The Blackburn Firebrand was originally developed under a 1939 specification for a 20mm cannon armed carrier fighter. Later, this specification was amended to single-seat torpedo-fighter or fighter-bomber, and the aircraft was enlarged to enable it to carry a 457mm torpedo on the centerline. The engine was originally the Napier Saber liquid-cooled 24-cylinder engine, however as the Hawker Typhoon had priority for the limited supply of that engine, the aircraft was later re-engined with the air-cooled Bristol Centaurus 18-cylinder radial. This protracted development led to the type not seeing any service until after the war was over.

Valom has graced us with this kit of the original Saber-engined TF.Mk.II, and it looks like a very nice kit indeed. The main parts are short-run injected plastic, with a large fret of photo-etch providing the instrument panel, seatbelts, levers, gear doors, torpedo fins and propellors as well as various intake grills. The torpedo and wheels are in resin, and two vacuformed canopies are included. Decals are for one aircraft, and having built Valom kits before these will be thin and very usable. This kit will still require some modeling skills, but nothing beyond the abilities of those with a couple of kits under their belt, and where else are you going to get an injection Firebrand?