1:48 Supermarine Walrus

A biplane that took off from a catapult

The Walrus was one of the few aircraft launched by catapult from the deck of a cruiser and landing on the water. The engine with a pusher propeller sat between the wings so that spray would not damage it, the fuselage had the shape of a boat and the wings folded so that the machine would fit into the cramped space on deck. The task of the crew was to find a target out of sight of the gunnery officer and to correct the fall of the salvos by radio.

Two positions of one type

The first subject on the sheet is exactly such a shipboard machine from the turn of 1940 and 1941, which served with a British naval squadron on a heavy cruiser. The second represents a surviving example as it can be seen in a museum hall. Together the two offer the chance to show the difference between a worn machine in operational service and a carefully restored exhibit on which every letter sits exactly where it belongs.

What will make the build easier

• The struts between the wings get in the way of access, so apply the decals on the upper surface before assembly.
• The fuselage numbers run across riveted strips, and thicker decal softener helps.
• The keel of the boat hull will not take a decal at the first attempt; count on a second try.
• Once dry, check the edges against the light, as they show clearly on a biplane.

In the package you will find only the sheet; the kit of the amphibian and the paints do not belong with it. The Walrus is a rewarding subject precisely for its lack of symmetry: it looks ponderous, yet among naval aircraft it had an exceptionally good reputation and rescued hundreds of downed airmen from the water.