Spitfire GB

Hmm thats cool, each to their own I guess. For me bigger the better. I love the sheer detail in big kits and though I cuss sometimes I still love it (the building that is dudes..not the swearing)

Oh I have built an ME-109G. I needed something smallish on my desk instead of a honking big buggar, was fun too.

Ill just whack this up here quickly. Spitfire food then maybe?  (picture maybe naff as I took with LG mobile phone)

Well, she's starting to look like a Spit at least.  Still some prep to go.

lewbud

 

Jester:

 

 

Greenshirt:

Since I build Spitfires regularly I thought I'd put another one on the GB. 

 

 

 

Why do you build Spits "regularly' ???  

 

The one Im trying to get together is very taxing, though I enjoy it immensely I srsly wouldn't want to do this all the time!  I find the part of your comment a bit vexing... sorry for my dullness GS, just wanting to know what ya mean

 

 

Jester,

In 1/72 scale, which Green Shirt and I build, the Spit is a fairly simple aircraft to build.  I got to play with the Tamiya 1/32 Spit a couple of years ago when it first came out.  While it is a gorgeous kit, I wouldn't want to build more than one.  That being said once you know the pitfalls of any kit, the next one is always easier.  Try a Spit in a smaller scale and you'll see what  I mean.

While I don't build 1/72, I'd say the same's true with 1/48. The fact is, that Tamiya Spit is an epic kit. A fantastic kit, but epic, and very taxing in that you really have to pay attention to what you're doing. 

Obviously it doesn't apply across all kits, but I tend to think the amount of effort that goes into a build is about proportional to the scale.

Since there's so much 1/72 love here, let's say that's the baseline - 1X effort.

So, 1/144 would be 0.5X...about half as much effort to build.

1/48 - 2X

1/32 - 3X

Yeah, there's going to be a difference between kits (look at the Monogram vs. Tamiya P-47 kits...), but in general, that's kind of how I look at it. And I love me some 1/32, but I do have to take a break from them every so often to build something simpler.

Jester

Greenshirt:

Since I build Spitfires regularly I thought I'd put another one on the GB. 

 

 

Why do you build Spits "regularly' ???  

 

The one Im trying to get together is very taxing, though I enjoy it immensely I srsly wouldn't want to do this all the time!  I find the part of your comment a bit vexing... sorry for my dullness GS, just wanting to know what ya mean

Jester,

In 1/72 scale, which Green Shirt and I build, the Spit is a fairly simple aircraft to build.  I got to play with the Tamiya 1/32 Spit a couple of years ago when it first came out.  While it is a gorgeous kit, I wouldn't want to build more than one.  That being said once you know the pitfalls of any kit, the next one is always easier.  Try a Spit in a smaller scale and you'll see what  I mean.

Started construction on the Airfix classic Mk.I.  Having so much fun with it, I dug out my Airfix Mk.IX.  I was going to do it in Skalski's colors, but since Theun's did that a/c I'll be doing mine as Johnnie Johnson's.  Digging out the Airfix Mk. IX, led me to my Hasegawa Mk. IX which I'll be doing as clipped wing a/c from 421 Sqn.  In finding the Hasegawa kit, I found my Italeri Mk.Vb which I'll be doing as an a/c from 249 Sqn based at Takali (Malta) 1942.  I wonder why I don't finish group builds sometimes.  Anyways, here's some pics of the Mk.I under construction.

Greenshirt

Since I build Spitfires regularly I thought I'd put another one on the GB. 

Why do you build Spits "regularly' ???  

The one Im trying to get together is very taxing, though I enjoy it immensely I srsly wouldn't want to do this all the time!  I find the part of your comment a bit vexing... sorry for my dullness GS, just wanting to know what ya mean

Since I build Spitfires regularly I thought I'd put another one on the GB.  This time it's the Czech Master Resin Seafire FR.47.  Kit number 5099.  It's all resin with some PE and a vac canopy.  First, the parts:

I cleaned up the fuselage and cockpit.  There is very minimal flash that a very light sanding removes.  The fuselage has some good detail for this scale on both port and starboard sides:

Since the cockpits of late Seafires were all black, and black is just too dark in this scale, I mixed Tamiya black with Acryl RLM66 (no mixing issues!) until I got a very dark gray.  Photos online seem to show the black cockpit as more a dark gray so this looked better.  Forward and aft of the cockpit I painted the fuselage sides Tamiya Sky.  Tamiya's Sky is too green and too bright for RAF Sky, to my eye and in this scale.  However it's not too bad for the interior green that Supermarine used on the Spitfire/Seafire line during production.  I've only recently shifted to this color from Tamiya Interior Green (XF71) because XF71 is very dark by comparison. 

I also dry brushed with some pastels to add a bit of depth.  It doesn't really show in the photo, unfortunately.  The rest of the cockpit is a combination of resin and PE.  I typically don't open my cockpits up, but this kit has the door already removed and two vac canopies, so I'll give it a go.  The IP is 3 layers of prepainted PE on a resin bulkhead.  :

Next up is to try to make the cockpit fit into the fuselage.  I've built a few other CMR Spitfires, and the cockpits always seem to be a bit too wide for the fuselage.  The problem is more at the upper end, not the lower. 

Tim

Lol hmm true I guess.  My life's been interesting enough thanks, I dont wish for anymore bullets fired at me tbh, not nice at all.

First coat of RAF Sea Grey2. Lovin the new air-brush, shows a quite a bit of detail in the rivets etc..

