Armory 1/48 Fairey Flycatcher Bristish Interwar FAA Floatplane Fighter Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Fairey Flycatcher was a naval fighter developed for the Royal Navy after World War I for use aboard aircraft carriers and from capital ships. The Flycatcher did see action against pirates operating near Hong Kong. The type saw active service between 1923 and 1934.

Armory has produced a number of multimedia kits over the last decade or so, mostly in 1/72 scale. Their first kits in 1/48 scale were the carrier-based Flycatchers with two different engines, and here is their latest release, the Flycatcher that operated from catapults of Royal Navy capital ships. This kit represents the late version with metal floats.

The kit is molded in gray styrene and presented on five parts trees plus a resin Jaguar engine and detail parts, plus three frets of photo-etched details.

Among the features and options in this kit:

• Detailed Jaguar engine
• Optional propeller spinner
• Detailed cockpit
• Positionable flight control surfaces
• Detailed floats with positionable dolly wheels

Decals provide markings for six examples:

• Flycatcher, s/n unknown, 403rd Flight, HMS Berwick, 1933
• Flycatchre, N9673, Marine Aeroplane Experimental Establishment, Felixstowe, 1932
• Flycatcher, s/n unknown, 403rd Flight, HMS Cumberland, 1930
• Flycatcher, 1413, 403rd Flight, HMS Cumberland, 1930
• Flycatcher, s/n unknown, 403rd Flight, HMS Berwick, 1930
• Flycatcher, S1297, 408th Flight, HMS Glorious, 1935

The model is exquisitely detailed and the instructions provide rigging instructions, though this model has some really tiny parts and will go together with a combination of experience and excellent eyesight.

You can purchase this and other Armory products from a number of online stockists as well as directly from their online store.

My sincere thanks to Armory for this review sample!