Gamera

Frank: Love the Mk XIV, probably my favorite Spit ever. So graceful, so brutal...

 

Gamera, the kit will be here tomorrow sometime. I'll do a brief inspection of the box conttents then start with the fuselage interior. I really like these new Airfix kits.

Edit: (03/10) The Mk XIV has just arrived.

Gary: Looks cool! Good luck with the broken prop. 

Frank: Awesome! Looking forward to you starting on her. 

Gamera,

The prop is an easy fix.  I get used to these things. 

Got the base coat on the "Airplane That Shall Not Be Named" today.  There are a few spots that need touch-up, but the green needs to go on so it might cover them.  Color looks too light in this photo, but it'll darken as it is weathered.

OTOH, it's two steps forward, one step back.  The tape was not kind to my "night" side, but I decided to chance it.

Wonder if I can get away with "heavily weathered"? 

Thanks for looking!

ACK!!! That was looking so good Gary, hope you can sand out and repaint the peeled paint on the wing without any issues. 

O, Gary, thats not good. I have seen paint come up with tape but not that much.

Well, the Eduard canopy mask arrived today for the Spitfire Mk XIV. So, being the patient man that I am, I immediately opened up the kit and began doing some assembly. I hafta say that the panel lines and rivet detail are so fine and there are so many tiny parts. This build will keep me busy for a while.

Almost done with my Hasegawa mk.ix. I have done all the assembly and exterior paint. Just painting the roundels and markings. I picked up a Cricut machine a couple of weeks ago and have made decal masks and a canopy mask. First time doing this so here's hoping it turns out ok. This is a test bed now.

Here is my attempt to join this group build.Its been awhile since I participated in one but I really wanted to join since Bish was running it and I did have this kit on hand for a few years.hope I could get it done

I'll gte you on the roster Tojo. Good to see you getting the GB bug again.

Looks nice there Deeve. What masks are you useing for the markings.

Bish

Looks nice there Deeve. What masks are you useing for the markings.

 

I made them. I scanned the decal sheet (Eagle Editions EC48-116) and cut them onto Tamiya masking tape with a Cricut machine. I did some of them using the removable vinyl sticker sheets that came with the machine when I bought it. I should have used just the sticker sheets cause they have a bit more rigidity and hold their shape better. The roundels were a bit of a pain in the butt to get lined up nicely. I ended up with a bit of wobble in some of the circles, but for a first try it came out pretty nicely I think.

I did get a bit of bleed under the masks, but nothing that I cant live with. Main issue I had is the images I had scanned were at a very hi resolution and when I imported the images into the Cricut machine, it took the pixelation to be jagged lines so some of the lines are jaggy and it shows in the end result. I will have to smooth out the lines before importing in the future. I am doing a DO 335 right now and I plan to make masks for all the insignias as they are relatively simple designs and will look better painted on.

Those came out really well.

Thanks. I cant wait to get this one off the bench, I am in the home stretch. :)

Gary, that is some nasty paint lifting.  I suspect the fact that you had a layer of metallic paint underneath affected the adhesion of the black paint?   RAF Night is not a true black, and is often described as a dark blue-grey, composed of carbon black and ultramarine blue pigments. 

Given that the white/black underwing was an important visual aid for friendly recognition, it's doubtful it woud be left to weather to such a state - but it is your model. If you are going to repaint, I'd suggest a Nato Black hobby paint.

Deeve, great job with the custom masks.  Does your cricut machine have a program that automatically converts jpeg (or whatever image file type you used)?  Usually masks are designed using vector software.   All linear drawing, and is scalable to any size afterwards, with lines remaining consant width.

regards,

Jack

I'm in with this ICM Mk VIII in 1/48 scale. If the old Aeromaster Decals hold up I'll be building this one from 457 Squadron.

jgeratic

Deeve, great job with the custom masks.  Does your cricut machine have a program that automatically converts jpeg (or whatever image file type you used)?  Usually masks are designed using vector software.   All linear drawing, and is scalable to any size afterwards, with lines remaining consant width.

 

regards,

Jack

 

Yeah, the Cricut software that comes with it allows you to import a JPG, PNG, GIF, whatever image file format you prefer. It imports it and vector drawings as well. When I did the Roundels, I actually created them in Coreldraw, using a vernier caliper to measure the decals, then sized the circles up on the grid in the Cricut software so I got them the correct size. Worked out pretty well. But the Letters were just straight from the scan of the decals. Same thing with the tail markings. With the tail markings, I actually went into the JPG and smoothed out the lines, which was easy since they are all straight. 

