48-702 is the first of two new sheets that provide markings for the Hawker Sea Fury. 

The sheet carries markings for three machines from three different nations.  The individual aircraft and their markings are as follows: 

Sea Fury FB 11, N^o 541 of the Fuerza del Ejercito (Cuban Army Air Force) Base Militar, Columbia, La Habana, Cuba in 1957.  The machine is in overall natural metal finish with a black anti-glare panel and the forward part of the cowling and spinner in yellow.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• Large 541 serial for both sides of the fuselage.

• FAEC titles and aircraft number for the fin.

• Large FAEC titles for the upper starboard wing and the lower port wing.

• National insignia in four places.

• National insignia for the rudder – supplied as one-piece decals for both sides of the rudder.

One of the most well-known Sea Furies ever. WJ232 as flown by Lieutenant Michael (Hoagy) Carmichael of 802 Squadron Fleet Air Arm.  The markings depict the machine from August 1952 when it was aboard HMS Ocean off the coast of Korea during its first tour.  Lieutenant Carmichael was credited with shooting down a Mig15 whilst flying this aircraft.  The aircraft is in the standard Fleet Air Arm camouflage scheme of extra dark sea grey over sky with an extra dark sea grey spinner.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• Type D national insignia in six places.  These are supplied with the red centres as separate decals to counter register problems – none on my sample.

• Royal Navy titles.

• Black and white theatre bands incorporating the 114 Fleet Number.

• WJ232 Serial number.

• Fragmented large WJ232 serial for the under sides of the wings.

• Base Letter O – signifies the carrier HMS Ocean.

• 802 squadron insignia.

• Pilot and ground crew names in white.

The final option is a Fokker built (under licence) Sea Fury FB 50 of the Royal Netherlands Navy (Kon Marine).  This machine also wears the standard Fleet Air Arm camouflage scheme as the previous option.  The supplied markings comprise:

• National insignia in six places.

• Fin flashes.

• Kon Marine titles.

• The numbers 6, 3 and 1 for either sides of the fuselage.

• The numbers 31 for both sides of the cowling.

A real plus with these two sheets is that a very substantial set of is supplied.  This data is very evident on Fleet Air Arm machines so it is very much welcomed.  Stencil data and manufacturer's logos are also supplied for each of the five propeller blades and the drop tanks.  Other welcome items are the decals that simulate the louvered panels on the undersides of the wing.  These are missing on the Hobbycraft kit and would be a real bear to try and simulate in 1/48 scale, and the decals that simulate the underwing navigation lights again, missing on the kit. 

The placement guide is A-4 in size and it shows full colour left-hand side profiles of all three options as well as plan views of the tops and bottoms of the wings, and comprehensive drawings to guide to the placement of stencil data. 

The decals themselves have been "Printed in Mexico".  Everything is in perfect register and sharply printed.  The reproduction of the 802 Squadron is especially well done as it is very small and complex comprising four different colours yet is still in perfect register. 

The decals and placement sheet come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The suggested kit is the Hobbycraft one – the only injected one in town!  All said and done though it is not too bad a kit really as it provides a good outline but lacks details.  The aftermarket has taken up the cudgel though and resin, photo-etch and white metal detail sets abound for this kit. 

The only things really missing from this, as well as the other Sea Fury sheet are the black and white theatre bands.  AeroMaster gives you the fuselage ones so why not the wing ones? 

Recommended. 

Footnote 

The placement guide alludes to the fact that the Mig shoot down was really a group effort and that Lieutenant Carmichael was awarded the credit for it as he was the flight's commander on that day.  For another view of the story of what happened that day, go to http://britains-smallwars.com/carriers/Ocean.html#tour