Col. Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 While waiting for paint that has called a halt to another project I started this one to run in conjunction with the Seafire IV being built in the What-if GB. All the references I'm using and most of the modifications required are the same so it seems a good idea. Using the 1974 vintage Airfix kit for this one - its almost as old as me! No box for this one as it came from the BBMF fighters box set, As a Vb there is large bulges on the wing over the cannon loading mechanism not required for the Seafire III so those where filled and cut off. Cockpit is pretty basic with a spurious floor that will need its mounting removed, With that done the sidewalls were thinned down and some detail added. The kit pilot is pretty good so will add him. This means only the seat back can be seen and also helps simplify the number of parts to be made. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Can't remember exactly what's in the kit Col,but you'll need four spoke wheels ideally. Are you using MDC's conversion set or homegrown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 17, 2012 Author Share Posted October 17, 2012 Can't remember exactly what's in the kit Col,but you'll need four spoke wheels ideally. Are you using MDC's conversion set or homegrown? Cheers for mentioning the wheel type Miggers. I'd not looked into that aspect yet so checked and they are five spoke with this kit. Have a four spoke set spare from the Airfix XIX kit so sorted there now Going with homegrown for the conversion as it's more fun and less expense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Great choice, I'll watch with interest. It might be useful to have a Mk.IX kit with you to rob various parts... While you're filling bumps on the wings, the 2 bumps over the wheel well have to go too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Funny you should say that Giorgio but it was a Mk.IX kit that started this project. It was reserved for the What-if GB as a Seafire IV but proved so rubbish - think it's an old KP one - I bought the Airfix new tool kit for that task and decided to build a III in parallel. Alas the spare IX is so bad I doubt any of the relevent parts are usable Thanks for pointing out the upper wing bulges. Guess what I'll be doing this evening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Cheers for mentioning the wheel type Miggers. I'd not looked into that aspect yet so checked and they are five spoke with this kit. Have a four spoke set spare from the Airfix XIX kit so sorted there now Going with homegrown for the conversion as it's more fun and less expense Good man Col. it might be worth bagging one of 3D Kit's Spit IX sets for the prop too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Good man Col. it might be worth bagging one of 3D Kit's Spit IX sets for the prop too. Did have a look into that option but alas it doesn't include a replacement spinner and that was the one part I really had hoped to get. What I now plan is to have this one in landing trim. Pilot in the cockpit with canopy open, gear and flaps and hook down, the impression of a spinning prop, some form of display stand etc. This in turn means I've got to find out what colour items and areas such as the flaps, the hook and its bay were. Every new solution brings new issues to investigate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Some parts from the KP kit can be used, for example the propeller, although the spinner is useless unfortunately. And so are the exhausts... I must say my first Seafire III was made from a Mk.IX kit, the awful Italeri one. And I replaced the ridicolous Italeri propeller with a modified KP one. Your plane of modelling an aircraft on landing is very cool, looking forward to see the work you'll be doing on this ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 Have to agree with you about usable parts in the KP kit Giorgio. The prop is much broader than the Airfix IX example and has been set aside for the What-if GB Seafire IV I'm also working on. This Seafire needs a 'spinning' prop so I've shaped one from a piece of clear plastic that now needs polishing back clear. Quite what to do for a spinner I've not decided yet but at this pace I'll have plenty time to decide as the cockpit still isn't much further forward. Interesting idea of using a IX kit to create a Seafire III, much easier than using a Vb in many respects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 While preoccucpied with the parallel build for the What-if GB I tried these on this one; Turns out they are a perfect fit even though designed for the more recent Mk.IX kit. One less part of the conversion to concern myself about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 (edited) Finally got the cockpit ready for some green paint; Once the glue has cured and the greens have been painted and drybrushed the black bits will get added. After that painting the pilot is next job. This evening also seen the upper wing panels thinned ready for the flap bays being detailed but that would have made for a really boring photo. Probably out of focus as well... Edited October 24, 2012 by Col. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Whatcha doing for a prop Col? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Techno Notice Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 There is a piece that fits onto the back of the seat that has a small circular head restraint pad on it,that sits taller than the canopy so best not to use it. Don't ask how I know... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthemodeller Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 Looking good. Where have you got the decals from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 Whatcha doing for a prop Col? Got some clear plastic that's going to represent the spinning prop as I want to build this one with everything 'down and dirty' in landing configuration. There is a piece that fits onto the back of the seat that has a small circular head restraint pad on it,that sits taller than the canopy so best not to use it. Don't ask how I know... ;-) With any luck all the scratch-built bits will fit in alright but thanks for the warning. Only kit part in the cockpit is the pilot so if the canopy doesn't go on it's my own fault! Looking good. Where have you got the decals from? Was donated a set for an Aeronavale machine from an Aeromaster by a kind fellow BMer. Been painting the pilot over the last few evenings and he's almost ready to install now. Will try to get a decent photo during daylight tomorrow and let you all see how he looks. Still a bit to do inside the cockpit but enjoying cramming all the parts in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 This will be the pilot, who has been taking up my attention for the last few days, not so glossy in reality, Back to working on the cockpit for him to sit in now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Lime Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Col, That cockpit work is looking pretty tasty. Any chance we'll get to see this at the next club night? Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 Cheers Mark yes I'm hoping to take the two Seafires in with me a week Tuesday. Alas the Spitfire I is in exactly the same state you seen her last time but at least I now have the correct paint so one less excuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 12, 2012 Author Share Posted November 12, 2012 Cockpit done and populated; Was about to close the fuselage halves then realised I don't know if the hook bay was closed with a roof or simply a big hole in the fuselage. I suspect the former but need to check in case it's the latter and detail needs adding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 Going with the assumption the hook bay was boxed in to retain fuselage strength so got the fuselage halves togther last night and started boxing in the wheel wells. Had a quick test fit of wing to fuselage this morning and as suspected there are some impressive gaps to fill. Lets just say if they were present on the real machine there is a danger the pilot or ground crew would fall in and break their leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike romeo Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Col, I do like Seafires! Great job on the cockpit detail. Re wing / fuselage gaps, can you wedge open the fuselage a bit? regards, Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Looking good, Col. I'm watching with interest! Cheers, Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 Thank you Martin & Bill, nice to know I'm not talking to myself here Did think about some plastic spreaders to push out the fuselage a bit but seems that would result in gaps and issues elsewhere At least on the wingroots there are some panel lines to disguise all the filling and packing pieces I need to fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 Minor progress. Got the fuselage halves together and cut out the hook section then backed with plasticard; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 You ought to have fitted the upper wing panels to the roots before fitting the lower one piece panel mate. You can fettle and fit to eliminate ALL the gaps without using filler and a difficult sanding job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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