1/72 Eastern Express and Novo

Supermarine Attacker

by  Haroon

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  Pakistan Independence Day 2004 

 

History
 
The Attacker was derived from the Supermarine Spiteful, an intended replacement for the Spitfire. It kept the Spiteful's wing (and four 20 mm cannon) but had a new tail and fuselage which housed a jet engine. The first navalised prototype flew on 17th June 1947. The first production aircraft (an F1) flew in April 1950 and became the first jet aircraft to enter FAA front line service in August 1951.  Bomb facilities were added to the F1 design to make the FB1 which was followed by the FB2 which replaced the FB1s Mk 101 Nene turbojet with a Mk 102.  The Pakistan Air Force ordered 36 Attackers, de-navalized and able to carry two 1,000-lb bombs and 8 rocket projectiles. The arrival of the Attacker in June 1951, ushered Pakistan Air Force into the jet age. The Attacker served with the No.11 'Arrows' squadron, which in turn had the
honour of being the first jet fighter squadron in Pakistan.  The Attacker went on to form the first jet aerobatic team called "The Paybills".  With Pakistan taking sides with America in the spread against communism, the influx of American military aid in the form of the F-86 Sabre spelt the end for the Attacker in  the Pakistan Air Force.  The No.11s were re-equipped with Sabres on 18th January 1956. 
 
The Royal Navy Attacker was soon out of date and was replaced with the Sea Hawk in front line service as soon as it became available in 1954. It continued to serve in the RNVR until 1956.  While the Attacker did introduce the Fleet Air Arm to jet aircraft operation aboard ship, it had never been brought up to a satisfactory standard.  It's altitude performance was poor, it lacked maneuverability, and it was too unstable to be an effective gun platform.  As famed British test pilot Eric Brown said of it, "the Attacker marked the beginning of the end of the charisma surrounding the Supermarine name."
 
A total of 43 F1, 16 FB1 and 84 FB2 were built for the Royal Navy (including 36 for the Pakistan Air Force).
 
 
Building 
I made use two kits in the construction of the Attacker, the fuselage was from the Eastern Express kit and I merged it with the wings and landing gears from the Novo kit. I found the Wings from the Novo kit to be of a better fit and quality, although both kits were pretty bad overall (raised lines, minimal detailing, no gear wells and no cockpit) . The decals were of the Pakistan Air Force which were provided with the Eastern Express kit. I gave it an aluminium finish (as that was the case with the PAF Attackers), did some weathering using "Brunt Iron" and some touch up using aqeuous paints. All the paints used were from Gunze.      

Special thanks to Mr Nakamoto and Adam at the Achtung Japan Hobby Club.
Haroon
 

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Photos and text © by Haroon