The Hawker Sea Fury
A Complete Guide to the Fleet Air Arm's Last Piston Engine Fighter

by Richard Franks

Valiant Wings Publishing
Airframe Album No.2

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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This is Valiant Wings Publishing second book in their new “Airframe” series which directly targets the modeller who is seeking reference to detail their latest creation.

Some brief background on the Hawker Sea Fury first.  It traces its roots back to Hawker’s World War Two fighters the Typhoon and Tempest and the Sydney Camm designed Hawker Fury lightweight Tempest Mk. II replacement.  The first Sea Fury flew on 21 February 1945, powered by a Bristol Centaurus XII engine. Whilst this machine sported a stinger-type tail hook for arrested carrier landings it lacked folding wings.  The second prototype was built with folding wings and flew on 12 October 1945 powered by a Bristol Centaurus XV fitted with five-bladed Rotol propeller. 

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The aircraft entered service with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in 1947 and served until 1955.  It was also saw service with a number of different countries including Australia, Canada, Holland, as well as other operators. 

It still flies today in the hands of enthusiasts in both “stock” and highly modified air racing condition.

The book is laid out is as follows:

• Preface – A thumbnail history of the Sea Fury’s evolution and employment at home (United Kingdom) and abroad.

• Technical Description – 41 pages of detailed coverage of the construction and equipment.  Wow!  This is really comprehensive indeed.  It contains myriad colour and black & white images as well as technical drawings taken from official drawings and is broken down into various sections:

• Fuselage – the cockpit interior, canopy, main and aft fuselage, fuel, hydraulic, oil and oxygen systems

• Undercarriage – main, tail wheel and arrestor hook, and the pneumatic system.

• Tail – tailplanes, vertical fin and rudder.

• Wings – the wings themselves as well as the undercarriage bays.

• Engine – engine, cowling, and propeller

• Weaponry – armament, ordnance, sighting, and drop tanks

• Electrical – radio, and miscellaneous (control boxes, batteries etc)

• Miscellaneous – Access panels, and equipment. 

• Evolution - 9 pages.  This section provides you with a written description of each version of the Sea Fury as well as isometric line drawing and photographic illustration of each version.

• Camouflage & Markings – 23 pages.  A full written description of each “main” colour scheme and their variation/evolution worn by the Sea Fury from prototype onwards with separate coverage for versions from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Pakistan, Iraq, Burma, Cuba, Egypt, Morroco, and West Germany (TT Mk 20s as well as their only single seat FB Mk 50).  This section also includes six pages of colour profiles showing the schemes worn by the various operators of the type.

• Survivors – 9 pages.  A listing of surviving airframes that includes its history where known

• Appendix 1 – Fury & Sea Fury Kits – Listed by scale and manufacturer – 2 pages

• Appendix II – Fury & Sea Fury Accessories – Listed by scale and Manufacturer – 1 page.

• Appendix III – Fury & Sea Fury Decals - Listed by scale and Manufacturer – 2 pages.

• Appendix III – Fury & Sea Fury Decals – Fury & Sea Fury Decals Listed by scale and Manufacturer – 1 page.

• Appendix IV – Bibliography – 1 page.

The book is softbound with 98 pages of good quality glossy paper and measures 8″ x 11″.

A busy book indeed, it lives up to the Valiant Wings Publishing ethos of providing information just about every facet of the Sea Fury that a modeller could possibly want.

Definitely worthy of a place in the modellers bookshelf!

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2013 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 14 April, 2013
Last updated 14 April, 2013

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