SPITFIRE GROUP BUILD 2007-2008

Here are a couple of pics I took of a Spitfire at EAA last week.  They aren't the best photos, as the weather didn't want to cooperate!

TANGO 1 wrote:

Yes Frank, all you need do is build it as a Mk.46 and change to a single 5 blade prop and use the longer cannon barrells. That should do it!

That is what I was thinking.  Thanks, buddy!

Glad your Spits are doing well.  I haven't worked on mine much as of late, been trying to finish up some other projects.

Just a quick update on my Mk.IX, I've started the weathering process today and hope to finish it on my next day off. Once I've got that done I can gloss and decal it.

I also started detailing the undercarridge too, the PE set provides some nice details but its very fiddly to get them in place! Hopefully it'll look right when its done.

The Seafire I'm building on the FAA GB is also coming along nicely too, even if progress is a little slow, I got the upper surface colour on tonight and if I don't find any more mistakes, then I can crack on with it.

Yes Frank,

all you need do is build it as a Mk.46 and change to a single 5 blade prop and use the longer cannon barrells. That should do it!

Phoenix-

That is huge!  Be sure to post LOTS of pics as you go!

Darren- I look forward to seeing how your Mk.22/24 progresses.  I bought ANOTHER Airfix 1/48 Mk.46/47 Seafire this weekend, and from looking at the parts in the box, I think I could do a 5-blade Mk.22/24 from the kit.  Does anyone know for sure if this ispossible from this kit?

My Vb has closed fuselage too. Glued wings but did not attach them yet. I was a bit dissapointed with my work, because while gluing the wings I did not pay attention and end up with a missfit of the tips. Just a bit off along the cord and it was enough to spoil my day . I had to sand a bit to get it right.

Greg 

Pheaonix: this is HUGE !!!

I can not imagine the level of details available in this craft.  Please post pictures along your build. I am doing Vb of the same craft (if RF-D is your choice) but its just half of yours . Keep those pictures coming !

Greg 

Well I know some of you are already done. I have just started. Due to the size of this thing I decided to get a few other projects done so I would have the room to spread out parts. I haven't looked at this in quite a while, It's huge.

To the right is a partly built 1/72 spit, below a wing to a 1/48 spit for reference.

decals and other goodies I plan on adding.

here we go, this will be by second build of a 1/24 model. We'll see how it turns out. 

Jon, thanks for the link to the AeroScale review .  I must admit the thing that really grabbed my attention while reading it was the comment "it means that you can use the new Airfix Mk I fuselage to replace the Mk V fuselage in their Spitfire Mk Vc/Seafire IIIc kit".

To me this is truly great news as I finally have a cost effective (sort off) way of coming up with a Mk.Vc which I have wanted to do for ages.

Progress Update:: Well I finally got back to some real modeling over the weekend and got started my Mk.22/24 . I started off by removing all the interior detail from the cockpit to make way for the Aires resin replacement parts.  Being Aires the detail is gorgeous but the fit is not so great, so some filler will be required tonight.  I'll post some pics soon.

Cheers

darson wrote:

Now back to Spitfire modeling, I sa2w this on yesterdays update to Hyperscale, it's a review of the Airfix Early Mk.I.  http://www.hyperscale.com/reviews/kits/airfix05115reviewbg_1.htm  I must admit it looks pretty good and I'll defiantly pick up a couple when it appears in my LHS.  I plan doing one early version and one Mk.II, although I will be adding an Ultracast seat and AM decals.

Another good review is over on Aeroscale. 

I'm certainly looking forward to that one myself. I'm considering doing a side-by-side build with the Tamiya Mk. I and doing a comparison build report. Plus it's a good excuse to build MORE SPITFIRES!

All thanks for the kind words on my car.  I can't say that I am happy with the whole incident but at least I have a new (2nd hand) car now and I can get back to normality.

Now back to Spitfire modeling, I sa2w this on yesterdays update to Hyperscale, it's a review of the Airfix Early Mk.I.  http://www.hyperscale.com/reviews/kits/airfix05115reviewbg_1.htm 

I must admit it looks pretty good and I'll defiantly pick up a couple when it appears in my LHS.  I plan doing one early version and one Mk.II, although I will be adding an Ultracast seat and AM decals.

