Airfix Seafire 17 in 1/48 scale
When Airfix announced their new Spitfire XII & Seafire 17 kits I bought two of each. The first pair were out of the box & I was very happy with the results. Looking at the remaining pair I tried a match-up of XII & 17 parts to produce a Seafire XV: No problems whatsoever & the result appears on iModeler elsewhere. I was now left with two sets of folded wings & a low back fuselage so I thought of doing another Seafire 17, this time in the later colour scheme. Since the XV used some of the parts needed for this build I had to scratch-build the rudder & pitot, scrounge spare cannon, tailplanes & undercarriage from my spares box, plus use a Quickboost set of exhausts. Underwing radiators are leftovers from some long-forgotten Spitfire as is the carb intake. It was a lot of fun & a welcome break from some of the highly complicated models coming out of late. Thanks Airfix! I hope you like it.
8 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Rob Pollock said on July 14, 2015
Seafires always look great. Those lines are just beautiful. A clean build of an evocative type.
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Thanks Rob.
Mike Grant said on July 14, 2015
I’m not well up enough on Spits to comment on accuracy, and besides, it sounds like you know your stuff. I do recognize a really well done model when I see one, though. Looks great, Tony!
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Thank you Mike.
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on July 14, 2015
Using up them Freightdog decals, huh? Shame they didn’t give more “D”(?) roundels, but that’s show business.
RNVR aircraft?
Really nice looking aircraft, well done!
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Thanks Bernard. Yes, you guessed! The decals are for their 1833 NAS, RNVR option.
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on July 14, 2015
I get a chuckle out of a comment I read years ago (in RAF Flying Review) by their reviewer about another folded wing aircraft. Seems to fit this one.
He said it “looked like the aircraft had had a bad fright”!
That Seafire wingfold is unmistakeable.
Craig Abrahamson said on July 14, 2015
Nicely finished and photographed, Tony…I like it.
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Thanks Craig.
Marc Barris said on July 14, 2015
Nice looking Spitfire, I like the finished result, you can see you put a lot of effort into it Tony, well done.
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Thanks Marc. Would you believe I have a spares box just for Spitfires & Seafires? A true tragic!
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on July 21, 2015
At least you are organized. Never, ever throw anything away!
Simon Whitney said on July 14, 2015
Nicely done from what was bits and pieces Tony
Looks great ,
Well done mate.
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Waste not, want not Simon. A good motto for model builders. Thanks for the kind words.
Tom Cleaver said on July 14, 2015
What’s to dislike about a well-done Seafire? Absolutely nuthin’!!
Very nice.
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Thanks Tom. There’s a couple of Mk.47s in my cupboard just waiting to get out but there’s a few other types in front of them.
IAN JACKSON said on July 15, 2015
Very nicely done, love a Seafire.
Ian.
Tony Prince said on July 15, 2015
Thanks Ian. I think Airfix just keeps getting better. I’m having a few thoughts about a Seafire Mk III using my remaining set of Mk.17 wings. We shall see….
George Williams said on July 15, 2015
Really attractive model, Tony, and very good use of the spare parts.
Tony Prince said on July 21, 2015
Thanks George. Love spare parts. Never throw anything away is my motto.
Greg Kittinger said on July 15, 2015
Nice work! Love it.
Tony Prince said on July 21, 2015
Thanks Greg.
Mike Maynard said on July 15, 2015
Nice clean build!
Tony Prince said on July 21, 2015
Thanks Mike.
Dirk Derks said on July 21, 2015
Hello Tony,
very impressed with your skills.
Tony Prince said on July 21, 2015
Thanks for the kind words Dirk.
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on July 21, 2015
This is one of their best, and the folded wing option is priceless!
Marvelous job on her, Tony!
P.k said on July 22, 2015
Im Like nice build!
P.k