Sparzanza Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 This is what I have been working on while waiting for my 1/24 Spitfire's wingspar from Steve. I posted this on LSP but I figured I'd post here as well as my "first" build. It will be built OOB as per usual by me, with cushion made of milliput, and crudely made belts of Tamiya tape and extremely stiff and annoying fuse wire. It turned out alright though. The instrumentpanel was painted with artistic license to some degree, as all reference pictures I found via Google varied enormously. I put some Microscale Kristal Klear in the dials and it looks really sweet once dry. The cockpit floor (that a lot of people helped me out with in regards with colours in an LSP thread) was painted up to the best of my ability, and then I noticed these two mysterious holes in it. Apparently they're dials (!) - for checking fuel in either wing, if I understood it correctly. So, I filled these holes with Micro Kristal Klear as well and it turned out better than expected. And with the seat in place it looks good enough to me. And then there were a couple of boxes on a rack that needed to be painted, so I did that... along with the machineguns. The ammo belts were painted up, and then the propeller got some love as well, just need to glosscoat it for its decals. Here are some rough pictures taken with the instrument panel and cockpit floor dryfitted inside the right fuselage half... very awkward to photograph, but I think yous will get the idea... And the rearwings.. tailplanes... horizontal stabilizers? Whatever they're called: And finally the engine, which is more or less completed... I'd say 99%. Exhausts dryfitted: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 That looks really good so far. A lot of the built examples of this seem often to some out with inadequate dihedral, which would be a shame given the quality of your work so far. Is there any help available from the LSPers about improving that aspect of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 That looks really good so far. A lot of the built examples of this seem often to some out with inadequate dihedral, which would be a shame given the quality of your work so far. Is there any help available from the LSPers about improving that aspect of it? Thank you for your comment. I have not seen any complaints about the kits dihedral... only the complete lack of wheel wells seems to bug people out. The windscreen is also supposedly an absolute horror to fit. Anyway, I'm really not much of a scratchbuilder, so I don't think I'll touch anything with the dihedral. I build all my kits OOB with minor tweaks, such as seat cushions and tape belts (Radub ones when I can afford it) - but anything major such as wingspars, wheelwells... anything involving measuring, cutting, and measuring some more puts me off instantly. Some people like to do that stuff, but I just cannot be bothered as it takes all the joy away for me - and joy is what the hobby is about after all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimHead23 Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 That's looking superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 Thanks a lot JimHead! Love me an old Airfix kit. And when I get sick of the flash, I build Trumpeter kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 I ordered the diamond treaded wheels from Grey Matter Figures because the kit ones were crap. Sadly the tyres was slightly misshapen so I couldn't fit the rims in them properly, and the tail wheel's rim started to come apart when trying to smooth out some rough spots. Rotten luck! Kit wheels for the time being then. I finished painting and weathering the tailwheel assembly. I also added some oil stains on the engine. Not so easily spotted but oh well... less is more. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grayson Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 This looks like it will be something special. I look forward to your updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 Thanks a lot for your comment, Grayson! I do try my best to make it something special... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Looking superb, lovely detailing of this old brut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Thanks for your comment, woody37! I quite like the detail straight out of the box actually! All one has to do is paint it up... Here's a small update. I've added more stuff inside the right fuselage half. There's a LOT of stuff that has to sit in the correct slot and angle before mating the two halves together. The fact that I like to have stuff movable doesn't aid me in this regard... I take one piece at a time, glue it into its slot, tape the fuselage halves together... and let it dry in position. Piece by piece. Time consuming to say the least. I still have the engine, firewall, cockpit, and tailwheel to install before I can slap this stuff together. At the moment I'm detailing the firewall, so I'm inching ever closer... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike romeo Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Great paint job, so far! regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyhunter66 Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Superb - going to watch this with interest Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Great paint job, so far! regards, Martin Thank you Martin! If all goes according to plan, this will be the first aircraft kit that I finished using an airbrush... this or my 1/24 Airfix Spitfire. Time will tell! Superb - going to watch this with interest Chris Thank you Chris, glad to have you aboard! Here's an update. I did what my friend Anders told me at the LSP forum regarding the misshapen GMF tyres - namely dropping them into some hot (nearly boiling) water for a few seconds, and then fish them up and give them a little squeeze. It wasn't perfect, but they're far rounder than when they arrived! The rims slips in... ish. So! I started modifying the (normally unseen) kit wheelhub that is supposed to go between the original rim halves and slot into the landing gear leg. The GMF wheels came with holes instead of any kind of attachment point, so I was forced to make something resembling one. Incoming bad pictures! I took the kit part (no. 2) and cut around the stick in the middle with a plier until there was no wheelhub left - resulting in this little device (no. 1). I then glued this stick into the kit landing gear, and voilá! The GMF wheels fits. Not the best solution in the world, but hey... it works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Watching this with interest as I'm building one a friend gave me, to return completed. I've buttoned up the fuselage and will start on the wings sometime soon. The biggest problem is the complete lack of wheel wells,but I have the old Cross and Scarborough book which has a 1/24 template for the wing spar so that will be my starting point. Good luck John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders154 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Looking good I do like the nail varnish Rodders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Watching this with interest as I'm building one a friend gave me, to return completed. I've buttoned up the fuselage and will start on the wings sometime soon. The biggest problem is the complete lack of wheel wells,but I have the old Cross and Scarborough book which has a 1/24 template for the wing spar so that will be my starting point. Good luck John Thanks for your comment John! I'm glad another one of these beaut's are being built. I myself will probably paint what Airfix calls "wheel wells" with zinc chromate yellow and leave it like that... I'm lazy! If you'd like to post pictures of your progress in this thread, be my guest! The more Airfix 1/24's, the better. Looking good I do like the nail varnish Rodders Haha thank you Rodders! I learned the palette trick from a finn by the name of Juha... a far superior modeller! Maybe it's the key to success. The product line is currently at a little stand still as my medium head assembly for the airbrush seem to have clogged up when using Vallejo's primers, so it's taken apart and put in acetone for a few days. I do have my fine head assembly along with the fine needle of course, but I do not have any detail work to spray paint yet. So... until the head assembly is cleaned up (I tried by hand but I just couldn't get into all the tight spots), there won't be any worthwhile updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Really nice work on this old classic. I look forward to your next update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 9, 2015 Author Share Posted May 9, 2015 Really nice work on this old classic. I look forward to your next update. Thank you Greg! And here it is! With the airbrush nursed back to health, I have managed to finish the firewall: Onwards! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirfixAndy Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 This is tempting me to do my Red-Tail one . Looking forward to more progress ....superb job at the mo Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 9, 2015 Author Share Posted May 9, 2015 Thank you Andy. My Red Tail one is next on the list after this and the Spitfire! Great idea of Airfix to give us that decal option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 (edited) Right then! These are the last images you will see of the Mustang in two halves. I've just got a couple of tiny fiddly bits to tidy up and it'll get closed up. The engine, firewall, instrument panel, cockpit floor etc are all glued into place! Phew. EDIT: Oh, I see I forgot to clean up the wash on the oil tank! Thank you Mr. Cellphone! Edited May 12, 2015 by Sparzanza 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirfixAndy Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Closing up fuselages always gives me mixed feelings ......sad that I wont see most of that lovely detail ever again but happy in that Im half way to building the kit Coming on great Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 Closing up fuselages always gives me mixed feelings ......sad that I wont see most of that lovely detail ever again but happy in that Im half way to building the kit Coming on great Andy I'm the same Andy! As long as we know the detail's present, right? I appreciate the comment! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Well the fuselage's been closed up... the surgery went a lot smoother than I expected. I have filled all the gaps (not as many as I first thought), the biggest problem was the fuselage halves not lining up properly around the rearwheel bay, air intakes and whatnot. I did my best to remedy this with stretched sprue. I am currently in the process of sanding all the rivets off the fuselage - well most of them - I made this decision after studying numerous reference pictures. I am also struggling a bit with the windshield - it just won't sit right. I had it glued on for a while; tilting it forward made it line up nicely in the front but left gaps in the back that I filled with Micro Kristal Klear. However, I realised that no amount of paint will hide that sloppy work, so off it went and I took the opportunity to sand off the crack in the side that appeared when cutting it off the sprue. Gradually sanding with finer and finer paper and finally giving it a round with the buff stick still left the windshield looking a bit milky though, so I will give it a bath of Future later on. The crack that I sanded off is visible on this picture, right hand side, bottom ... quite evident. But hey, the engine framing is all seamless and beautiful: And here's some progress with the bottom wings: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirfixAndy Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 You are doing a grand job mate . Good work on that windscreen. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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