Subject: Re: Airfix 1/48 Seafire Fr.47 by Hank Gruben
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hank" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 00:13:21 -0700

Hi Hank,
Thanks for sending in your Seafire article.  I'll post this to ARC as part of the next update.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Hank 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 6:03 AM
  Subject: Airfix 1/48 Seafire Fr.47 by Hank Gruben

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Gallery Template #03

  "1/48 Airfix Supermarine Seafire Fr.47" 

  by "Hank Gruben"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

       

  This is the wonderful Airfix kit of the (in my opinion) best of the Spitfire/Seafire breed. The kit is a marvel as the fit is great, the options are marvelous and the general quality-to-money paid is top notch... If you haven't built this kit, do so!

  The kit itself comes in a sturdy top-opening box with options to either build an Fr.46 or an Fr.47. You also get the option to build it with the wings folded or down straight which is great if your running out of shelf space like I am... Perhaps I need a bigger house?

  Construction begins with the cockpit an although the rivet counters will be let down, ala in all, it's not too bad. I replaced the seat with a resin alternative from the spares box and added some wiring to juice up the emptiness beneath the seat but other than that, the whole cockpit is a good fit and finish. Here is where you have to make a decision (if you haven't already) to either build the Fr.46 or the Fr.47. Building the fuselage requires the different parts for the different marks so watch the instructions and follow your references! The wings were a dream to build and tapered off to a wonderfully thin trailing edge... The fit to the fuselage required NO filler! The gear and wing rockets look good with little fuss to get a decent stance - I modified some of my wing rockets to show some of them fired (cutting off some and hollowing out the launch rings) to give the impression of a returning, operational Seafire.  

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
         Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 02.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 02.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 

       

  The entire model was primed and painted with Vallejo colours matched to Royal Navy paint chips that I had purchased ages back... ALWAYS A GOOD INVESTMENT! The decals are the only downfall to this wonderful kit... As per usual, the decals are not quite up to modern standards but there is little you can do unless you can scrape up some after-market post-war RN stuff...

  All in all, a great gem in the vast world of modern modeling. As I write this, I've just heard that this same kit will be re-released by Grand Phoenix with all sorts of added value for more than three times the price! I'm not sure if that's in my budget but with a little scratching, you can build the original to great results.

  Thanks to my favourite hobby shop for the foresight to get this kit in stock.

  -Hank

  Photos and text © 2003 by "Hank Gruben"