SPITFIRE GROUP BUILD 2007-2008

Frank, I got the box today.  The decals are great.  A lot better than the ones that came with the kit.  Plus the tack stuff, I can't wait to try the stuff.  Thanks so very much, I owe you a ton.  Thanks my friend,

Roy

darson wrote:

Frank thanks for the tip with the exhausts it sure looks authentic and I hope you don't mind if I pack that one away in for future use. Cheers

Thanks Darren, I don't mind one bit!  Glad to help.

Roy nice work on the intake there.  That sure looked like it had one mean step in it but the final result looked very smooth indeed.

Frank thanks for the tip with the exhausts it sure looks authentic and I hope you don't mind if I pack that one away in for future use.

Cheers

Glad to help Roy!

Now, how 'bout some pics?

I have to thank you, my exhaust look great  The burt umber with silver looks outstanding.  They look like the real deal now.

Shot the Sky type S on the underside.  Now I have to go back and correct a few seams that seemed to pop out of nowhere  Nothing a little sanding want fix  Hope to start painting the topside camo Monday.

Roy

Roy,

When I do my exhausts, I usually paint them a very dark brown or black, then drybrush them with a mix of MM chrome silver and burnt umber oil paint.  I would guess the ratio an about 1 part silver to 25-50 parts burnt umber.  After that drys, I give it a flat clearcoat and after installing them on the aircraft I give them a dusting with some brown tone pastels.  Here's how it looks on my P-40E:

Hope that helps!

Well I painted the exhaust with MM metalizer nonbuffing steel then dry brushed Humbrol rust.  For some reason it does not look right.  Does anyone have any suggestions to could improve the look?

Roy

Got a question on the exhaust, I did a base color of steel and was thinking of dry brushing it with rust.  Will this give me the used look that I want?  I want this build to show just a bit of weathering.  Like it has seen very little action at this point.

Roy

Here's an update on my revell 1/48 spitfire.  I had to do a bit of work on the carburetor intake:

I also tried a bit of preshading.  Not sure if I like it so far.

Roy

darson wrote:

Ollie nice looking work on your Spit, I'll be looking forward to some more pics.

 Typicaly i got distracted by my other half who is not well so i have been unable to make any process as my model bench is at home and she lives elsewhere. I will do some decaling tonight and post some photos. The Seafire has had its decal sheet located and i have applied them, i will also post some photos.

Ollie nice looking work on your Spit, I'll be looking forward to some more pics.

Roy Frank is right those are the color you are looking for your Spit Mk.II.  I never under any circumstances take Revell (especially Revell AG) at their word when it comes to color selection as they invariably wrong.

Cheers

Roy,

The colors called for on that aircraft should be this scheme:

Day fighter scheme

If you could get your hands on MM 2054, 2060, and 2049 those should be the right ones.  Hope that helps!

Need the help of all the Spitfire experts  As you know I'm building Revell's Spitfire MkII.

I'm doing the aircraft of P.O. A.S.C. Lumsden, No. 118(F) Squadron, 1941.  These are the kit decals.  Here's the question; it calls for Field Brown FS30118, Dark Green FS34095

The 30118 looks almost green to me and the 34095 looks good.  I also painted on a brown for a possible shade.  Will the two FS colors that it calls for and that I have done work?  Or is there a better shade /FS brown that is a better match?  Any help with this would be great.

Roy

Roy,

If you are looking for subtle weathering, I think the salt method might be a little extreme.  I would try using a very sharp silver or light grey colored pencil, to do the slight chipping.  The silver will look a little too bright at first, but the final dull coat will deaden the shine perfectly.

Maybe that grimm on the wing is the remains of a 109 he shot down and flew thru the explosion

So the scuff on the wing, do you think the salt method would be to much or could it look great?  I just want a little weather on this one.  Would the salt/scuff on the wing be too much? out of place?  If you don't want to type the answer you have my #.

