miles per hour was seldom
achieved. A typical load could
include a single 18-inch torpedo,
weighing 1,620 Ibs, or 1,500 lbs of
bombs under fuselage and wings.

THE KIT
Airfix have chosen to re-issue
their 2012 1/72 scale boxing
with new decals. It comes in the
usual red box and contains four
sprues of light grey plastic and
one of clear parts, all wrapped
in protective plastic sheeting.
The instructions (twelve pages
of A4) are used to protect the decal
sheet, which includes markings for
two aircraft; an early version from
1939, and an aircraft that took part
in Operation Judgement in 1940,
the attack on the Italian fleet at
Taranto. The instructions provide
information in colour on their use.

ASSEMBLY
As usual, this commences with
the cockpit, and it makes up into a
module that fits inside the fuselage
halves (having built a couple of
these kits previously, I knew what
to expect). The module is made
by assembling the two side pieces
to the floor. The pilot’s seat and
radio are sandwiched between
the sides, then the top panel (with
cut-outs for the various crew
stations), is fitted. After applying
the instrument dials from the decal
sheet to the instrument panel, I
added seat belts, made from painted
metal foil, then fitted the panel.
The mount for the rear machine
gun is attached to the very rear of
the top panel, above the radio. That
just leaves two bulkheads to fit, one
each behind the pilot and observer.
I find that with this type of

aircraft fuselage, it’s best to
carry out any paintwork during
assembly. Accordingly, my attention
turned to the fuselage sides, the
interiors of which are painted
cockpit green. I added a flesh
colour to represent the bleed-
through of the red lead protective
coating seen on my references.
The two small windows and
the pilot’s machine gun were now
fitted. The completed cockpit
is sandwiched between the two
fuselage sides; small dimples help
to locate the cockpit correctly. To
obtain a good joint I applied extra-
thin cement a small bit at a time,
clamping the halves as I went.
Once this assembly had set
overnight, the lower fuselage was
attached and cemented in place.
Various other parts were attached
as well at this time, such as the
lower wing supports and the central
upper wing support struts. I had
no problems with these items,

all virtually clicking into place.
Next on the list is the Bristol
Pegasus engine, which comes
as eight separate pieces that
assemble into a reasonable replica
of the real thing. It does need
careful painting and washes to
bring out the moulded detail.
I then attached the tail planes,
with separate elevators, together
with the rudder. Supporting struts
are supplied for the underside.
The wings are next and comprise
upper and lower halves.
It is at this time that a decision
is needed as to whether the wings

72 • FEBRUARY 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL


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