I considered a Gladiator or Swordfish as a next project after the Waco S3HD-A

The Swordfish is a difficult subject and not often done. The cowl is narrow and difficult to hide the engine. It is covered in clutter and has three big open cockpits. Folding wings and much difficult metal work add to a long build time.

On RCSB I chanced apron a notice by someone else looking for a Swordfish build plan who was advised by Bill Swindells in Canada that Len Ashdown , A retired English graphic artist he new in his club in was building one from his own plan drawn as a real Swordfish was being restored. (Probably saved from the same field as the W5856 of Royal Navy historic flight I modelled)

Three views and other vital stuff eventually fell into place so the Swordfish was on.

The restored Swordfish was one of the aircraft taken to Canada in War time as a training aircraft and to replenish damaged aircraft on MAC ships (Merchant Aircraft Carriers) that protected north Atlantic convoys. These ships closed the U-Boat protection gap in 1944 and shipping losses went from something like 60 a month to 2 a year. Other factors helped such as escort Corvettes and Frigates and advances in asdic but it was the MAC ships with their 3 Swordfish etch that made a big difference.

Only a Swordfish could take of and land on the 50 X 300 decks.

The Royal Navy Historic Flight at Yeovilton http://www.royalnavyhistoricflight.org.uk/ operate W5856 so that was to be my subject aircraft. Actually they have two and another one on the way.

The model took 4 years to build with another year to correct mistakes.

During this time I made 3 visits to Yeovilton taking 600 photos, much measuring and sketches and getting to know the personnel quite well. It is much easier to base a model on an existing subject you can get access to.

I was flying the model at a charity garden party at White Waltham airfield when a spectator said My neighbour flew that aircraft , not just any old one but W5856 in 1943 when it was in a training squadron in Scotland.

I subsequently met Stanley Brand getting to know him well,. He has written a book : Actung Stringbag about his wartime experience but could not get a publisher interested . On my next visit to RNAS Yeovilton I mentioned this to the new CO of RN Historic flight John Beati, who said That is just what my publisher is looking for.

The book was eventually published and launched at a Yeovilton Air day in 2005 .The full size on the Tarmac, model under the wing and 83 year old Stanley signing 360 books. all proceeds go to keeping W5856 in the air.

I was down their one day taking even more photos when they offered me the old leather off the pilots seat they were just restoring . Would I like it? I almost snatched his arm off! The leather is now proudly installed in my model cockpit. Fascinating to think Stanley must have sat on that leather more than 60 years ago.

While serving on MAC ships Stanley built a 14 model Swordfish from bits found round the ship, the cowl is a Bofors gun cartridge, the wings covered in finest Admiralty toilet paper. Paint from ships stores, pre-war balsa and pine form the stringers and spars. The model had become tatty lying round his house in the intervening 60 years, I offered to restore it for him.

I just cleaned and mended it, finished the markings, put it in a nice display case and took it back, He was delighted and I was humbled when he presented me with one of a limited edition painting he was just signing.

Six other signatures adorned the painting. One of which fired the torpedo that disabled the Bismarck.

This is the action everyone remembers Stringbags for but probably much more important it seems to me was the sinking of the Italian fleet at Taranto harbour by 21 aircraft from two carriers. An event studied by the Japanese.

12 months later Perl Harbour happened.

Recently I was requested to take the model to Sir George Martins (Beatles Producer) house to help publicise the http://www.flytothepast.com event at Blenheim palace and his Swordfish charities.

Interviews done and official pictures taken we had a nice chat.

Sir George told us he had flown W5856 when he was 19 and again when he was 69. 50 years apart.

So he too must have sat on the seat leather that is now in the model.

Sir George told us he could fly models and asked if we would like to see his Mustang, This was in the snooker room surrounded by many Beatles gold albums and rear memorabilia such as the uniforms from the Sergeant Pepper album cover. Wow!

For someone who grew up to Beatles music this was just: well, fantastic is a rather inadequate word.

Theese are just some of the storys that have come out as I have flown the model for the last 4 years, You just never know that when you re-crate a little bit of history where it is going to leed.

I thank you Richard for a wonderfull story as well.

job well done

  I love little stories like that,so interesting..thank you very much for taking the time to post it here Richard. A scale model is always enhanced if it can include some material from the actual full-size aircraft..and to get that seat leather was a real coup !!

    regards  Pat