Level 4 Model Kit Fairey Gannet COD.4 Aircraft with 3 Scheme Options 1/48 Plastic Model Kit by Airfix

Brand new plastic model kit of Fairey Gannet COD.4 Aircraft with 3 Scheme Options (Level 4) 1/48 plastic model kit by Airfix. Brand new box. Vintage style packaging. Officially licensed product. Contains 245 detailed parts. Does NOT include display stand. Paint and cement required (not included). Manufacturer's original unopened packaging. Parts molded in Light Gray, unless otherwise indicated. Includes decals to design the plane in 3 different schemes. Dimensions approximately L-11.5, W-13.5 inches assembled. HISTORY ASPECTS: The Fairey Gannet COD.4 was a specialized variant of the Royal Navy’s carrier-borne anti-submarine aircraft, adapted for Carrier Onboard Delivery duties. Originally developed in the early 1950s, the Gannet featured a distinctive double Mamba turboprop engine arrangement, which allowed one or both engines to be operated through a single propeller gearbox—an innovative design for fuel efficiency and reliability at sea. The COD.4 version replaced the anti-submarine warfare equipment with cargo space, enabling the transport of mail, spare parts, personnel, and other essential supplies between ships and shore bases. This capability was critical in maintaining fleet readiness during long deployments. In 1969, 849 Naval Air Squadron operated the Gannet COD.4 from the deck of HMS Hermes, the Royal Navy’s Centaur-class aircraft carrier. While Hermes’ primary role during this period was centered around fleet exercises and operational readiness in the Cold War environment, the Gannet COD.4 played a vital logistical role. These missions often involved shuttling urgent supplies across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, ensuring the carrier group could remain at sea for extended periods. Though the COD.4 was not designed for combat, its service supported operations indirectly in areas of heightened geopolitical tension, including deployments related to British commitments east of Suez and NATO readiness in European waters. The Fairey Gannet saw its operational career span several decades, serving in different roles including anti-submarine warfare (AS.1/AS.4), electronic countermeasures (AEW.3), and COD operations. While the COD.4 did not see direct combat, it was part of the logistical lifeline that allowed Royal Navy carriers like HMS Hermes to operate effectively during the tail end of Britain’s global naval presence. By the early 1970s, COD.4 operations were gradually phased out as newer aircraft and changing carrier roles reshaped the Fleet Air Arm, but the Gannet remained an iconic symbol of post-war British naval aviation. This 1:48 scale model captures the unique lines and distinctive engineering of this classic Royal Navy aircraft. With finely reproduced details, authentic squadron markings, and accurate paint schemes, it offers collectors and aviation enthusiasts a faithful tribute to one of the most unconventional yet essential aircraft of Britain’s carrier era.