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1/48 Tamiya Spitfire MK. I (Work In Progress)....

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  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Utereg
Posted by Borg R3-MC0 on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 6:44 AM

That is a very nice cockpit! Those Tamiya kits never dissapoint.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 4:46 AM

This is a great start and a fantastic job on the cockpit.   Those two bottles are actually compressed air, usually found silver coloured,  but also grey.

It is interesting what you have done with the brownings, I was planning something similar before asking for some help from the lads over at Britmodeller.  The guns were actually butted up against blast tubes so the muzzles/barrels would not be seen at all.  The blast tube was set flush within the wing leading edge, but there is some instances of them being set in slightly inwards.

quote from Edgar,

This is one of those "Jury's still out" questions, since there are a lot of "maybes" involved. It appears that the early Mk.Is had tubes, with a slight "step" inside, which might have been for the "covers," mentioned in the September 1940 modification (which introduced the fabric patches) to rest on. So far, I've been totally unable to find out what the covers (there were others in the empty case chutes, as well) looked like. It's always been a bit of a mystery why Supermarine decided that the introduction of self-adhesive fabric patches needed a full-blown modification, but, if it meant changing the design of the tubes, it makes more sense.

The steps appear in a drawing of the Mark I leading edge "D" box, but with no indication of their purpose, and disappear in later Marks. There is no sign of any form of external cover in photographs of early airframes, and it's difficult to believe that freezing-up wouldn't have been a problem, since the Brownings were cocked before take-off, so cold air would have gone straight into the breeches.

Certainly they had icing troubles with the early cannons, and found that rubber sleeves (cue condom jokes) were less than ideal, because the cold made them go brittle, then shatter, with bits entering the barrels.

The tubes were definitely not free-floating, but fixed at each end.

regards,

Jack

cml
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Brisbane, Australia
Posted by cml on Monday, October 29, 2012 10:26 PM

Lawdog114 - i'm by no means an expert, but i thought oxygen bottles were yellow.  However, i've also seen them painted green, so, to be honest, i'm not sure.

The blue adds a nice contrast to the cockpit, which looks absolutely terrific.

I also like your trick with the gun barrels, i'll remember that for the future.

Lastly, thanks for posting this wip.  This kit has been on my wish list for a while, but i wanted to see what it was like first, so thanks for sharing.

I think i'll definitely invest in it for my next kit.

Chris

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, October 29, 2012 9:39 PM

Thanks guys for the compliments.  Jimmy, referemce the Sharpie.....I got mine at Hobby Lobby.  It came in a two pack.  Regarding the bleed under concerns, I always use a super fine paper, like 2000 grit, to polish up the seam when finished, which essentially sands off the Sharpie ink.  I also shoot a light coat of Alclad Grey Micro Primer before I start painting anyways, so this is not an issue.  

 "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 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Monday, October 29, 2012 8:39 PM

Man, that's a good lookin' cockpit Joe!Bow Down  Beautiful work!  I'll never get one to turn out like that, many congratulations to you!  Bravo.

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
1/48 Tamiya Spitfire MK. I (Work In Progress)....
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, October 29, 2012 8:16 PM

I love the Spitfire.  The Merlin versions, as far as I'm concerned, were the most beautiful aircraft ever built and I have a particular fondness for the MK I.  To me it was purest form of R.J. Mitchell's design coupled with the role it played in that pivotal part of world history.  Who knows what would have happened if Britain were unable to beat back the Luftwaffe in those dark days.  This all prompted me to embark on a MK I build with the phenomenal 1/48 Tamiya kit .  I procured an Eduard PE set, Ultracast seat and wheels.  I haven't decided on which squadron yet. 

  

I started with the cockpit.  I added some miscellaneous PE to the seat bulkhead assembly and then all interior sections were sprayed flat black.  I added the very nice PE dash.  I normally bypass these but this one is fairly detailed and colorful.  I mixed RAF interior green with the Tamiya recommended colors.  It looked too green so I added a dash more grey.  I then sprayed the interior.  The Ultracast seat was painted to simulate "bakelite", or whatever was used on early spitfires.  I dont know if bakelite is correct for MK I Spitfires but I like look of it, which was Tamiya flat red mixed with red brown.  I painted the O2 bottles light blue, primarily because I have no clue what color there were supposed to be and I wanted to add some more color. 

I opened up the gun ports holes in the wings and added .08 brass tubing to sumulate the Brownings.  I tried to stagger how far they stuck out by using the access panels on the top of the wing as a reference guide.  I then sprayed them flat black, drybrushed them with silver, then closed up the wings with Tenex.  You have to really look closely, especially on the inboard 303's, but you can see them.  I think it will add to the overall look.    

Well......here I am,.  A couple of hours work and the frame is together.  I still have work at the wing roots and need to add the stabilizers, but its spot glued at the leading and trailing edges.  So far, its a perfect fit.  Gotta love these Tamiya kits.  For those interested, I have a trick I use to check seams.  Once done sanding, just before fine grade sandpaper to smooth everything, I use a silver Sharpie along the panel lines which magnifies areas that need more attention.  Works everytime.   

Looks like I'm gonna have to decide on a squadron soon!  Stay tuned for more...

Joe

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

 

 

 

 

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