Author Topic: Firebrand GF 2  (Read 2638 times)

Offline Dr. YoKai

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Firebrand GF 2
« on: May 06, 2021, 11:23:19 PM »
Although the 'GF' designation was not destined to last long, the handful of Burney-armed aircraft that used it would make their mark
on the problematic German and Japanese hydrofoils that would prove so effective in the last two years of the war. With the small and
extremely fast attack craft making torpedoes all but useless in the channel and North Sea, the Firebrands TF IVs and Vs entering service
in 1945-46 were soon re-equipped with an airborne version of the 3.45 inch RCL developed by Sir Dennis Burney.

(I'm always a little nervous attempting back stories like this - but I have been putting off building my CzechMaster kit for far too long.)

DSCF0411 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

Nothing too radical in terms of modifications, just the underwing gunpods. Fit has been less than stellar, as I think you can see from the
puttying. I will likely try and build this wheels up on a stand, and I am still a bit vague on a color scheme, but it should come together fairly quickly.
DSCF0423 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

The 'GF' is for 'Gunfighter', natch. I think the GF I is a Firefly with a pair of 40mm under wing. But it could just as easily be a
Swordfish with a Bates Eight-barreled Bottle thrower.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2021, 11:26:37 PM by Dr. YoKai »

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2021, 07:04:46 AM »
Fantastic !

The Firebrand is right on topic and a terrific aircraft, it is a monster for a single seater. I built the Contrail Vacform many a year a go, so really interested to see how the Czechmaster kit comes up/

Offline Dr. YoKai

  • Was in High School when mastadons roamed the plains...
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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2021, 10:57:15 PM »
This should come together over the coming weekend - as you can see, construction isn't particularly involved, but the fit is less than ideal, calling
for a fair amount of putty work. I should be able to primer it some time this week.
DSCF0450 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

DSCF0449 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

It's a shame, because the surface detailing is superb. Very delicate panel lines and control surfaces, but not the greatest fit - I probably should have done more test fitting, but super glue and resin don't allow for much compromise. Currently trying to decide on a paint scheme. It will be either a blue/green/grey combo, or something...experimental.

Offline Sport25ing

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2021, 07:08:34 AM »
One of my favourite 1946 aircraft's :3 (yes, I've bad taste)

Offline Dr. YoKai

  • Was in High School when mastadons roamed the plains...
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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2021, 10:18:36 PM »
 Thought I did this last night - Not quite finished, so if I could get this moved to the regular aviation sub forum, please. :-[ Still not quite settled on what scheme to use, and roundels... But I'm glad I finally started on it, anyhoo.

DSCF0480 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2021, 07:07:31 AM »
Close run thing and still really wanting to see what you do with this.

GTX or one of his crack team will get this moved I am sure

Offline Dr. YoKai

  • Was in High School when mastadons roamed the plains...
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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2021, 08:55:19 PM »
Progress at last, though I'm not sure I'll keep it quite like this. I have come up wit ha scheme I'm calling 'Ian Allen Color Special 1965' because, well -
DSCF0487 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

This was a combination of Tamiya masking tape and Silly Putty* for the masks, but I feel like I gave the Green a bitt too much room on the wings.
I am thinking of doing another SP mask, narrowing the green bands, and overspraying with a slightly darker blue. Still undecided about the
markings - may wait until I can get out to the no-longer-local Hobby Shop, about 45 minutes away.

DSCF0488 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2021, 07:21:08 AM »
Well the blue certainly changes how it looks.
Completely different to the more commonly seen sky/grey scheme

Offline Dr. YoKai

  • Was in High School when mastadons roamed the plains...
  • A notorious curmudgeon who is partial to...hemp!
Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2021, 01:24:27 AM »
And some months later, finished at last. Merry Christmas to all (even if it was yesterday for a lot of you. ;) )
DSCF0634 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr
DSCF0632 by VileDr.Yo, on Flickr

A minor hiccup was the disappearance of the kit canopy, but I had had an Airmodel Firebrand for years, and while it is...not that good,
it did have a useable canopy, which fit with a little trimming.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2021, 01:34:08 AM »
 :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2021, 05:49:31 AM »
Certainly a very different look

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2021, 07:21:40 AM »
That is very cool, beautiful work!
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline Frank3k

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2021, 07:53:19 AM »
That's a beast of a plane! The camo looks great, too.
 What's the stand from?

Offline apophenia

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Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2021, 10:38:58 AM »
That came out great Doc! To me, something about that camouflage says deep, dark, cold Norwegian fjords.  :smiley:
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline Dr. YoKai

  • Was in High School when mastadons roamed the plains...
  • A notorious curmudgeon who is partial to...hemp!
Re: Firebrand GF 2
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2021, 12:01:20 AM »
That's a beast of a plane! The camo looks great, too.
 What's the stand from?

Thanks, Frank. The Firebrand wasn't a great aircraft for it's purpose, but I have always been taken by it's looks. The stand is from the
Delta 2 kit of the Campini Caproni I built some years back.

The kit isn't bad (CMK resin, if I remember right) but the surface detail reminds me of Matchboxes 'Mad Trencher'. I will have to pick up one of the Valom kits one of these years and try an SEA scheme for the RAAF.

Apophenia: The scheme is quasi-authentic, I think. I based it loosely on some schemes found in my copy of British Aircraft of WW II by David Monday (A Hamlyn Concise guide circa 1994, though I suspect the original entries are from a number of different publications.) I like the image of it flying up one of the Fjords.

Thanks for looking in