Jump to content

A pair of Seafires


825

Recommended Posts

I have a bundle of Seafires in the stash and I thought a good addition to this GB would be a pair of the FAA's first high speed interceptors, a pair of Seafire MkIb's. Although different boxings these are the same kit. 

 

resized_134e1714-bce7-4aae-962d-52e04aab

 

And although they say Admiral, the bags containing the kit inside the box says AZ Models. I've already built one earlier this year in the Spitfire GB, finished as this unusual blue version. This pair will be more conventional. 

 

Each boxing gives two different options but in one of the boxings the two options are for 2nd line squadrons. I'll have a look through the stash for some aftermarket transfers. Although I think early Seafires, particularly the MkI are not well served. I do have at least a week before the start, and it'll be more than a few weeks after that before the hot water comes out. 

 

resized_8693a0f9-8a29-4d26-b0da-5f6fbd61

 

I will be doing one as the 885 NAS example from HMS Formidable. 

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Delighted to see some Seafires in our GB :thumbsup:

Remember that fighter types used in training roles are also eligible so either of the marking options in the first boxing are good if you wish to use them ;) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now to get started. Sprue shot, each kit has a couple of grey plastic sprues which can make a Spitfire MkV as well as a Seafire. 

 

resized_e523f9ff-8e18-4545-81ea-71109482

 

There's an etch piece that needs rolled to give the arrestor hook panel and then bent to give the hook. The aerial is etch too. And a small injection canopy. 

 

resized_119f2bf8-d2d8-409a-be38-c1ea0989

 

Instructions 

 

resized_1989ee8a-24a0-479a-b553-18b2103c

 

and tansfers. I used those for L/Commander Hamilton's for another kit where the transfers were missing. 

 

resized_10f33b10-519e-4d77-9b14-11ed840c

 

Now for some paint. 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, Col. said:

Looks as if you're going to have fun forming that arrestor hook :o 

I've had to do it before and it was a bit of a pain. It does seem a rather long winded and complicated way of doing it, when a couple of scribed lines and the hook would do. 

 

Here we are today with some paint on. 

 

resized_65f7f06f-7580-4d84-a423-70892c7d

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a look in the stash for some alternative liveries. Very early Seafires are not well serviced in the aftermarket scene and all found for MkIb's was his Print Scale sheet. However, the only front line squadron is the same markings as the kit. It's disappointing when kit/decal manufacturers do this. I want aftermarket transfers to be different to that in a kit to give variety. I'll go with the first kit's HMS Formidable option and have a think about which one of the 7** squadrons to choose. 

 

resized_123e1033-381f-455c-a7f0-5ac21bda

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, 825 said:

I've had to do it before and it was a bit of a pain. It does seem a rather long winded and complicated way of doing it, when a couple of scribed lines and the hook would do. 

 

Here we are today with some paint on. 

 

resized_65f7f06f-7580-4d84-a423-70892c7d

Hi, re paint

 

Spitfire cockpits until late 43 or 44 are grey green until the seat bulkhead, behind is Aluminium dope, as are all the rest of the insides apart engine bearers. Thats engine bay, gun bays, flaps and....

Wheel wells, much debated. 

As best I know the outer wheel part is external , so the underside colour.  The inner leg section is internal, so the internal colour

seen here, factory fresh finish.

 

48992641552_39cc4f653c_b.jpg

the Sky on the well walls can be seen here

2527522690_8dd6b585b4_b.jpgSeafire by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr

 

and here

HMS-Ravager-D70-Seafire-landing-accident

 

 

1 hour ago, 825 said:

Very early Seafires are not well serviced in the aftermarket scene and all found for MkIb's was his Print Scale sheet. However, the only front line squadron is the same markings as the kit. It's disappointing when kit/decal manufacturers do this. I want aftermarket transfers to be different to that in a kit to give variety.

The problem is that there just aren't that many schemes for the Seafire1B,  also Print Scale are not noted for accuracy,  I doubt the Sky under the tail E3-Y for example.

 

I think most of the documented Seafire 1B schemes are like MB345,  a serial and a code letter.  

eg

Seafire_801_Furious.jpg

 

of note for the wooden blocks holding the flaps open a set amount,  they would drop away when the flaps were fully opened later.

 

if you can find the AC-E  codes

6737603639_27536ee6ea_b.jpgR.N. Seafire by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr

 

This is an image of G1-A from the sheet

Seafire_MkIb_NX957.jpg

 

 

seafire-1.jpg

 

Seafire Vb FAA 768Sqn JA Marriott BL818 landing accident Aug 10th 1944

HMS-Ravager-D70-Seafire-Vb-FAA-768Sqn-JA

 

HTH

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Troy Smith thanks for the advice and the great pics. They've been helpful already. I've amended some of my undercarriage well painting and will probably go with the kit transfers for one of the options. I'm tending towards the 736 NAS option presently. The kit instructions suggest the flat main wheels but all the photos show the spoked version so I'll go with that. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know that you know this, but the presentation of the identification symbols aka code on the starboard side of the 736 Sq aircraft is AC-B , not B-AC as shown on the boxtop.  See Troy's post for a (colour!) photo of the starboard side of NX942 ACE from the same unit.  Similarly, Troy's photo of G1A of  761 Sq ishows that the port side presentation was G1-A, not 1A-G.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Seahawk said:

I know that you know this, but the presentation of the identification symbols aka code on the starboard side of the 736 Sq aircraft is AC-B , not B-AC as shown on the boxtop.  See Troy's post for a (colour!) photo of the starboard side of NX942 ACE from the same unit.  Similarly, Troy's photo of G1A of  761 Sq ishows that the port side presentation was G1-A, not 1A-G.

