Ex-FAAWAFU Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) Those of you who have been following my Sea King build will know that it has already lasted more than a year. This is entirely my own fault, since I'm the one who chose to detail it to such a degree (not to mention adding the odd rivet or three). I have, however, got a bit bogged down of late, and since the Sea King is a subject very dear to my heart, I've decided to take a break from it before it turns into a chore and I start to make mistakes. It will return, I promise. I expect many of you will have guessed from the title - not to mention the near certainty that that it will be a Fleet Air Arm aircraft, in 1/48. But here is the start point. You ought to be able to work that out easily enough... I acquired this kit for £5 at a show. As you can see, it has been started (though the previous owner didn't get much further than a dash or two of interior green, an opened camera port and a glued contra-prop). The kit has a good reputation, but I have ordered a couple of bits of after-market to address known flaws (to be precise: a vac-form canopy, seamless chin intake, better shaped cowling "bulges", and a new airscrew or two). It's the original boxing, too, so I might have to get in some replacement transfers - the originals look decidedly yellow, so I'll see how they look after a bit of sunshine. There is a strong argument to say that this (with its F22/24 cousins) was the ultimate version of probably the most famous aircraft of all time. There is an even stronger argument that Supermarine's subsequent offerings were either never adopted (Spiteful, Seafang) or not in the same league (Swift, Scimitar...)... so that this represents the best aircraft ever produced by that most august of British companies. So, ladeezanngennnellmeeeen… I present to you a Seafire FR46 (the clue is in the fact that I didn't show the sprue with folding wings), using Airfix's original FR46/47 boxing. To be built essentially OOB (other than the after-market stuff already mentioned, to correct known issues with the kit). One of the reasons I've chosen the FR46 rather than the 47 (wing fold apart) is the fact that I far prefer the look of the low demarcation between colours (though eventually I will probably also build an FR47 with folded wings [Edit; especially since I've now found a photo of a folded, embarked FR47 with low demarcation line!]). And yes, I know there is disagreement about whether 46s were pure-EDSG or Temperate Sea Scheme on top - but I am taking Winkle's word for it and painting TSS (and there are at least some photos where there are definitely two colours on the upper surfaces of an FR46). I am in no way a Spitfire / Seafire expert, and this is meant to be a quickish build to restore my mojo. I don't think there are any howlers in the kit, and if there are then this model will be built with howlers. I do, however, have one question for any late-mark Spit-/Sea-fire experts out there; cockpit. Black or interior green? The FAA Museum's Mk XVII suggests that it was black top half and IG lower, so if in doubt I'll go for that. Can't find any photos, though. The game's afoot! Edited December 14, 2017 by Ex-FAAWAFU 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Clear the deck! Stand by to receive aircraft! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) 15 hours ago, Ex-FAAWAFU said: Supermarine's best? Mojo-restoration! I expect many of you will have guessed from the title - not to mention the near certainty that that it will be a Fleet Air Arm aircraft. Ah, not one of these then! Supermarine Walrus L2301 by James Thomas, on Flickr Excellent choice, the late Seafires were things of beauty. The CMR kit certainly comes with the TSS scheme option. Someone gave me one of these kits a few years back, only last week I was sorting through the stash and I opened the box for the first time, I hadn't realised that there were actually three Seafire kits in the box! Is it me, or are those prop blades going to need re-setting?! Edited September 9, 2017 by 71chally 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) Nice choice for a mojo restorer but OOB, hmmmm, I'll have to keep an eye on this, seeing will be believing . I do like the 46, prettier than the 47 to my eye. I'll try to keep up. Steve. Edited September 8, 2017 by stevehnz 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted September 8, 2017 Author Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) 33 minutes ago, 71chally said: Ah, not one of these then! Supermarine Walrus L2301 by James Thomas, on Flickr Excellent choice, the late Seafires were things of beauty. The CMR kit certainly comes with the TSS scheme option. Someone gave me one of these kits a few years back, only last week I was sorting through the stash and I opened the box to this for the first time, I hadn't realised that there were actually three kits in the box! Is it me, or are those prop blades going to need re-setting?! It might have been one of those had Airfix's imminent Walrus been out. Though rigging is probably not that mojo-friendly, even for a Shagbat! And you can be 100% certain that there will be a Crisp Sea Fury when the new Airfix kit arrives, too. I'm not sure what's been going on with the prop blades, because there are at least another three spares in the box - I don't think there was ever a 3-screw version. But I understand that the shape of the Airfix blades was one of the few weaknesses in the kit, so I have a Barracudacast resin job en route from Lowestoft! (I'm away to my Mum's tomorrow, so there will be no progress before Sunday at the earliest). Crisp Edited September 8, 2017 by Ex-FAAWAFU 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted September 8, 2017 Author Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) 45 minutes ago, stevehnz said: Nice choice for a mojo restorer but OOB, hmmmm, I'll have to keep an eye on this, seeing will be believing. OK, since I've already admitted to adding after-market airscrews, canopy, chin intake and Griffon bulges, it hardly counts as OOB before we even start. So let me clarify; there will be no scratch-building. Pretty much no PE, either (harness, maybe?). Definitely no need for rivets. Since I'm building a 46, I might even have to UNDO the camera hole added by my predecessor. By my standards, that's pretty much shake 'n' bake! Edited September 8, 2017 by Ex-FAAWAFU 10 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Will look forward to seeing this come together, most people build the 47 so the 46 will be a nice change! With regards to cockpit colours I think your right in that the top is black and lower area interior green. Roger 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Nice one Crisp. Be a pleasure to watch this take shape. