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++++ Seafire F45 - Finished ++++


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Probably my final contribution but a spate of bad weather may change that is this Seafire F45, the third but last Seafire Mark. It didn't have folding wings and was used as an interim airframe between the lower powered Mk XVs and XVIIs and the penultimate and ultimate Mks 46 and 47. I thought this was the only way to make an F45 without converting a Mk46 but I have subsequently found an F45 from Admiral in the stash. But it's a while since I've done a whole aircraft in resin, and CMR kits are pretty good, although I suspect this is a fairly early kit of theirs. 

 

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There's not too many parts. Three big bits, the fuselage halves and a one piece wing. 

 

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And the rest as smaller parts. The F45 had a 5 blade prop rather than the contra rotating props of the next two Marks. 

 

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Vac form canopy, comprehensive instructions and colour call outs and transfers for two options, both In the late high demarcation Extra Dark Sea Grey over Sky. There's also a bundle of stencils. 

 

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Sorry about the background, Mrs 825 isn't always sympathetic in her choice of table covers when it comes to photography. Anyway now on to cleaning the resin up with a dip in the ultrasonic bath. 

 

 

 

 

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The resin has all been cleaned up,and first some paint on the various bits. A bit of cleaning up of some bits was needed but apart from a ragged edge to some parts of the wings nothing much 

 

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And then some cyano broken out and the cockpit put together. Rather than the black of a postwar Seafire which is a bit stark I've used Revell's Tank Grey which is very dark and less stark. Once it's been dry brushed with Aluminium and given a black wash the lighter shade isn't apparent. And probably a bit more of a scale colour. 

 

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Fuselage closed up and it was a fair old task. I used cyano gel so I had a bit of time and worked forward joint by joint from the tail. However, there were mismatches everywhere, gaps and one side of the fuselage which was previously straight had a bend in it. (The other side had a pronounced bend but I'd fixed that by dipping it in boiling water and then holding it down against a flat surface. I had also smoothed off both mating surfaces. But it fought like mad and only closed up with generous amounts of tape holding it all together. And then once dry it needed a bit of filler. I have used Citadel's Green Stuff as I'm not sure my Milliput is patent any more. It's ok but has stayed sticky for a while and probably needs left longer to fully cure before filing. A fair amount was needed. Top and bottom. 

 

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I have checked and the wing fit seems pretty good although a sliver of resin will probably need to be removed from one wing. Hopefully after all the sanding that will be neeeded on the fuselage I'll get my reward with a straightforward wing join. 

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Looking a bit better. This is the first time I've used Citadel's Green Stuff although I've had it a little time following someone's recommendation on here. It mixes pretty fast but is a bit sticky. I thought that it would dry quickly in the heat but it took some time and after 8 hours it didn't sand too well and tended to crumble. Also unlike Milliput you can't really work it with water. Before it dries you can wipe bits you didn't want off with a damp cotton bud or finger but you cant really shape it. Left overnight to harden it sands fine and polishes up well. However it doesn't feather well into the original resin and there is a faint seam. I've laid over a thin layer of Mr Surfacer 1200 and that seems to have done the trick. 

 

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i think I may still have to some work on the cowling but I'll see how it looks after some paint. Though it's such a crucial focal point on Griffon Seafires, it will have to be pretty much perfect. 

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Cockpit inserted, wings cleaned up and the empanage ready for assembly. The tailplanes are handed and slotted fro attachment which is unusual for a resin kit but appreciated greatly. 

 

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The wings needed a timy bit ofsanding to get a good fit but otherwise they went on fine, with little need for filler looking likely. The empanage went straight on beautifully. 

 

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Airframe complete and an initial coat of Sky on the undersides and sides. 

 

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Filling and sanding almost all done so the first few coats of Sky have been put on. They have revealed some more seams and small imperfections that need a bit of attention so I'll break out the Mr Dissolved Putty which I find works well on resin for small areas needing filling. Hopefully once cleaned up I'll be able to get the paint to a place where I can mask it for the Extra Dark Sea Grey. 

 

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Masked up and a first coat of Extra Dark Sea Grey. This first coat always looks rubbish, as the paint is so thin. A couple of more coats will make a big difference. 

 

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Three more thin coats and the masking removed. And we have this. 

 

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Now the transfers on. 

 

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Undercarriage legs on, tailwheel in and the prop assembled. 

 

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Now all the other bits attached and gingerly popped onto the undercarriage to stand on its own. I was a bit worried that the rather nice and fine undercarriage legs wouldn't be strong enough to hold it. As it's a fair amount of resin it's not a particularly light airframe. But seems OK. 

 

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The big 5 bladed prop is also on and in the upper view it looks squint. However this seems to be an optical illusion as they're on OK. 

 

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Just some touching up, and the vac form canopy to be cut out, trimmed, masked, fitted and painted. And we're done. There's some transfers around the canopy area to do as well. 

 

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Canopy on and masked. Hopefully will get finished and into the gallery. 

 

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Canopy painted, unmasked and a whip aerial added. I'm not 100% happy about the canopy fit. If I had a little more time I would have fared it in with some PVA and filler. There's also a couple of stencils that could be added but I'll add them later but for all intents and purposes this is finished and can go in the gallery. I think for an unusual variant, being the 3rd last Spitfire/Seafire variant, it's reasonable. The next time I do multiple builds in a GB I'll add hem to gallery as they get finished rather than waiting until the end. 

 

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