Spitfire GB

Popping in to bookmark this thread - any end date decided yet? If it turns out that it's long enough, I'm SURE I could bang out something Spitfireish.

Will check back!

 I would like to get in on this GB. I just recently picked up a 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire MkVb during a visit to the Great Models warehouse. I have some AM stuff on order and looking for a couple of more parts. I will follow up with more details later.

                                        Thanks, Joe

No end date has been decided yet. Im going to be very flexible with it as I can never keep to a schedual for building myself. Lets do a rough estimate of 1 year from the beginning of this month.

Alright, so the results of my what-to-build-next poll are in, and I'm officially throwing this thing into the ring:

Wanted to press a bit further along with the Pup, and I need to order a thing or two for the Spit, but I should be starting soon! Looking ridiculously forward to this one!

Roster updated, cant wait to see some of these done!

Soooo I ended up buying another Spitfire today. I may try to do all 3 at once that I have. If i finish my stug and zero with time to spare I will try to get them all done.

 Just to elaborate. First, Thanks for having me on board for this GB. I'm currently in the Bomber Stash GB but that seems to have become inactive and I,ve really wanted to get involved with a good GB. In all honesty the Spitfire was not even on my radar to be built for quite some time yet, this GB got me inspired. Also, I am not much of a Spitfire officinado and don't have a lot a reference on them so I look forward to learning a lot from you all. I,ve recieved the true details wheel set and have the Eduard mask and PE set, ultracast seat and quickboost exhaust enroute. This will be my first kit using PE and resin so I'm pretty stoked. I'll get some photos going as soon as all the parts and peices are assembled. So, until then some parts washing and test fitting will be the order of the day. I am looking forward to everyones builds and to sharing some sound advice.

                                     Joe

If the GB badge is not yet decided, check out my new avatar.  Maybe one of you Photoshop wizards can make it a badge?

JOE RIX

 Just to elaborate. First, Thanks for having me on board for this GB. I'm currently in the Bomber Stash GB but that seems to have become inactive and I,ve really wanted to get involved with a good GB. In all honesty the Spitfire was not even on my radar to be built for quite some time yet, this GB got me inspired. Also, I am not much of a Spitfire officinado and don't have a lot a reference on them so I look forward to learning a lot from you all. I,ve recieved the true details wheel set and have the Eduard mask and PE set, ultracast seat and quickboost exhaust enroute. This will be my first kit using PE and resin so I'm pretty stoked. I'll get some photos going as soon as all the parts and peices are assembled. So, until then some parts washing and test fitting will be the order of the day. I am looking forward to everyones builds and to sharing some sound advice.

                                     Joe

Your welcome Joe. I gotta learn how to use that AM stuff. But Im happy with just finishing a kit right now. I cant wait to see yours!

So...I figured the Tamiya Spit is pricey enough that I may as well go nuts with AM and absolutely blow it out of the water. This thing is going to be by far most most ambitious build pretty much ever, and I want it to count.

Outside of some Eduard PE and masks, here are some goodies that I've got on the way:

Barracudacals seat w/ leather backpad:

Barracudacals Merlin 60 Rocker Covers

Barracudacals 4-slot wheels

Master Hispano 20mm cannons

Scale Aircraft Conversions landing gear (not a fan of the kit's gear design)

Looking forward to getting this build off the ground once the Pup's a bit further along!

 Very Sweet Doogs. I am definitely looking forward to your epic Spit. And I thought I was going a bit over the top with the AM parts. Hmm, white metal landing gear maybe.....

JOE RIX

 Very Sweet Doogs. I am definitely looking forward to your epic Spit. And I thought I was going a bit over the top with the AM parts. Hmm, white metal landing gear maybe.....

Yeah, the Spit's struts are actually composed of halves...and there's a metal strengthening rod that gets placed between them. But I REALLY don't feel like dealing with seams on friggin' gear struts, and metal gear should provide all the strength I need...

Dang, thats a lot of stuff. Im sure it will look extremely well in that scale though, cant wait to see it done!

DoogsATX

 

Yep, I got myself one of these as well. I'd like to join this GB if I may? I always buys heaps of AM for these 1/32 kits but this one I want to do OOB. It looks so good inside!

Cheers

Psycho, with all these energized builders of Spits I'm half tempted to enter a Tammy Mk.1 from my personal BoB builds stash, any way I can?

Sure can!

