Hi all:
This is the new model that I’m building. With this one I have nine projects in the work bench.
This time is another Spitfire Mk Vb in 1/48 scale.
It´s Airfix brand. Airfix Spitfire is an oldie but goodie**.** My sample had little or no flash but numerous sinkholes. Mould is quite old, the fuselage has a combination of engraved and raised panel lines. The assembling is quite complicated but with care, a lot of dry fitting and patience I reached a nice model practically without using putty, just a little on the wings to fuselage joint and smooth sanding over the unions. The worst part is the union of the wings with the fuselage and the gap of the union with the rear part of the fuselage. To resolve this, I first glued the top of the wings to the fuselage and then the bottom. The dihedral of both wings must be 6º.
Anyway it´s a good model and I think that it´s one of the most accurate Spitfires in shape. I have applied a coat of primer with Mr. Surfacer 1200 and now it´s ready for painting. I´ll use Model Master enamels. Yet I haven´t decided wich decals to use. More pics on the way.
Comments will be welcome ! [:P]
I have build that same kit a couple of years ago. I think I see you have a corrected spinner, to original one is to pointy. As you said, an acurate outline but I found it missing some details. A lot of Mk V’s have two reinforment strips over the wings, depending on which one you are building you might want to add them.
Well that’s a very clean looking build you’ve got there. Yup, the Spit is without a doubt the most beautiful flying thingy ever. Look forward to seeing paint on her.
Hi Borg:
You´re right with the spinner, I replaced the one that comes with the kit with one of my sapre box (Tamiya).
Not all the Mk V´s have the reinforment strips over the wings, in this case they won´t be necesary.
Thanks for the comments.
Thanks Jimmy. I agree with you: the Spit is without a doubt the most beautiful flying thingy ever.
Well, I decided to use the kit´s decals. So the only thing that isn´t of the kit is the spinner.
I found a couple of pics of the aircraft that I´ll represent. It´s from 602 Sqn (City of Glasgow) 1942.
These are the kit´s decals, they are old but I believe they will work fine: [:)]
I started with the painting process. I´m Using Model Master enamels. First for the underside fuselage I applied RAF Medium Sea Grey (2058). For masking I´m using Tamiya Masking Tape. RAF Ocen Grey (2057) is the first color applied to the uperside camo. The other uperside color will be RAF Dark Green (2060). I´ll wait until tomorrow to continue with the painting. I wait one day between each coat. [:)]
I built this kit twice the last two years, its quite excellent for its age.
I believe that it is the most accurate in shape and when finished it looks really like a Spitfire.
Here a couple of pictnd Tamiya masking tapeures. Painting finished. I cut the canopy so I will be able to show it open. I masked it with Parafilm and Tamiya masking tape.
I applied five thin coats of Future with a soft square brush and the decals worked very well. No silvering and they reacted ok to Microsol, they are very thin and resistant, very good ! After decaling I applied two more coats of Future to protect the decals. Note that the wing is like a mirror reflecting the decals of the fuselage. Next step will be weathering with a mixture of oil paints and tupertine and retouching the interior of the cockpit, painting the lights on the wing and minor details.
I used the pilot that comes with the kit, I painted it with Vallejo acrylic piants. It gives a sense of dimensions.
I finished the decaling of the wings and cowling. Now I´m ready to beging with the weathering.
