biggles2000

Thanks for those links - some interesting stuff there. However, I intend modelling it as it was around mid '36, after it had been painted "blue/grey".

Hi, Does anyone have any suggestions for the colour of the Spitfire prototype wheel wells, inside of undercarriage doors and wheel hubs? During my searches so far I've come across combinations of silver, interior grey/green and zinc chromate and I'm thoroughly confused! Thanks, John

I've been following the Spit cockpit colour part of this thread with interest as I have an Airfix Mk.I on hold until I can determine the "correct" shade. Edgar's arguments for Humbrol 90 are persuasive enough for me, but what is this shade? It seems that the contents of the recent tins have been changed to a shade nearer Sky. Is that close enough given possible variations in batches as discussed for Sky, or can someone suggest a mix? Thanks in advance, John

How about the head armour plate and the rest of the cockpit? If black, would a/c converted from the ealrier style canopy have had the cockpit and/or inside of hood resprayed. John

A word of warning regarding the Airfix Mk.I - it you want to build a BoB Ia or a Mk.IIa from it then you'll need a replacement canopy as that included in the kit is a later style with bulged sides as well as domed top (it ought only to have the latter). Personally, I go with the Tamiya Mk.I instead. If you want to use the Airfix Mk.IX, then I suggest you get the Aeroclub correction set for it, which includes a new rudder, wingtips, prop blades and spinner and wide and narrow canon bulges. John

I wish there was adefinitive answer to this question, as it has bugged me for some time. Scarborough and Cross say eau-de-nil plus a dash of lime, which is light in tone, and seems to match visible cockpit areas in photos of early production a/c. Edgar says Humbrol 90, after inspecting the interior of an original Mk I, which is not too far off the former shade. But then Paul Lucas, in the Model Aircraft Monthly Spitfire Special, states a 'bright green', close to FS34138, "which was found on pieces of wreckage from Spitfire Mk I, X4422, which are held by the Shoreham Aircraft Museum." This is the colour that is sometimes referred to as 'apple green', and is darker and more lurid than the above. Which is correct - or are both correct? Does anyone else have any info on the Shoreham examples? John

As far as I know the radiators were the same on the prototype and production Spits. You might be getting confused with the Speed Spitfire, which is also available as a conversion from Aeroclub and has an enlarged radiator. If the Aeroclub conversion is still available its probably the best way to go as you also get the exhausts, which are difficult to make from scratch, though I don't think the canopy has a flat screen, as is required for the Xtradecal version. The Pegasus kit is good, although when I've came across them on eBay they have gone for silly prices (but then you need to consider the cost of aftermarket items/donor kits to add to that of the Airfix kit). I have the Paragon conversion, which is excellent, though expensive, as it has a correctly shaped rudder and hinged undercarriage doors as well as the other parts, which enables any version of the prototype to be built. I'll be using it with the Airfix kit when I get around to it. Oddly, though, it is designed for use with the old Hasegawa kit, which is fine except that the latter, as well as being OOP, lacks the characteristic gull wing effect! Lastly, there is a superb resin kit out there (I forget the manaufacturer) but it costs around £21! John

The old Hasegawa Mk.I kit has a two-bladed prop and the correct style canopy with flat, unarmoured windscreen for the a/c depicted in the Xtradecal instructions. The canopy is slightly too tall but it is easily sanded down on the bottom edge to fit the Airfix fuselage (which is easier than modifying the Airfix one). You can also use the main undercarriage set to replace the clunky Airfix items. Although OOP the Hasegawa kit is available from Kingkit and examples occasionally turn up on eBay. John

Excellent reference source - thanks for the tip. John

I usually get more enjoyment from adding detail to one of the decent Airfix, Matchbox or Frog kit that from building some of the more expensive kits, especially those by Special Hobby or MPM, etc. The first is called modelling, the other is often best described as correcting someone else's poor work in order to make parts fit. It can be much more enjoyable and rewarding to just add it yourself. John

Check out this report on Hyperscale too - "Tonight's video is an interview with Darrell Burge, Marketing Manager from Airfix, who discusses new and forthcoming releases." :- http://www.hyperscale.com/what's.htm Thnigs seem to be looking up. John

Nice model. I'd opt for the Airfix kit plus a set of Falcon replacement canopies. John

Hi, Does anyone know whether Lend Lease a/c such as Martlets, Corsairs, etc., were fitted with the British style Blind Flying Panel, or did they retain the American instrument layout? Thanks in advance, John

The green in the Southampton S6.a photo is very close to that which Model Alliance recommend in the instructions for their early Spit conversion. I've contacted them a couple of times but they won't respond with a source for this recommedation. Eau-de-Nil is a noticably paler and less lurid a shade of green and is closer to though slightly brighter and more green than Humbrol 90, which is recommended by Edgar. Humbrol 90 is also close to the shade recommended in the Patrick Stephens book, the authors of which are said to have examined a pre-restoration a/c, as has Edgar.

Thanks Edgar. By the way, have you ever thought of writing a modeller's guide to Spitfires? I'd definitely buy it! John