1/32nd FLY Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc, 825 NAS Fighter Flight, HMS Vindex 1944.

[Big Tony]

Flying from the British built escort carrier HMS Vindex, 825 NAS was a Swordfish anti submarine squadron with an attached fighter flight consisting of six Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc`s and later three Fulmar NF.II`s for night fighter duties. This carrier covered Atlantic and Arctic convoys during 1944 & 45 and during 1944 825 NAS`s Swordfish sank four U Boats, sharing another with surface escorts and the Fighter Flight Sea Hurri`s also claimed their own U-Boat sunk and another damaged too. The fighter flight experimented with armament during its time aboard Vindex and often removed the outer cannon from each wing which gave them added manoeuvrability and speed while dealing with the aerial threat on the Arctic convoys but the cannon were replaced and four rockets were fitted beneath the wings during the Atlantic convoy runs when out of range of Luftwaffe aircraft, U Boats became the main threat. For the latter the rockets and rails were taken from the Swordfish. In March 1945 825 NAS transferred to HMS Campania and the fighter flight converted onto Wildcat Mk.VI`s.

The subject of this model, JS310 was a Canadian built Sea Hurricane Mk.IIb (the Royal Navy used British variant numbers and not the Canadian Mk.XII ones!) which was one of a batch that saw service during Op.Torch and at some point it was fitted with Mk.IIc 4 x cannon armed wings. Delivered to 800 NAS in October 1942 and intended for ops off N. Africa aboard HMS Biter during Op Torch, it is listed as being with the AHU at Abbotsinch on the 19th November 1942, which is the the day that HMS Biter returned back from the Med and it does feature on an Aeromaster decal sheet wearing Op Torch markings with 800 NAS, but I cannot find a photo to substantiate this. It moved to 759 NAS at Yeovilton as part of the Naval Fighter Pilot School, between August 1943-March 1944 and then went to RNAS Macrihannish in Scotland where the new cannon armed wings could well have been fitted if they were not already in place. It joined 825F NAS in March 1944 until 6th July 1944 when Sub. Lt. JE Moore RNZN was forced to belly land out of fuel while flying from HMS Vindex. It went for repairs at Donibristle following which it joined 700 NAS at RNAS Worthy Down between February to August 1945. 

 

And here is an 825 NAS Fighter Flight Sea Hurricane Mk.IIc fitted with 4 x Cannons and 4 x rockets,..... which is how I depicted my model;

 

 

The Model,..... from FLY is no shake and bake kit by any means but with care it does go together well and is a good representation of the Hurricane/Sea Hurricane with raised detail for the rivets on the wings being an especially nice detail. The cockpit interior is very fiddly but does go together OK with some patience. As the kit arrester hook section is resin and I struggled with the fit, I replaced it with the plastic item left over from the new Revell Hurricane Mk.IIb kit. Unlike MK.I`s, Sea Hurricane Mk.II`s were not fitted with catapult spools so there was no need to fit these, nor a head rest pad behind the pilots head. The rockets and rails that I fitted are white metal and they came from an ancient conversion set that I bought in the 80`s in a plastic bag, unfortunately I have no idea of the manufacturer,.... sorry. Pig tails for the rockets were made from wire with blobs of white glue on the end.

Careful study of the reference photos will reveal that 825 Fighter Flight clipped the undercarriage doors of their aircraft to prevent damage during deck landing and I did the same for the model.

The model was brush painted using Aeromaster acrylic Dark Slate Grey, Humbrol enamel Extra Dark Sea Grey and Humbrol acrylic Sky for the undersides. The decals came from DK Decal and I would really like to thank them for going along with my idea for this interesting scheme! The rear fuselage artwork is nice and the rattle and dummy were added to the nose panel by the ground crew as a surprise for the pilot after his wife gave birth to their baby girl, applying the names Carole Anne above!

 

 

DK Decals sheet;

Edited July 30, 2023 by Big Tony

[geedubelyer]

Well written article and superb model. 

Thoroughly enjoyable to view. 

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers.

[MikeMaben]

Excellent finish and photos Tony .

[dennismcc]

Great build and background information, a much neglected subject.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[MikeC]

Very nicely done, and having built the Fly Mk I, I know what you probably went through. 

Excellent period photos too.

[williamj]

Excelent,  love a good backstory,  lovely build.

[Big Tony]

Thank you for your kind comments folks, they are very much appreciated. 

Cheers

           Tony

[reconspit]

….again, absolutely beautiful.., you definitely have a hand for the Hurricane…., beautiful 

[Big Tony]

On 7/31/2023 at 7:21 PM, reconspit said:

….again, absolutely beautiful.., you definitely have a hand for the Hurricane…., beautiful 

Thanks mate,.... yes I have quite a soft spot for the old Hurri! 

[scvrobeson]

Great looking Sea Hurri! Thanks for including all of the history with it

 

 

 

Matt 

[Christa]

Great model. I didn't know Sea Hurricanes could kill U boats.

[Big Tony]

On 8/31/2023 at 2:26 AM, scvrobeson said:

Great looking Sea Hurri! Thanks for including all of the history with it

 

 

 

Matt 

Thanks Matt,.... glad you like it. 

[Big Tony]

On 8/31/2023 at 9:52 AM, Christa said:

Great model. I didn't know Sea Hurricanes could kill U boats.

Thanks mate,..... I don`t think that the rockets were widely employed as their main role was fighter cover, but when out of range of German aircraft it appears that rockets were sometimes fitted. The secondary role of fighters on British escort carriers in the Atlantic was to support the Swordfish as they mad their attacks. 

[LSP_Kevin]

How did I miss this one? Another beautiful model from you, Tony.

 

Kev

[Cbowling]

Congratulations Tony on a beautiful build. Thanks for posting!

 

Chris