Spitfire GB

But LOLOLOL srsly 1/72 scale fighters are for kids hahaha sorry theyre so small 

Idk how anyone can build 1/72nd. Im only 23 and I dont like staring at those small pieces. 1:48 tanks are hard enough at times. My opinion.

Noah T

I have a 1/72 Airfix Mk1a Spitfire that I'd like to join with.

I'm debating which color scheme to go with. I'm leaning towards a desert scheme but may just go with the std green/ brown. I'll put pics up on an edit soon.

This kit was thrown in a bag (loose parts) as a freebie when I bought a mixed lot years ago. No decals so I'll use my spares from old kits. I guess I could take this a bunch of different directions....

Youre in!

Youre weird.

So guys............ anyone else building??? Seems like Doogs has completed his and this threads stagnating =(

I'm still at it jester, it's just that I only have short blocks of time to get to the bench. I just finished masking the underside and will shoot the Ocean Gray this weekend. In addition, we don't have a computer at our home, by choice, and thus I don't get to the computer as often as most to consistantly post to this thread.

I do though have a question for the group that I hope provides some carifying discussion. I have noticed in my references that the props on spits all seem relatively clean and unchipped as opposed to many other aircraft. Photos I have of crash landed spits show some bent props and others that are snapped off. This leads me to wonder is this "clean" effect the result of construction material or maybe the quality of paint used on the props?

         Thanks, Joe

Im working on mine, should finish the construction this weekend. I have some meds for an infection in my finger that allows me to burn easier in the sun so more bench time for me!

Spitfires had metal props and also prop blades made of compressed laminated wood, that's what you will see snapped off.  The had metal reinforced leading edges and didn't show wear like a metal prop would.  Most Spitfire pictures show pretty clean blades, I don't usually weather mine.

Jester

So guys............ anyone else building??? Seems like Doogs has completed his and this threads stagnating =(

I'm still lurking, but new job + moving in six or so weeks + two kids + not too many updates to comment on has kind of led to me not posting on here much.

Hoping to dive in with another Spit...but outside of MAYBE the P-47N I've got waiting to go, I'm going to be out of the aircraft game until at least Thanksgiving since the bench will be packed away. Figure I'll kill the time building up armor kits. Won't need all the paints/weathering gear/airbrush stuff/etc to just build the things up.

jeaton01

Spitfires had metal props and also prop blades made of compressed laminated wood, that's what you will see snapped off.  The had metal reinforced leading edges and didn't show wear like a metal prop would.  Most Spitfire pictures show pretty clean blades, I don't usually weather mine.

Thank You John for the clarification.

Working on both mine right now. Was masking the canopies and then SNAP, the rear section of the Vb canopy broke in two. Anyone have an extra? otherwise I will be emailing tamiya this week.

Not being a Spitfire aficiando, whats the deal with the red markings on the gun/cannon ports and the yellow leadind edge on the wings?

Ive got a base coat of green and have put some camo on mine, hopefull today I'll get through the rest of the paint and construction.

I orderd the 70th ann Battle of Britain Decals as I didn't have any. I'll let y'all know how they look.

The red markings are actually doped patches of fabric to cover the holes for the guns.  Dating from 1940 through the end of the war it was used to keep dust/dirt out of the gun barrels because the squadrons mainly were operating from dirt/grass fields.  They were a rusty red color because that was the basic color of the treated fabric used for aircraft.

The yellow leading edge dates from 1942 when the RAF switched from the early roundels (equal widths yellow/blue/white/red) to the "low viz" roundels (thin yellow, thick blue, thin white, thick red).  The RAF actually changed the roundels and then a few months (2-3) later added the leading edge yellow stripe.  It was for recognition (look in your rear view and if you see yellow wings he's friendly, if not, BREAK!).  The yellow leading edge was part of the Day Fighter Scheme, a formal directive for RAF fighters operating over Northern Europe that used Dark Green & Ocean Grey upper surfaces, Medium Sea Grey lower surfaces, and Sky squadron codes.

Tim

I hear many comments re: 72nd and small pieces...I've got many friends who build only 48th, 32nd or even larger.  I'm always amazed at how many small pieces they have!  Doog's engine alone has more parts than some kits I've built.  Same with some cockpits in 32nd.  In the larger scales a viewer can "see" more at arm's length so (my opinion) it deserves more detail.  One can certainly buy a 72nd kit with the same parts as the larger ones, usually via aftermarket, but once done little can be seen even from an open cockpit.  Good for competitions or for someone who likes that, but not my cup of tea.

Tim

Jester

So guys............ anyone else building??? Seems like Doogs has completed his and this threads stagnating =(

I see a number of updates every day or so on builds.  Not stagnating at all...

