06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Inspired by everyone's kind words on my Hurricane thread, and by Eludia's Spitfire build, I have rescued another from the stash. Thanks to the visit of HM The King to RAF Drem on 21 March 1940, to present the DFC to Squadron Leader Andrew Farquhar, we have a pictorial record of several of the aircraft and personnel on station that day. 602 had been active in the later months of 1939 and early days of 1940, contributing to the early RAF successes against the Luftwaffe's attacks on the Forth and North Sea coast. Spitfire at Drem 1940 by jongwinnett, on Flickr K9955 is seen here being worked on by the Erks for the benefit of the press. I love the chair! Fundekals do a sheet for Sqn/L Farquhar's aircraft which includes markings for K9955 as well. So, after no complete aircraft for many years, can I do 2 in as many months? Let's see! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Progress, such as it is, so far: Spitfire Mk. 1 cockpit detail by jongwinnett, on Flickr Airfix Spitfire by jongwinnett, on Flickr Spitfire by jongwinnett, on Flickr 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenCJ Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 that is a really good pic of a Spit. Nice and sharp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Yes. Not mine of course, so I should have said its for discussion purposes only, and I'm happy to remove on request, although I believe it to be copyright free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 The detective skills of Eludia and Stew have combined on the other thread to confirm that K9955 featured a blown canopy and de Havilland prop, as well as the pole type aerial mast. My use of the serial number is based on the Fundekals sheet, I haven't seen any other corroboration so far but the sheet seems well researched so I'm going along with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eludia Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 You're making me jealous Jon, I want to build another one now Cheers, Billy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eludia Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) A small enhancement on the kit, but one that will make a big difference to the view through the closed canopy, would be to add some harness straps made from masking tape. I didn't do it and I notice they are missing every time I look at the model. Makes the seat look very bare (I'm not opening her up to add them though, I'll live with it. I'm giving it away to a new home soon anyway) Edited January 27, 2015 by Eludia 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Excellent choice of subject Jon. I am somewhat biased as my grandfather was ground-crew on 602 squadron most likely worked on this machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Yes I'll be putting belts in. When I orginally started the kit I think I had planned to add a pilot, but if so I seem to have mislaid the narrow shouldered gentleman I could squeeze through the cockpit opening. Obviously it would have been much easier to add them before I closed the fuselage, but that would require planning and forethought, not modelling qualities I posses in abundance. L1592 has homemade belts, and they do make a difference. For K9955 I'm going to try the Eduard fabric ones, but I need to blast the sanding dust out of the 'pit first. Col. That's a fantastic connection. If I can contrive a fitter balancing on a chair, I shall. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Col. That's a fantastic connection. If I can contrive a fitter balancing on a chair, I shall. Brilliant idea Have already built the 48th scale Tamiya kit as an early 602 machine but got the Aires detail set and 72nd scale Tamiya kit to do a diorama that will feature one of those chairs as well. Found a group photo of him and his buddies sitting on what must have been standard issue RAF chairs. You are off to an impressive start with this one and I'll be hooked on any updates you post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempestwulf Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Classic build and a real joy. I've two on the go in my double build if you want some motivation, although you'll probably finish yours first. I can't really give any advice as it's such a simply kit but shapely like the darling she is. Keep up the great work Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Nice start 06/24. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean_M Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Just a pet peeve. Wheel humps on the inner wing need to be sanded flat. They were not part of early Spits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Brilliant idea Have already built the 48th scale Tamiya kit as an early 602 machine but got the Aires detail set and 72nd scale Tamiya kit to do a diorama that will feature one of those chairs as well. Found a group photo of him and his buddies sitting on what must have been standard issue RAF chairs. You are off to an impressive start with this one and I'll be hooked on any updates you post Would love to see that group photo if you're able to share it. Classic build and a real joy. I've two on the go in my double build if you want some motivation, although you'll probably finish yours first. I can't really give any advice as it's such a simply kit but shapely like the darling she is. Keep up the great work Jon Thanks for the encouragement. Your pair look lovely although I would struggle to tell them apart. There's just something about the early Spits isn't there. And as for no advice, I've read your thread. The trick with the canopies sounds like excellent advice if you ask me! And jsut think, with the 75th anniversary GB coming up we all have the perfect excuse to essay squadrons more of the things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Just a pet peeve. Wheel humps on the inner wing need to be sanded flat. They were not part of early Spits In this context how do I define early? This photo, seemingly taken the same day of another aircraft of the same squadron shows bulges. (Assuming I'm looking at the same lumps as you?) Wheel housing? by jongwinnett, on Flickr I suspect I hear the metallic scrape of a can of invertebrates opening, for which apologies in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Also check the fuselage/underside join behind the standing figure. Looks like black (or night?) paint roughly applied to the port half of the underside has been sloshed up over the demarcation. Given my struggles with masking, this may well be replicated in minature! