PlaStix Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Beautiful work Val. That is going to be one stunning Seafire! Looking forward to seeing the final result 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) That looks superb Val. These post-war Seafires were kept in pretty good order,the naval maintainers didn't have a lot to do except polish and maintain 'em and let the pilots fly them occaisionally. RNVR kites(as SX358 ended up being one before retirement)were even more "bulled up". They were maintained and polished all week(full time FAA maintainers)and the good old Volunteer Reserve pilots were allowed to fly them carefully at weekends.. They probably only went to sea twice yearly. Edited February 9, 2015 by Miggers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelglue Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Really nice Val, great to read about your wins with the Harrier and Mk. VII. Too bad about the chipping, I really liked your representation of it. Oh well, maybe if you ever decided to work on an IJA or IJN subject from the same period as your Spit, then we can see your brilliance again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 That looks superb Val. These post-war Seafires were kept in pretty good order,the naval maintainers didn't have a lot to do except polish and maintain 'em and let the pilots fly them occaisionally. RNVR kites(as SX358 ended up being one before retirement)were even more "bulled up". They were maintained and polished all week(full time FAA maintainers)and the good old Volunteer Reserve pilots were allowed to fly them carefully at weekends.. They probably only went to sea twice yearly. Cool, thanks for the info. Sounds like a fun job, being able to fly them at weekends I've got another one of these in the stash; do you know if the 704 Naval Air Squadron operational flying training unit would be kept as clean? I really fancy having a crack at that camo! Really nice Val, great to read about your wins with the Harrier and Mk. VII. Too bad about the chipping, I really liked your representation of it. Oh well, maybe if you ever decided to work on an IJA or IJN subject from the same period as your Spit, then we can see your brilliance again. Thanks Modelglue I'm happy with how she's turned out this far, the chipping was good practice and I will certainly use it (a bit more sparingly) on future spitfires around wing roots. And I have an Airfix 1/72 Zero, that's going to get indiscriminately chipped far beyond the realms of realism, just for fun I do like weathering, I find it adds a bit of history/story to the builds. Plus I find it hides all the flaws in my builds well! This one was supposed to be clean and shiny!! Thanks for the encouragement chaps! Val 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Hiya Val, You mean 714 NAS? the other decal option in the kit? If so,oh yes,pretty nice and clean. They only tended to show any oil staining around the cowling panels/fasteners,at the last joint on the undercowling with oil streaks back underneath(peacetime Griffons were still leaky things) and around the gun/cannon access panels,also possibly around the radio access door too(grubby mitts). Exhaust blast obviously behind the pipes,dirt along the upper longeron joint as far back as the cockpit door in some cases and strangely,down the vertical panel lines from that upper joint. They tended to still be cleaned as of wartime standards,i.e wiped with parrafin or petrol on rags. The peacetime RN/FAA/RNVR was very much based on "bullshine"(spit and polish to us). You'll also be pleased to know that SX273 would've definitely had the four spoke wheels fitted. Here she is in flight: https://www.flickr.com/photos/108238488@N03/14742231858/ and again: https://www.flickr.com/photos/108238488@N03/14928483552/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Hi Val I can't believe I missed this thread 'til now, especially as I have a Seafire XVII to build as well. It's looking really good, I like the low camouflage demarcation also. Nearly there John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85sqn Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Re the propeller, Griffon engines turn in the opposite direction to Merlin engines By that reckoning if i'm sitting in the cockpit and looking forward, the prop should turn anti-clockwise. So your prop looks correct originally. I had to get my Seafire out and check mymprops were correct! