Spitfire Mk. IXc MJ250 - Eduard 1/72 ++ FINISHED ++

[CedB]

I'd like to join in with a new Eduard Spitfire Mk IX using the kit scheme for MJ250 as UFoQ No 601 Sqn Italy, Summer 1944.

I'm hoping this is going to be an easy build, OOB (but with the PE obviously). For those who don't know the kit, there's a review here and I'm hoping to get close to Nick's build using my favourite AK True Metal pastes.

[Beard]

Please may I tag along?

[CedB]

Of course Simon - I need you for questions!

First one... page one... panel B - which bulkhead, B39 or B41 and how are you supposed to decide?

Looks like B39 has PE armour but was that fitted to UFoQ?

I think I'm going to do this one on the one bench, hand painted. Nice and relaxing (famous last words!)

[Beard]

Thanks Ced.

 

I was hoping to sit at the back and keep my head down.

 

So far, I've only glanced at the instructions, and I'm watching a documentary about HMS Hood on iPlayer, I'll have another look in a minute and give you my opinion (not that it'll be a lot of use).

 

Edit: The only difference between the parts is that B41 has the head armour and B39 doesn't (you can use the PE part PE12 to add the armour). I can't imagine that any MkIX wouldn't have had head armour as it was introduced in February 1940. See the thread below, the third post by the late Edgar provides the answer, 

Your choice as to which part to use.

 

I'm going back to my documentary now.

Edited October 3, 2016 by Beard
To answer Ced's question.

[amblypygid]

Ced, I think B39 and B41 are intended to be the same - you get armour with both. B41 looks like it's just plastic; B39 is ready-made for PE attachment should you want to use it. At least, that's how I interpret the instructions. Eduard are so considerate that they'll save you the trouble of sanding down B41 and you'll have a spare seat afterwards.

 

(Ah, Mr Beard beat me to it, sorry!)

Edited October 3, 2016 by amblypygid

[giemme]

How come there's no pictures yet?  Alright, alright, I'll try to be patient...    

 

Ciao

[Procopius]

Two of my favourite things, Buffers, and a Spitfire. 

[Beard]

4 minutes ago, Procopius said:

Two of my favourite things, Buffers, and a Spitfire. 

 

What about brown paper packages, tied up with string?

 

(And with that, I'm off back to iPlayer.)

[Procopius]

1 minute ago, Beard said:

 

What about brown paper packages, tied up with string?

 

(And with that, I'm off back to iPlayer.)

 

Since for me those usually herald more Spitfires, sure.

[Airgunner]

Aye, aye, Ceds at it again! The mans a bloody machine. In.

[sean]

.....Sorted. .........If it gets to long, I'll get more....

Sean

[bbudde]

Hello, in here as I obviously missed the important parts of the last thread. Oh.

[rob85]

I'm in Ced! 

 

I have had a peak at nick's silver spitfire in the flesh, it's great work!  Looking forward to seeing your take Ced!

 

 Rob 

[CedB]

Thanks Simon and Chris - oooh, plastic or PE armour, that's a hard choice... I'l have a fondle...

 

Hi Giorgio - pictures? OK, here's one you've probably seen before:

 

 

There she is in the background - oooh look, a bomb! Apparently, according to the RAF website 601, "The Millionaires Squadron""

"In October [1943] No.601 moved to Italy, where it spent the rest of the war flying ground attack missions in support of the Allied armies."

 

There's a whole thread here on BM as to whether the top of the cowling was camo or not. I'm going with the camo because it'll look nice. So there.

 

2 hours ago, Procopius said:

Two of my favourite things, Buffers, and a Spitfire. 

 

Awww, thanks PC

 

[Stuff about Mary Poppins, brown paper bags...]

 

Thanks Steve, Sean, Benedikt and Rob and welcome everyone!

 

I've done a bit more research but nothing exciting so I'd better get on with it... I think this is my first Eduard kit so I'm looking forward to a bit of high quality plastic. There's certainly enough of it!

[Stew Dapple]

Blast! Late again! Sorry Ced; I'll quietly take a seat at the back, please carry on old chap

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[stevehnz]

You look to have the usual gallery of reprobates Ced, mind if I join in (in the back ground) I'm sure there'll be some more along soon. Only a single engine & no tricky decals, shouldn't go past 12 pages, should it?

Steve.

[giemme]

7 hours ago, CedB said:

Hi Giorgio - pictures? OK, here's one you've probably seen before

Now that's a great pic!   Very intriguing subject, Ced  

 

Ciao

[CedB]

Hi Stew and welcome  

Hi Steve - reprobates? Where?  I'm making no promises on finishing within any number of pages because, as you know, if I don't build fast enough and/or keep people's interest they may wander off topic a bit. I love aspect of BM and will look forward to seeing where things lead us...

