{"product_id":"azur-frrom-hobby-plastic-model-kit-supermarine-sea-otter-mk-i-asr-mk-ii-foreign-service-1-72","title":"Azur-FRROM Hobby Plastic Model Kit Supermarine Sea Otter Mk.I \/ ASR Mk.II Foreign Service — 1:72","description":"\u003cp\u003eManufacturer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAzur was a specialist aircraft-kit brand associated with the MPM\/Special Hobby group and focused heavily on unusual French, British and international aircraft subjects. A090 was part of the company's 2010 programme and was developed as a companion to A047, which represented the Sea Otter in post-war Fleet Air Arm service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit is particularly useful for modellers interested in post-war operators because the Foreign Service boxing covers Sea Otters used outside the standard British Fleet Air Arm context.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe A090 is a limited-run 1:72 plastic aircraft kit incorporating additional detail components. HobbySearch specifically records:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Injection-moulded plastic components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Resin parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Photo-etched parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Injection-moulded clear parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Fuselage and biplane wings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cockpit and crew positions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Engine and nacelle components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Floats and amphibious undercarriage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tail assembly\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Propeller\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Struts and associated detail\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Decals\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Assembly instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe boxed dimensions are approximately 30.3 × 20.4 × 5 cm, with a packaged weight of about 252 g.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe A090 tooling is also specifically supported by current aftermarket accessories: KV Models lists its KV72836 canopy\/wheel-mask set as compatible with Azur A090, alongside A047, A101 and A104.\n\u003cbr\u003eHistory of the full-size aircraft\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Supermarine Sea Otter was a British amphibious aircraft developed by Supermarine as a successor to the company's earlier Walrus. It was designed for maritime reconnaissance, air-sea rescue and naval support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sea Otter was the last biplane flying boat designed by Supermarine and became the last biplane to enter service with both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Its development was prolonged because Supermarine was simultaneously heavily committed to the Walrus and the increasingly important Spitfire programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe prototype made its first flight on 23 September 1938. Despite this relatively early first flight, a production order did not arrive until 1942, reflecting wartime priorities and the demands placed on British aircraft production.\n\u003cbr\u003eDesign and development\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sea Otter retained the general concept of the Walrus but was substantially redesigned for improved performance and greater operational flexibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt was an amphibious biplane with a central hull and additional floats beneath the wings. Its configuration allowed it to operate from water while also incorporating conventional wheeled landing gear for operation from land.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft was intended to provide longer range than the Walrus and was capable of performing several roles, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Maritime reconnaissance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Air-sea rescue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Naval liaison\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Search and rescue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    General transport and communications duties\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe design could also carry stores and equipment associated with its maritime role.\n\u003cbr\u003eWartime service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the Sea Otter finally entered service during the later part of the Second World War, its principal duties were maritime patrol and air-sea rescue with both the RAF and Royal Navy. By this stage, much more modern monoplanes were becoming available, so the Sea Otter's value lay particularly in its ability to operate from water and perform specialised missions rather than in high-speed combat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts air-sea-rescue role was particularly appropriate to its amphibious design. A Sea Otter could land on the water near survivors and recover personnel directly from the sea.\n\u003cbr\u003ePost-war international service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sea Otter had a surprisingly extensive post-war career. After the war, aircraft were acquired by several overseas operators, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Royal Danish Air Force\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Dutch Naval Aviation Service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Royal Australian Navy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    French\/Indochina service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe A090 Foreign Service boxing is specifically associated with this international period. Historical kit references identify French Indochina, Dutch naval and Danish examples among the available Sea Otter subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Dutch-operated aircraft are particularly interesting because they served in the Maritime Luchtvaartdienst (MLD). IPMS Netherlands documents the Sea Otter in Dutch service and specifically identifies the Azur A090 kit as the available 1:72 representation, including MLD decals.\n\u003cbr\u003eForeign-service markings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe A090 boxing was designed to provide subjects beyond the standard British post-war Sea Otters. Historical catalogue information identifies examples associated with:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    French service in Indochina\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Danish naval aviation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne documented Dutch example was painted overall in identification yellow with Dutch roundels. IPMS Netherlands specifically notes that the Azur A090 boxing included MLD decals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis makes the kit particularly interesting for collectors because it represents the aircraft during its less commonly modelled international post-war career rather than concentrating solely on British service.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Azur","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57504169263484,"sku":"Azur-A090","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0432\/8584\/0033\/files\/06F1067F-3897-4993-B05A-453CBE3F8F03.jpg?v=1790404946","url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/azur-frrom-hobby-plastic-model-kit-supermarine-sea-otter-mk-i-asr-mk-ii-foreign-service-1-72","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}