 Starting to get off the ground and thought I'd share what I'm up to. I regret that I don't have a great camera  (Kodak Easy Share) for photos especially close ups , but I will do the best that I can.

 All the AM stuff has arrived except for the Quickboost exhaust. I am going to build the Spit of Sgt. Jack Evans, No. 71 Eagle Squadron. That is the top plane on the the decal sheet. I couldn't resist the unique skull on the front of this aircraft. I have never used Lifelike decals before but they appear to be very ecellent quality and extensive plus had good reviews. It appears that I am going to have to pick up a Mk. Vb Trop in order to build the second aircraft o the sheet as the complete set is supllied for that one as well. Bummer.

 Initial test fitting is indicating that I am going to enjoy this Tamiya kit very much.

Joe - I'll be following your Vb build closely...got this one in the stash. I remember building the Vb Trop as a kid and loving the kit - should be a good one!

Hopefully I'll be starting in on the VIII soon. Both my current builds are major time sinks, though!

Hey guys, hope things are going well. Works been cutting into my hobby time. I have both cockpits of the Tamiya kits almost complete, debating if Im going to wait till the weekend to paint since its a 3 day weekend hopefully.

I've been struggling myself. Just started to paint. I'm doing an IL-2 concurrently, and both are going slow. Hopefully will post a few pics soon.

Rob

Here are some WIP pics. Finished the camo scheme, next is to apply gloss coat.

Rob

maxfax

Here are some WIP pics. Finished the camo scheme, next is to apply gloss coat.

Rob

I like a lot! What paint did you use? I might be using a different brand if I cant find the right colors for Tamiya around here.

Did you have a template for the cammo?  British cammo was very specific.  I used some vinyl masks from the guys who make Gator Glue on a P-40 in a Brit scheme.  I have to get them now for the spits.  

The finish and colors of yours look stunning.  Dk Grn, Extr Dk Sea Gr I take it?

Very nice.

My spits are both cockpit complete and fuselage joined.  Next is filling and sanding then the wings.  

Satch

Rob - that Spit's looking fantastic! 

Geez, I really need to get mine kicked off!

ww2psycho

 

 

I like a lot! What paint did you use? I might be using a different brand if I cant find the right colors for Tamiya around here.

Just an FYI that Tamiya's RAF-matched colors are higher in the XF range (Ocean Gray and Dark Green II I believe).

Personally I'll be using Gunze Mr. Color on my Spit, but Model Master, Vallejo, White Ensign and I believe Lifecolor all make a solid RAF color range. I'm going to assume Humbrol as well, but I've never used the stuff.

Thanks, guys! I'm having better luck on this one than the IL-2 I'm doing. The colours are as Doogs pointed out. As for the camo, I just did a rough estimate using the blue tack material to deliniate the camo shape- it is not as accuarate as it is suppose to be, but I simply had neither the patience or drive to do so- but the camo is where is should be, not just following the exact shape.  I will use a lighter shade of the dark green II to create some post shading of the panel lines, then gloss it in a day or two. I'd like to try the different paints that Doogs will use, but the two hobby shops in town only carry Tamiya, Testors, and some humbrol colours.

Rob

Really really nice Rob! Especially the camo. I used the silly putty method on my Typhoon I just completed and I liked the results so I plan on using it on my Spit. I used MM enamels and I am pleased with their color register thus I will be using them again. Not a whole lot of progress on my part just baby steps.

satch_ip

Did you have a template for the cammo?  British cammo was very specific.  I used some vinyl masks from the guys who make Gator Glue on a P-40 in a Brit scheme.

Satch

I read in another post (I think) that they had two camo templates, basically reverse color images of each other.

Steady progress.  Major construction is completed, primed and the yellow leading edges and sky band is painted; just waiting for them to cure fully so I can mask them off and begin the camouflage.

I decided the subject will be MA585, KH-B, 403 Squadron, 1943.  George Beurling.  References indicate this is an early Mk IXc without the wing bulges and with the early tailplanes.  So I sanded off the bulges carefully without losing detail:

And filled/re-scribed the elevator lines:

I also had to find some 5-spoked wheels as the kit has 4-spoked ones.  I had a pair of resin ones from the spares box.

Tim

Looks nice! cant wait to see it done. I got a new camera yesterday so I can hopefully take pictures of the cockpits when im done now. Not sure if I'll have pics this weekend, going to try to finish two other models before doing anymore on the spits.