elger Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 I've had Airfix' PR.XIX kit in my stash for some time, and after the huge Typhoon I wanted to build something smaller. With the exception of the propeller (if I recall correctly) from the box the kit builds into a type 390 - the actual, proper PR.XIX. I'm interested in building one of the early PR.XIXs, which were sort of rushed into production, officially designated the type 389. Ted Hooton describes these as a "panic conversion" based on F.XIV fighter airframes. Supermarine built 22 type 389s in April and May 1944. The first operational sortie with a XIX was on May 24th, 1944. The main difference between the 389 and 390 was that the latter was pressurized. For modeling purposes, this means a few modifications to the Airfix kit: On the exterior, the air scoop on the nose on the left hand side needs to be removed. 389 aircraft also had the cockpit side door. The 389 had 4-spoke wheels, and fishtail exhausts. Since the cockpit wasn't pressurized, the aft bulkhead was also standard, not a closed off bulkhead. To make these changes, starting with the cockpit interior, I've cannibalized an Eduard Spitfire IX overtrees kit I have in my stash for some parts. I'm using the Eduard seat and the aft bulkhead which fits the Airfix kit perfectly (I just had to cut off a little from the bottom to make the shelf with the oxygen tanks fit). In addition to these parts from the Eduard Spitfire IX, I used some parts of the Eduard zoom set for the PR.XIX. This included the instruments panel and various levers. Some details were fitted to the starboard fuselage, but I left off any parts that are connected to the pressurization system. I wasn't sure about the temperature gauges fitted to each side of the cockpit sidewalls so I did install those. Finally, I also used parts of Barracuda's detail set for the XIX. These include the rudder pedals, oxygen hose, undercarriage controls, control stick and the throttle quadrant. I didn't use Barracuda's seat. Although it's really nice it comes with seatbelts molded on; I wanted to give the aircraft an older Sutton type harness. This came from a PE set from my spares box. I'm thinking about maybe displaying one of the kit's cameras outside the aircraft so I'm fitting some camera parts from the spares box instead of the kit parts since these will be all but invisible once the model is finished anyway. I've just glued the fuselage halves together this morning. Anyway, as always, thanks for looking! 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Beautiful start 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 That's a very nice start on the cockpit! The tip about using Eduard parts for Airfix is duly noted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Jumpei Temma produced some very nice drawings of the Mk.XIX, among others. You can make your own judgement about accuaracy, but he's usually very diligent. http://www.geocities.jp/yoyuso/spit47/spit47e-3.html One thing he notes in his PR.XIX drawings (towards the bottom of link above) is that the Type 389 had a different windscreen profile to the Type 390. It appears to be unframed, but flat fronted rather than rounded. I found this interesting but have been unable to verify from photos. I imagine it would be difficult to see from most angles. Something to consider anyway. Edit: Also note the slightly different profile of the windscreen lower edge. regards, Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Well that's a most impressively detailed cockpit. Very well done. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie(kinda) Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Lovely cockpit...ip in particular looks superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Hi, Elger Just in case you are building RM645, at least one photo of this particular Mk.XIX shows no camera window in port side of the fuselage. Cheers Jure 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Amazing work on the interior. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Hello Elger, Nice job on the interior, congratrulations. I found that the rocker covers are a little bit of anemic, so I'll replace it. Keep carry on , that's fine. Corsaircorp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Thank Elger, You'll make one of the first, I 'll make "The last" Let me know, Do you think that "the last" aka PS888, has a two colour interior ? I tend to paint it like yours, all in interior green, but seemingly, in the fifties, some Aircraft had a black interior at least at the heigth of the console. I did'nt find any doc about this particular PS888. Thank you and keep carry on. Sincerely. Corsaircorp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 Assembling the model. People have said that the fit of the kit is good but I'm not sure; the wing to fuselage fit wasn't great and it needed a lot of sanding. I discovered a bit too late that the early PR.XIX would have had the standard fighter rear portion of the canopy. It's relatively easy to use the part from the Eduard kit except it means that the fuselage sides have to be built up. Some emergency plastic surgery it is: I'm also going to be adding some figures to this model. I'm not very good at figure painting, but I have fun... Thanks for looking! Elger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Good work on painting figures, Elger. Which set did they come from? Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 Thanks! The sitting figure is the Tamiya driver from the 'British utility vehicle' kit but the head is from ICM; the middle figure is from ICM and the right figure is from Hasegawa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 They looked familiar to me although I thought they all came from ICM set. What about a windshield fit? Looks fine on the photo but you never know ... Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 The fit of the front windshield is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I think you're being too modest about your figure painting ability, they look fine to me. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 It's a study week (i.e. 'vacation') at the university where I work. I had planned to do actual work this week (nice and quiet without any students) but my body had different ideas so that forced me to take it easy. As a result I did get some work done on the Spitfire. It's really nice to build a small model, I realized. You can actually hold it in one hand! You only need a small amount of paint! Painting each colour only takes minutes! Base coat was black Mr. Surfacer 1500, and on top is Mr. Paint PRU blue. Thanks for looking! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Very nice. How do you get on with the Mr. Paint range? Had an eye on them for a while. J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 7 minutes ago, JasonC said: Very nice. How do you get on with the Mr. Paint range? Had an eye on them for a while? J. I think they're fantastic. The colours are beautiful. It dries within seconds, generally easy to use - fairly idiot proof (good for me). Doesn't clog my airbrush, no drying on the tip. Airbrush only - if you try to brush paint them for touch ups it doesn't work because the paint is too thin (very ink like) and very hot - it eats its way through any paint underneath unless you spray it. The smell is pretty nasty though not less nasty than other acrylic lacquers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Hello, Elger Please excuse my ignorance but I do not get the part about the hot paint. Does it need to be heated up? Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 "Hot" meaning aggressive- the solvents attack the prior paint layer (if too much of the new stuff "puddled" on- thus light airbrushing). The XIX is looking sharp! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Thanks, Bob. I usually have this problems with old Testors Metalizers. I thought Elger could not mean that literally, but with new lines of paint coming out these days one never knows ... Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 Flash is not kind to the finished model but I thought I'd post a picture here since the aircraft is done. I'll take some proper pictures next week and post them in Ready for Inspection. Thanks all for for your interest, comments & support! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Beautiful ! My favourite Spitfire and the best looking version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Finished! Photos in Ready for Inspection here: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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