825 Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 The second of my Aeronavale Seafires. This is a Sword boxing of an early MkXV. The early MkXV still had the A-frame arrestor hook in the lower fuselage, the later ones had the 'stinger' style arrestor hook under the rudder. One large sprue sprue with most things on it and a second one with the fuselage. A couple of resin parts and a small sprue with the arrestor hook. And an injection moulded canopy. Instruction booklet and transfers. Including stencils. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted July 31, 2021 Author Share Posted July 31, 2021 A bit of paint on In general the moulding is crisp and sharp but some of the injection pins are in inconvenient places like these ones between the ribs in the undercarriage well. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 Awesome choice Martin H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 On 7/31/2021 at 11:31 AM, Grandboof said: Awesome choice Martin H Thanks Martin A bit of paint on. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 I've got a couple of their Spitfire XIV's so I'm interested in seeing how this comes out. Good luck and welcome to the GB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 13, 2021 Author Share Posted August 13, 2021 On 8/8/2021 at 6:54 AM, Wez said: I've got a couple of their Spitfire XIV's so I'm interested in seeing how this comes out. Good luck and welcome to the GB. Wes, I've made a few Sword Seafires and in general with a bit of care and attention they go together well. They seem to be pretty accurate too. There are couple of places that particular care is needed. Joining the wing to the fuselage, like all Spitfire/Seafires has got to be done carefully to ensure everything fits and aligns. Getting the arrestor hook fitting on is another challenge if it's the A-frame type but that's not necessary with your Spit. Anyway ive finally got the sprue cutters out and started to glue things together. The interior put together, still the seat and control column to add, as are the undercarriage wells. I also glued on the upper cowling panels and they look like they might need some attention later. I'd rather add the exhausts in later after painting but I wonder if I should have done it here as per the instructions. Too late now, something to tackle later. The interior is quite nicely detailed. Ive picked out some of the detail and will dry brush with some metallic and maybe give it a wash. I always think that it's a waste to do too much in a Seafire cockpit as the aperture is pretty small 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 Seat has belts from Kits world 3D printed belts. Mk XV's on the left And the fuselage closed up. The cockpit can be inserted from underneath. I've done this with a number of Sword and AZ Seafires and it's much easier to align than glueing it into one side and hoping everything is straight. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 Cockpit inserted from underneathand sits in snugly. There isn't much that can be seen due to the narrowness of the opening but the seat belts do add a bit of detail that can be seen. Before closing up completely with the lower wing, I inserted this plastic strip to ensure that when I add the arrestor hook insert it doesn't end up falling inside. Yes it has happened before! And now the lower wing on. A reasonably good fit. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 Upper wings on now. The fit was not great and a lot of trimming and sanding was needed. And a fair amount of pressure needed as can be seen. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 27, 2021 Author Share Posted August 27, 2021 A bit more work done. The tailplane sorted out and the radiators and air intake on as well as some cleaning up. Followed by a couple of coats of Sky. a bit more to go. You can't see it but I had to do a fair bit of work sorting out the upper wing to fuselage joint. Though to be fair we are getting there. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 Coming along well Martin H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 10, 2021 Author Share Posted September 10, 2021 On 8/28/2021 at 8:41 AM, Grandboof said: Coming along well Martin H Thanks Martin, things have been busy of late and I haven't been able to as much as I wished. Also it did take a little while to get some of the seams tidied up and painted. Anyhow the Sky finished, masked up and the first couple of coats of Extra Dark Sea Grey on. As always seems to happen with Seafires and Spitfires a faint seam appears on the cowling, hence the smear of filler. I'll let it dry then sand and polish it. Hopefully that'll do the trick. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 Nice progress there, not one of the family we see many of so good to see this on the go. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 Looking forward to decal time . They set it off well Martin H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 Great stuff, nice work on the wing fit issues. