FAA 1/48 Trumpeter De Havilland Sea Hornet NF21

[pourquoi61]

This one is for me.









Only 2 types on this one.


Now for the plastic,
Nice detail and it looks like a quick build.







Now for those who like it,here is some blurb.
De Havilland's ultimate piston engined fighter.
De Havilland DH103 Hornet PX217 De Havilland DH103 Hornet PX217

The De Havilland Hornet represents in many ways the peak of piston engine fighter design. With its slim fuselage, clean lines and tightly cowled engines, great attention was paid from the outset on maximising performance.

The prototype (RR915) was built on a private venture basis and flew for the first time on 28th July 1944.
Designed around the successful wooden construction principals of the De Havilland Mosquito, the Hornet was powered by a pair of 2,070 hp Merlin engines driving opposite-handed propellers and Boscombe Down trials revealed the astonishing maximum speed of 485 mph at 22,000 ft. The type also possessed superb handling characteristics, particularly in respect of its high rate of roll.

Initially conceived for operations in the Pacific Theatre against the Japanese, the conflict had ended before the aircraft reached operational status. Two main marks saw service with the RAF Fighter Command: The F Mk 1 and the F Mk 3 with the latter having increased fuel capacity and a large dorsal fin. Armament was four 20mm cannon and wing hard points eight ground attack rockets or a pair of 1,000 lb bombs. Alternatively, two 200 gallon drop tanks could be carried.

It saw active service in the Far East as a Strike Fighter during the Malayan Emergency in 1951, replacing Bristol Beaufighters and Supermarine Spitfires.

The Hornet also saw service with the Royal Navy, initially as a single seat fighter (Sea Hornet F 20). The main modifications were wing-folding and the fitment of an arrester hook. Provision was also made for an oblique reconnaissance camera in the rear fuselage.

DH103 Sea Hornet landing on HMS Indomitable in 1950De Havilland DH103 Sea Hornet landing on HMS Indomitable in 1950
Subsequently, the type was adapted as a two seat night fighter (NF.21) with a radome in the nose and a seat for the observer in the rear fuselage.

The final naval variant was an unarmed reconnaissance version, the Sea Hornet PR.22.

Production comprised 5 prototypes and the variants listed in the table below.
Variants

Hornet F.1
60 built
Fighter version
Hornet PR.2
5 built
Photo-reconnaissance version
Hornet F.3
132 built
Fighter version
Hornet FR.4
12 built
Fighter-reconnaissance version
Sea Hornet F.20
79 built
A navalised version for service on British aircraft carriers
Sea Hornet NF.21
72 built
Fleet Air Arm night fighter powered by Merlin 133/134 engines
Sea Hornet PR.22
23 built
Photo-reconnaissance version
Specification

Hornet F.3 Sea Hornet NF.21
Powerplant Two 2,070 hp RR Merlin 130/131 Two 2,030 hp RR Merlin 133/134
Span 45 ft 0 in 45 ft 0 in
Maximum Weight 20,900 lb 19,530 lb
Capacity Pilot. Four 20mm Hispano cannon plus provision for two 1,000 lb bombs or eight 60 lb rockets Pilot and observer
Maximum Speed 472 mph at 22,000 ft 430 mph at 22,000 ft
Range 2,600 miles 1,500 miles
Survivors

No known survivors
Other information

www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk
www.rafmuseum.org.uk
More information
Default Team Image
BAE Systems
Heritage

The information shown is based on that available at the time of the content creation. If you have any additions or corrections then please contact us via email
heritage@baesystems.com
Contact

[pourquoi61]

So on with the build and I did not have the colour in the instructions, so it was on with Tamiya XF-5 Flat Green. This looks very bright in the jar but it is darker once on the plastic.The aircraft interior walls, tub and bulkheads once dry had the details picked out, with different colours for the switches and then the dash was painted black.




While I was waiting for this to dry I glued the wing ends together and painted the wheel housing and legs Citadel Mithril Silver.
I later found that I should have glued the top and bottom wing halves to their corresponding main wing sections before gluing together.



