A Discussion on the Hobby Craft Seafire XV Kit

Don Weixl
Hobbycraft Seafire
Mon May 12 19:32:30 2003
Is the 1/48th Hobbycraft Seafire worth purchasing?

Mike in NZ, still reeling from this kit
HC Seafire XV
Tue May 13 04:50:47 2003
I did one of these a few years ago, it wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience…many of the panel lines are crooked; as already stated the cockpit needs detailing, and the canopy needs complete replacement. On my example the spinner was miss-shaped, and was replaced with one from an old Falcon vac-form.
One the most noticeable things is the lack of dihedral – I don’t know if this was just on mine, but it’s no easy fix.
Not the best kit out there, but the only one of this mark.

Mr C
Good basis for a Spitfire XII
Tue Sep 10 08:41:13 2002
I’ve actually built and converted one into a Spitfire XII – all it needs (if I remember correctly) is a new rudder and an extra ‘bulge’ on the cowling.Looks quite good when painted, and a much easier conversion than the resin jobs based on the Tamiya/Hasegawa Mk Vs (cheaper too).

Joe Lyons
Glad you asked…
Tue Sep 10 13:45:42 2002
I’m just finishing up one now. I once read a kit review on FAA Sig where the author started off with the HC kit and ended up using the inner sections of the lower wings-everything else was replaced. I’m not quite that intense.
Some observations:
1. The kit purports to represent late production XVs, with a slightly enlarged rudder. Early production had a distinctive enlarged trim tab that would be enclosed in the later rudder. Not sure if the kit rudder is wide enough, but the difference in length OA is about 4″, not much to worry about, really.
2. The main gear legs are much too long, but easy to correct.
3 The after part of the canopy is too short and too shallow. Needs an aftermarket canopy and some cutting away to correct.
4. The cockpit is rudimentary and could be replaced by an aftermarket set designed for the Mk V or IX.
5. Canadians XVs all seem to have wing bomb racks, which the kit does not.
6. The exhaust stacks could stand to be replaced by Hi-Techs intended for the Academy Spits.
5. THE WORST PART is the upper nose – the rocker arm covers are indistinct and too shallow, IMHO. Hard to correct; I happened to have the KMC set intended for the Academy Mk XIVs. Used the nose from this set with some paring down of the after end to fit the shorter nose of the XV.

That’s a long list, but the HC kit is the only Mk XV in town, with the rather unique 4 bladed prop and stinger arrestor hook. The fit of the major parts is good; the panel/fastener detailing is mostly ok, but those distinctive panel lines and the fasteners on the lower nose have to scribed by you.

source: Hyperscale
(thanks to Brett Green for permission)