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) This one is going to be a pleasure to watch, after all every Spitty somebody builds beautifully endorses my decision not to build any more Anyway, fresh popcorn ordered from the Dinner Deliverer, I hope he brings a few bottles of Corona too (no not the fizzy pop) Edited September 8, 2017 by perdu 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Mmmm Seafire 46 - that should do the trick! CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 7 hours ago, perdu said: I hope he brings a few bottles of Corona too There's lots in our warehouse. There was more, until Thursday morning. One of the forklift drivers 'had a moment' and four boxes fell off their pallet! Oh, the horror! 1 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I'm in. I have the Airfix Seafires XVII and 47 in the stash and need to read up the reviews before they are started but before then I have various projects to finish and a Corsair II to build.... Good luck with the build... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I'm in Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I've also got one of these in the to-do pile, so I shall enjoy watching one being built properly before I take the butcher's knife to mine! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 17 hours ago, Ex-FAAWAFU said: So let me clarify; there will be no scratch-building. Otherwise, I got me some popcorn and I'm all ears 1 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexN Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Pop! Can't top hendie's post above so I'm not going to even try! All eyes on deck! I think I've got the 'Grand Phoenix' squirrelled away somewhere (Airfix 46/47 kiit+resin stuff+Aeromaster(???) transfers). Which adds to the interest, for me. While I try to stick floats on a wobblychopter and also try to avoid thinking about my own wretched Seafire 'experiment'. Gurgle croak. Cheers, Alex. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Crisp, I'm im too, if you don't mind. 1/48 It's my favourite scale for propellers, and what's not to like in the Spit family? and ready! Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 18 hours ago, Ex-FAAWAFU said: Definitely no need for rivets. Bah. I expected you to drill out the holes and then add rivets so they were flush... Crack on old boy. We shall enjoy your little sojourn from the aerosemiamphibious brick. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 On 08/09/2017 at 7:54 PM, Ex-FAAWAFU said: The game's afoot! I knew my frequent references to HMS Fulmar would have a subliminal effect.. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gondor44 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 On 08/09/2017 at 8:56 PM, Ex-FAAWAFU said: OK, since I've already admitted to adding after-market airscrews, canopy, chin intake and Griffon bulges, it hardly counts as OOB before we even start. So let me clarify; there will be no scratch-building. Pretty much no PE, either (harness, maybe?). Definitely no need for rivets. Since I'm building a 46, I might even have to UNDO the camera hole added by my predecessor. By my standards, that's pretty much shake 'n' bake! I am going to make an assumption, which is something that I usually don't like to do. That assumption is that your building the Airfix 1/48 scale kit, others have said that your building that but no where have you. Looking forward to the results regardless of which scale or manufacturer the kit originates from. Gondor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyf117 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 (edited) Content withdrawn - I will NOT be threatened by a moderator, simply because I queried the actions of another... Edited June 27, 2020 by andyf117 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gondor44 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Oppps Gondor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Nearly broke out in a cold sweat when I read Supermarine's finest. Thank heavens it turns out you're right; it's a Seafire. I may have spare propellers from a old build in the spares box should you have disaster. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 10 hours ago, Scimitar said: I knew my frequent references to HMS Fulmar would have a subliminal effect.. That's a strong candidate for the eventual scheme - depending on where I end up with transfers. There are relatively few F46 candidates... because there weren't very many F46s! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Massively up for this one, more so in that one of the main users of the type was 1832 Squadron at Culham. In fact the first issue of the kit contained decals for a 1832 machine, due in no small measure to some "mild persuasion" applied by a certain extra-terrestrial of this parish when contacted by Airfix's decal designer for ideas and references about suitable colour schemes for the Mk.46. The Fleet Air Arm Museum is quite right about the cockpit colours. Martian 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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