Scotsman Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 I seem to getting back into my FAA groove again , and having finished a FLY Sea Hurricane , and with a Seafire III sitting complete , I wondered about the best way to get myself a Seafire XV , I'm inclined to start with a PCM Spitfire XIV, add a Stinger arrester hook rudder, from Grey Matter , and use their Seafire III set for spools, stiffeners etc along with a four Bladed Prop – Oh and I'll engrave the wing folds So anyone see anything desperately wrong in my approach , I know there are XIV conversions out there , and to be honest if I had a spare Spitfire model lying around I'd probably go that route , but since for once the stash cupboard is bare as regards Spits .. this approach seems to be the most straightforward.. Unless anyone has a better idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Palimaka Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) I think that the Spitfire XIV nose would be too long. The Seafire XV had a shorter nose because of a single-stage Griffon engine, optimized for low to medium altitudes. You would have to locate a Spitfire XII conversion, I think Grey Matter still has those? I've seen modellers do the same sort of thing with the Seafire III, and base it on a Spitfire IX kit. The Merlin 50 in the Seafire III makes the front end the same as the Spitfire V. Richard Edited April 25, 2017 by R Palimaka MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Richard's correct in that the XIV nose is too long. You would also have to change one of the underwing rads to the round style of the Mk V. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Palimaka Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) Actually Carl, the Seafire XV had the twin radiators like the Mk.IX. A RCN Seafire XV is on my short list. I have a couple of the resin conversions from Warbirds. I'd like to do a French one too...sometime. Richard Edited April 25, 2017 by R Palimaka MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotsman Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 Thanks for that , I read that the XV was basically a seagoing Mk XII spit , but I hadn't realized the nose was shorter - looks like its either a Seafire XVII , of a bunch of resin conversions .. HMM choices..! colinR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Palimaka Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Sorry to say Colin that the Seafire XVII also had the short nose. The XVII was essentially an improved XV, with strengthened undercarriage, more fuel and cut down fuselage with bubble canopy. I think the windscreen was changed too. Should I be worried that I knew all that off the top of my head, when I can't even remember my siblings' birthdays sometimes... Thunda and MikeC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Thanks Richard for the information on the rads. I was actually looking at my PCM XIV last night seeing how much work would be involved in converting it to either a XIX or a XIV. The Grey Matters stinger tail is a reasonable match but the cowl is the quandry. As for remembering your siblings' birthdays for a couple years in a row, my sister was 12 years old as I couldn't remember how old she actually was. Carl Anthony in NZ and R Palimaka 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seiran01 Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Always interesting to see the kitbashing of multiple conversion sets with subjects like this. If there's ever a one stop shop to make a seafire XV from a non-short run kit, I'll be dropping money immediately to add it to my RNZAF collection. Yes, kiwis has a Seafire XV as well as a Firefly at the end of the war, used as instructional airframes but not flown (from all I can tell). Anthony in NZ and R Palimaka 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Palimaka Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) A new comprehensive conversion would be so welcome, but Grey Matter Figures still has the Spitfire XII conversion for the Hasegawa MK.V. Not exactly one-stop, but it has the short nose Griffon (you have to carve off the one small bulge on top of the nose), and most bits you require for a Seafire XV. What you will need is the arrestor hook (either stinger or under-fuselage) and optionally the Seafire wings which they also have. You could also rescribe the Hasegawa wings, which you might have to do anyway if you like recessed panel lines. The other bits, spools and stiffeners, can be easily made up from card or rod. Nope, not exactly one-stop, but close. I was lucky enough to get one of each of the Seafire XV conversions (stinger and under-fuselage hook) from Dan when he was closing up his shop. One thing I did notice was that the Seafire wing sets that I bought from Dan were not quite symmetrical. That is, one wing was very slightly thicker than the other. I think I can live with it, and no one I've showed it to can see it...maybe it's my glasses. In retrospect, it might have been more appropriate for me to build that one based on the Hasegawa Mk.V for the Jurassic Group Build in honour of Dan...and so much faster and easier than the Airfix Mustang has been. I think that the Seafire will likely be next anyway, and I'll use one of my PCM Spitfire IXs for the fuselage and bits, and maybe the wings. Tim is a first class guy to order from too, very responsive and friendly. Richard Edited April 25, 2017 by R Palimaka mouldman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iang Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 I used the Warbirds/Grey Matter conversion with the Hasegawa Mk. V kit. It was a fairly straightforward conversion. David Hansen, MikeC, BloorwestSiR and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotsman Posted April 26, 2017 Author Share Posted April 26, 2017 That is beautiful.. and once I gather all the pieces I'll give it a try , thanks for the inspiration Ian R Palimaka 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cees Broere Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 And make sure you post it here as a work in progress. You don't see many Seafires in our scale. R Palimaka and Jeff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotsman Posted April 27, 2017 Author Share Posted April 27, 2017 We;; I guess I could dust off the III I did last year .. I'll see what I can do! MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunwinglow Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 I'm not at home right now but someone did a MK XII conversion just recently. I bought one from eBay and although I havent checked it out it looked pretty good. Can anyone recall the maker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-32-scale-spitfire-mk-Xll-full-conversion-set-resin-/232286141431?hash=item3615553bf7:g:aFoAAOSwUKxYkjWp IIRC, the eBay seller is the maker..Roy? I bought a couple of Griffon noses and props seperate from him, and very nicely done they are too! Best regards; Steve Edited April 27, 2017 by fightersweep MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now