Tim

Just to add to Tim's comment about the red patches over the gun ports - it also offered protection from the cold air.  I also remember reading somewhere that upon return from a sortie, the ground crew could tell right away if the aircraft required re-arming as the patches would of been blown through from gunfire.  At the same time, if any were still intact while others not, this would indicate gun jam(s). 

regards

Jack

I've also read, and it's an unproven theory, the presence of the patches prior to the sortie indicated the guns were loaded so therefore stay clear of the front, whereas the holes told them it was safe to be around the plane.

Tim

Thanks for the info on the patches and lead edges.

I'm willing to bet that they treated all guns as if they are loaded and chambered.

 I asked because I've seen pics/paintings of the early Spitfires without either. I guess the red fabric could completly be blown off? I'll darken some red and try to mask off the ports.

And as far as ID goes, I'm supposing that is why the UK put the edge on the outboard half of the edge as opposed to the Japanese whom used the marking for the inboard half (assuming pacific Spitfires used the same id stripe). I wonder whom used the marking first?

I'd have to check, but I don't believe Pacific Spitfires used the yellow leading edge ID marking at all.  That marking was for the Northern European Theatre.  Early Spitfire deliveries to the Far East were to Australia in 1943 and generally in the Desert Scheme.  Most were repainted from Dark Earth & Middlestone to Dark Earth and Foliage Green (a better shade of green for that part of the world compared to RAF Dark Green used in Europe).  Later Spitfires delivered in Dark Green/Ocean Grey/Medium Sea Grey were repainted before distribution to a squadron to either Dark Green/Dark Earth/Medium Sea Grey (China-India-Burma theatre) or Foliage Green overall (Australia).

Instead of yellow for an ID marking, the RAF used the white ID bands on the wings and tail.  The RAAF used the white tail and white leading edge.

Regarding patches or no patches -- I've read the patches were reliably used with the .303 gun ports until after hostilities when the squadrons returned to concrete runways.  Some later Spitfires (with the "e" wing") didn't have the .303 caliber guns, so if the wing had the ports the patches were painted the same as the basic camo.  Eventually the "e" wings were not built with .303 capability (as in no holes in the leading edges for the guns).  The "e" wing still had the cannon and .50 caliber guns, but those used a different means of protection.  So check your photo/painting.  If it didn't have patches, it's probably of a later Spitfire that didn't have the .303 guns.

Tim

Jester

Youre weird.

 

So guys............ anyone else building??? Seems like Doogs has completed his and this threads stagnating =(

I'm still in summer mode (yardwork + softball playoffs), despite the temps over the past few days. You can start to feel fall now, only 46 F here overnight Saturday. Anyway, I'm picking away at some smaller items & lurking. I'm hoping to get a Seafire in here at some point.

OK, The Ocean Gray is on, now for the masking. I'm going to try and cut out the mask from the scale drawing provided with the kit, stitch it together and tape it on. Here is a pic of my progress thus far.

                                                 Joe

JOE RIX

OK, The Ocean Gray is on, now for the masking. I'm going to try and cut out the mask from the scale drawing provided with the kit, stitch it together and tape it on. Here is a pic of my progress thus far.

                                                 Joe

Very nice, I cant want to see the end result!

VanceCrozier

 

I'm still in summer mode (yardwork + softball playoffs), despite the temps over the past few days. You can start to feel fall now, only 46 F here overnight Saturday. Anyway, I'm picking away at some smaller items & lurking. I'm hoping to get a Seafire in here at some point.

Nah youre not weird mate, Im just a joker. Love seeing all sorts here so plse dont take my "jest" to heart

Got my resin cannon covers and after market decal all the way from Barracuda yesterday, great service. Thanks heaps Roy

Hi guys... posted this below link in the general area as some might help that aren't actually building a Spitfire atm.

Can anyone here plse??

/forums/t/141186.aspx

^ Yip thanks.

So far.......

Decals came in yesterday. I scanned them. Look pretty good to me...

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h327/Hellcat171/XtraDecalBattleofBritain70thAnnvRAF-a.jpg

Noah T

Decals came in yesterday. I scanned them. Look pretty good to me...

WOW - does that sheet supply all of those options?!?!?! I want to build up one of the spitfires with the single black wing at some point, a very unique look.

Vance: yup those pics are what you get. Good buy if the decals work right.

Jester: Great looking work.

i think i need to jump in and build my tam 48scale Mk.Vb trop. going to hunt down some decals at my hobby shop today. 

or....maybe my hase 48scale Mk.IXc. 

randypandy831

i think i need to jump in and build my tam 48scale Mk.Vb trop. going to hunt down some decals at my hobby shop today. 

or....maybe my hase 48scale Mk.IXc. 

More than welcome, let me know which one. Sorry for not being a very active host, just have my mind on other things lately.