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Hiya Val, You mean 714 NAS? the other decal option in the kit? If so,oh yes,pretty nice and clean. They only tended to show any oil staining around the cowling panels/fasteners,at the last joint on the undercowling with oil streaks back underneath(peacetime Griffons were still leaky things) and around the gun/cannon access panels,also possibly around the radio access door too(grubby mitts). Exhaust blast obviously behind the pipes,dirt along the upper longeron joint as far back as the cockpit door in some cases and strangely,down the vertical panel lines from that upper joint. They tended to still be cleaned as of wartime standards,i.e wiped with parrafin or petrol on rags. The peacetime RN/FAA/RNVR was very much based on "bullshine"(spit and polish to us). You'll also be pleased to know that SX273 would've definitely had the four spoke wheels fitted. Here she is in flight: https://www.flickr.com/photos/108238488@N03/14742231858/ and again: https://www.flickr.com/photos/108238488@N03/14928483552/ Great, thanks for the info Miggers, I'll keep all that info in mind when I do the next one, hugely helpful Those pictures are fantastic, don't the Seafires look superb when in flight? Such sleek lines! Re the propeller, Griffon engines turn in the opposite direction to Merlin engines By that reckoning if i'm sitting in the cockpit and looking forward, the prop should turn anti-clockwise. So your prop looks correct originally. I had to get my Seafire out and check mymprops were correct! Ah cool, thanks for that, I'll watch out for that on the next build Thanks all , Val Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonl Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Nice thread Val, some great work on show.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 (edited) Hiya Val, Yeah,they do look well. A lot reckon the XVII was the best looking of the entire series. Yep,Griffons go left,Merlins go right. You rudder(for take off)the way the prop turns to catch the torque swing,so left for Griffons,right for Merlins. With the big Merlins and any Griffon,you're ruddering asa you open the throttle virtually. Unless of course you're in a 46/47 with it's Rotol contra prop. Nelson Ezell commented that VP441 is like a jet,all go and no torque reaction that made Griffon Spits/Seas such a handful. Edited February 12, 2015 by Miggers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 A lot reckon the XVII was the best looking of the entire series. Many do, I agree - for me, though, the 46/47 is the best looking of the lot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Hi Val, I know this is unsolicited, and i hope its not taken the wrong way, But may i suggest you go over the left wing again with some clear semi gloss to sort of even the finish out and correct the glitch on the national insignia? I know you're trying to accomplish the effect of a plane that's been spot painted, but based on what i've read about RNVR aircraft they were kept up pretty well and i don't know if a repaint in that area would look quite that "rough". It might depart sightly from being completely authentic, but the model would be more aesthetically pleasing. The touched up area might be mistaken by some as a rookie building mistake. Just my thoughts. Hope it does not offend. david Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Cool, some great info there guys, thanks Many do, I agree - for me, though, the 46/47 is the best looking of the lot. XVII is probably my favourite as well, but the 46/47 is certainly also an absolute beauty! Hi Val, I know this is unsolicited, and i hope its not taken the wrong way, But may i suggest you go over the left wing again with some clear semi gloss to sort of even the finish out and correct the glitch on the national insignia? I know you're trying to accomplish the effect of a plane that's been spot painted, but based on what i've read about RNVR aircraft they were kept up pretty well and i don't know if a repaint in that area would look quite that "rough". It might depart sightly from being completely authentic, but the model would be more aesthetically pleasing. The touched up area might be mistaken by some as a rookie building mistake. Just my thoughts. Hope it does not offend. david David, comments and suggestions are always more than welcome Also, I'm one step ahead of you As soon as I've got the rockets and landing gear all on, I'm going to give her a finishing coats of satin varnish to even up the finish. You're quite right about RNVR aircraft being kept clean, it was the intention with this model. Someone how I failed to do that! Not sure how, you would have thought it would be quite easy not to weather a model! The next one I do will be kept clean, definitely! Cheers, Val Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Hi chaps, Well she's all finished....Since we last met up, essentially all I've done is given her a satin coat, armed her up and stuck on the small bits.A thoroughly enjoyable build. Thanks for all your interest and input guys, much appreciated Val 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 RFI is this way: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234977338-airfix-148-seafire-fxvii/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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