Fairey Barracuda

[Cary Bailey]

Gents, has anyone built a Fairey Barracuda? I've not seen any build threads on this aircraft or does this type of aircraft have difficulties in it's design to replicate?
Could any of you esteemed chaps advise me?
Many thanks
Cary

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

image.jpg (56.06 KiB) Viewed 8381 times

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Best of luck Carl, Bit of an ugly duckling this one, much prefer the avenger, those flaps and retracts will be difficult to replicate

[Steve Rickett 2333]

I've often thought the Barracuda would make a nice flying model. I agree with Alan that your main issues are the U/c and the flaps. The rest of the airframe looks perfect for a model.

[Cary Bailey]

Thanks Chaps!
Cary

[Chris Lane]

Found this in my records. It is either Hendon or Radlett around 1948.

Chris

[Cary Bailey]

Found this in my records. It is either Hendon or Radlett around 1948.

Chris

Chris, great picture, many thanks
Cary

[colin breach]

Cary,just read your post ref the Barracuda,as someone has already mentioned the U/C is the snag with this aircraft..If you can have a look at the RCMF UK web site,under PLANS SCRATCHBUILDS,Fairey Barracuda,you can read the long running saga of the U/C,,,Colin...

[Keith Mitchell]

Carey - mark my words, leave the Barracuda well alone. The U/C, flappery, etc., are not the only problems. The full-size was a flying disaster, ground handling was a nightmare and so it can be expected the model will be at least as bad and probably worse.

Sorry to pee' on your fire........!

K.

[colin breach]

Kieth,Barracuda,I built a small version,72 inch,in the 1970s,this had fixed flaps and U/C,Merco 35...It flew like a Super 60. I do not think ground handling is a problem with a model,the U/C of course,is another matter,I am building a 112 inch version,and have spent at least half the construction hours on the U/C...Colin

[Cary Bailey]

Carey - mark my words, leave the Barracuda well alone. The U/C, flappery, etc., are not the only problems. The full-size was a flying disaster, ground handling was a nightmare and so it can be expected the model will be at least as bad and probably worse.

Sorry to pee' on your fire........!

K.

Keith, thanks for your comments. The barracuda has it's appeal with it being so different to the "norm" of wartime birds. Until recently I knew a pilot who served in the Fleet Air Arm who flew off the HMS Vengeance & others out in Malta, Greece & South Africa. Unfortunately he passed away recently but he loved the plane!
I have copies of his records and shedloads of pictures including some of his plane parked on the ramp of the Vengeance with Seafires!
Cary
Cary