1:72 Supermarine Seafire FR Mk. 23, Aéronavale, 1949

[Pellson]

Beautiful!

But then it's a Spitfire. 

[Old Wombat]

 

[perttime]

... I did not expect this Seafire to stir up so much enthusiasm! 

People like "Spitfires". Especially "Spitfires" with something different.

I'm a fan of Seafire 17 and 47, in particular, and this fits well in that ballpark.

.... I've been wondering, how hard it would be to turn spitfire landing gear for a wide stance, retracting towards the fuselage. I've drawn some spitfires like that but have not dared to try it in plastic. https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=34783.45....

[Dizzyfugu]

Would certainly call for some massive surgery, and it might depend on the donor kit. I'd simply cut the landing gear wells out of thge lower wing halves and switch them L/R, while retaining the struts and covers. Would be complicated with the SH kit, though, because it has complex internal landing gear well walls. A kit with "integral" wells would make this stunt easier. The Matchbox Mk. XVI/IX might be a suitable basis. 

[zenrat]

Looks good Dizz but there's something not quite right about a French Spitfire.

[Dizzyfugu]

What's really disturbing is the roundels' design: the RAF Type C layout (I suppose that the RAF markings were just overpainted on the original aircraft where they belong to) with the narrow white circle look odd in the inverted French colors. Looks very "fake", but I like this disturbing detail. 

[NARSES2]

I'm actually wondering why the Fleet Air Arm once they got their autonomy back didn't put an anchor on their roundel ?

Might look good and throw a few people in plastic 

[zenrat]

I'm actually wondering why the Fleet Air Arm once they got their autonomy back didn't put an anchor on their roundel ?

Might look good and throw a few people in plastic 

Their argument is probably that as the RNAS were flying before the RAF it was originally their roundel anyway.

[NARSES2]

I'm actually wondering why the Fleet Air Arm once they got their autonomy back didn't put an anchor on their roundel ?

Might look good and throw a few people in plastic 

Their argument is probably that as the RNAS were flying before the RAF it was originally their roundel anyway.

Except originally they carried Union Jacks as markings. Not sure who carried the roundel first - RNAS or RFC ?

Mind you both the Army and RN reckoned the RAF was just a 100 year experiment anyway. 

[comrade harps]

Pretty indeed

[Glenn Gilbertson]

What an interesting idea! It certainly looks very elegant, and subtly different to the RW last Seafires. Good one.

[royabulgaf]

I know the real backstory is you had an engineless fuselage and a spare Merlin.  However, could you come up with a plausible backstory on why they would produce Merlin engine Seafires so late in the game?

[perttime]

This got me thinking of a good supply of late DB 605 engines being available - and them being put on  Seafire XVII or Spitfire XII (with cut down rear fuselage...) airframes. Power and weight should be close enough to the Griffon VI.

[kitbasher]

Mind you both the Army and RN reckoned the RAF was just a 100 year experiment anyway.

The Army and the Navy are just bitter about the fact that the RAF always blags the best accommodation (official translation of 'Per Ardua Ad Astra' is 'Any Fool Can Be Uncomfortable').
Guaranteed way to wind up HM Sailors is to ask them when last won a sea battle just using ships!

[zenrat]

I know the real backstory is you had an engineless fuselage and a spare Merlin.  However, could you come up with a plausible backstory on why they would produce Merlin engine Seafires so late in the game?

Poverty pack export version?