1/48 Magna Models Blackburn Firebrand TF5

Gallery Article by Darius Aibara on Dec 22 2003

 

Magna Models have produced an extensive series of 1:72 resin kits of mainly Royal Navy and RAF aircraft and have in recent years ventured into 1:48 scale with four kits of RN subjects.  I had always liked the look of the Firebrand and ordered the TF5 kit direct from Magna Models.  The kit is packaged in a stout box and comprises solid one piece resin wing, tailplane and fin, with a solid resin fuselage (hollowed out at the cockpit).  A single price resin nose is provided (with the "fan" at the front of the engine moulded integrally) together with a separate resin spinner.  Prop blades, undercarriage, cockpit console and other detail parts were provided in white metal along with two vac-formed canopies.  Decals are provided for several Royal Navy Firebrands.

 

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This was the first resin kit that I had attempted so I carefully followed Magna Models instructions in using this media. I washed all the parts using detergent and an old toothbrush to remove any mould release agents and sanded away any remnants of pouring stubs (these were not too extensive).  There were very few surface pinholes (caused by small air bubbles trapped against the mould) and these were filled with cyano glue and sanded flush.  Some of the underwing flap panel lines were not well defined so I re-scribed them.  The remaining engraved panel lines were very well moulded.  With so few parts assembly was quite rapid using cyano glue.  Humbrol grey filler was used to blend in the joins - this works quite well with the resin.  Once the model was sanded, and re-scribed where necessary, it was sprayed with Halfords grey primer and the Sky underside colour with the upper extra dark sea grey brush applied using Humbrol enamel.  

The kit decals were applied to represent an aircraft of 813 Sqn FAA aboard HMS Indomitable in 1951 and sealed in with a coat of clear.  I used the kit provided canopy windscreen but the sliding bubble canopy shape did not look right and so I replaced it with a spare P51 canopy from a Tamiya kit.  A light weathering around the exhausts and the addition of the kit supplied torpedo completed the job.

Darius Aibara

      

Photos and text © by Darius Aibara