Brits at Sea Pt.1
Immediate Post-War FAA

Freightdog Models, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com
 

This new 1/48 scale decal sheet by Freightdog Modes is a fine quality product depicting eleven aircraft in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during the immediate post war era. 

The subjects are three Hellcat Mk.IIs, one Wildcat Mk.IV, one Seafire Mk.III, one Seafire Mk.XV, one Corsair Mk.IV, one Wildcat Mk.VI, two Avenger Mk.IIIs and one Mosquito FB.Mk.VI.

The schemes depicted are mostly post war era schemes between 1945 and 1949.

The decals are superbly printed by Fantasy Print Shop and they have good colour saturation and register.  As usual with Fantasy Print Shop Decals the carrier film is ultra thin and my experience with these decals in the past has been that the decals have to be handled carefully and snuggle down into the surface detail well.  The carrier film then almost totally disappears under a coat of clear.

Freightdog has done a great job of the decals and the instruction sheet artwork.  The colour instruction sheet provides some good detail of colours and decal positioning for the aircraft.

The eleven schemes are as follows:

1. Grumman Wildcat Mk.VI, JV851, JE.V of 794 NAS, RN based at Eglinton in November 1945.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042.

2. Grumman Hellcat Mk.II, JZ931, C3.M of 800 NAS, RN British East Indies Fleet, Trincomalee in October 1945.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042 with white theatre identification bands.

3. Grumman Hellcat Mk.II, JZ796, C7.X flown by Argentine pilot Sub-Lieutenant Oscar Lorenzo of 808 NAS, RN British East Indies Fleet, Trincomalee Ceylon in 1945.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042 with white theatre identification bands.

4. Grumman Hellcat Mk.II, JZ789, C7.D of 808 NAS, RN British East Indies Fleet, Trincomalee Ceylon in 1945.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042 with white theatre identification bands.  The nose cowl ring was painted white and the engine cowl was blue and white checkers.

5. Chance Vought Corsair Mk.IV, KD386 “F” “Audrey” of 791 NAS, RN British Pacific Fleet, Sembawang, Singapore in 1945.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042.

6. Chance Vought Corsair Mk.IV, KD750 “D” “Mother Goose” of 1846 NAS, RN British Pacific Fleet, Cape Town South Africa in 19465.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042.  A cartoon of Mother Goose has been painted on the right hand side of the nose.

7. Grumman Avenger Mk.III, JZ670, AH8X of 707 NAS, RN based at RNAS Burscough in 1945.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042.

8. Grumman Avenger Mk.III, KE461, of 703 NAS, RN based at RNAS Ford in 1946.  This aircraft is finished in overall Gloss Sea Blue FS15042.  A skull and cross bones has been painted on the tail.

9. Supermarine Seafire Mk.III, NN452, S.141 Flown by Lt.Cdr N.G. ‘Buster’ Hallet DSC & and Bar, C.O of 24th Naval Fighter Wing RN, aboard HMS Indefatigable, British Pacific Fleet in 1945.  This aircraft is finished in overall natural metal with the top of the engine cowl painted Roundel Blue.

10. Supermarine Seafire Mk.XV, PR497, 109of 767 NAS based at RNAS Miltown, operational Flying School in Summer 1949.  This aircraft is finished in BS381C: 640 Extra Dark Sea Grey and BS381C: 634 Dark Slate Grey upper surfaces BS381C:210 Sky type S under surfaces.  The Spinner is painted BS381C:110 Red.

11. De Havilland Mosquitto FB.Mk.VI FD.4L of 811 NAS RN based at RNAS Ford in 1946.   This aircraft is finished in overall BS381C: 637 Medium Sea Grey with BS381C: 641 Dark Green camouflage on the upper surfaces.  The Spinners are painted in Roundel Blue.

Highly Recommended