Hubert Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) Hi All This is my first post here, so welcome, Mates Some time ago I decided to restart Revell's Spitfire Mk. 22, which I started around a year ago, but gave up temporarily due to its poor fit and lack of detail - and the most important, lack of idea, how to paint it. This time it is most of all an exercise in riveting (using RB tool and must say it is fun) - doing this for the very first time, so didn't want to spoil any better or more expensive kit... Anyway, going to add here some more details from the scratch: upgrade wheel wells and gear covers, add formation lights - this is really a vintage kit and it shows. In the end I hope to get a result, which will look nice in the second row on my shelf in Southern Rhodesian markings. That's how she looks like now: filed almost smooth, riveted, with some new panel lines, new position lights, drilled out exhaust stacks, upgraded cockpit, wheel wells ... In search of references I decided to buy a book about Rhodesian late mark Spitfires (Malloch's Spitfire: The Story and Restoration of PK350, by Nick Meikle), describing the restoration of Malloch's Spitfire F Mk.22. What a wonderful book, I tell you. There are several photos and drawings showing the camouflage of Rhodesian Spitfires after the delivery in 1951. They have been repainted from High Speed Silver to something, what is called here as High Altitude Blue. Have already found information somewhere in the archives of this Forum, that Humbrol 28 (and therefore Gunze H311) would be a match, but I'm looking at these colors in the Web and don't see any blue hue. What do you think, Mates - will glossy light ghost grey be a better match? Best regards Hubert Edited February 17, 2017 by Hubert 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Hi Hubert, Can't assist with your questions but I just wanted to say that your Spitfire looks fabulous. The extra detail in the wheel wells and elsewhere is making this rather basic kit a whole lot better! Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 Thanks, Adrian With little effort one can make it look almost like a Spitfire. However, I'm not going to correct all the wrong panel lines and shapes (and there's a lot of such things here), just want to add something looking better than out of box, which is actually very easy, as namely anything scratch-built here will look better. Best regards Hubert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I have two of these Matchbox models in my cabinet but they're not even close to your standard so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 On 19.02.2017 at 08:52, Bell209 said: I have two of these Matchbox models in my cabinet but they're not even close to your standard so far! Thanks for watching and your nice comment To be true, haven't done anything special, just filing, sanding, scribing and riveting, few stripes of plastic here and there The works continue. Added the guns, some more work will be necessary, as the fit is poor - the wing mounts for the guns are a little bit flat, so the guns, which are circular in cross-section are just pushing the wings' halves apart - despite my efforts to make the holes wider. Have also drilled the 1 mm wide holes in the engine covers, which will be used to make the "fasteners" of the sliced plastic 0,8 mm rod. As for the camouflage, using two articles found in Model Airplane International as "references" I decided to paint the airframe in RAF medium sea grey. Looks blue enough to call it High Altitude Blue. Best regards Hubert 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 Formation lights installed (used a part of the clear sprue out of the kit's box, had to reduce its diameter slightly), started to add the engine covers' fasteners, and the gaps in the leading edge of wings after installation of the guns filled and filed smooth. Best regards Hubert 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Fantastic work on a feisty kit! She looks like a new tool Tamiya kit after all of your detailing work! I've got one of these kits too, but I'm a bit scared of it, you might have inspired me to attack it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 10 minutes ago, Val said: Fantastic work on a feisty kit! She looks like a new tool Tamiya kit after all of your detailing work! I've got one of these kits too, but I'm a bit scared of it, you might have inspired me to attack it! Thanks, Val. In fact, this is fairly easy kit, all those improvements are relatively simple. If you decide to give it a try, just start with the wheel wells (I think the worst thing in this kit) and you are over the hump - for my kit it was too late, as I glued the halves of the wings together long time before I decided to do something more with this kit. I just love the powerful look of late mark Spitfires, what a pity that there's no good large scale Seafire 47 or Spitfire F Mk.21. Best regards Hubert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 2 hours ago, Hubert said: Thanks, Val. In fact, this is fairly easy kit, all those improvements are relatively simple. If you decide to give it a try, just start with the wheel wells (I think the worst thing in this kit) and you are over the hump - for my kit it was too late, as I glued the halves of the wings together long time before I decided to do something more with this kit. I just love the powerful look of late mark Spitfires, what a pity that there's no good large scale Seafire 47 or Spitfire F Mk.21. Best regards Hubert Thanks for the tips Hubert, and yes, those FR47s and F21s are just magnificent aircraft! Just perfect lines, I absolutely love them! