SPITFIRE GROUP BUILD 2007-2008

Thanks, Darren. I've always had an inquisitive mind......just knowing what and not why has never been enough for me, and I appreciate you taking the time to pen such a well thought-out response to my curiosity. I can see that this bird has a very special place in your heart, as it probably does in the hearts of many, and now I know why.

...and thank you too, Roy, for your response as well.

This is going to be a great GB, because I feel that there is a lot of passion behind it, not only for the hobby itself, but because of something much deeper....something that will take it to another level entirely. Your responses have shown me that, and I can't wait to get started.

Well put.

Roy

ruddratt wrote:

Nice work on both, Dave! Well, this thread has taught me one thing already, and that is how popular the Spit is as a modeling subject. So I pose a question....what do those who have embraced this aircraft as a favorite find so appealing about it? I've often wondered why modelers gravitate towards particular subjects, and the Spit seems to have quite a following.

Mike, 

to answer your question........well, to an Englishman the Spitfire is like an icon, it is seen as a symbol of the British fighting spirit. It's an incredible machine-its manufacturing methods were the cutting edge at the time of its conception and if you ask any pilot who has ever flown a Spitfire they will tell you it was a pure delight to fly. Many say that they did not strap themselves into the Spitfire....rather they strapped it onto their backs and they and the Spitfire were one.

One gentleman once told me......"as you thought about putting the aircraft into a turn, you found the aircraft turning with you..." 

It was the first fighter in Europe, along with the Hurricane that stopped the Luftwaffe in in tracks in 1940. Rather than engage a Spitfire, many German pilots would turn and dive out of range. The Spitfire had a better rate of turn than the 109's which gave the Luftwaffe one heck of a headache.......

Then there was the brave men that flew them. The "Few" are ledgends and held in the highest regard. If you ever get the chance, read First Light by Geoffery Wellum. An incredible account of being a young man defending England's skies in 1940.

It should also be pointed out that many, many men from other nations joined the RAF and flew Spitfires into Battle. Canadians, Americans, Austrailians, Poles and Chezchs to mention a few.

Lastly, it is a thing of beauty. It is the most beautiful aircraft I have ever seen. I have an emotional connection to it.

To be in England and look up into the sky and see a Spitfire's graceful lines...to hear the unmistakable roar of a Merlin engine......its poetry in motion. It brings a lump to my throat and makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It makes me and those like me very, very proud.

These are just a few reason's why I like the Spitfire so much. 

Darren,

Nice work on the Mk.II Beautifully built and painted. Its a shame about the some of the decals silvering, but it is still a beautiful model.

John,

Thanks for the markings info. Very handy to have.

Dave,

Lovely builds! I like the paint scheme on the ICM kit-Nice! 

ruddratt wrote:

Nice work on both, Dave! Well, this thread has taught me one thing already, and that is how popular the Spit is as a modeling subject. So I pose a question....what do those who have embraced this aircraft as a favorite find so appealing about it? I've often wondered why modelers gravitate towards particular subjects, and the Spit seems to have quite a following.

I would say the Battle of Britain.  To quote Winston Churchill, "Never has so few given so much for so many" (I hope I got it right).  The Spitfire and Hurricane was all that stood between Britain and Germany.  Plus the Spitfire has nice clean line. 

Roy

Yes I am in.

1/72 Scale Mk. IX -- Egyptian Air Force.

Nice work on both, Dave!

Well, this thread has taught me one thing already, and that is how popular the Spit is as a modeling subject. So I pose a question....what do those who have embraced this aircraft as a favorite find so appealing about it? I've often wondered why modelers gravitate towards particular subjects, and the Spit seems to have quite a following.

Dave,

Nice looking planes!  I really like your Mk.VII, one of the marks I always liked but don't have one in my collection.

I want ot do this GB, I even have the kit and markings (Has Mk IX with SAAF markings) but have several other kits to work my way through before then. I will definately be into it in a few months tho.

