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Seafire XV - Options


Scotsman

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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?

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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 by R Palimaka
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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 by R Palimaka
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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

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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...

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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.

 

IMG_20170425_084042.jpg

 

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

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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).

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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 by R Palimaka
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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 by fightersweep
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