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 On 9/11/2021 at 9:31 AM, stevehnz said: Nice progress there, not one of the family we see many of so good to see this on the go. Steve. Thanks Steve, the early MkXV Seafires are nice looking being pretty much the final Mark with the original fuselage design. On 9/11/2021 at 9:41 AM, Grandboof said: Looking forward to decal time . They set it off well Martin H That's the next stage Martin, but it probably won't be for a little while as I have a bit of a busy time coming up. On 9/11/2021 at 11:20 AM, JOCKNEY said: Great stuff, nice work on the wing fit issues. Cheers Pat Thanks Pat, it's quite useful that the paint demarcation is along the joint so helps disguise it somewhat. The masking tape is off and theres a little little bit of seepage at the port wing root on the leading edge but otherwise not bad. The painting instructions show the cockpit door in ESDG hence the not quiet straight line on one side. Transfers on next, which will make it definitely French. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 EDSG over sky. A classic scheme! Looking very smart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 25, 2021 Author Share Posted September 25, 2021 On 9/13/2021 at 8:11 PM, TonyOD said: EDSG over sky. A classic scheme! Looking very smart. Thanks Tony, the post war ESDG over Sky is very fetching, it looks great on both piston engined aircraft and early jets. I've put the arrestor hook inserted on. This is by far the best I've ever seen and done, and I've made a fair few Seafires and some have taken hours to get presentable. This took a couple of swipes with a sanding stick to ensure the sides of the insert was smooth and it fitted beautifully. Couple of swipes afterwards to remove a little raggedness from the solvent, quick polish and done. Kudos to Sword for this. I decided now is the time time to get some transfers on. They behaved pretty well, especially the serial number under the wing which goes over a fair number of lumps and bumps. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Looking very nice! As others have said, the colour scheme is very attractive. I've not built a Sword kit yet, although I've got a couple in my stash, so it's good to see one going together so well. Looking forward to seeing the next instalment! Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 On 10/1/2021 at 7:57 PM, 2996 Victor said: Looking very nice! As others have said, the colour scheme is very attractive. I've not built a Sword kit yet, although I've got a couple in my stash, so it's good to see one going together so well. Looking forward to seeing the next instalment! Cheers, Mark Thanks Mark. Sword kits have a mixed reputation but their Seafires in general are really good. This one is a treat as everything goes together with little fuss. It's been sitting for a little while as I finish off a couple for the Bristol GB. It's finished now so I'm back to the Seafires. Canopy dipped in Kleer, masked and fixed. Parts for the prop assembly, Sword make it easy as there are positive locations for each blade. And the canopy painted and the exhausts fixed in place. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 It's coming along well. Elegant machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 10, 2021 Author Share Posted October 10, 2021 On 10/5/2021 at 5:48 PM, Bertie Psmith said: It's coming along well. Elegant machine. Thanks Bertie, the late Mark Seafires/Spitfires were particularly elegant. The remainder of the transferrs on, I need to find something to match the French Blue on the rudder flash as it needs touched up. I've got some left over French transfers in the stash so I'll see if I can find some trimmings. Undercarriage on. A little fiddly but surprisingly strong once assembled. Prop on as well. There was a little bit of paint to be cleaned up and tidied up, and that's been done. Once I've sorted out the fin and added the last bits I'll. brush on a couple of coats of satin varnish. I've a busy week coming up so there may be a little break before the next update. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 13, 2021 Author Share Posted October 13, 2021 I had a dig through my stash of part used (or not used) transfers. I picked these out early from an Azur Baltimore which is almost finished as a Royal Navy bird. Lots of French blue to play with as well as red. However the blue was bit darker so a rummage through the box revealed these possible candidates. The set onthe top left are from a Sword Seafire MkIII and made by Techmod so hopefully they'll be a good match. The only issue there's not a lot of blue compared to those with long stripes on the rudders. Judicious use of the scalpel called for. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 Transfers tidied up, a couple of coats of satin varnish and the canopy unmasked. Apart from the pitot to be added this attractive French fancy is done and ready for their photo shoot. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 Last photo before the gallery. I had forgotten the tail wheel doors but they're on now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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