Spitfire GB

Thanks, Jack, I ordered them up right away.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Hannants shows they have 5+ of the Techmod brand in stock.

regards,

Jack

My 18" codes and black serial decals (Fantasy Printshop) have come in for the Academy XIV, I have the insignia, now all I need is stencil data and I can completely avoid the disastrious Academy decals. Does anyone have recommendations for 1:48 Spitfire Mk XIV stencil data? I thought I located some by TechMod but I can't find them now...

M/TB379

Greetings,

Any chance I could still get in on this build? I'm about to start the Tamiya Mk 1. I know I'm 3 months tardy to the party, so I'll understand if it's too late.

Ah! Gotchga! Looks like ES 48-228? Must see if I can rustle up that one, it's a most eye-catching yet simple scheme. Is the kit Hasegawa, ICM or Occidental? I'm building the Has Vb right now and the wing joint was less than inspiring...

M/TB379

Hey, thanks guys!

Thunderbolt - they're eagle strike decals...if you go to the top of the page, you can see them beneath the spit in WIP pics I posted.

Well done! Looks like a well used bird! And I think you're right about the pointy wing tips. I had never seen (or at least noticed) them until this thread.

Dupes -- that's a sweet job! I love that desert scheme! AM markings, or did they come with thekit?

Cheers, M/TB379

Very nice! I'll post both of your pics on the first page by the end of the week.

Wrapped up my 1/48 IXc a couple of days ago, got a single shot for you:

Still transitioning from my office down to my very-soon-to-be-finished basement studio, so no photobooth for me right now. Will try to get some more pics up once I'm "moved in"!

Casper - great looking Spit!

Is it just me, or do the pointy-winged variants (I never remember what wing type that is) look strange?

Excellent build, casper! I like the colors.

Casper, that is one stupendous piece of work! Green with envy! I looked at this kit at the LHS yesterday, Tamiya seem to have four Spits in this scale now, and they range here from $140 to $196, so for the moment I'll be drooling from afar!

I picked up the canopy masks for both my projects yesterday, so expect some action on the Academy Mk XIV in the not too distant future...

Mike/TB379

That is one fine looking Spitfire Casper.

Finished the Spit. Great kit, a real pleasure to build. The colours came out a little lighter than I expected but some of the weathering I have done will help with this. Also it must be said, despite the excellent engineering from Tamiya on this kit, the decals leave a lot to be desired! The roundels were simply awful, too thick and almost impossible to bed down. I used so much Microsol to get these puppies to sit down. Way too thick, the under-wing roundels look not great.

Anyway, here are some pics.

Cheers

That looks really nice!

Hmmmm...works a bit better if I actually show the pics, eh?

Sorry for the cluttered backdrop. Finishing my basement to move the whole production facility down there, and my photo booth isn't set up currently. I'll get it out when it's time for finished pics for sure!

Hey fellas - quick status update. This is the Hasegawa 1/48 Mk.IXc in 1/48th. Started in on Saturday afternoon, had the construction done by the end of the day Sunday. Bottom color (PRU blue) sprayed on Monday, then masked and sprayed both the upper color (Medium Gray), and a lightened version in the centers of the upper panels on Tuesday night. Hit it with a coat of Future this morning before work so that could dry...starting in on the decaling tonight!

You can see the markings I'm using at the bottom of the Eagle Strike sheet in the pics.

Hi,

    This is the paint suggested in the Tamiya instructions, TS-46. As I didn't want to use a rattlecan I looked for a pot version. A couple of forums I found suggested the FS 33531 and the H72. It also is a little darker in real life. My iPhone camera is a little too good and compensates a bit too well. When the weathering and decals are done I'll see how it looks.

Cheers

Mike - you are welcome for the links.

Casper - I must admit I too did a double take at the light base coat you did.  I looked up the FS number you supplied and it is actually the Israeli Air Force  version for their middlestone.
Personally I'd be leery of relying on box art as a colour sample.   The British Air Ministry was very strict about colours and aircraft were always painted at the factory before delivery  (exception would be the Malta blue/grey schemes).  By the time these Spitfires were gifted to the Italians, they certainly would be faded and weathered from use.

Very obscure subject you have chosen, but there are b/w photos and some text to be found on the net - although I couldn't find anything about the Mk VIII.  I'm just say'n, at the end of the day it is your model.

regards,
Jack

Looking VERY good, Casper!

TB379

Last shot for the day. I've got to gloss up the underneath and let it cure for decaling in a couple of days. The engine fits beautifully, the prop is just resting there for show. I forgot to insert the poly-cap before I sealed it up. Oops...! I'll just have to glue it on. Not like it's gonna be spinning or anything.

Cheers

Okay, a most interesting scheme then! Maybe they toned down the topside colours for the high altitude jobs? There were so many variations!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

Casper -- I well know the fiddle involved in soft-masking, so well done. Isn't the lighter camo shade a bit pale? It's not Middle Stone, but a more ivory or clay shade, which I've seen used but on Spits in US service. Will those be the markings???

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Hi Mike, I'm actually doing an Italian stationed squadron in the British service. I had a look at the box art at my local LHS when I bought the paint and I matched it to FS 33531 which apparently is the right shade. The Tamiya colour was a little darker than I wanted. This matches the box art more closely and the panel lines underneath show through it very nicely.

Besides I don't think any Spit pilots will showing up to my digs to dispute the shade anytime soon!

Cheers

Jack -- thanks for those links, I think a nightfighter Vb is probably on the agenda as well.

Casper -- I well know the fiddle involved in soft-masking, so well done. Isn't the lighter camo shade a bit pale? It's not Middle Stone, but a more ivory or clay shade, whcih I've seen used but on Spits in US service. Will those be the markings???

Cheers, Mike/TB379

After a bit of mucking about rolling pieces of blu-tak and cutting out wobbly pieces of paper;

Time to spray some Mr.Colour H72 instead of the suggested Tamiya XF-52;

After a little bit of drying time the masks peeled away. Voila!

A little touch up in some areas needed but otherwise ok result.

Cheers

The Spitfire was also employed in the night fighter role earlier in the war.  There was some initial success in August 1940.   Couple entries on the net:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_operational_history#Spitfire_night_fighter

http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/night-fighting-spitfires.html

regards,

Jack

Sweet progress, Casper! Can't wait to crack on with mine! I got word this morning the mask sets have come in, so I'll be picking them up on Friday.

SR -- there was a black Spit, a Mk. IX flown by an Israeli ace in 1948, it's preserved in the IAF museum. Yes, I have the ICM kit and markings and it'll be joining my collection one fine day!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

I really like the idea of a black Spitfire... Wonder if they ever had one.

I found the Tamiya paint mix for the underside blue to be very good. I especially like how the darker alumium of the Alclad helps provide some pre-shading detail

Same with the top, the pre-shading adds a depth to the coat. I used Mr.Colour H313 Israeli Yellow instead of the suggested Tamiya rattlecan.

Tonight I'll do the darker colour with a hint of feathering.

Cheers