Fairey Barracuda - FROG/Novo 1/72
Discussion
Still working on the Liberator but have now started doing some preliminary work on this.
The model was originally issued in 1964 so the detailing is exactly what you would expect from that period. However, being a FROG kit, the detail is nice and restrained. The interior is fairly bare apart from some unrepresentative seats but I have ordered an Airwaves photo etch interior which hopefully I can insert. I already have the Falcon Fleet Air Arm vac form canopy set that includes a Barracuda so the plan is to use that instead of the kit version.
This particular "boxing" (or should I say "bagging" as it would originally have been in a plastic bag with a cardboard header) is by Novo and dates from 1977. This is the time period where the moulds had only the year before gone to the Soviet Union so the early Novo releases were pretty much indistiguishable from the original FROG versions.
The model was originally issued in 1964 so the detailing is exactly what you would expect from that period. However, being a FROG kit, the detail is nice and restrained. The interior is fairly bare apart from some unrepresentative seats but I have ordered an Airwaves photo etch interior which hopefully I can insert. I already have the Falcon Fleet Air Arm vac form canopy set that includes a Barracuda so the plan is to use that instead of the kit version.
This particular "boxing" (or should I say "bagging" as it would originally have been in a plastic bag with a cardboard header) is by Novo and dates from 1977. This is the time period where the moulds had only the year before gone to the Soviet Union so the early Novo releases were pretty much indistiguishable from the original FROG versions.
AshVX220 said:
What an odd looking plane, do you know what the windows below the wings were for?
To see out of?The plane had a crew of three, Pilot, Navigator and Radio-man/Air-gunner. The Nav needs to see where they are, and the wings block most of his downward vision. So windows below the wings solve this.
robemcdonald said:
Fair enough.
My key driver when choosing kits is get the most modern tooling version, but maybe I will give an old kit a go.
Edit
I just remembered I have done recently with the SAS Jeep. I’ll stick to the modern stuff thanks.
The serious answer is that they do have a charm of their own, and the fun is either making it straight out of the box "as Airfix intended", or trying to see how good it could be with some work.My key driver when choosing kits is get the most modern tooling version, but maybe I will give an old kit a go.
Edit
I just remembered I have done recently with the SAS Jeep. I’ll stick to the modern stuff thanks.
robemcdonald said:
What is the attraction of a kit like that? Is it the eclectic choice of subject? I just see a lot of hassle and not a lot of reward.
I know everyone’s different, but would genuinely like to know the appeal.
There are a few reasons why I would tackle such a kit - I know everyone’s different, but would genuinely like to know the appeal.
i) I already own it. I've been buying models for almost 50 years and as a result have accumulated a large pile of unbuilt kits. It's nice to dive into the stash and extract something out of the pile.
ii) Nostalgia - there's an element of reliving one's youth. Although I never built the Barracuda "back in the day", I certainly remember it being on sale in the 60s and 70s and I always fancied building one.
iii) although you say you "see a lot of hassle", Frog kits actually went together quite well. So the assembly and build will be pretty OK. I MAY chose to make life more difficult for myself by adding etch detail etc, but that's my choice. In its original state, it's a perfectly buildable kit.
iv) Choice - (or lack of). For many years, the Frog Barracuda was the only one available in 1/72. In more recent years. Special Hobby/MPM has released a more modern and detailed kit but it is "short run" so would be, if anything, more difficult to put together than this Frog version. They do produce a post war version which might tempt me to buy the Special Hobby one some time.
v) Subject Matter - the Barracuda isn't that eclectic actually. They were produced in reasonable numbers and saw plenty of action off Fleet Air Arm carriers in WW2 in the major theatres of war. They served with the Royal Navy through t the early/mid 1950s.
Yertis claimed he thought the Barracuda was only ever available in a box. Well, the one I have did come in a plastic bag with a header card. My opening set of pictures shows the header card with the painting guide on the reverse side.
Eric Mc said:
Yertis claimed he thought the Barracuda was only ever available in a box. Well, the one I have did come in a plastic bag with a header card. My opening set of pictures shows the header card with the painting guide on the reverse side.
Sorry Eric I misread that to mean it would have 'originally' (as in from Rovex) come in a bag. I must admit I didn't know Novo dit them in bags too, I was out of the hobby about the time Novo came on the scene.robemcdonald said:
Sorry if my post came across in a negative way. I was just curious.
I like the nostalgia angle. Can you still get matchbox kits?
Matchbox ceased plastic kit production many years ago. However, many of the original kits can still be obtained through second hand outlets and at model shows.I like the nostalgia angle. Can you still get matchbox kits?
When Matchbox ceased kit productions, most of their moulds ended up with Revell and, from time to time, Revell reissues Matchbox kits in their boxes and with modern, up to date, decals.
As an example, I was given a present of the 1/72 Revell Handley Page Victor K2 for Christmas. This is, of course, a re-boxing of the 1983 Matchbox kit.
Yertis said:
Sorry Eric I misread that to mean it would have 'originally' (as in from Rovex) come in a bag. I must admit I didn't know Novo dit them in bags too, I was out of the hobby about the time Novo came on the scene.
I can't recall if the Barracuda was ever released by FROG themselves in a bag. I do know that their Sea Venom and Firefly were originally bagged kits. Later versions were in boxes.The Barracuda turned out to be a very effective aircraft. It had its problems but once the pilots understood where these were, they were pretty good at the job they were designed to do. They were retired after the end of the war but very shortly afterwards reinstated, especially as navigational and observer trainers.
Regarding the fuselage side windows, one of the requirements in the specification was "Fleet Spotter" and "Reconnaissance". As most of this task would involve looking down at the ocean, this is why the mid wing position was chosen and the low level windows gave the Observer/Spotter a good view downwards.
