Anbarun Models Sea Vixen FAW.1

The Sea Vixen was a relatively low production aircraft that served with the FAA from 1960 until 1972 in carrier service.  113 were produced, in 2 marks, sensibly denoted as FAW.1 and FAW.2. Both variants only carried missiles, no cannon, with the FAW.1 carrying 4 Firestreak missiles and the FAW.2 was able to carry both the Firestreak and the Red Top.  The .2 also had more internal fuel, as the booms carrying the tail were enlarged for that purpose and the habitability for the navigator/radar operator was improved with a bulged area over his compartment, commonly referred to as the "coal hole" in service.

  It was replaced by the Phantom FG.1 on the last remaining RN carrier, the Ark Royal.

Despite its low production and relatively modest performance compared to its contemporaries, being just transonic, I've always thought of it as a cool looking  aircraft, with some interesting high viz markings.

Unfortunately, the only kits available in the "one true scale" leave much to be desired.  There's an accurate but crude model by High Planes in Australia that's  long out of production, and a Cyber Hobby/DML kit that is too stubby and portly to capture the weirdly graceful lines of the prototype.

The 1/48 scale Airfix kit is a thing of beauty, but I'd have no place to display that monster, even if I built it, and I'm pretty committed to the one true scale.

I read of this superb kit on "another forum", one with a British flavor, some months ago, and contacted Tony to see if you was still able to supply one.  Much to my delight, he was, as is still selling them.   

The kit arrived in a well packed box, with the contents secured by pieces of foam and individual pieces that might be subject to damages wrapped with tape, or a tape/foam combination.  the PE, canopy and metal bits are in ziplock baggies.

Overall, there are around 90 pieces, counting the PE bits.  The resin is beautiful, well detailed, and there are no printing artifacts that I can see visible, and everything looks to be completely cured.

The bad news? It's relatively minor.

First, it does not look like its possible to build it closed up without a few tweaks-but then as beautiful as all the details are of the engines, radar, wing folds, etc., who'd want to?

The other, more serious issue, is the lack of decals, understandable for such a limited run kit, and there are some sheets done for the Cyberhobby one that should be just fine, as well as some other more generic sheets with codes, and service markings suitable for it.

Finally, the price-its steep, 93 Pounds Stirling, or around 120 USD at current conversion rates, but its more than worth it.

Kit provided by my wonderful GF for my birthday!

you can contact Tony at: [email protected]

Sea Vixen FAW.1

the front page of the instructions

Sample instruction page

helpfully labeled groups

canopy, metal and PE bits

just winging it

tail group, fuselage, engine and drop tanks