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1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. I (Dunkirk) Finished....

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  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. I (Dunkirk) Finished....
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, February 9, 2018 1:19 AM

After my tank adventure, I'm happy to slip back into something more "comfortable".  It's not that I didn't enjoy the tank, but it took me way out of my comfort zone so I'm ready for a nice easy build.  A few months ago I was asked to build a pre Battle of Britain Spit in Dunkirk markings, that being one with the black and white undersides.  I figured now was a good time to drag out the Tamiya Mk.I which I've had my stash for quite a while. They don't get much easier build-wise.  The kit is typical Tamiya with nice detail out of the box with a low parts count.  This truly is the quintessential shake and bake kit.  This one will get some PE seatbelts and Airscale intrument dials, that's it.  Montex masks will take care of the roundels.  

    

It will be in the 92 Squadron markings of the first Spitfire Ace, Robert Stanford Tuck, particularly N3249 GRP.  On May 23, 1940 during the evacuation of Dunkirk, he shot down 3 Bf109's, then two bombers on the following day. He managed 28 kills before being downed by ground fire and Pow'ed in January of 1942.    

 

 

I started with the cockpit.  It's nice out of the box.  I normally drop in a resin seat, but this time I opted to add some Eduard Photoetch belts I had in the stash. I used XF-71 Cockpit Green cut with a touch of XF-19 Sky Grey. I used XF-64 Red Brown mixed with a touch of XF-7 Red to depict the plastic SRBP (Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper) seat.  These were apparently fitted to Spits from mid May of 1940 onwards.  I could have gone metal I suppose, but I wanted it to stand out. 

  

  

The kit instrument is awesome.  It's nicely three dimensional, which is way better than any PE replacement.  The dials are blank and perfect for Airscale instrument decals.  I love these. 

 

Everything fits like a glove.

I added a few decal placards to spruce it up.

I cut open the pilot door.  I can't say I've ever "not" done this on a Spitfire. 

 

I glued the fuselage and test fitted the wings.  Like a glove.

I should be painting in no time..

    

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, February 9, 2018 1:33 AM

This should be good! 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Friday, February 9, 2018 1:47 AM

Good God Man, don't you every Sleep!

You only just completed your stunning Armour build!

It is highly likely you will complete over 4 or 5 builds in the time will take me to complete one!

Excellent work, again, Joe.

Cheers

Damian

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Friday, February 9, 2018 1:55 AM

Another specialty build by you.  You never cease to surprise me.

Your friend, Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Friday, February 9, 2018 2:06 AM

Just finished that kit a month or so ago.  It really is a nice simple but detailed kit.  Those dials look fantastic!  I was scratching a bit of white with a toothpick....had I known.

Looks really nice

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, February 9, 2018 2:16 AM

Thanks guys.

 

Kdog, those dial decals do work great. Sprue Brothers carries them. They come in all scales and you can get Luftwaffe, Allied, RAF and Japanese. I bought a few of each. Here's the link. .

http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/ascas48raf.htm

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2014
Posted by rooster513 on Friday, February 9, 2018 6:42 AM

Man Joe this one is flying together! Very nice start and looking forward to paint!

-Andy

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Friday, February 9, 2018 6:46 AM
Woohoo another treat form lawdog

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Northern hemisphere - most of the time-
Posted by blkhwkmatt on Friday, February 9, 2018 10:36 PM

Amazing start once again.  Looking forward to seeing how this comes out!

<Matt

Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur!!! - Anything said in Latin sounds profound!

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Friday, February 9, 2018 10:42 PM

Looking good, Joe.

The airscale instrument decals are way cool. Everything else looking top-notch, as usual.

I missed your tank if it was a WIP. I you do anything with AK stuff on this Spit, I hope you document it as I'd like to learn about the products.

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Friday, February 9, 2018 11:09 PM

Superb cockpit as always!

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:15 AM

What’s your ratio of Cockpit Green to Sky Gray to make Interior Gray Green?

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Saturday, February 10, 2018 2:18 AM

stikpusher

What’s your ratio of Cockpit Green to Sky Gray to make Interior Gray Green?

 

 

Thanks guys,

 

Stik, no ratio, I just added some grey drops until I liked what I saw. I’d go with 5 drops green to 3 drops grey. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • From: Eleva, Wisconsin
Posted by Greatmaker on Saturday, February 10, 2018 3:08 PM

Fantastic work as always Joe. Your cockpits are always consistently exceptional.  

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, February 10, 2018 5:52 PM

Thanks lawdog. I’ll eyeball it along your ratios then... 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Cleveland, OH
Posted by RadMax8 on Sunday, February 11, 2018 10:33 AM

And here I am, slogging away on the ancient Airfix kit like an idiot.

I’m going to need to invest in those instrument decals. I have a sheet of Mike Grant’s instruments from ages ago, but these look really really good. 

Looks fantastic. You were working on a Japanese plane before your armor adventure... did you finish that one and I missed it?

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by BrandonD on Thursday, February 15, 2018 5:24 PM

Love these early Spits. Great job so far, as always. I also love the black/white underside. That's how I did mine a year or two ago, and I think it's a pretty cool look.

-BD-

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, February 15, 2018 5:59 PM

A nice break after the armor build, and looks great.  Looking forward to the paint on her.

 

Greg - in the armor page, Meng British Mk V, a true beauty for a first attempt at armor.

