Airfix 1/48 Sea Vixen FAW2 - by Alan Firbank - Gloucester, England

The kit is the 1/48 Airfix Sea Vixen FAW2. It is built straight from the box with the exception of the color scheme and the two plastic wing pitots that are replaced with a pair of darning needles with their eyes removed and their sharp points filed a little.

The decals of the serial number are from a set by Model Alliance of interesting and colorful Sea Vixen schemes (MA-48197). All of the other decals are from the Cartograph sheet with the kit. Micro Sol and Set were used to aid decal application.

The main paint is from Hannant's Xtracolor enamel range. RAF Light Aircraft Grey is used on the upper surface and the black and yellow stripes are Insignia Yellow and Night Black. Xtracolor provides the ideal glossy surface to accept the decals. The decals were sealed using Humbrol Gloss Cote and the post shading was applied using the finest Iwata airbrush using matt grey, a shade darker than the Light Aircraft Grey.

Where the kit instructions are not as clear as they could be Roy Sutherland's de Havilland Sea Vixen book proved to be an invaluable aid throughout the project. Interior shots were especially useful and those taken around the undercarriage and wing fold. I am really pleased to have had Roy's book to hand.

Barracuda Studios products used:
BGFL001 de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW1 and 2