1/48 Tamiya Spifire MK. Vb (FINISHED)...
Hello, after finishing my Bf 109 G-6, I find myself firmly planted in European Theater mode. I wanted something quick and easy to tide me over until my eagerly anticipated Zveda Bf 109 F-2 arrives. So why not a Tamiya Spitfire? I decided to yank my MK. Vb from the stash, which is the edition with pilots and crew. Some time ago I "invested" in Victory Productions "Aces of tne Empire" Spitfire decals, with 40 Spit aces! Its only a matter of deciding which ace to model. After perusing the sheet, I'm down to Paddy Finucane and Eric Lock.
I started with the cockpit. I don't mind the Tamiya cockpit the way it is. In my opinion, all it really needs is a PE seat belt. Ufortunately I'm out of RAF belts and I had a Quickboost seat in the resin stash, so I used it. I think Ultracast does a better Sptifire seat but the QB version is acceptable. Anyways, after an XF-1 Flat Black preshade of all the parts, I used XF-71 Cockpit Green mixed with XF-19 Light Grey to come up with my own interpretation of RAF interior green. The seat was painted XF-64 Red Brown with a touch of XF-7 Flat Red to simulate the bakelite color of these seats. If you care to see how I paint my cockpits, see here:
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/156030.aspx
This will work too...
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/160714.aspx
I also like the Instrument panel Tamiya provides. Eventhough the gauges are blank. Its very 3 dimesional and drybrushes easily. Here I drybrushed the face, added some color to busy it up, After a gloss coat, wash, dullcoat, the dials got a drop of 5 minute epoxy to simulate glass.
Everything fits like a glove..
The Fuselage was sealed with Tenax and I test fitted the wings....The fit is excellent.
Thats where I left off. Stay tuned K....
Joe