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, February 19, 2018 4:56 AM

RadMax8

 

You were working on a Japanese plane before your armor adventure... did you finish that one and I missed it?

 

Thanks guys...

Max, Indeed I was working on the Hasegawa N1K1.  The prop hub went missing (no idea where it went) so had to shelve it for now.  It's impossible to get replacement parts from Hasegawa, so I'm waiting on a cheap one to show up on ebay.  No luck yet.    

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
Posted by Fly-n-hi on Monday, February 19, 2018 11:40 AM

Excellent!  Your WWII cockpits are always top notch!

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Sunday, February 25, 2018 11:21 PM

Were have we gotten to with this build Joe?

Looking forward to the next installment and yet another build I would like to re-do for my collection.

Great work!

P.S. How do you weather inernal parts, they ALWAYS look stunning.

 

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, February 26, 2018 7:08 PM

damouav

Were have we gotten to with this build Joe?

 

P.S. How do you weather inernal parts, they ALWAYS look stunning.

 

 

Thanks bud....I decided to back burner this one until I finished the 109s.  Three was just too much.  I just finished the 109s and will be back on this one soon.  I ordered some Montex paint masks for the roundels which should arrive shortly.   

I'll have finished pics of the 109s up shortly..

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Thursday, March 8, 2018 1:01 AM

Finally back to this Turkey. I've been working on it rather heavily for the last few days.  

I discovered that I must have raided this kit for the prop as it was missing (I think it went to a Mk.V I built a few years ago).  Fortunately I had an Ultracast prop in the stash. 

 

I sprayed some of the areas that I wanted to chip with Alclad then added worn effects fluid (this would turn out to be a mistake). 

 

I learned on my BF 109s that the surface would be too slippery, so on this one I sanded the silver a bit for friction.  I then began painting the roundels in conjunction with the Montex masks. 

 

It's time consuming but very worth it. Tamiya tape was used to prevent joint seepage of paint. I also taped off the wing walk lines with thin Tamiya tape.  Much easier than the fragile decals.  

  

Once all roundels and fin flashes were painted and masked, I started on the two tone underside.  The white side is XF-2 with a touch of XF-19 Sky Grey added.  I was going for dirty and think I achieved it.  

 

The white was taped off and I sprayed XF-1 Flat Black cut with a touch of XF-24 Dark grey for scale.  Next came Gunze Dark Earth. I truly dislike the shiny aspect of Gunze paints, as I prefer flat paint at this stage or weathering. That said, they nailed the shade to my eye. I may try Mission's RAF stuff next time. 

  

My usually method for RAF patterns. It works great.

Here it is after the XF-81 RAF Green was added and then weathered with a touch of XF-57 Buff.  I also removed the Montex masks.  Decals!...we don't need no stinkin' decals!  Well not quite, I'll need the fuse codes and such. I do love these masks though.  I did have some peeling underneath but I don't mind the effect.  

 

I did some postshading weathering (diluted NATO Black/Red Brown mixture).  I didn't go crazy as I will do much more streaking later with the AK interactive stuff. 

 

At this point I added the exhaust streaks.  I used the same, but slightly less diluted XF-69 NATO Black mixed with XF-64 Red Brown.  I then added some XF-19 Sky Grey to simulate heat. I used some reference pictures and this looks about right to me.

 

It will get a coat of Alclad Aqua Gloss to await decals and then AK weathering.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, March 8, 2018 1:18 AM

That is looking super sharp lawdog! I love the black and white lower surfaces! And you sure achieved a nice overall used look.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Thursday, March 8, 2018 4:52 AM

You have done justice to one, if not the best fighter aircraft of the time.

And a big thank you for provding me with a fix of lawdog build updates.

Great work.

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    April 2013
  • From: Eleva, Wisconsin
Posted by Greatmaker on Thursday, March 8, 2018 8:35 AM

Fantastic Spitfire Joe.  Thanks for sharing your techniques!

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Saturday, March 17, 2018 3:37 AM

Thanks guys....

I'm going to go with done here.  To recap, it's in the 92nd Squadron markings of Robert Stanford Tuck who flew this plane during the Dunkirk Evacuation in May of 1940.  He would become the first Spitfire ace flying this subject as well. 

The Tamiya MK I is one of my favorite kits.  Nicely detailed and easy to build.  This one was built mostly out of the box.  I added PE seatbelts and painted on all roundels by means of Montex masks.  These are highly recommended.  Oh yeah, I used an Ultracast prop because I robbed this kit of the prop for a previous MK V. build.  The fuse codes and serial number came from the Victory Productions Aces sheet.  I continued to experiment with the AK Interactive enamel washes and streaking fluids.  I think I'm getting the hang of them.  I was going for the well used but not war weary look. 

  

Thanks for following......

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Saturday, March 17, 2018 4:06 AM

Well done mate, really well done.

Funny as it maybe, but just watching Dunkirk as I type this reply, Im screaming at the pilot of the Spit to eliminate the filthy 109...

Any way, look forward to your next build, any hints...

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Saturday, March 17, 2018 4:32 AM
Thanks bud! I have yet to see that movie. Next is a Korean War F-51 and then a P-61. I'm going to try to squeeze the new Tamiya 109 G-6 in there too somewhere.

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Saturday, March 17, 2018 4:43 AM

I look forward to the builds with great excitment! As long as the 109 gets downed by a Spit, Hurricane or P-51 I'm happy...

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
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