Once dry the cockpit instrument panel decal was applied and given a few coats of Micro-Sol to get it to settle down.
Then the cockpit was assembled and the black parts were dry brushed with a light grey to pick out the detail.


These parts were glued into the fuselage and clamped together.



THIS IS WHY I SHOULD HAVE GLUED THE WING ENDS TO THE MAIN WING ROOTS FIRST.


Lesson learned I glued the wings on to the fuselage and used a small amount of filler.
The wheel wells were glued leaving out the legs, these will go on near the end of the build.



That's all for today folks.
Thanks for dropping by.

[Avgas]

Looking great so far, my favourite twin piston engined plane. Apparently according to those who flew it it had so much power that they could take off and do a full aerobatic display on one engine. Consider the Bugatti Veryon has a power to weight ratio of 523 hp per ton. The Hornet had a p/w ratio of around 600 hp per ton... It was Winkle Brown's favourite aeroplane as well which is good enough for me.

[TommyKillander]

Great start, this is an interesting object !

Looking forward to see this being built, good luck


Tommy

[Willem]

Looking great so far, my favourite twin piston engined plane. Apparently according to those who flew it it had so much power that they could take off and do a full aerobatic display on one engine. Consider the Bugatti Veryon has a power to weight ratio of 523 hp per ton. The Hornet had a p/w ratio of around 600 hp per ton... It was Winkle Brown's favourite aeroplane as well which is good enough for me.

Yeah. I remember reading about the demonstration team that flew them out to the States. Formation loops and rolls all on one engine.

Great subject. I've just built the F1 and it went together very well. Looking forward to following this.

[RossiM1]

Great start the cockpit looks very nice good job.

[jnbattleship]

quick build so far. I like it.

[pourquoi61]

Sorry for the long delay and sudden jump in progress. Work and other real life commitments put a halt on the progress of this build until right at the last minute. Rushing to get it finished before the deadline and update you all.

Since the last image I have glued the canopy on and masked it. Then I sprayed the underside of the aircraft in XF-21 Sky, at the same time spraying the spinners, flame dampers, undercarriage doors and halfway up the fuselage.

I then masked the area sprayed in XF-21 Sky on the fuselage, rudder assembly and engine nacelles, then sprayed XF-54 Dark Sea Grey on the upper surfaces. I tried to leave a little of the pre-shading showing through.

Once dry I then removed the masking from the aircraft but left it on the perspex sections.


I then gave the whole model a coat of Tamiya Clear and once dry I began applying the decals.


The decals were very clingy and required a lot of water in order to manipulate them.
Only the last few parts left to put on and masking to remove then she is finally finished!

The next post will be my final reveal.

[pourquoi61]

Looking great so far, my favourite twin piston engined plane. Apparently according to those who flew it it had so much power that they could take off and do a full aerobatic display on one engine. Consider the Bugatti Veryon has a power to weight ratio of 523 hp per ton. The Hornet had a p/w ratio of around 600 hp per ton... It was Winkle Brown's favourite aeroplane as well which is good enough for me.

Just love the aircraft myself, thanks for the info.

[pourquoi61]

Great start, this is an interesting object !

Looking forward to see this being built, good luck


Tommy

Yes, so am I.

[pourquoi61]

Looking great so far, my favourite twin piston engined plane. Apparently according to those who flew it it had so much power that they could take off and do a full aerobatic display on one engine. Consider the Bugatti Veryon has a power to weight ratio of 523 hp per ton. The Hornet had a p/w ratio of around 600 hp per ton... It was Winkle Brown's favourite aeroplane as well which is good enough for me.

Yeah. I remember reading about the demonstration team that flew them out to the States. Formation loops and rolls all on one engine.

Great subject. I've just built the F1 and it went together very well. Looking forward to following this.

Thanks very much.

[pourquoi61]

Great start the cockpit looks very nice good job.

I agree, I think it looks nice straight out if the box. Had I had more time I would have gone to town on it.

[pourquoi61]

quick build so far. I like it.

Yeah I like quick builds myself.