SPITFIRE GROUP BUILD 2007-2008

darson wrote:

Frank, this shot was taken from an unrestored Spit Mk.I and the bottle is either black or dark grey.  As to the two vertically standing high pressure O2 bottles that powered the Brownings, I have no idea at all what color they were.  I usually paint them RAF Interior Green or Bare metal depending on my mood. Cheers

Great pic! One more to add to the shrinking space called my hard drive. LOL 

Frank, this shot was taken from an unrestored Spit Mk.I and the bottle is either black or dark grey.  As to the two vertically standing high pressure O2 bottles that powered the Brownings, I have no idea at all what color they were.  I usually paint them RAF Interior Green or Bare metal depending on my mood.

Cheers 

I have a color question for you guys...

DOes anyone know the correct color for the oxygen bottles behind the pilot on a Mk.I?  Not sure the exact color I painted them on my last build, but wanted to get the right color on them this time 'round.  Thanks guys!

wyoroy wrote:

Frank, PM inbound. Roy

Got it Roy, and reply sent!

Frank,

PM inbound.

Roy

Ollie-

PM received!

MaxSheridan wrote:

Since I'm no spitfire expert by any stretch.....I have a question....I took my sons to Chicagos museum of science and industry today. I was wondering exactly what kind of spit this one is. (these pics aren't mine, I found them on the web) The only thing I found about it was that apparently it was actually flown in the Battle of Britain.

If you go way, way back in the issues of FSM magazine someone did a very good research of this particular aircraft. Seems like it was actually shot down twice, and had several different paint schemes. If you can't find it let me know as I still have it.

gary

Daywalker wrote:

Jon- Thanks my friend, once again you come to the rescue!  I'm gonna head over to Ebay and get me one of those when I get paid next week!   I appreciate your offer to pick one up for me!

No problem friend! Glad to help any time! 

Jon-

Thanks my friend, once again you come to the rescue!  I'm gonna head over to Ebay and get me one of those when I get paid next week!   I appreciate your offer to pick one up for me!

Ollie- The two main areas of concern I found on that kit are the fit of the wing to the fuse and the rear canopy.  When you glue the wing to the fuse, there is a step between the top wing surface and the fillet on the fuse side.  I used a small scrap of styrene to fill it and eliminated the step completely.  Here's a photo of the scrap pieces glued to the fuse:

And here's a look at it from the front with the wing attached:

The rear, sliding portion of the canopy is too narrow to sit down far enough on the fuselage.  The only way to fix it is to replace it with a vacuum formed one.  I have an extra one if you are unable to find one.  The front windscreen on my copy is for a Seafire Mk.47 which is different, but the rear part would work.  If you want it, it's yours- just shoot me a PM if you are interested.  Good luck, can't wait to see her finished!

Daywalker wrote:

Oliie- That Mk.22/24 is pretty much the same kit as the Airfix Mk.46/47 I just finished.  There are a couple of trouble areas, but still not a bad kit!

Could you tell me what the problem, areas are please? The only problem i have found is the prop does not sit flush on the nose. 

Daywalker wrote:

Jon, I am VERY excited to see that one!  I have wanted to get my hands on one of those kits since they were announced.  Unfortunately, I didn't snap one up when they were available on this side of the pond.

That's too bad! It's not got the fit of the Tamiya kit, but it's a good kit anyway. The option of the Watts airscrew is nice. When I heard it had been released, I nagged my friend at the LHS for weeks to order one. As soon as his supplier said they had them, he ordered three. One came in- and he held it for me. (And that's one example of why I support my LHS!)

I hope they make some more- even Airfix's site says out of stock. Hannant's appears to have them in stock. Don't know if you use Ebay, but here's a "Buy It Now" for about $31. And there is also one up for bid.

If I see one at the LHS, I'll grab it. If you want it, no problem. If not- it's mine, all mine!!! Mwuhahahahahahahaha!  

Jon,

I am VERY excited to see that one!  I have wanted to get my hands on one of those kits since they were announced.  Unfortunately, I didn't snap one up when they were available on this side of the pond.

Daywalker wrote:

Alright Jon, now I gotta build me another Spit!  I just asked Darren to put me down for another 1/48 Tamiya Mk.I like the one in the photo.  This one's for you, Jon! I am gonna finish it in the markings of Wing Commander Bob Doe from 234 Sqdn during the BoB.  It's the aircraft in the foreground of the Robert Taylor painting in my signature, which is signed by Bob Doe and is also hanging on the wall of my modelling room thanks to my wonderful girlfriend!

Awesome! I can't wait to see it!

I'm working on Airfix's recently released Mk. I. It'll be one of the pre-war versions with the two bladed prop and the NM undersides. If you've built the Airfix Mk. IX, it's about like that. Not a bad kit at all. I put on the Dark Earth coat yesterday, and hopefully can mask  it and put down the green. 

gzt wrote:

It is a very nice build Darren ! I think that Tamiya Mk I is one of the early MkIs (only the early once had fire catcher installed - Antoni pointed this fact once while I was working on my Mk I conversion) so, maybe it is possible that those aircrafts did not have rear armors installed ? I read somewhere that Mk I did not have a rear armor installed but only after Mk II was introduced, some had the armor added later - prorobly during repairs (?) Anyone has comment on this case ?

Many thanks Greg.

As far as my information goes the upgrade to the seat armour happened at the same time the external bullet proof windscreen which was about May 1940.  This was following combat feedback from pilots who had been tangling with the Luftwaffe.