This is why Im going to decal my Spit in his numbers. Fully agree there GreenShirt, though very unfortunate and kinda sad tbh.

Im wondering even today there must be men who have the lions heart for fight and fighting (not street brawling lol) I mean battle and now can go no where or have to funnel their "energy" into other things.. Seems he was a warrior without a battle.

Along with Ralph "Kidd" Hofer.  A real lone wolf.  A trait that eventually got him killed.

I'd toss Don Gentile into that category as well. 

It's like any "intense/public" profession. There are always a few who are very good at "x", but have a hard time dealing with anything else. (Billy Bishop had some issues after WW1 iirc) More than a few pro athletes fall into the same category as well.

Thanks Vance. Im going to find out more about this guy, seems he had a hard up bringing too. Its sort of sad really, cant explain it.. just seems it =(

From anything I've sen/read over the years, it seems Beurling was a ridiculously talented problem child, personality-wise at the very least. One recent program on History Channel dealt with the defense of Malta & glossed it over as "he knew he was better than everyone else", and left it at that.

Thanks there Jgerstic. Bit of a shame really, he was a fantastic pilot from what I can find out about him.. really cant believe they let him go so early in 1944!!!    Was he really that much of a rebel!?

It is true, "Buzz" Beurling had a knack for shooting down aircraft, but he was constantly at odds with his superiors.  He was a loner both on the ground and in the air and was willing to take risks to get that next kill, even if it jeopordized the others in his flight.  Officer promotion and a desk job didn't settle him down, so both the RAF and RCAF had enough of him and they let him go.  Am sure the USAAF was aware of his reputation and stayed clear of him.

regards,

Jack

I know. But Im building the IX and have ordered the decals for this of his. If I was building a mark V would still be the same :)

Just finished reading up a bit on him, wondering why he was taken out of the air force in April 1944 to be honest............ strange, he certainly wanted to fight as he wanted to join the USAAF after that but wasnt let in..hmm?

Actually most of Beurling's kills were in a mark V while stationed at Malta, while only two aircraft were downed flying the mark IX.  Here's a link to his killboard.

regards,

Jack

Thanks to Doogs Ive ordered a few parts from Barracuda.com

Gonna go with the decals from Flight Lieutenant George “Buzz” Beur's Spit in early '44. He was a real ball buster in a Mark 9 it seems.

Also getting the more rounded type cannon covers as well. Hopefully wont take too long getting here as Im nearly up to the camo stage on my Spitfire >_<

Spitfire Mk. IXc, Serial Number MH883. 412 Squadron RCAF, 126 Wing, 2nd TAF. Flown by Flight Lieutenant George “Buzz” Beurling. Based at Biggin Hill, Bromley, England. January, 1944. George “Buzz” Beurling was the highest scoring Canadian Ace in WWII. He finished the war with 31 kills and 1 probable. 27 of his kills were achieved when he was flying in defense of Malta. MH883 was one of two personal aircraft he flew during the winter of 43-44. Standard Camouflage of Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey under surfaces. Sky spinner and fuselage band. Note 5 slot wheels, early style elevators, small carb intake.

Ladies loved him it seemed hahah

WOW thats really good for 1/72

I probably couldn't see half the tiny parts let alone glue them together. Skills

Hi all.

My Airfix 1/72 mk9 in colours of Stanislav Skaski in Tunisia.

Paints were Humbrol and weathering with pastels.

Decals were not good, silvered allot - even with gloss coat and setting solution.Had to eventually brush gloss under the edges to fix it.The centre red is also not correct.

It was a fun little build however

Theuns

A couple of wee niggles about the kit so far, plse dont get me wrong though, its a great build, the parts are so well made to fit together is amazing... BUT

whats with having no detailed armament and ammo!! Argh cant believe this, such a detailed model and the .303 Browning's and 20mm cannon are external view only

One more thing is this kit basically being a static display model, WHY oh why did Tamiya ask us to cut off the tail rudder cable!!??  I know its to move the rudder back and forth but meh.. Im going to make another one. Will check ahead in the instructions in future

jeaton01

 

Don't sand off those lines, they represent weld seams.

-Doogs: Yeah for sure man, this is what Im hoping it will do too >_<  ...  might test it tonight actually. Thanks

The latest IPMS USA Journal has an article about how to transport models.  Do you get the Journal?  If not let me know and we can work something out. 

Satch - Good Show and congrats!!

Jester- I am still building very very slowly. I use the Tamiya kits, yet never tried highlighting panel lines with them. I prefer an oil or sludge wash for that myself. In fact I just finished weathering the tires on my Spit with the Tamiya sand color. Your doing some excellent work ther and i'm certainly enjoying your sharing.

                                                                                     Joe 

jester - Looking good! One thing about the Tamiya weathering set - I've never used it so I can't say for certain - but be sure to test how it goes down (or more importantly, comes off) over paint. 

satch - Thanks! I'm increasingly leaning toward trying to bring a kit or two to the Austin show. The wife seems to be supportive enough of it. The Spit and maybe the 109. Need to figure out how to transport them....

Once again I have a knack for picking the right categories.  My Spit Mk IX took 1st in Aircraft at the San Antonio Hobbytown USA Quarterly contest.  My F6F-3N took a second.  The other guy took third.

Doogs, that Spit is AWESOME!  You have got to bring it to the Austin show next month.  Can't wait to see it in person.

Satch