The disadvantage of the mid set wing was that it resulted in a stalky undercarriage. Fairey made the undercarriage legs as robust as possible but the links in the retraction mechanism were vulnerable to failing in the harsh treatment they got in carrier landings.
Development of the original design was held back because of problems with the original engine that had been chosen, the Rolls Royce Boreas. In the end, Rolls Royce asked if they could abandon the project to concentrate on the Merlin, Vulture and Peregrine. The latter two were also abandoned eventually.
The cancellation of the Boreas programme left the Barracuda engineless but in the end the Merlin was chosen. This left the Barracuda always rather underpowered and the very last Barracudas had Rolls Royce Griffons.
Regarding the fuselage side windows, one of the requirements in the specification was "Fleet Spotter" and "Reconnaissance". As most of this task would involve looking down at the ocean, this is why the mid wing position was chosen and the low level windows gave the Observer/Spotter a good view downwards.
The disadvantage of the mid set wing was that it resulted in a stalky undercarriage. Fairey made the undercarriage legs as robust as possible but the links in the retraction mechanism were vulnerable to failing in the harsh treatment they got in carrier landings.
Development of the original design was held back because of problems with the original engine that had been chosen, the Rolls Royce Boreas. In the end, Rolls Royce asked if they could abandon the project to concentrate on the Merlin, Vulture and Peregrine. The latter two were also abandoned eventually.
The cancellation of the Boreas programme left the Barracuda engineless but in the end the Merlin was chosen. This left the Barracuda always rather underpowered and the very last Barracudas had Rolls Royce Griffons.
Eric Mc said:
The Barracuda turned out to be a very effective aircraft. It had its problems but once the pilots understood where these were, they were pretty good at the job they were designed to do. They were retired after the end of the war but very shortly afterwards reinstated, especially as navigational and observer trainers.
Regarding the fuselage side windows, one of the requirements in the specification was "Fleet Spotter" and "Reconnaissance". As most of this task would involve looking down at the ocean, this is why the mid wing position was chosen and the low level windows gave the Observer/Spotter a good view downwards.
The disadvantage of the mid set wing was that it resulted in a stalky undercarriage. Fairey made the undercarriage legs as robust as possible but the links in the retraction mechanism were vulnerable to failing in the harsh treatment they got in carrier landings.
Development of the original design was held back because of problems with the original engine that had been chosen, the Rolls Royce Boreas. In the end, Rolls Royce asked if they could abandon the project to concentrate on the Merlin, Vulture and Peregrine. The latter two were also abandoned eventually.
The cancellation of the Boreas programme left the Barracuda engineless but in the end the Merlin was chosen. This left the Barracuda always rather underpowered and the very last Barracudas had Rolls Royce Griffons.
Cheers. Regarding the fuselage side windows, one of the requirements in the specification was "Fleet Spotter" and "Reconnaissance". As most of this task would involve looking down at the ocean, this is why the mid wing position was chosen and the low level windows gave the Observer/Spotter a good view downwards.
The disadvantage of the mid set wing was that it resulted in a stalky undercarriage. Fairey made the undercarriage legs as robust as possible but the links in the retraction mechanism were vulnerable to failing in the harsh treatment they got in carrier landings.
Development of the original design was held back because of problems with the original engine that had been chosen, the Rolls Royce Boreas. In the end, Rolls Royce asked if they could abandon the project to concentrate on the Merlin, Vulture and Peregrine. The latter two were also abandoned eventually.
The cancellation of the Boreas programme left the Barracuda engineless but in the end the Merlin was chosen. This left the Barracuda always rather underpowered and the very last Barracudas had Rolls Royce Griffons.
I've been making slow progress on the Barracuda over the past few weeks - what with weekend breaks and other distractions.
I have used the Airwaves etched brass interior set. It is designed to be used with the Special Hobby kit so needed a fair bit of trimming and adjustment to get it into the Frog kit. It's main purpose is to fill the fairly empty void that would have been visible.
The fuselage, wings etc are all attached now and, as usual with Frog kits, the fit wasn't too bad with minimal filler required. The chin intake on the Barracuda was large but Frog did not provide any blanking plate behind it - so if left alone you would be able to see right down the fuselage. I've made a blanking plate from plastic card.
I've cut away small quadrants on the wingtips and inserted clear plastic to represent the navigation and formation lights. Frog never bothered with such niceties in their kits.
I was going to use a Falcon vac form canopy but messed up when cutting it from its backing sheet. So, I've reverted to the kit canopy. However, I've cut the canopy to allow it to be displayed in the open position. The part of the vac form canopy that survived unscathed was, luckilly, the sliding section and it sits quite nicely on top of the Frog original.
I have used the Airwaves etched brass interior set. It is designed to be used with the Special Hobby kit so needed a fair bit of trimming and adjustment to get it into the Frog kit. It's main purpose is to fill the fairly empty void that would have been visible.
The fuselage, wings etc are all attached now and, as usual with Frog kits, the fit wasn't too bad with minimal filler required. The chin intake on the Barracuda was large but Frog did not provide any blanking plate behind it - so if left alone you would be able to see right down the fuselage. I've made a blanking plate from plastic card.
I've cut away small quadrants on the wingtips and inserted clear plastic to represent the navigation and formation lights. Frog never bothered with such niceties in their kits.
I was going to use a Falcon vac form canopy but messed up when cutting it from its backing sheet. So, I've reverted to the kit canopy. However, I've cut the canopy to allow it to be displayed in the open position. The part of the vac form canopy that survived unscathed was, luckilly, the sliding section and it sits quite nicely on top of the Frog original.
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