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Topflite Sea Fury


From the very beginning:  click here


This is a 1/7th scale version of the last piston-engined fighter to see active service with the Fleet Air Arm.

Power is a Laser 160 V-twin.

Retracts are Century Jet, air driven. They were expressly designed for this model and are close to scale in appearance.

The model is fully sheeted so I am using an epoxy glass covering. I plan to use Klasskote epoxy paint as a finish.


Colour scheme will be based on VR930. Due to an incident in 1950 - when an American B29 superfortress accidentally shot down a Fleet Air Arm Seafire - all Commonwealth aircraft were thereafter painted with black and white invasion stripes. I plan to use the earlier colour scheme, however, that does not have these stripes.

Glassing the flying surfaces
Glassing the flying surfaces
Glassing the wing
Glassing the wing
Glassing the wing underside
Glassing the wing underside
Time to start on the fuselage
Time to start on the fuselage
The ABS parts for the cockpit cut from their mounting sheet
The ABS parts for the cockpit cut from their mounting sheet
Trial fit of the cockpit
Trial fit of the cockpit
Trial fit of the Laser 160v and cowl
Trial fit of the Laser 160v and cowl
A beautiful motor!
A beautiful motor!
Reasonably happy with the fit. Note downthrust, built into the firewall
Reasonably happy with the fit. Note downthrust, built into the firewall
Trial fit of retracts and flying surfaces. Sprayed with high build primer, most of which will be sanded off
Trial fit of retracts and flying surfaces. Sprayed with high build primer, most of which will be sanded off
Wing underside in grey primer, panel lines added (using Chartpak tape)
Wing underside in grey primer, panel lines added (using Chartpak tape)
Wing underside closeup
Wing underside closeup
U/C door in its grey primer. The long strip is carbon fibre which adds rigidity to the ABS sheet.
U/C door in its grey primer. The long strip is carbon fibre which adds rigidity to the ABS sheet.
Fuselage in high build primer
Fuselage in high build primer
Fuselage in grey primer with panel lines added
Fuselage in grey primer with panel lines added
Wing underside, Chartpak tape removed to show panel lines
Wing underside, Chartpak tape removed to show panel lines
Top of the wing with blisters added
Top of the wing with blisters added
Flying surfaces sprayed
Flying surfaces sprayed
Underside of wing sprayed in "RAF Sky"
Underside of wing sprayed in "RAF Sky"
Wing and fuselage, the latter still in grey primer
Wing and fuselage, the latter still in grey primer
Trial fit of wing and fus. Engine baffles - for the V-twin - visible inside the cowl.
Trial fit of wing and fus. Engine baffles - for the V-twin - visible inside the cowl.
Split flaps & retracts installed and connected
Split flaps & retracts installed and connected
Wing with RAF roundels applied
Wing with RAF roundels applied
Fuselage after spraying with KlassKote epoxy paint. (RAF sky underside hidden beneath masking tape)
Fuselage after spraying with KlassKote epoxy paint. (RAF sky underside hidden beneath masking tape)
Steerable tailwheel and tail feathers linked up
Steerable tailwheel and tail feathers linked up
Tight fit for rudder/elevator servos in the fuselage
Tight fit for rudder/elevator servos in the fuselage
Trial fit of wing minus engine and canopy
Trial fit of wing minus engine and canopy
Ready for C of G test. No extra weight needed up front!
Ready for C of G test. No extra weight needed up front!
Trial fit of canopy prior to painting
Trial fit of canopy prior to painting
Fuselage roundels added
Fuselage roundels added
Tail insignia added
Tail insignia added
Wing insignia added
Wing insignia added
Spinner sprayed in matching RAF Sky
Spinner sprayed in matching RAF Sky