825 Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 With one Seafire finished and two just about done, and my 'high speed' Spit on its way, I thought it time to start another in my Seafire stash reduction project. The Mk XVII or Mk17 was a development of the Groffon engined Mk XV which introduced the bubble canopy to the Seafire family. It served post war with a number of front line squadrons and was delpoyed on carriers as well as a number of training and second line squadrons. The kit pretty much follows the usual Sword Spitfire/Seafire approach with a common wing and most other parts with fuselage half mouldings dedicated to that mark. There's also some resin for the cannons and exhausts, with an injection moulded canopy. And a comprehensive instruction booklet. A nice transfer sheet as well with three options, but disappointingly none for a front line Squadron. I think by 1949 1832 Squadron probably was a reserve Squadron. But it's the option I'll go with 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 17, 2020 Author Share Posted June 17, 2020 Some paint on 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 17, 2020 Author Share Posted June 17, 2020 More paint on, and fuselage closed up. These Seafires can have the cockpit interior added in from underneath, before the lower wings are added. Seat added, it will need some seat belts. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 The seat has some Eduard belts added. They do look good. The cockpit is inserted from below and below and settled in nicely. I like doing it this way as it's easier to clean up the fuselage joins without getting dust over the innards, and if you do need to trim the IP or bulkheads then you can take from both sides equally rather than sanding down the part that's already fixed in the fuselage. In any case that wasn't required here. Mind you at the end of the day there's little to be seen. The lower wing and radiators on. The fit is all pretty good. There will be some filler needed but it will be very little. And finally the upper wings, which took a lot of careful trimming to get to fit, some of which I did before adding the lower wings and some after. Also the empanage on. Although butt joints Sword make it straightforward by having a set of matching notches on the fuselage and tailplane which helps not just placement but holds the tailplanes at the right angle to the fuselage. The cowling isnt isn't so good and will need filler, partly due to my over enthusiastic sanding off of the sprue gates which are on the mating surface. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 It’s going together very nicely, this is good as I bought the edition with 5 seafire’s in from sword! great work again! Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Going like gangbusters here, great job on the Griffon nose, I know it's a difficult part of the Sword kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 On 6/21/2020 at 8:58 PM, Cookenbacher said: Going like gangbusters here, great job on the Griffon nose, I know it's a difficult part of the Sword kit. Thanks Cookie, the cowling certainly needs care. I cemented one side and 'fiddled' it until it was more or less in the right place. Then added to other witha lot of liquid cement to keep the joints fluid and carefully nudged everything into position. On 6/21/2020 at 8:47 PM, rob85 said: It’s going together very nicely, this is good as I bought the edition with 5 seafire’s in from sword! great work again! Rob Thanks Rob it's slowly but surely coming together. I must admit apart from probably the props which can be a pain, I do like these Sword Seafires. And here here we are now with the first coat of Extra Dark Sea Grey on. It's not a great photo, in fact it looks like it was shot through a puddle of Extra Dark Sea Grey, but it shows where we are this afternoon. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share Posted June 26, 2020 A second coat which looks better. I'll let it dry and then check over the seams and do any tidying up. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 28, 2020 Author Share Posted June 28, 2020 Now ready for some transfers. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Sky and EDSG has got to be one of the best schemes ever - nice brush work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 22 hours ago, Cookenbacher said: Sky and EDSG has got to be one of the best schemes ever - nice brush work. It does Cookie, and seems to suit jets as well as post war props. I'm using, as I usually do, Xtracrylix thinned with Flow Improver and several thin coats. Takes time but seems to give a decent finish. Here now with some transfers on. I messed up the 151 and serial on the other side so will have to sort something out. The serial can come from stock transfers or mixing and matching some spares but the 5 is an unusual shape and size so may take a bit of thought. It was all my own fault as I placed them in the wrong place originally an dynes broke up when trying to shift them along the fuselage. The canopy's been masked and ready to affix after the gunsight. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Looks great. FAA planes always looked proper classy in that colour scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted July 4, 2020 Author Share Posted July 4, 2020 On 6/30/2020 at 4:22 PM, TonyOD said: Looks great. FAA planes always looked proper classy in that colour scheme. It really is a nice scheme isn't it. The cockpit was affixed and painted. And the messed up transfers fixed, although there is a final number on the serial to be done. I've added a number of stencils but looking at the Warpaint Griffon Seafires shows that the FAA didn't seem to put many on, or they can't be seen from normal viewing distances. So I've more or less finished them. Cockpit unmasked and it looks good. The prop has also been assembled and painted. Now the prop is on, the exhausts and cannons affixed, and the undercarriage started. It's solidly engaged but I'll leave it overnight to firm up before turning it over and finishing it off. Not much more to go, wheels, undercarriage doors, pitot and tail wheel guard and that's it. And a whip aerial from wire for which I've already drilled a hole. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted July 5, 2020 Author Share Posted July 5, 2020 Undercarriage finished and most other parts added. There's just the tail wheel guard, the aerial and a number in the serial to be added and we're done. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted July 5, 2020 Share Posted July 5, 2020 Lovely job 825! Got to agree that the colour scheme is a belter and suits those last of the line piston engined fighters as well as the early jets. Edge 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Finished and gallery bound. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Christ man, your a machine! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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