this is my 1/48 Airfix Spitfire Mk.IX finished in the markings of MH434. One of the few WWII RAF fighters still flying today.
This kit is typical Airfix. That is to say it has a few problems…Leading/Trailing edges are too thick, Trasparancies too thick, panel lines too shallow, wing root gap etc…the list goes on.
Add a plastic butcher like me into the mix and what we have is a recipe for disaster![:D]
Well, as a Spitfire fanatic I just had to build this one. Here’s what I did to try and improve on the box contents…full re-scribe/drilled out exhausts/dropped elevators/new rudder/PE seat harness. I think thats about it…[%-)] [(-D]
OK, here’s some pics…its not great. Feel free to criticize,rip to shreds etc…
OK Darren, you asked for it, so here goes…! [soapbox] [soapbox] [censored]
Just kidding, buddy! Aside from a little silvering on some of the decals, I think you did a great job! I’m no spitfire guru by any means (I’ll leave that title to jwb [;)] ), so I cannot comment on accuracy, but I can say that from where I sit, it looks like something I’d be proud to display. I like it! [tup]
Darren, are those the kit decals? The reason I ask is because I’ve never built an airfix kit so I’m unaware of any issues with their decals. What I do in general when I encounter something like that is to grab a needle and poke a few holes in the silvered area, then hit them with more setting solution, which I apply with a fine brush so I can concentrate it on only the areas that need it.
Rip what to shreds? Looks like a Spitfire to me [tup]
Someone told me once a bad kit is like a bad landing. If you can walk away from it in one piece, then you did something right. At least I think someone told me that…
Anyway, looks fine for what seems to be difficult kit.
Tango that doesn’t look bad at all. considering the kit it looks great. Your work on the exhaust is excellent and taking the time to move some of the cortrol surfaces will make yours stand out in a crowd. I try to do something like that to most of my builds so they don’t all look the same. The camo and paint work are A+. You paint a better canopy than I do that’s for sure. Like some of the others said the decals are silvered but they also look thick. Thicker the decal is more of a chance for air to become trapped under it. Some decales will try to silver no matter what. The only other thing I noticed (and only because of the close up in pic 5) is the rudder actuator is missing. There is a hole for it in the rudder on the left side. Or did you leave it off becasue you changed the rudder position? If not you will need to make it longer. All I do is cut to rod between the 2 covers and make a replacement out of stretch sprue and glue the longer scratch built rod back in and install it like the kit part. You may have already known this, But I thought I’d throw it out there. I can tell you It’s a small part under the tail and 90% of the people looking will not notice this item missing if left alone, except me[XX]
Many thanks for your kind words fella’s, much appreciated.[tup]
Phoenix,
I forgot about the rudder! The Airfix kit does’nt provide one if memory serves, I should try to scratch one from another kit if I can. Those decals were a pain, I will try Mikes suggestion to see if I can improve them. Glad you like the paintjob-its not perfect by any means, but I like it.
Eric,
A Tamiya Mk.V is an excellent choice of kit.[tup] It really does fall together, and its got a very nice level of deatil OOB. I would recommend a AM decal sheet though, some of the Tamiya decals are a tad on the thick side.
I figure it would be nice if we could see the real MH434 in action!
Many years ago as a very young man I was taken to an airfield somewhere in England. Nothing much was happening near the flightline, so I decided to load some film in my dad’s old camera. As I did, I heard the menacing snarl of a merlin engine and a Spitfire flew straight past me. It was an amazing sight and loud too! I mean this was quite a sight to behold. I was gutted that I nver took a photo. To my surprise, I heard the same snarl again and sure enough this beautiful fighter was coming round for another pass-only lower this time! So I took a picture and fell in love with Spitfire’s.
I love the sound of those engines so much. Only heard them on film and so forth. I know it sounds goofy- but I get teared up when I hear that sound. It’s like a symphony. To me, that bird is the most beautiful ever built!
Of course everyone has seen the “Battle of Britain” with Laurence Olivier and everyone else, the scenes with the Spit’s turning over their merlins makes me want to hop into one and take off. Equally satisfying is the soundtrack from the movie. I pop it in and can relieve the movie in my head, especially the opening track.
