Spitfire GB

Stumpjumper70

Casper - very nice indeed. The oil wash really boosts the detail. Am in agreement with you re keeping the grime down. I prefer a fairly clean cockpit so that all the detail stands out as much as possible.

What does IP mean, by the way? Keep seeing it on various forums.

Keep up the good work!

Cheers

Steve

Instrument panel

My 1/72 Spity Mk 2a is now completed.

All humbrol enamels masked and airbrished on sealed with Tamiya clear Acrylics and matt base.

The exhaust and gun stains are pastels drybrushed on, the oilspill is paint.

Just need to cut the antenna off closer to the mast, saw it only in the pic now.

Decals were very nice and allot of stencling provided aswell.

Plane is of 118 Sqn ,A-flight RAF May 1941.

Theuns

Theuns - nice job.  The underside photo is my favourite.  Interesting oil pattern - from a photo or your creativeness?

regards,

Jack

Hey Jack, thanx. Yes I have to agree that in this case the underside looks better than the top side LOL!

As for the oil, I have worked on enough oil stained aircraft to have a basic idea of what it might look like and how the oil tends to "flow" arround things like scoops and pannels. But yes a whole heap of "artistic lisence" was used. If it had really blown a front crankcase oil seal the entire bottom of the fuselarge would most likely be soaked and if the driver didn't get her down fast a ceased up Merlin to!

I have a pic of a dirty spitty that I will post for you lads to see.

Theuns

I agree, that weathering is just astounding! I almost want to say the oil streak is a little overdone, but hey you know more about it than me so if it looks right to you I call it good!

Great work!

I am absolutely impressed with Tamiya's engineering on this kit. Despite the fact I've been working on an ancient Airfix mold for the past 3 months!

I swear I could put half of this kit together without using a drop of glue the parts fit that snugly. having said that though I had a minor issue with the sidewall resin replacement that did not quite meet where it should have, skewing the cockpit slightly. Hence the over clamping but if it is a perfect fit then the wings slide in without needing to use any putty at all.

Cockpit pics to follow after I have removed the clamps.

I've also mixed Tamiya's recommendation for the underside colour. 1 part XF-8 with 3 parts XF-2 flat white.

I think I've matched it pretty well.

Cheers

Just as a matter of interest, check out this full size Spit Mk VB

It does seem to leak a tad more oil than looks to be "normal" .........even for a British engine LOL!

Theuns

Casper -- that blue looks spot-on! I've been researching for a decent mixing ratio for RAF Mediterranean Blue lately, but that one looks both very close and an easy mix. Must pick up some XF-8 asap...

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Yeah, Mike, it look's almost exactly the shade of the drop tank on the photos of the finished model on the side of the box. I've made a mix that will let me paint the underside all in one so I only need to mix one lot of the colour thus ensuring the exact same shade for the whole plane.

Cheers

Casper -- I'm doing a Hasegawa -Vb in North Africa markings and the way the radiator is engineered you need to paint the inside of it before assembly -- GRRR, that means mixing the underside blue twice. Nevertheless, it should be a straightforward job and if there's any variation in tone some dust on the underside will disguise it... I might pick up the XF-8 tomorrow and give it a shot. There's been no rush as I'm waiting on a mask set for the canopy, same as the Mk XIV I'm doing for this GB. The QB prop for that one came in a while back but without the masks I can't really move forward.

M/TB379

I really need to get a another spitfire model to build. Great work everyone!

I cannot believe the engineering on this Tamiya Mk.VIII Spit!

THERE ARE NO GAPS, PEOPLE!!!!!!!

I test fitted the fuselage onto completed wing assembly. It fits exactly with NO GAPS!

.....BRAIN ESSPLOD.....

Cheers

PS. Had to get that off my chest!

Casper -- it can be pretty amazing sometimes when a kit doesn't fight you! I hope to build one of these amazing birds one day too.

