Ron Bell Posted August 20, 2019 Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 This is a combination of the new Airfix kit with the Eduard PE interior set (SS432), the Pavla Mk III ASW conversion kit (U72-134), the S.B.S. Swordfish rigging wire set (72050)and using the eduard Swordfish mask set (CX316). There are many reviews of the new Swordfish, so I won't go into that. The PE interior set consists mainly of assorted control panels, seatbelts. and machine gun detail parts. The all fit fine and "busy up" the interior nicely. The ASW conversion consist of the radar equipment, a new place for its operator, a radio, larger oil cooler, new side panel to cover where the forward mg was, the flame dampener for the exhaust, th "hump" for the radar scanner and the antennae for the wings. These parts are all nicely done in resin with the exception of the new cover for the radar compartment, which is vacu-formed (you get two in case you screw one up) and the antennae, which are PE. The mask set gives you masks for the windscreen, inside and out, and wheels. Finally, the rigging set gives you a full set of PE bracing wires all made to fit perfectly. You do not get, however, the flying wires for the elevator nor the antennae, which I thought was odd. It makes for a fiddly little model in this scale with all these parts and cutting things out and shaving things off and putting replacement things back on, but the result is as you see it. I wanted to do one with the rocket racks underneath, but the racks in both the old Airix and Matchbox kits are primitive and there are none in the new release. So, I made new ones from scratch. The rockets came from the spares box. The markings are spurious as there are no Mk III markings in the Airfix kits and the ones I had left over from the Matchbox kit had gone south long ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty White Posted August 20, 2019 Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 Forgive my ignorance as I am a ship builder. Are the fins on the exhaust pipe cooling fins? Fine model there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Bell Posted August 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 A true expert needs to reply, but I'd say you're correct. That's not just an exhaust, it's a flame dampener. It is a sort of "stealth mechanism" that make the a/c harder to see at night. I'm guessing those fins keep the pipe from glowing and giving the a/c away in the dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 20, 2019 Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 Very neat build Ron! I wasn't aware they actually hung a radar dome under that old Stringbag...credit the Brits for getting every pence worth from an obsolescent pre-war biplane! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Bell Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Yeah, it was so streamlined that it hardly impeded the airflow. 😲 In a strong head wind, at max speed I think it could hover 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Deliduka Posted August 24, 2019 Report Share Posted August 24, 2019 Beautiful job Ron! Your model illustrates well why it was nicknamed the 'stringbag'. Way to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley25mm Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Awesome job Ron. Love the subtle weathering. The rigging looks great too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
66Foxtrot Posted September 2, 2019 Report Share Posted September 2, 2019 Very, very nice! I didn't know Airfix put one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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