I expect this has been asked before, but I can't find it so here goes.

I just got Airfix's 1/48 Sea Vixen FAW2, an excellent kit as has been talked about in the various reviews. I noticed it was getting rather difficult to find here in the States so I figured it was now or never, and as I have this FAA campaign going on, well...

Anyway, I'm looking over the directions and note that Airfix would have us paint the observer's canopy/hatch matt black. I can understand that the observer is a radar operator and needs to cut glare, but the hatch is molded clear. Anyone know if it's correct to paint it black and, if so, why did they mold it in clear only to paint over it?

I'm looking forward to starting this thing soon so any suggestions would be very welcome!

Michael

I wondered about that myself when I got one.
I just had a a quick look at some pics I have in the book 'De Havilland Twin Booms' by Adrian Balch. It does indeed look like it was blacked out on the inside. Crews didn't call it the coal-hole for nothing A couple of photo's seem to show what might be a screen on the inside, although they're dark and not too clear.
Maybe some digging about on google might reveal more.

Hope this helps.

Michael this may help, THIS is a walk around I did when the kit first came out however I neglected to take any of the inside of the hatch open but one photo does show it closed and the glazed part black.

Hope it's of some help.

Luciano,

Nice walkaround! Unfortunately the only photo showing the hatch is from the side and therefore not really clear; though it sure seems to be black.

Anyone know if this was standard or something just on this aircraft? And was it a screen or was the outside of the hatch painted black?

Michael

Try THESE Michael, there is a photo of the inside of the hatch

Jackpot! Thanks Luciano!

Michael

I have the same book, and can confirm this. On operational Sea Vixens, it was standard practice to paint the window matt black from the inside. The FAW.1 I built a while back was in RN Test Sqn colours, and didn't have the windows painted out, nor does the remaining air worthy FAW.2, which is the one that until recently flew in "Red Bull" livery. I am looking forward to your build Michael, it looks a monster ok a kit!

Thanks everyone, we'll see!

Lee, actually base on the photo at Luciano's link, it looks like it was painted black outside. I'm guessing it depended on the squadron as it seems to have been done at the operational level.

Michael