Classic Airframes 1/48 Sea Venom FAW.21 Build Review
By John Valo
| Date of Review | January 2009 | Manufacturer | Classic Airframes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Sea Venom FAW.21 | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 4112 | Primary Media | Styrene, Resin |
| Pros | Interesting FAA subject | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
Background
For a look at the history of the de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 and the kit straight out of the box, check out the review
published earlier on Cybermodeler.
Construction
The kit features the usual mix of nicely-engraved, shiny plastic parts and a beautifully cast resin cockpit. Other resin parts include wheels, intakes, engine details and the lower nose which incorporates the cannon muzzles and nosegear well. The mainwheel well detail is molded into the inside of the upper wing, so with there is no typical insert to deal with.
Although as usual there are no locating pins, all the parts fit quite well with the requisite dry-fitting and minor trimming. With a relatively low parts count, the kit assembles quickly. Markings are provided for four aircraft, and the Cartograf-printed decals are beautifully executed.
I elected to do the 'Operation Musketeer' Suez subject, and the challenge here is painting the Yellow and Black stripes on the wings and tailbooms. I assembled and painted the tailbooms and fuselage/wing assembly separately, then attached the booms and tailplane later. I used two small brass rods to reinforce the tailplane's butt-join attachment points. PollyScale acrylics were used for colors, followed by a clear coat of Future. The decals snuggled down very well with my usual Microset and Microsol combination. I left the radome in a semi-gloss finish, and completed the rest of the model with a satin-flat coat of PollyScale.
The canopy parts are very thin and clear, and look great after a bath in Future. Because the parts fit well together, the canopy can be displayed closed, but no provision is made for an open 'hood'. I took an extra bit of time to add some minor structural detail and hinges to display my cockpit open.
Conclusions
Once again, overall high marks to CA on a long-overdue subject release. The Sea Venom has always been one of my favorites because (despite the rather bulbous appearance of the fuselage pod) it looks like it's going fast even when it's standing still. Recommended.
My sincere thanks to Classic Airframes for this review sample!