I picked up the XF-8 today and am delighted with the result of the mixing ratio suggested. I airbrushed landing gear struts and bay doors, wheels hubs and interior of the radiator scoop today, and can now proceed with assembling my Has -Vb. Thanks for the info, this mixture had me stalled for ages!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Glad I could help Mike. My next kit BTW is the 1995 Tamiya 1/32 F4-D which is also meant to be pretty state of the art for it's time. Lot's of exciting times in the mancave coming up!

Cheers

Major wow -- you're bringing the F-4D by Rhinos III of course...? I remember the reviews at the time being very praiseworthy and would be most interested to see it go together!

Just getting the rad into that Spit and cleaning up the wing, I might have her together soon. Come on those masks, then I can whack the Mk XIV into colour. That reminds me, I need to order up RAF codes and serials too, I'll be painting the invasion stripes and I have the excellent roundel set from Eagle Strike, so as soon as the masks come in I can get that project back on the bench.

Cheers, M/TB379

Thunderbolt379

Major wow -- you're bringing the F-4D by Rhinos III of course...? I remember the reviews at the time being very praiseworthy and would be most interested to see it go together!

Just getting the rad into that Spit and cleaning up the wing, I might have her together soon. Come on those masks, then I can whack the Mk XIV into colour. That reminds me, I need to order up RAF codes and serials too, I'll be painting the invasion stripes and I have the excellent roundel set from Eagle Strike, so as soon as the masks come in I can get that project back on the bench.

Cheers, M/TB379

Sooooo.....I was looking at the instructions and aside from doing the exhaust ports, ailerons, landing gear and panels, the plane is pretty much put together. The engine is a whole separate assembly and gets fitted on the front. I am also leaving it totally displayed so won't be using the engine panels. So I got to thinking, the fit on this Tamiya kit is so good I could paint the plane now. This will allow me to paint the underside, landing struts and panels and exhausts inside and out in one go with the exact same shade of the Sky blue. Just have to make sure I get every part and everything is painted.

Cheers

I envy that Tamiya fit, Casper! To put that in perspective, I mated the wing to the Has -Vb and the fit was, well, not what I've come to expect from Hasegawa. I just got through painting thinned putty into the wingroots and there'll be a distinct step as there was no way the top surface of the wing was going to line up. I would have to say this is surprising, the Academy XIV went together with less drama and has zip wing gaps and no filler. I look forward to your progress -- are you using Tamiya for the topside colors too? I've heard RAF Middle Stone is better simulated by mixing XF-59 and XF-60 1:1. I'm sure I remember a mix of XF-52 and something for a better RAF Dark Earth, but can't remember what!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

I took a couple of shots to show the no gap! The top;

So there is no gap here, the black line is a bleed of the black primer I used under the Alclad aluminum

And a shot of the finished cockpit;

Cheers

I think "stunning" is the word I'm looking for!

M/TB379

Ok, so the fuselage and the wings are complete. Also canopies masked and attached. Beautiful fit all round;

Time to work on the engine.

Love those Barracuda cast rocker covers. You can clearly see the Rolls Royce stamp on them.

Cheers

Completed work on the engine. Now I have to decide if I want to show the prop with or without its red cowling??

Cheers

Dang nice work! I picked up another spit yesterday, hopefully I'll start work on it soon.

Hey guys - finally cracked into my Spit. Doing a 1/48th Hasegawa Mk.IXc with markings from an Eagle Strike US Spitfires sheet, found here:

http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/decals/es/es48228.htm

Doing the 4th option - medium gray over PRU blue. Should be a bit different. Flying through the build (it's really rainy here this weekend), will upload pics when I get a chance!

I decided to do an Alclad aluminum undercoat. That way I can have some slight scuffing show through the top colours, using some tape etc. to scuff the paint as it dries on the aluminum surface. I don't want too much though as I want this Spit to look fairly newish.

So black prime, I love the look of a black Spit!

and Alclad, I also love the look of a NMF Spit!!!

Cheers

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

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

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

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

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

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