SimonL Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 (edited) Finally got around to pulling a Spitfire/Seafire kit out for this group build. Wanted something I could do without too much aggro as work is rather busy at the moment. Settled on this, which has been in my "to do" pile for a longish time (fair amount of dust on the box). Sprue parts after a bit of a wash: Decided on this scheme, as I have a plans to do a FR47 in the classic DSG/Sky markings. No funny business, just a straight OOB build. Edited May 22, 2016 by SimonL 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Looks like we have the same mortar and pestle. The exhausts will benefit from being drilled out on the Seafire 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 So I started off with the job I like least - masking the canopy. Surprisingly tough job to get right at first with what appeared to be a simple canopy - barely any straight lines it seemed. I then started gluing a few parts together. A few issues along the way - one of the rudder pedals was missing (short shot?), so I cut the other one off as well with the intention of scavenging from a past build for a better shaped part (scratch building not being a great skill of mine). I also managed to break the grip of the control column, but was able to glue it back on with too many problems. And as suggested by Darby, I drilled the exhausts out with a pin vice, used the tip of sharp blade to scrape to the right shape and then cleaned up by brushing with some Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. Thats it for now. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Nice start on a great kit Simon. Welcome to the GB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Good to see that those few problems with broken parts did not stop you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Nice scheme! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plasto Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Nice progress... The rudder pedal on my kit is also short shot. Cheers Plasto 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Hi Simon. Good to see you back with another build. Looking forward to following this one . I like what you did with the exhausts - they look very good. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 Thanks for the supportive feedback :-) Its a public holiday here in Australia as well so I managed to get some more done. Drilled out some of the lightening holes on the frame that holds the pilot seat, definitely improves its appearance. Then I dealt with the coloured lights on the underside of the fuselage. Some colouring in with suitable permanent markers, and then then carefully gluing into the (pre-painted) space on the fuselage underside. I then glued some kitchen foil to the back of the lights. The green light is a bit rough, but nothing a bit of gloss won't help with. Couldn't find any replacement pedals, so I fudged it with some plastic card. The instrument panel was painted with NATO Black (my usual "light" black), then dry brushed with white and some dots of clear gloss for the instrument glass. The seat frame and upper parts of the fuselage sides of the cockpit were also painted NATO Black and the dry brushed with some XF20 Medium Grey. I used Tamiya XF71 for the grey-green parts of the cockpit. The head pad was painted in some of my own mix of reddish-brown, Finally a wash of raw umber acrylic diluted with floor polish. The seat was painted grey-green with the seat pad with reddish-brown colour, although I think I might give the pad a wash of black as I think the seat pads were black leather? With the wash it actually looks pretty dark already so I might just leave it. While waiting for these to dry I stuck the wings together - no dramas and after some sanding of a few injection marks they were a pretty good fit. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphfan Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Nice work Simon. The additional work is going to make your cockpit a stand out, any plans for seatbelts? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 Thanks Steve. Yep, going to have a bash with some Tamiya tape. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted March 29, 2016 Author Share Posted March 29, 2016 Having leisurely day at home as work is closed today for the Easter break, so managed to make a bit of progress. Finished off the cockpit with some Tamiya tape straps, all fitted together rather well. Glued the fuselage halves together, rather nice fit. Once that cured, I then added the wings - no gap at all at the main join on the top, just a bit of gap at the rear part leading int the fuselage. Needed some filler here and there (Mr Surfacer 500) to fill in a few minor sink marks on the top and bottom of the wings. Got some painting done as well. Undercoated with white before finishing with some thin coats of Tamiya XF-3 yellow 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Good work on the cockpit, looks very realistic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 The cockpit certainly does look good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Hi Simon. Excellent progress! The cockpit does indeed look very good - I like your use of the raw umber wash. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 Thanks for the kind comments. Made a start on painting the main airframe today. Started with the underside, using Tamiya XF21 Sky, remembering to paint the wingtips white as an undercoat for the eventual yellow that will be needed there. The first coat revealed a few places that needed attention with Mr Surfacer and some wet'n'dry. I also attached the radiators and other bits before giving a second coat. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Hi Simon. The paintwork on the underside looks excellent. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Beautiful job Simon Are you going to have the canopy open it will be a shame to hide that lovely cockpit ? Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Just catching up Simon looks great so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 Nice work - quite a bit of progress! René 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted April 28, 2016 Author Share Posted April 28, 2016 Thanks for the kind words. Been a bit distracted with a friend visiting, managed to do a bit of painting last week but no chance to upload images. I will rectify that at the weekend. And yes Pat, I will be leaving the cockpit canopy open :-) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Nothing to worry about Simon, there are still a few weeks to complete your model, should not take much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted May 1, 2016 Author Share Posted May 1, 2016 Some progress made. First camouflage colour brushed on, dark slate grey using Tamiya XF-22 RLM Grey. I then pencilled in the pattern for the extra dark sea grey, and then brushed on Tamiya XF-24 Dark Grey. Little bit of Mr Surfacer needed where the windscreen met the fuselage. Wing tips were masked off and painted yellow. And thats where I am at for the time being - hope to get on to glossing and the decals next weekend. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Looks as if you've got good coverage brushing the paint on 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphfan Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Great brush painting Simon. I need some lessons on brush painting acrylics, they always end up gloopy for me, too many years using an AB and I've lost the basic skills !! Atb, Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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