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Republic Seabee - Highly modified Mach 2 -1/72nd kit


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The unusual yet captivating shape of the Seabee has attracted pilots and modelers for decades. There are many surviving examples in very good condition, and many others in different degrees of needed care.

Still, no good kit of them is available, in spite of its undeniable charm.

In 1/72nd scale the only option I am aware of is the Mach 2 release. I am not in the least impressed by what I have seen regarding Mach 2 kits, nevertheless they produced an almost decent Seabee. The worse part (and I can't emphasize enough the word) is that thing that attempts to pass for a transparency. Many other parts will need the modeler's attention as well. And one or two parts only deserve the trash can.

 

For those interested, I strongly recommend the WiP, that may save many a headache and lists all the modifications done to this kit:

 

I have chosen for this model, being the nature lover I am, a livery from the Fish and Wildlife Service, of the US Department of the Interior.

My hope is that one day we can protect wildlife fully, and not just to sport-shoot and sport-fish it. More than enough we take for our alimentary needs already.

The graphics were commissioned from Arctic Decals, and the quality is -as per their usual standards- superb.

 

In case some nice manufacturer would like to take care of this void, the possible liveries are almost endless, and there a large number of countries in which this plane flew. There are some different versions with this or that specific bit (engine, prop, wing tips, and other details). Avis? Kovozávody Prostějov? any takers?

 

Still, with inordinate amounts of time and effort, these ugly duckling kits (never better said) can be transformed into beautiful swans.

 

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10 minutes ago, Shark444 said:

Well done, and a very attractive paint scheme, too.  But does it float?  😉

I am filling the bathtub as I write this to test watertightness.

 

By the way, do sharks444 float? I heard they don't have swimming bladders. Must be hard work not to sink to the bottom! 😉

 

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Lovely work. Looks extremely realistic. Definitely raises the bar for me when I gat to my Sea Bee ( it’s 1/48 I might add and possibly a worse kit ?)

Edited by Marklo
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2 hours ago, Moa said:

I have chosen for this model, being the nature lover I am, a livery from the Fish and Wildlife Service, of the US Department of the Interior.

My hope is that one day we can protect wildlife fully, and not just to sport-shoot and sport-fish it. More than enough we take for our alimentary needs already.

👏🏽  👏🏽  👏🏽

 

A wonderful build too! Loved these bizarre looking little flying boats since seeing James Bond fly one when I was a nipper .

 

 

 

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Wow Moa !!

Another little gem !!

The finished article is well worth the energy you invested in !!

Impressive !!

Congrats !

CC

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3 hours ago, SAT69 said:

Beautiful model; extraordinary photography!

Thanks!

I like both, modeling and photography.

I have a relatively old, less than $200 Canon camera, and it's a bit beaten up by now. But still going on. It's of the type that you can't disassemble to clean, and to service it at the manufacturer costs more than a new camera. Another example of stupid disposable items that shouldn't be.

It has a bit of dust in the sensor and lenses, but you can't access them yourself. A bit like the cheeky Mac items: no repair, just buy the new one, even if don't want to.

Cheers

 

2 hours ago, billn53 said:

As always, a lovely piece of work, Moa!

Thanks, Bill!

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2 hours ago, Spitfire31 said:

A very attractive littel Bee!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

Thanks, Joachim!

With bees endangered all over the world due to pesticides and loss oh habitat, I thought I will add a little one!

(We have had a natural beehive in our backyard for 12 years now, and they pollinate our fruit trees).

They have never stung any of us or our visitors.

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Claudio,

What an incredibly beautiful and challenging build! I have been watching with amazement as you have taken a bar of soap and transformed it into an exquisite model! The interior, engine, and prop are works of art- especially when you consider how tiny all those parts are. The scheme is striking, and the photography, especially the sunset scenes, is as good as the model. I, too, have an old dependable Canon- an AE1 Program with all the lenses and filters that has had thousands of slides shot through it at airshows and  museums all over the U.S. It has been supplanted by my 35mm digital Canon Eos, but the old dependable AE1 still has a  soft spot in my heart. All of your work that I have seen is outstanding, but in my opinion the Sea Bee is head and shoulders above the rest! :like:

Mike

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