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean_M Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 In this context how do I define early? This photo, seemingly taken the same day of another aircraft of the same squadron shows bulges. (Assuming I'm looking at the same lumps as you?) Wheel housing? by jongwinnett, on Flickr I suspect I hear the metallic scrape of a can of invertebrates opening, for which apologies in advance. I do stand to be corrected and have had this conversation with people like Edgar who is one of our resident experts. I also thought it was wheel well and I am told to look again. i.e. its the shadow of the erk. Look at the other shadow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Thanks Sean. I certainly wouldn't want to get embroiled in a long debate about this. My eyes see a lump, which conveniently matches the lump moulded on the kit. I'll live with the lump. My apologies to any purists that offends. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean_M Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Thanks Sean. I certainly wouldn't want to get embroiled in a long debate about this. My eyes see a lump, which conveniently matches the lump moulded on the kit. I'll live with the lump. My apologies to any purists that offends. not at all like many modellers say- It's your canvas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) Looks good to me. I've assembled about a dozen of the Airfix Spitfires and there are a couple of simple things that'll improve the look of yours. Firstly, the seat belts were intertia reel and attached to a point in the rear fuselage. So, when you put the Eduard one in place, one end should 'disappear' behind the seat. I've used photo-etch ones and they're stiff enough not to fall down behind the seat, don't know about the fabric ones. Here's a link to The Spitfire Site that'll explain what I'm trying to say. Secondly, Airfix have missed the rudder actuator (I think that's what it's called). This link from the IMPS site (I know it's a MkIX but it illustrates my point) shows what I mean. It's easy to replicate with a bit of stretched sprue, thin brass rod or, perhaps, a piece of plain guitar string. Looking forward to the rest of the build. Simon (edited to make sense) Edited January 27, 2015 by Beard 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Another early Spitfire, looks to have the bulge present: regards, Jack 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Looks good to me. I've assembled about a dozen of the Airfix Spitfires and there are a couple of simple things that'll improve the look of yours. Firstly, the seat belts were intertia reel and attached to a point in the rear fuselage. So, when you put the Eduard one in place, one end should 'disappear' behind the seat. I've used photo-etch ones and they're stiff enough not to fall down behind the seat, don't know about the fabric ones. Here's a link to The Spitfire Site that'll explain what I'm trying to say. Secondly, Airfix have missed the rudder actuator (I think that's what it's called). This link from the IMPS site (I know it's a MkIX but it illustrates my point) shows what I mean. It's easy to replicate with a bit of stretched sprue, thin brass rod or, perhaps, a piece of plain guitar string. Looking forward to the rest of the build. Simon (edited to make sense) Thank you. I remembered the Sutton harness extended behind the seat, but didn't know where it anchored. I think for 1/72 and a closed cockpit I'll try to attach it to the underside of the bar that projects rearwards from the seat. Again, so much easier if I wasn't needing to retro fit them! Was there a rudder actuator on both sides or only port? I think the Hurricane probably has some similar simplification under the tail, and I turned a cheerfully nelsonian eye on that, but I noticed the actuator on the Spit in Col.'s build and thought I probably couldn't completely ignore it. More obvious on K9955 are the two L section glare hiders (?) on the top of the tank ahead the windscreen. The smallest L section brass I have is 1mm by 1mm and is clearly too large. Two possible solutions present themselves, (three if you include that Nelson eye again), either buy (no idea where from) or scrounge (ditto) some smaller L section, or try cutting a slit in the top of the tank and embedding some plain brass strip in. A smidge of 5thou plastic sheet might fool the eye for the section. Could I get away with two plastic strips butted up against each other? Welded on with cement after final shaping they might survive the rest of the build? But they would be very fragile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Good luck with seat belts, I've had to (re-) attach them after closing the fuselage (I dropped the kit!) and I turned the air blue. Did it in the end though. I think there's only one rudder actuator. I'm not sure what the strips are on the photo... they don't look like the anti-exhaust-glare thingies but I'm on my phone and the picture isn't very large. I'd suggest asking in the WW2 discussion room (there's a thread purely for Spitfire questions), there are quite a few knowledgeable people who should notice the question. As to how to make them, I suggest thin plastic strip but I'm a ham-fisted amateur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Sutton harness added with only a minimum of Anglo Saxon outbursts: Sutton harness by jongwinnett, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Evergreen strip goes down to 10*20 thou which, while oversize, might give the right effect for the strips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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