Thanks Giorgio - glad you like the picture!

 

I'm going to have a read of some previous build threads to see if there are any pitfalls. Then it's out with the sharp things. Soon. Hopefully before page 2. Rats, there's no post count in v4 so this may be post 21 and go onto page 2 when I 'submit'. Tense...

[stevehnz]

1 hour ago, CedB said:

 I'm making no promises on finishing within any number of pages because, as you know, if I don't build fast enough and/or keep people's interest they may wander off topic a bit.

May has nothing to do with it, some things are a given, like the sun rising in the east, night following day & this mob wandering of topic. I'll look forward to the ride, a magical mystery tour.

Steve.

[CedB]

Thanks Steve - "Hold onto your hats boys!"

(What's happened to 'Ice Pilots'? We need another series!)

 

I've spent some time searching the 'net and found some more stuff...

The Aviation Forum has a thread on this that states that "MJ250 is in natural metal finish, only the fabric areas were painted silver." So, fabric areas... that'll be... just the back of the rudder and elevators? I've read that the original fabric covered ailerons were replaced because they locked in speed dives. Yikes. Also:

"During the summer of 1944. MJ250 was flown by two Polish pilots attached to 610 Squadron from 318 (Polish) Squadron. F/Lt Zdzisław Uchwat bombed a road junction at Cagli on 15th July and tanks and other vehicles in the Cagli area on 17th July. F/Lt Jerzy Hamankiewicz on 3rd August bombed gun emplacements near Florence and escorted 12 Marauders bombing a bridge north of Ferrara on 14th August."

It also says that in October 2007 the BBMF's MK356 was sent for Overhaul by ARC at Duxford,The clipped wings were returned to standard shape during this time and the Spitfire was painted to represent “MJ250” in the Silver scheme of 601(County of London) when it operated in Italy in 1943 coded UF-Q. There's a thread about the rebuild here and you can see her flying:

 

 

It's a repaint Ced...

Sadly MK356 is now back in camo. Well, sad for me at the moment anyway.

Interestingly (??) when I first watched that video on YouTube the (annoying) introductory ad was some nice young lady presumably selling something (I didn't watch it) but after my search for 'Ice Pilots' it's now suggesting I go on holiday in Alberta. It's almost as though something is watching my browsing! Who'd a thought it...

 

For some reason that reminded me of a clip on 'Quote Unquote' yesterday, seen written in a toilet somewhere:

Three things I hate:

1. Lists
2. Graffiti
3. Irony

Funny.

 

Right, for goodness sake get on with it!

[TonyTiger66]

Reprobates?

 

 

 

A silver Spitfire with a big bomb. Very nice choice Ced.

 

Sat at the back with a choc-ice, some Opal Fruits and a Marathon Bar (no snickering).

 

Looking forward to this Ced as I would like a few IXc's and this kit has been recommended (along with the AZ kit).

 

Best regards 

TonyT

[Spookytooth]

Sorry Ced, late on parade again sir.

Will take the punishment or yankers, spud bashing is it sir?

 

Simon.

[TEMPESTMK5]

Good afternoon Ced

A Nmf Spit a very interesting build I take a seat to follow you ..

 

Patrice

[CedB]

Out of likes today - apologies.

Thanks and welcome to Tony, Simon and Patrice  No worries about late arrivals... but you'll have to stack the chairs at the end  

 

Believe it or not 🎶 I'm walking on air, I never thought... 🎶 oops, sorry, broke into song there. Try again.

Believe it or not I've done some construction this morning. As well as making myself some thin Micro-mesh sanders (that took ages) I've started on the internals.

 

 

 

 

Nice detail on the parts. Although there are good location lugs on the seat and sides a quick dry fit on the armour showed that it forced the sides apart, so one side was glued and left to dry and then the other was attached (pushing the lug through the PE) and clamped. 

 

There is some slight flash that normally wouldn't bother me but if I'm using PE on this there will be close up shots, so it needs to be addressed. You can see it inside the rod bits (the outside has been done with the Citadel seam scraper):

 

 

Then the tiny, tiny, tiny brake lever was attached using CA:

 

 

 

 

Good job I cleaned my magnifying desk helper, used for that shot and shown here:

 

 

You can see how 'intense' my build gets by the stuff all over the cutting mat. Untidy for me!

Next job was to apply the PE to the i/p. The label on the Gator's Grip 'thin blend' says "A Perfect Blend for Photo Etch" so I thought I'd try it:

 

 

 

 

I'm assuming that the glue will dry clear (as usual) and serve the dual purpose of imitating the glass dials - we shall see when it's dry (jeopardy at the end of the post)...

 

[Spookytooth]

A fine start Ced, the IP looks nice, I like the PE. 

 

Simon.