Roy

Roy,

As for preshading, I would go with a dark brown since the camo colors are earth tones.  Black might look a little harsh under them.  Here's a wartime color photo of a Mk.II (I think) that shows some pretty severe weathering:

Frank, you around?  or anyone who has knowledge,

I was unable to get to painting today.  Had New Years Day super with some of the family here.  Anyway, I was thinking of doing the preshading of my raised panel lines on the Spitfire.  Should I use black on top and bottom or some other color?  Also how much scuffing/chipping of paint is there on the wing walk on the port side of the aircraft?  I was thinking of trying the salt method to get that look.  any feed back would be great.

Roy

wyoroy wrote:

ollie, looking good so far, look forward to more pics. Roy

Thank you. I should be able to get the decals on tomorrow and post photos then. 

ollie,

looking good so far, look forward to more pics.

Roy

An update on my LFXIVe:

And my XVIII:

The grey whas my first proper go at airbrushing a model and i think i used a bit to much thinner but im pleased with it. I should be able to get the decals on tomorrow, i will post more photos then. I have also painted my Seafire IIIc and put the decals on that, photos will be coming tomorrow. 

Got the wing attached and all seams are filled and sanded.  The canopy has been dipped in Future and allthat is left is to attach, fill and smooth the gaps.  I should be able to start painting in the next few days.  I'll post some pics when I can.

Roy

We have two cameras, a Kodak 5mega pixel and a Minolta X-370 (film).  I should look into getting a tripod first.  I'm sure that would be a great start.  The light box would be another.  Who knows maybe when things get better I should be able to score a newer digital camera.  For now you guys will have to make do with my attempt at picture taking  Look on the bright side, it should hide any and all flaws

Roy

Another tip is to build yourself a cheap light box like this one.  I built one for myself a couple of months ago, and it did wonders for my photos!

DIY photobox

What kind of camera are you using Roy?  Most digital cameras have a macro feature to allow you to take close ups of smaller items.  If you can manipulate the f-stop and shutter speed on your camera that also makes a big difference.  Basically the higher the f-stop the greater the depth of focus meaning that more of the model will be in focus when you take a picture.  If you still have the manual for your camera take a look to see if it has those features.

Lighting is the other variable.  the more light you have the faster the shutter speed you can use and the less likely the picture will be blurry due to low shutter speeds and not being able to hold the camera still enough.  Setting up the camera on a tripod will help also if you need slow shutter speeds due to poor lighting.

You need to teach me how to take great pics, if I'm teachable

Roy

Looking good Roy!

A little bit o' putty and she'll be good to go!

The pictures are not the best but you can see the wing joint.  I'm very proud of the fact that there will be very little work on the joint considering all the talk I hear about the fit of it.

Perhaps in the coming year I could learn to take better pictures

Roy

jeaton01 wrote:

Speed Spitfire!  Speed Spitfire!

jeaton01 wrote:

ollie wrote: Im not sure what to make my Mk1 into, im thinking either the prototype or the Speed Spitfire but then a PR1 would make a nice addition to the collection as well as a early Mk1. So what do others think i should build? Lets have a vote and i will build it for this group build.  Speed Spitfire!  Speed Spitfire!

So so tempting but theres alot of work in her, namely shortening the wingspan and reshaping it but i am up for the challenge. I fancy getting the more challenging ones done first and leaving the simple ones till later. So if this gets nominated i will be asking for lots of advice.

 Im going to allow this to run untill i have been able to paint and decal my Seafire, LFXIVe and XVIII so that will be a few days.

I seem to have lost the decals for my Seafire IIIc, does anyone have the decals spare they could let me have please? I will keep looking for mine but i think they got thrown away during some over zelous tidying up by accident. 

ollie wrote:

Im not sure what to make my Mk1 into, im thinking either the prototype or the Speed Spitfire but then a PR1 would make a nice addition to the collection as well as a early Mk1. So what do others think i should build? Lets have a vote and i will build it for this group build.

Speed Spitfire!  Speed Spitfire!