Greetings all,
I am nearly finished on the Tomcat so I broke out yet another Spitfire. [^][;)]
This time it is the turn of Airfix’s latest Mk.IV in 1/48 scale. I’m taking it easy on this one and not adding very much to the bits in the box. So far, I’ve messed about with the interior, just adding a PE seat harness. Here’s some pics of what I did.
This one’s off to a great start, Darren! Keep us posted! [tup]
Cheers Mike! [tup]
It’s looking good at the starting gun Darren.
Regards, Rick
Thanks Rick,[tup]
This kit is a real mix of moulds old and new, I have glued the wings together, after figuring out which set of wings I actually need! ( they provide two) and I hope to get the fuselage together tomorrow.
The office is a bit sparse, (thats Airfix for you[:I]) but the one really irritating thing about this kit is the thickness of the trailing edges, the tail fin really stands out because of this, I will try and sand it down a bit, hopefully without losing too many details. Still, thats all part of the fun with these kind of kits. If I work at it, I will get something resembling a Spitfire at the end of it!
Nice start on that one. I’m working on the same kit. If you have a large gap at the wing roots, try putting a piece of sprue forward of the IP to spread the fuselage. It helps close the gap- this is the second one of those Airfix IX’s I’ve built, and with patience they build up nice.
Great job on the interior- the added bits really make it stand out. Nice touch of color too.
Well if you keep that up… your gonna have a beauty when it’s done[:D]
Darren-
Good looking cockpit you have there! Always nice to see a well done Spitfire. [#toast]
Nice start, Darren !
You don’t see many Mk. IVs being built. I’m looking forward to seeing this one.
Looking really nice, Darren. Coming off the Tomcat and seeing what you’ve got started here, it’s safe to say you’re on a roll!
Sweet looking start Darren
Thad
Hey thanks Everyone![tup]
You all know that I’m a Spitfire nut, so you know I’m having fun already. [;)]
Jon ,
thanks for the advice about the wingroots, that will come in handy.[tup] Is is just me or do the panel lines look a little shallow on this mould? Maybe its just me…but its certainly a softer plastic than usual for an Airfix kit. I’m using this one as a test bed for a couple of new finishing techniques I’ve read about, so I’m looking forward to getting to the paint stage. At the minute, I’m still messing with the wings.
I’ll post some more pics when things get moving.
Thank you all for your kind words[tup]
Yeah, the lines are a little shallow. This time around, I used the back of a #11 blade to deepen the aileron lines, as well as a scribing tool to sharpen some of the “major” panel lines.
On my previous build, I’d posted some pics of using the sprue to spread the fuselage:
Before spreader-
Placement of spreader-
After spreader-
In the build I’m doing this time, I also added some thin pieces of sheet styrene to close up the gaps going towards the trailing edge of the wing. I’ll take some pics and post them.
Also, you will likely find that the area aft of the “inverted gull wing” where the lower wing joins the fuselage will need quite a bit of work.
Still- I like the kit. Something special about an Airfix Spitfire. I know what you mean about being a Spitfire nut. I’ve got two built, I’m working on one, and I have 11 others unbuilt- 10 of them Airfix!
Jon-
Thanks, great tip on the spreader! I’m gonna try that on my P-39.
Jon,
thanks for posting those pics[tup] I will definately need a spacer bar in there, I think I may need to pay some attention to those panel lines too.
10 Airfix Spits? You are a sucker for punishment are’nt you! [:D] Only a real Spitfire nut would do that! I salute you.[bow]
I’ve built over 20 Spitfires of various marks over the last few years, three of them for other poeple and I still have another 5 in my stash! My latest purchase is a Hasegawa Mk.IX, the “Nose art” kit that was recently released. I just could’nt resist it![:P] A lot of people knock the Hase kit for being inaccurate, but I like it as it builds up real nice.[tup]
Good luck with your build, it will be good to compare notes!
I know the feeling, I have about 10 Spits to build right now. I bought the Revell Mk.IX last week at the LHS, couldn’t resist it at ten bucks. And I’m watching one on Evilbay right now too. I must have a sickness… [V]
Oh no Frank…
thats not a sickness…
…you my friend have reached the very pinnacle, the true zennith of scale modelling.
Spitfire building!!
you are now at one with styrene…go in peace my friend and build many models.
[:D][:D][:D]
Me? Nuts? Off my trolly?..[?][%-)][%-)]
Naaahhhhh…[:-^]
Oh no, I think the rum has gotten to him…
[:D][:D][:D]
When you really have the Spitfire sickness is when you start to actually make sense of the various Marks and what order they came in and why. And knowing it only makes you more obsessive to find out MORE!
Spitfires and P-40s- can you ever have enough?