de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.53 (CMR)
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Lots of goodies! Resin (grey), high strength resin (black), vacuform canopies (2 sets - they know me!)
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Decals, photoetch, masks, and the optional wing fold kit.
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The instruction booklet is a short novel.
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I split the instrument panel in two so I could reposition the radar CRT display for my specific aircraft.
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Cockpit and ejection seats cast as one piece - it came out OK anyway.
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Lots of seat belts - but the quantity is correct according to Steve Long.
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I chose not to use the rudder pedals - I think they sent me the 1:48 scale version!
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Driver side instrument panel.
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Navigator's side with instruments and radar. I will add the collimator above the radar later.
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Adding the cockpit to the port fuselage. The model will need weight up front so it's not a tail-sitter.
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Taping it all together to make sure I have enough weight in the nose.
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Fuselage and wing roots together!
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Using business cards as a jig to set the alignment of the booms.
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Vacuform canopy cut out and ready to go. CMR give you a spare just in case.
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A little bit of filler is necessary.
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Getting ready to cut open the canopy with a fresh #11 blade.
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Canopy separated and dipped in Future.
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Dry brushing the equipment on the turtledeck.
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Blending the canopy with the fuselage.
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Very nice photoetch wing fences!
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Post shading the Extra Dark Sea Grey.
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It was a colour that chalked and faded in service.
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Creating a template for the nose demarcation line.
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Masking off and spraying Gunze H74 Sky.
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And the masking tape comes off!
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I used Gunze H95 Smoke Grey to post shade the Sky.
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A look at the belly of the beast.
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Lots of stencils!
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There are 20 of these guys - yikes!
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A look after all stencils are applied.
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The panel lines have received a wash, and the wheel wells and flap bays have been weathered.
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Starting to take shape! The squadron markings will give her a personality.
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Just learned that the FAW.53 didn't have this intake...
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So we protect the surrounding areas...
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And remove the intake with extreme prejudice.
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Hmmm...we'll have to do some paint repair!
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Good as new!
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Squadron markings and national insignia on, plus the gear doors, flaps, and speed brakes.
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From behind...
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I like the unique stance of the Sea Venom.
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The distinctive blue and yellow for the tip tanks.
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I love the kangaroo...
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Trying to get a good look inside the flaps - there are four photoetch actuators that were quite fiddly!
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Fiddly bits going on, including wing fold hinge doors and egg-shell varnish. Not long now!
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A nice lineup of 1:72 CMR resin kits of FAA subjects!
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/9/2/7/264927-10105-45-720.jpg)
I never realised how much larger the Sea Vixen is compared to the Sea Venom. The Sea Vixen is the MPM kit.
Comments
23 February 2016, 01:45
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Hi mates - I've started my next project. It's the 1:72 CMR resin kit of the de Havilland Sea Venom. I chose this kit since it is much more accurate than the recent offering from Cyberhobby. So far, I've done the typical cockpit work in preparation for closing the fuselage halves. I hate all-black cockpits, as it's difficult to get any realistic contrast for the details. But even with the canopy open, it will be difficult to see much more than the seats anyway.
I need to figure out how much weight is needed up front, so I'll be taping all of the fuselage pieces together and see what's required. Much like my recent Firefly, I'll be folding the wings on the Sea Venom but this time I bought the optional wing fold kit from CMR. I won't have to scratch-build any of that stuff!
Cheers, Bill
23 February 2016, 02:02
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awesome start too, love the colours of the seats
most unusual split instrument panel though, not seen that before... 🙂
some really deft touches though so far, looking forward to more 🙂
23 February 2016, 02:53
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Thanks mates!
Mike, the seat belts are from the photoetch fret included with the kit. It's an Eduard PE fret - you can see it in photo number 2. I spent a lot of time getting them to appear naturally draped. Not so easy with PE!
Choppa, I cut the instrument panel in half because CMR actually cast it in mirror image from what it should be. The radar display protrudes into the cockpit (because the navigator's seat is farther back than the pilot's), and CMR had it protruding away. I cut it apart so I could re-position it.
Cheers, Bill
23 February 2016, 17:58
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Hi mates, I've neglected to update this album while I was dealing with some medical issues. Now it's up to date with new photos that show the progress on the Sea Venom. Enjoy! Cheers, Bill
4 May 2016, 03:20
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Excellent work so far 👍 By the way, what do you use to seal the cockpit / canopies to fit perfect to the fuselage? I remember you explained it in one of your WIP's. TIA, Cheers, Christian
4 May 2016, 10:55
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Bill, I can remember as a kid, visiting HMAS Melbourne and walking the flight deck and looking at these Venoms and the Gannets.🙂
I am really going to enjoy your progress on this iconic bird. There are a couple of Venom's getting around here still, turning up at what ever air show is on. 🙂Good modelling mate. 👍
4 May 2016, 12:43
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Thanks mates! 🙂
Christian - on this one, I used automotive glazing putty. What you remember is when I've used spackle (a wall filler like Polyfilla). I chose glazing putty for this Sea Venom since the fuselage and canopy didn't match very well, and I needed to build it up a bit.