The sum total of new radio mast, rounded canopy, amour plate for the fuel tanks and pilots seat, bullet proof windscreen, constant pitch three blade Rotol prop and engine improvements were referred to as the Mk.Ia

Cheers 

darson wrote:

that.  About the only thing that really bugs me about the Tamiya Mk.Ia kit is the lack of armour plate behind the pilots head and back.  Tamiya put the armour plate in the Mk.V series but for some reason forgot the Mk.I. Anyway here is my Tamiya Mk.Ia converted to a Mk.IIa for the 2006 Battle of Britain GB.  Yes I know the decals are silvered badly, I've tried to fix them and this is about as good as they are going to get.   Cheers

It is a very nice build Darren !

I think that Tamiya Mk I is one of the early MkIs (only the early once had fire catcher installed - Antoni pointed this fact once while I was working on my Mk I conversion) so, maybe it is possible that those aircrafts did not have rear armors installed ? I read somewhere that Mk I did not have a rear armor installed but only after Mk II was introduced, some had the armor added later - prorobly during repairs (?)

Anyone has comment on this case ? 

hkshooter wrote:

jwb wrote:  Daywalker wrote: Excellent Greg, always enjoy seeing that Spit of yours! I have to second your opinion of the Tamiya Mk.I, EXCELLENT kit!  Hope you don't mind if I post a photo of the one I built earlier this year too! I've seen that pic several times, and every time I just shake my head. You did an awesome job on that. Every time I do a Spitfire, that's how I want it to turn out. You are the man. Here, here! That is a fine build, my man!

sure it is a very nice build Frank ! It was one of those Spits inspired me to do (redo) my Mk I. Very impressive build !!

Thanks HK, I appreciate that!

jwb wrote:

Daywalker wrote: Excellent Greg, always enjoy seeing that Spit of yours! I have to second your opinion of the Tamiya Mk.I, EXCELLENT kit!  Hope you don't mind if I post a photo of the one I built earlier this year too! I've seen that pic several times, and every time I just shake my head. You did an awesome job on that. Every time I do a Spitfire, that's how I want it to turn out. You are the man.

Here, here! That is a fine build, my man!

Alright Jon, now I gotta build me another Spit!  I just asked Darren to put me down for another 1/48 Tamiya Mk.I like the one in the photo.  This one's for you, Jon!

I am gonna finish it in the markings of Wing Commander Bob Doe from 234 Sqdn during the BoB.  It's the aircraft in the foreground of the Robert Taylor painting in my signature, which is signed by Bob Doe and is also hanging on the wall of my modelling room thanks to my wonderful girlfriend!

Awww, thanks Jon!  You are WAY too kind!   That kind of feedback is really making me want to pull one of the other Mk.I's outta box and do another one!

Oliie- That Mk.22/24 is pretty much the same kit as the Airfix Mk.46/47 I just finished.  There are a couple of trouble areas, but still not a bad kit! 

I believe i did express an interest in this build early on but i have been a bit busy untill now to do some modelling. I wanderd into my local model shop the other week and picked up the Airfix Spitfire 22/24. Im going to finish it in the 603 squadren markings in the leaflet (all over silver)

I also have an Airfix Seafire IIIc sitting on my bech awaiting a missiing part from airfix and some serious filling before i paint it. I cant realy start painting it now as it is half the Oil cooler missing. 

Daywalker wrote:

Excellent Greg, always enjoy seeing that Spit of yours! I have to second your opinion of the Tamiya Mk.I, EXCELLENT kit!  Hope you don't mind if I post a photo of the one I built earlier this year too!

I've seen that pic several times, and every time I just shake my head. You did an awesome job on that. Every time I do a Spitfire, that's how I want it to turn out. You are the man.

chef_ben wrote:

Greg,  I have finally just taken it as it is.  Guess I'm just going to get some great brushing up on gap filling!  I actually think I built this kit as a kid but as i said in another post wow have things changed in modelling while I was taking time off!!   Happy Thanksgiving  Ben

Ben- have you glued the wings to the fuselage yet? One thing that may help is adding a "spreader" inside the fuselage after it's glued together and dried. The spreader is simply made of sprue, and cut and dry fitted until you close the gap.  

Here's how I did it on an Airfix Spitfire IX:

This was how the fit was before the spreader:

And after the spreader and glueing it in place:

Hope that helps! 

Greg,  I have finally just taken it as it is.  Guess I'm just going to get some great brushing up on gap filling!  I actually think I built this kit as a kid but as i said in another post wow have things changed in modelling while I was taking time off!!

Happy Thanksgiving

 Ben

They all look good to me.  At present I am working on the Revell Mk I.  With the help/advice from Frank on wash and dry brushing it should turn out very well.  I have painted the pit, just waiting for some tips from Frank on how to bring out the detail.  if all goes well I will try to at last post some work.  I have to say the smell of glue, thinner, and paint makes me want to build fast and more.  You think they put something in it

Roy

that.  About the only thing that really bugs me about the Tamiya Mk.Ia kit is the lack of armour plate behind the pilots head and back.  Tamiya put the armour plate in the Mk.V series but for some reason forgot the Mk.I.

Anyway here is my Tamiya Mk.Ia converted to a Mk.IIa for the 2006 Battle of Britain GB.  Yes I know the decals are silvered badly, I've tried to fix them and this is about as good as they are going to get.

Cheers 

Excellent Greg, always enjoy seeing that Spit of yours!

I have to second your opinion of the Tamiya Mk.I, EXCELLENT kit!  Hope you don't mind if I post a photo of the one I built earlier this year too!