I am excited to have this machine, there are so many possibilities. I also found an image of the canopy masks, cleaned it up a bit and cut them. I used my hacked canopy masks, I am about to peel them off to see how they turned out. Hopefully its adequate. 

Only bad thing is that I think I am going to have to buy a copy of Coreldraw. I downloaded the trial version of the current one. Problem is it is like $350. I have a copy of version 9, it works in widows 10, but it lacks so many features and doesnt save in the format that the Cricut software uses. 

Roster is updated, i think i have everyone.

This should come in handy:

regards,

Jack

My Silhouette likes dxf files, which I draw in Autocad but a less expensive drafting program should be able to output that type of file.  I'm using version X6 for Corel Draw and it doesn't work for me.  The newer versions than X6 are not likely to handle them well either, but I don't know.  The Silhouette software is hard for me to work with but that may be because once I made dxf files from Autocad work there was no point in going further.

CorelDraw is great for drawing decals because it handles colors far better than AutoCad. 

jeaton01

My Silhouette likes dxf files, which I draw in Autocad but a less expensive drafting program should be able to output that type of file.  I'm using version X6 for Corel Draw and it doesn't work for me.  The newer versions than X6 are not likely to handle them well either, but I don't know.  The Silhouette software is hard for me to work with but that may be because once I made dxf files from Autocad work there was no point in going further.

 

CorelDraw is great for drawing decals because it handles colors far better than AutoCad. 

 

I actually used a DXF file when I was saving in Coreldraw 9. Worked ok for that. But I would like to have the options for other file types too.  Ive heard the Silhouette has better software than the Cricut.

Deeve, 68GT, & Tojo: Those all look awesome guys!!! 

OK. Finnally wrapped up my Hasegawa Spitfire MK.IXc. I added more aftermarket to this kit than any kit I have ever done. Years ago I built a Hasegawa Typhoon and ruined the upper wing roundels. I poached the ones from this kit to finish the Typhoon so I had to find some decals to replace the box ones and picked up EagleCals #116 decals. I decided on AE-W, Lorne M Cameron's aircraft. Simply because I liked the skeleton nose art.  On top of that I had to replace the wheels due to the lack of 5 spoke wheels included in the kit. Had 3, 4 spoke and solid wheels but not 5. When I ordered the wheels from Ultracast, I also picked up some exhaust stacks. Previously I had picked up Dept of Correction early Spitfire Mk IX prop and spinner. Luckily Lorne's aircraft was an early MK IX so I could use it. I also picked up some Eduard Superfabric belts. I cut off the outer cannon fairing as the aircraft had it deleted. I cut out the door and added the handle and locking bar. I used a Cricut Machine to make masks for the roundels, Identification markins and the tail markings. I used the Cricut to make the canopy masks from a picture I found online. I also hucked out the tail wheel gear and added brake lines to the landing gears.

Things I screwed up. I got some bleed under the canopy masks. As usual, I suck at canopies. I broke the tab that attaches the spinner to the fuselage, so I had to drill everything out and use a toothpick. I neglected to shave off the bulges on the wings as per instructions, until after I had already assembled and primed the whole shebang. Its gone, but you can tell it was there, its all wavery and uneven. I did a poor job of it. I also attached the canopy pieces before I realised I neglected to install the gun sight. That was not easy to put in place with the canopy in place. 

Anyways, onto the evidence.

Very nicely done there Deeve. Came out great despite the issues you have had.

Thanks for taking part, i have added a pic to the front page.

Deeve, that's one fine looking Spitfire. Really well done.

Don't be telling us what's wrong with it 'cause we'll never notice...lol.

The build just looks too good overall.

Your Spitfire looks great, Deeve, nice finish.  Don't Worry, Be Happy

fotofrank

Deeve, that's one fine looking Spitfire. Really well done.

Don't be telling us what's wrong with it 'cause we'll never notice...lol.

The build just looks too good overall.

 

Deeve, I like it, and a Canadian Squadron to boot.

regards,

Jack

jgeratic

Deeve, I like it, and a Canadian Squadron to boot.

 

regards,

Jack

 

Doing a little research, Lorne Cameron is laid to rest not far from where I live. 

Deeve: That's beautiful!!! I too honestly wouldn't have noticed any of the issues if you hadn't pointed them out! 

You should be proud of her, fantastic!!! 

I started the ICM Mk. VIII.  Not much to look at but its started.