SoftScience Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 At last, I've finished up the little Eduard Spitfire. This build began as part of the Mediterranean GB on this site, but got stalled midway through when I dropped the kit and had the PE instrument panel and control stick fly off into the ether. I replaced the PE with a decal, but never did find the control column, or gunsight. I replaced both with inferior pieces from an Airfix Mk.I which I culled from the herd. Butterfingers aside, Its a great kit. Not without its challenges (As Eduard would claim via its needlessly snarky youtube video), but what challenges are there, are easy enough to address. After withdrawing from the GB, I built my model as a machine flown by Slovak ace, Otto Smik, who flew with no. 312 (Czechoslovakian) squadron. Smik escaped Czechoslovakia in early 1940 and made his way to Iran, and eventually England. He began his training in late 1941 (in Canada), and began combat operations in January of 1943. He would go on to destroy 11 nazi aircraft, and three V-1 rockets. Smik was shot down in November of 1944 by AA fire while on a ground attack mission over the Dutch town of Zwolle. He was only 22 years old. The kit was painted with Tamiya paints. The fading effect in this photos looks far more harsh and stark than in real life. Could be due to the photography being done in bright morning sun. Thanks for looking. 29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 What a beautiful Spitfire. The weathering looks spot on to me. These planes got worked hard considering their often short lives, so to speak. A great tribute to Smik too. I have been pondering building an aircraft flown by him. Note to self, must try and watch Dark Blue World some time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 P.S. Dying to see this snarky vid from Eduard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Ha ha. Is it the film where a slightly seedy looking gentleman chucks a made up kit into a pan of boiling water? Presumably a comment of people's questioning the dimensions. I must admit Eduard have come up with some interesting marketing plays over the years. Who can forget the 'Nice tight fit' campaign. Personally I loved it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 1 minute ago, Meatbox8 said: Ha ha. Is it the film where a slightly seedy looking gentleman chucks a made up kit into a pan of boiling water? Presumably a comment of people's questioning the dimensions. I must admit Eduard have come up with some interesting marketing plays over the years. Who can forget the 'Nice tight fit' campaign. Personally I loved it! That's the one. I think its funny too. Especially since I did have to use hot water to warp the engine cover pieces But it seems a bit on the nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 It does rather but it did make me laugh. The fact that he hasn't shaved for about a week and is wearing a 'wife-beater' really adds something, I'm just not sure what though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 That is a really beautiful Spitfire. I agree about the weathering - absolutely spot on and looks superb. Great cockpit detail as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basuroy Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Lovely model ! I like the weathering especially Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuro Nezumi Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Wonderful finish! Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Well, off to take up knitting, then. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Very nicely done, great job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Beautiful! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcel Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Great built, I like it a lot! A real tribute to a brave fighter pilot Otto Smik. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 Thank you, all for the kind comments and likes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 (edited) On 1/9/2017 at 10:07 AM, Procopius said: Well, off to take up knitting, then. You're going to knit a spitfire? Would that make it a super-morino spitfire? Sorry, wife is a knitter. Marino means something to that crowd. Edited January 11, 2017 by SoftScience 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Chordwonder Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Great job. I'm in the process of building the Royal Class kits for a magazine review and my main gripe with this is the bloody tiny tiny pieces. I lost several too along the way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted January 11, 2017 Author Share Posted January 11, 2017 13 hours ago, 3Chordwonder said: Great job. I'm in the process of building the Royal Class kits for a magazine review and my main gripe with this is the bloody tiny tiny pieces. I lost several too along the way. I'm glad it isn't just me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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