Good point @Seahawk. The aircraft on carriers are much simpler with just the serial and an ID letter. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some more paint on, and getting close to getting some bits glued together. 

 

resized_523f4e73-9c62-4ee2-aea0-5a643569

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

More paint on and ready to get the sprue cutter and glue out. 

 

resized_1a18bb03-3526-4756-a5e1-070a1fff

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

The interiors painted and some detail highlighted. There's not much to see once the canopy is on so I'm not going to town. 

 

resized_5ec67090-4f89-48d2-ac88-acaadf4a

 

The cockpit interiors started. 

 

resized_11e081ae-64c9-462e-b328-86a36e6c

 

The fuselage sides glued together. The fit is good but the removal of the overly thick sprue gates means a little bit of filler will be needed. The cockpit interior almost done. They can wait till later and be fitted through the lower wing space. I'll add some seat belts as well. 

 

resized_baf7db04-f148-41a9-852c-66df33fe

 

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/2/2021 at 8:12 PM, Col. said:

Good to see your Seafire are making progress :thumbsup:

Thanks Col, there hasn't been much progress since Christmas as I've been really busy at work as well as doing some voluntary work in vaccination clinics. However, I've now cleaned up the fuselage joints and added some Eduard seat belts. These are the cloth ones which are no longer available which is a pity as they don't just look nice but they conform beautifully. 

 

 resized_ff13a9e3-09b3-4fa2-a49e-1ab490c2

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hopefully things will calm down for you soon and restore a better work/life balance. In the meantime both cockpits are looking grand and those belts in particular are very effective.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, Col. said:

Hopefully things will calm down for you soon and restore a better work/life balance. In the meantime both cockpits are looking grand and those belts in particular are very effective.

Thanks Col. These seat belts are lovely and not too difficult to install, don't require bending to fit and there's no risk of scraping the paint off. I don't know why Eduard stopped doing them and continue with the steel belts that are a pain and a half to bend. I'm not working for a couple of days so have got some more done on the Seafires as well as some other bits and pieces done. 

 

The cockpits inserted and the lower wings glued on. Not quite a perfect fit and a bit of tape needed but will be fine with a bit of filler.  

 

resized_ff459fd6-d9bd-4afb-83b9-f79d2847

 

resized_1932b0a9-fd4d-41ba-8af6-d187c591

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, 825 said:

...These seat belts are lovely and not too difficult to install, don't require bending to fit and there's no risk of scraping the paint off. I don't know why Eduard stopped doing them and continue with the steel belts that are a pain and a half to bend...

You've clearly seen the mess I can make on a pre-painted set of their metal belts :lol:

These two look to be coming together well for you regardless of the minor fit issues.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Col. said:

You've clearly seen the mess I can make on a pre-painted set of their metal belts :lol:

These two look to be coming together well for you regardless of the minor fit issues.

The fit isn't too bad, and AZ/Admiral make a pretty good job of the complex Spitfire/Seafire wing to fuselage join. I've now got the upper wings on and the fit is very good. However, there's a tendency for them to pull apart for no apparent reason, hence the pegs and tape. I'll leave them for a while and come back to them. 

 

resized_ccd2abd0-1f58-48d1-8e3a-c4f4bf77

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Starting to look like a pair of Seafires now. 

 

resized_1c4efa6e-68eb-4d08-a044-79de7384

 

resized_13444ef7-7e04-49b4-ad68-3f9896f0

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spent a fair amount of time rolling the arrestor hook etches into a curve of some form. It's not great and the metal kept wanting to unbend, even after fixing them with cyano. I'll now leave them to cure before dealing with them further. Hopefully a bit of filler and some filing will get us to something that will paint up reasonably well. 

 

 resized_1366ab04-15be-493a-a516-9d559b29

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, 825 said:

Spent a fair amount of time rolling the arrestor hook etches into a curve of some form. It's not great and the metal kept wanting to unbend

Annealing is your friend here - heat til dull red, then drop it in some water, should be nice and soft and compliant afterwards.

A bit late for you (unless you want to pop them off and try again) but for future reference and others having the same problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Dave Swindell said:

Annealing is your friend here - heat til dull red, then drop it in some water, should be nice and soft and compliant afterwards.

A bit late for you (unless you want to pop them off and try again) but for future reference and others having the same problem.

Thanks Dave, I'll probably persevere with these two but I've afew more in the stash so I'll anneale the next time. Or if they fall off. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A bit of time with a file and some Perfect Plastic Putty then a couple of coats of paint has improved things somewhat, but still it just quite right. I know it's modelling but I would rather have spent the couplle if hours getting here with doing something else. 

 

resized_f6a18f91-166e-4569-8da6-7dc8e704

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...