Oxford Diecast 1/72 72HOR004 De Havilland F20 Sea Hornet VZ-708 801 Sqn. HMS Implacable

De Havilland F20 VZ-708 801 Sqn. HMS Implacable

We've chosen to model the fourth release of our 1:72 scale Sea Hornet as it served with 801 Squadron in 1950  the last year of its deployment aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Implacable. The following year, it was moved to HMS Indomitable and in June 1951, the Sea Hornets were replaced by Hawker Sea Furies. 801 Squadron had been the only unit fully equipped with Sea Hornet F20s, dating back to June 1947 at RNAS Ford. They subsequently moved to Arbroath before embarking on HMS Implacable. Sadly, like the land-based Hornet which also features in the Oxford Aviation series, there are no complete examples in existence today. Our replica is painted in dark sea grey on the upper side with matt sky underside. The RAF roundels are printed on the upper and lower outer edges of the folded wing feature as well as on both sides of the fuselage. The Sea Hornet's Royal Navy lettering VZ 708 is printed on the underwings with the number 456 along the rear fuselage. The cockpit is also well detailed with a black instrument panel, black seating and black general interior. Externally, the model has a retracted/extended undercarriage and includes the arrestor hook. The wheel well and inside doors, wheel struts and hubs are all given a silver finish. The gun ports and ejector slots are matt black and the exhaust pipes are a realistic rusty brown.