Kerry - great memories! I've been corresponding with Steve Long from the Camden Museum of Aviation to help me with the details of this model. It will be marked as WZ895 which is a RAN Sea Venom that he restored a few years back. Sad to say that WZ895 is now disassembled and stored in shipping containers.
Cheers, Bill
4 May 2016, 14:14
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It looks awesome. I have a question, did you use epoxy or CA to glue it together? having never built a resin kit I was wondering what works best.
4 May 2016, 15:14
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I've added a few more photos. The Sea Venom has progressed a bit more, now we're getting to the point where the only thing left is "finishing." Lots of fiddly bits going on at this stage of the build.
Sorry Roy, I forgot to answer your question! Please forgive me - for this model, I used CA adhesive to assemble the resin pieces. If there had been a specific area that needed something stronger (like wings that butt-joined to the fuselage for example), I would have used an epoxy. Building a resin kit is really not that different than a regular model - give one a try! The level of detail can be quite astounding.
Here is a nice video of the Australian Sea Venoms:
Youtube Video
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XOgWDQ1_DiU/maxresdefault.jpg)
13 May 2016, 01:29
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One (maybe) stupid question: Are the red roo markings applied in the right direction?
13 May 2016, 04:00
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Until recently paid not much attention to this type of airplanes, but it's becoming more and more interesting. Two week ago I bought the Sea Vixen in 1/48 and like your litlle fellow also very much. Love the way you build it!
13 May 2016, 07:30
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Hi Holger - yes, they are. The big red bouncing rodent is always facing forward. It's the same way with the Kiwi bird on the New Zealand roundels.
13 May 2016, 15:04
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I still can't get over the fact it's a 1:72. I have the Revell 1:32 (old matchbox), but there is a lack of detailed parts. You are doing a wonderful job Bill.
13 May 2016, 15:31
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As allways a stunning and breathtaking WIP! I like the Sea Venom and hopefully this pretty bird will be available in scale 48 soon!
14 May 2016, 23:29
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I'm getting closer to the finish! I've added the UHF and IFF antennae, and gave the fuselage an egg shell varnish (satin sheen). The wing fold hinge doors are in place, but these will be virtually invisible once the outer wings are added. The outer wings are ready to go, after I added the fixed slat near the tip tanks and the fin/strake on the tank itself. I also added some small decals for the tyre creep marks.
Just a few things left to do - but I suspect I won't be able to finish this until after my trip next week. I'll be in Denver to visit a friend who was injured in a car crash (she is paralysed from the chest down and is at a spinal rehab facility). I hope to go to the Wings Over The Rockies aerospace museum while I'm out there.
Dirk - you can always look out for the Classic Airframes kit in 1:48 - nice resin cockpit with it:
scalemates.com/kits/151925-c..es-4112-d-h-sea-venom-faw-21
15 May 2016, 14:25
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Bill, For what it's worth, I have one image of the same bird from the QMHE comp 2014 and I have posted it here. 🙂 Mont Mart washable school glue. | Album by RedRoo (1:12) 🙂 👍
15 May 2016, 18:45
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Better still: easy to follow how you actually built it, especially the weathering. Congratulations!
4 June 2016, 20:08
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I finally finished the Sea Venom! For a 1:72 scale kit, the detail is astounding. CMR do such a great job on these resin kits. I've uploaded several new photos that show the finished model. I took these photos with my new Canon DSLR, and the colour rendition is so much better and true to life. Thanks for following along during this build, I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did! Cheers, Bill
20 June 2016, 02:30
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Superb build. Your paint, weathering and detail skills really boost the realism and make this fantastic
20 June 2016, 03:48
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lovely work and great detailing, especially the wing roots 🙂
it looks way bigger than 1/72 !!
and the group shots, nice collection ! 🙂
20 June 2016, 10:31
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Perfect build, i really like it! Hard to believe that it's 1:72!
20 June 2016, 18:33
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Thanks mates! I think a Spitfire XIV will be next, in Ginger Lacey's markings.
20 June 2016, 22:43
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Impressive result as usual 👍 I much like your patience and love to any detail!
23 June 2016, 19:26
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Watching these photos make me want to build a Venom immediately (I think I'll wait for Pilot Replicas 1/48 J28B & Night Fighter though). Well done Bill 👍
23 June 2016, 20:22
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Nice build Bill 👍. Always have time for anything with red roos on it! 🙂
25 June 2016, 22:39
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Thanks mates! Vlad, the Firebrand will come along soon. I also have the new Scale Resin 1:72 Buccaneer S.1, and several other FAA subjects (Seahawk, Wyvern, etc.). Too many kits and not enough time! 🙂 🙂
26 June 2016, 02:06
Album info
This is CMR's beautiful resin kit of the Sea Venom. I'll be depicting WZ895/870-NW of 724 Squadron Royal Australian Navy, Naval Air Station Nowra, 1959. Steve Long of the Camden Museum of Aviation restored a Sea Venom in these markings, and he was a technical contributor to CMR when they prepared this model. I chose this scheme to thank Steve for his extensive help on my recent Fairy Firefly TT.4 model.