1:700 HMS Illustrious 1940 (for Fly Hawk FH1116)

The real subject

HMS Illustrious was a British aircraft carrier that entered service in 1940 and gave her name to the whole group of sister ships. She differed from older aircraft carriers mainly in her armored flight deck, that is a solution that traded part of the hangar capacity for considerably higher resistance to bombs. During the Second World War she operated in the Mediterranean, and in November 1940 her aircraft took part in the night attack on the Italian fleet in the harbor of Taranto. The year in the name of the item determines the state of the ship the set is listed for.

Which kit it is meant for

According to the name, the set belongs to the Fly Hawk FH1116 kit. These are photo-etched parts of thin metal sheet, which in this small scale replace shapes that necessarily come out thicker in plastic than they were in reality. The extent of the parts and their placement on the model are determined by the instructions enclosed by the maker of the set.

Building and painting tips

The parts are very small, so separate them from the fret only at the moment you are going to glue them, and work over a surface with a raised edge. Use a sharp blade resting against a hard surface to separate them, not scissors, which bend the thin edge. Lead the bends along the marked grooves and fold the part pressed against a straight edge. Cement for polystyrene will not join metal; reach for superglue and apply it in a minute quantity. Degrease the surfaces before painting.

Terms of supply

This is an add-on set. The kit of the ship, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.