Greg, the front office looks great, I really like the extra work with the wiring, it makes a big difference.  As far as PE goes I really love it for IPs and harnesses but when it comes to those itsy bitsy little pieces I tend to pass.

Cheers

Greg the cockpit looks great.  Keep at the PE though, you will love the results once you get used to working with the stuff. But I agree... you either love it, or hate it.  My first choice, if I am doing an open cockpit, is a PE set.  I like the way the seat looks   when it's all folded and painted.  I also like the thinness of PE belts.   The resin seats with molded in belts looks great to but sometimes I think the belts look thick.  I have some resin seats that will be used in future projects .

My fine detail painting skills leave a lot to be desired.  The color PE sets are a big advantage for me so I was sort forced to get used to working with it.  There is no way I could ever get the detail painted anywhere close.

gzt wrote:

Gentlemen, thanks for your input. I really felt like I am doing something wrong here your comments let me think it is what it is - just another hassle . I got RAF seats with belts but was a chicken to use them yet. I will do it on my next project (ARII Spitfire Mk VIII) - it really make sense what you told me ... I have to save money on those PE parts and get only what I will really use seatbelts or seats with belts included and that is it - the rest is up to the telephone wire to make it more busy and some while and red paint . Greg

Resin seats with belts or PE belts and some fine wire- that's exactly what I use!

Gentlemen, thanks for your input. I really felt like I am doing something wrong here your comments let me think it is what it is - just another hassle . I got RAF seats with belts but was a chicken to use them yet. I will do it on my next project (ARII Spitfire Mk VIII) - it really make sense what you told me ... I have to save money on those PE parts and get only what I will really use seatbelts or seats with belts included and that is it - the rest is up to the telephone wire to make it more busy and some while and red paint .

Greg 

I use PE extensively and have had some good success with it, but I don't think I've ever used an entire set on a particular subject. If the PE part only has a slight advantage in the detail department over the kit part, it's difficult for me to justify the additional labor involved to make it fit.

Frank, I'm with you on the use of the resin seats with the belts molded in. They're always my first choice too.

Greg-

I have had similar luck with P/E parts too.  Nowadays, if I can't get a resin seat with molded-on belts, I use the Eduard P/E belts or lead foil with wire buckles depending on my mood.  A little wire and some scrap styrene bits to "busy it up" a lil, and it's good enough for me.  Maybe some of us just aren't destined to use the P/E...

Frank, Bob, Chris and Mike: Thanks Guys !

I had an Eduard PE set but used just two things: seatbelts and a switch box (I think it is a radio). The wires came from a telephone cable - those are very thin copper wires, with just right diameter. I may do it a wrong way, but the Eduard PE sets are so hard to work with that I screwed up most of the parts I tried to use. I am not sure what am I doing wrong but those sets  do not like me or what ? . Tamiya set is good enough without PE or resin parts - I think. In the future I will just get std squadron seatbelts for RAF and US planes to be all set with PE parts :) - unless I get Revell kit

BTW: i just got my scribble tool (Model Master) so I will start my P-40B Revell kit soon

 Thanks again

Greg

Greg, your cockpit looks great.  Those belts really bring it out.  Keep the pics coming.

BTW those wires coming from the IP, what are they.  Did they come in the kit.

Chris

Tamiya 1/48 Mk Vb cockpit ready to close

 Greg

ps. the light really sucks , I have to replace one bulb - is giving me a false colors

Looking forward to starting on my Spit sometime soon-a lot of GREAT builds going on here.

Darren-sorry to hear about the car.  Hopefully it will be resolved soon (and you won't come out on the losing end).

Darren, your spit looks great.  Those elevators look even better.  I can not wait to see the nose art and the finished product.

Darren sorry to here about your car.  I hope you catch who did it.

Chris

OOOPS. Sorry about your car but "you can not fix stupid". Those people who did this do not have much brain, hpefuly end up in jail soon.

Greg 

Thanks all for your kind words.

Darren-

sorry to hear of your bad luck mate, I hope things start to look up for you.