 But here are some of my past Spits:

1/48 ICM Mk VII as RAAF Spit

Acadamy 1/48 Spit Mk XIVe

I have several more finished and about 3 or 4 in the stash waiting for the time and energy to make.

John,

Thanks for that pic!  But, now I don't have ANY excuse for getting the decals even slightly askew.

Gah!  Must....resist....

I'm not saying I'm in, but I'm not out either

I hope Jon has a good stash laid in, because if he's gonna get every mark (and certainly by that he must mean each variant within each mark!) he's going to have to build nigh on to 200 models by my admittedly "rough" count!

I thought I would "help" a little, because to do this right, Jon (and the rest of us) surely will not want to be slovenly and take the easy route of trusting our kit or AM decal instructions, but instead will research the subject in the manner of True Spitfire Enthusiasts (TSE's).  As a starting point I offer:

Edit:  Like I said, a starting point.  Antoni posted on Jon's Airfix Spitfire thread that the B scheme was abandonded on Spitfires on Jan. 14, 1941.  I'm sure B schemes were to be found in the units long after that date.  I don't dispute that the factory made that change, but so far all these UK books I'm reading here haven't told me that story.  As always, photos are the only safe guide, as long as the film type hasn't fooled us! 

darson wrote:

As to the decals well let me tell you I could've wept when it happened and the whole kit almost did a great imitation of a boomerang into the nearest wall .  I have used a lot of Aeromaster decals in the past and have never had a problem with them but these just must have been a bad batch, oh well.

Darren,

Not sure if you saw my Spit WiP a few months ago, but I started with a set of Aeromaster decals and had nothing but problems with them.  Ended up sanding them off, touching up the paint, and starting over.  To be honest, I am deathly afraid of trying them again in the future.  (Sorry about the pun!) 

Darren,

It looks great!

Roy

Thanks guys!  Appreciate the kind words.

Darren- Nice looking bird!  I really like your weathering, has that worn look w/o being overdone.

Well if we are showing previous efforts here's a Mk.II converted from a Tamiya Mk.I that I did for a Battle of Britain GB a couple of years ago.  Unfortunately the decals silvered incredibly badly despite being applied to a nice shiny coat of Future .  Oh well there's always another Spitfire to build.

Cheers

 Frank,

lovely to see your Spit again. Good luck for the show this weekend.

I recon you've got a good chance of winning there.

wing_nut wrote:

OK I will consider the arm sufficiently twisted (self inflicted of course) and since it is open ended I am in with a Tam. 1/48 MkV. It will probably be OOB (as soon as I stuff the "B" with PE and resin)   When do we start waiving the flag... er... badge?  Did I miss that?  Now or atthe start date?

Marc,

You start waving the banner whenever you like.

Frank,

Best of luck this weekend.  With the work I have seen so far you will win.

Roy

Love the Spitfire, I have yet to build one.

ruddratt wrote:

Very nice, Frank! I love your weathering techniques.....the results are always very subtle, but extremely effective and realistic. Best of luck to you this weekend! ....and don't forget to post some pics!

Thanks Mike, coming from a guy who really knows how to weather that is a HUGE compliment!  My girlfriend is letting me take her new $1500.00 Nikon to the show, hopefully I can get some great pics!

Very nice, Frank! I love your weathering techniques.....the results are always very subtle, but extremely effective and realistic. Best of luck to you this weekend!

....and don't forget to post some pics!

Ok to post a pic of the one I built a couple of months ago?   I'm taking her along with my '109E Trop and Corsair to our local IPMS model show this weekend.  Wish me luck!

OK I will consider the arm sufficiently twisted (self inflicted of course) and since it is open ended I am in with a Tam. 1/48 MkV. It will probably be OOB (as soon as I stuff the "B" with PE and resin)

When do we start waiving the flag... er... badge?  Did I miss that?  Now or atthe start date?