PlaStix Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 (edited) Well I have decided to do a second kit alongside the first if that's okay? My original choice was to make the 1/72 Airfix MkII Spitfire kit - which I still intend to. However I picked up the dreaded* Italeri 1/72 MkIX Spitfire on Monday and, as it was only £5.99 from the Ian Allen shop in Birmingham, I thought I could do both kits together for this group build. I already had some ideas for improving the cockpit of the Airfix kit and now, having seen the complete lack of detail on the sides of the MkIX, I felt I could work on them at the same time to make them better. * I am aware of most modellers' feelings about this kit! ... But it looks nice in the box and I fancy a challenge! Not done much yet apart from give the parts a wash in warm soapy water. Box, sprue, decals and instructions photos: This one shows the complete lack of detail on the cockpit sides: Hopefully I will get started on at least one of the kits tomorrow. Kind regards, Stix Edited April 25, 2014 by PlaStix 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolwe82 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 more spitfires.. you realy make me want to build some spit too! Have various options here (airfix, AZ model, even old KP..), but no italeri, so going to watch carefuly how you can do this, though im sure it ll be great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Other than the lack of sidewall detail, that looks quite nice. I have to say I don't know about the problems of this kit, but I'm certain I'll find out, watching your build. Regards, Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgbn Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Why is this IX dreaded? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 Why is this IX dreaded? Apparently the fit of some key parts is really poor, to the extent that some modellers have given up on it. I've seen a few finished quite nicely across the interweb and have picked up a few ideas of how to overcome a couple of the issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I'll let Lee(The Wooksta)tell you what he thinks of it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgbn Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I have build 2 of these and didn't have much trouble 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jockster Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I have this and the Vb, so I am too curious about the dreaded bit. I will certainly be watching with interest! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnd Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 The criticisms about fit concern the separate nose parts. Apparently the Mk.V isn't too bad, but the IX is in terms of both fit (and the appearance) of the nose. The other main issue is about the absence of wing fillet detail. Also I hear that the propellers on both kits are poor. It is certainly possible to build a decent model out of it though, as various pictures around the web show. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Well I have decided to do a second kit alongside the first if that's okay? Not a problem. You can have as many builds running alongside as you like. Just ask Speedman. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 I have build 2 of these and didn't have much trouble That's good to know hgbn - thank you. Not a problem. You can have as many builds running alongside as you like. Just ask Speedman. Thank you Snapper. I made a start on both my kits this morning but concentrated mostly on the cockpit of this one. No photos yet but I'll try and get some done in the near future. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) I have managed to make a bit of a start on the two kits I'm doing for this group build. The other one is another Spitfire but from Airfix.I've started with the cockpit first. Having seen how others have managed to improve the interior I decided, as I hope to have this one with the canopy and door open, that I would use some Evergreen micro-strip, micro-rod and some wire to make some of the bits and pieces that are lacking, especially on the side walls.This is how the side walls looked before:....and this is after I'd made a start. They still need some tidying up - especially where there is extra glue around:I still need to add some more but I will wait until these are painted and weathered.I also did some work on the door, floor and below the instrument panel:A lot of this stuff isn't 100% accurate or to scale in some places but I wanted to create an impression of a busy cockpit, a little like the real ones.Next up will be the tidying up and then the first coat of Humbrol's cockpit green.All comments an suggestions welcome.Kind regards,Stix Edited February 23, 2014 by PlaStix 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Nice start! Problems (with the V as I've not done the IX) the cannon barrels and aerial are 'blobs' and the tailwheel may be a bit chunky. The prop blades are also the wrong shape. I also believe that the IX nose is the same length as the V! Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPaul Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 That's a very nice start. Looks like you will have no problems whipping this kit into shape! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolwe82 Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 very nice and clean scratchbuilding Stix! great work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Nice start! Problems (with the V as I've not done the IX) the cannon barrels and aerial are 'blobs' and the tailwheel may be a bit chunky. The prop blades are also the wrong shape. I also believe that the IX nose is the same length as the V! Trevor Thank you for your comments and notes Trevor. From reading stuff on the internet I know there are issues with this kit. I will try and deal with each as I get to them. I can always pause on this kit and work on the Airfix one while deciding what to do. I do like your forum name by the way - I used to be in a band called Max Headroom and the Carparks many years ago (too many!). Fun times! Whenever I see a post from you it always makes me smile! Thank you Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Stix! Thanks for the kind words. If you have some Airfix V spares then substitute the offending items with those. Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) Stix! Thanks for the kind words. If you have some Airfix V spares then substitute the offending items with those. Trevor Unfortunately I don't. Never mind - I'll try and sort something out - it's part of the fun!Kind regards, Stix That's a very nice start. Looks like you will have no problems whipping this kit into shape! Thanks MPaul. Well we'll see about the latter. Not got to any of the major problems yet!Kind regards, Stix Edited February 23, 2014 by PlaStix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) very nice and clean scratchbuilding Stix! great workThank you Wolwe82. I got some paint on and did some dry brushing this afternoon on the cockpit areas but didn't take any photos. Will try to do so soon.Kind regards, Stix Edited February 23, 2014 by PlaStix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 As others have said, the fit of the nose is "interesting"... the flimsy plastic also does not help. Italeri over-engineered their spitfires to allow the IX and the V to be made using as many common parts as possible and this results in the need for plenty of filler. If you're interested in the accuracy issues then there's several.... the IX nose for a starter is too short, the propeller is bad, the radiators have a funny shape with sloping walls, the spent case ejection ports under the wing don't match with the position of the MGs, there's no proper wing-fuselage fillet, the sides of the fuselage around the cockpit are straight instead of having an oval section... should I keep going ?? Still, it can be built into something acceptable, and judging from the nice start you made on the cockpit detail I'm sure you'll make a great model out of this ! Mine was finally built as a Seafire III, in that way the length of the nose was no problem as I shortened it further to Mk.V standard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 (edited) As others have said, the fit of the nose is "interesting"... the flimsy plastic also does not help. Italeri over-engineered their spitfires to allow the IX and the V to be made using as many common parts as possible and this results in the need for plenty of filler. If you're interested in the accuracy issues then there's several.... the IX nose for a starter is too short, the propeller is bad, the radiators have a funny shape with sloping walls, the spent case ejection ports under the wing don't match with the position of the MGs, there's no proper wing-fuselage fillet, the sides of the fuselage around the cockpit are straight instead of having an oval section... should I keep going ?? Still, it can be built into something acceptable, and judging from the nice start you made on the cockpit detail I'm sure you'll make a great model out of this ! Mine was finally built as a Seafire III, in that way the length of the nose was no problem as I shortened it further to Mk.V standard Wow, thank you for the detailed information. I think I have some ideas of how to solve some of the issues but I think, realistically, some of them I am going to have to live with! I am trawling the internet looking at what others have done plus, as I said, I have a couple of ideas (but I'm not declaring my hand just yet so as not to look foolish (or more foolish) in the long-run!) Plus I am open to all suggestions! Thank you again. Kind regards, Stix Edited February 24, 2014 by PlaStix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Agree, some of the issues would require too much surgery and are better left alone. The flat fuselage sides for example are not easy to sort, although some scraping might help. When I built mine, I just left the access panel open to draw the attention away... and with all the details you're adding opening this is IMHO a good idea anyway. The wing-fuselage fillet can sorted with plasticard, but some modellers are happy to just scribe a line, not 100% correct but hides the problem. The nose can be lengthened if wished and the case ejection port (only one is wrong per wing, can't remember which one now) can be filled and rescribed. The radiators can be easily rebuilt with plasticard or replaced, the propeller however really needs replacing (yes, it is that bad). Looking forward to seeing what you'll achieve with this kit ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hi Stix, That's looking pretty sweet so far - nice extras in the cockpit too, very impressive Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Agree, some of the issues would require too much surgery and are better left alone. The flat fuselage sides for example are not easy to sort, although some scraping might help. When I built mine, I just left the access panel open to draw the attention away... and with all the details you're adding opening this is IMHO a good idea anyway. The wing-fuselage fillet can sorted with plasticard, but some modellers are happy to just scribe a line, not 100% correct but hides the problem. The nose can be lengthened if wished and the case ejection port (only one is wrong per wing, can't remember which one now) can be filled and rescribed. The radiators can be easily rebuilt with plasticard or replaced, the propeller however really needs replacing (yes, it is that bad). Looking forward to seeing what you'll achieve with this kit ! Hi Giorgio, Thank you again for your detailed notes - they are very helpful. With regards the sides - I'm going to go with your idea of having the access panel open. On the next few points I am going to require some assistance, in that I am really a novice at this level of modelling - I usually build straight out the box and assume the kit manufacturer has made it correctly - something I have learnt is not always the case since joining BM! I am not sure what you mean by wing-fuselage fillet? and also which bit counts as the nose? I would like to try and make this kit as well as it can be made if I can manage it. With regards the radiators I will probably rebuild them but I'm not sure what I will be able to do about the propeller as I don't have a spare - and as i am building this as part of the 'Less than a tenner' group build I don't want to purchase another. Thank you again for your assistance so far. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 The wing-fuselage fillet is the part shown in the picture below: http://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/detail_spitfire_ix_21.jpg On the Spitfire, this is a very characteristic shape that sees the use of a metal fairing located over the fuselage. You can see in the picture how it differs from the Italeri part and how it protrudes from the fuselage side. A look at a few pictures of this area will show you how complex this really is. IIRC the Italeri kit has nothing of the kind and actually this is an area that has been neglected in many kits of the Spitfire. Now there are two options to sort this: - the hard way, use plasticard and/or filler to recreate the fairing. - the easy way: scribe a liine defining this area on the fuselage side. In 1/72 scale the result is decent enough. The nose: the Italeri kit has a rear fuselage that is common to both the IX and the Vb kits. The parts that are short are the ones used for the engine cowling of the IX alone. IIRC they are 3 parts (left, right and lower). To be honest I'm not sure it's easy to modify these parts and add the required length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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