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 The landing gear... Probably will not use even a single bit of the plastic from the box. SAC's Mk. VIII legs had to be slightly reworked. According to my calculations, the difference between 1:32 Mk. VIII leg from SAC and scaled down F. Mk.22 leg is equal to about 6,6 mm. Therefore had to prepare an insert 9,6 mm long, after removing 3 mm of the original leg. I am aware, that the actual difference was 4,5", which in scale is not exactly equal to 6,6 mm, but about 3 mm less... but that's the actual difference between the SAC legs and the 1:32nd scale legs, at least I think so , and what's more important, it matches the size of the gear covers, according to the plans I have. That's how it looks like, together with new landing gear covers: This small black item is the CMK's Mk. II gyro gunsight. Beautiful. Best regards Hubert 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 I have the kit too, and your additional work is a superb example of improving a below par kit, your rescribing and riveting is top notch. Glynn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 This is coming along very nicely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted March 13, 2017 Author Share Posted March 13, 2017 Thanks, Mates :). Slowly going forward with the fasteners of engine covers. Pieces of plastic 0,8 mm rod have been inserted into the holes drilled in the covers, now all will be cut to get the hopefully similar size of each fastener. Best regards Hubert 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaffajake Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 That spit is definitely looking the part. Love the cannons and detailing in the wheel Wells. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 Thanks Added a small air intake on top of the engine cover. This is slightly reworked part from the box. Most of the engine cover fasteners have been already trimmed. Best regards Hubert 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham T Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Great work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hi, Mates Not much to show, mainly due to the complete lack of free time lately - you know, family and job... Anyway, left main undercarriage gear leg and cover start to take shape. Best regards Hubert 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 I'm no Spitfire expert but I admire the work you are doing on that old Matchbox/Revell kit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted April 19, 2017 Author Share Posted April 19, 2017 On 15.04.2017 at 12:10, Vultures1 said: I'm no Spitfire expert but I admire the work you are doing on that old Matchbox/Revell kit I'm no Spitfire expert either, just trying to do something more than poor details as provided by Matchbox Slowly approaching the moment, when will be able to close the canopy and start painting. Have just to get the seat-belts done, for now I have made the fastening of the belts on the headrest and installed the seatback belts. The belts mounted to the seat cushion still under construction - must say that Eduard's seat belts are very well detailed, but need a lot of patience to get them done properly. Managed also to make the second gear leg cover, both have been rivetted outside, still some more work inside to be done. Best regards Hubert 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 It is beginning to look rather splendid! Martian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 Thanks, Martian Next thing was attaching the movable canopy. The fit is ... well, challenging, to say the least and stay polite. Anyway, now masking, priming and painting, at last! Best regards Hubert 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 I presume you have seen this? https://airscapemag.com/2017/03/26/mallochs-spitfire/ under restoration, I'm presuming the grey on the tail is the original paint? replica this just says gloss light grey Neat work on the old beast as well. cheers T 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted April 23, 2017 Author Share Posted April 23, 2017 Thanks, Troy. I haven't seen this article, but I've got the book on Malloch's Spitfire, fantastic man and story. That first photo in your post is just excellent. I think I will paint it glossy medium sea grey overall, according to what was written in March 2012 MAI issue, this photo seems to confirm this is the right choice. Best regards Hubert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchem Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 I'm afraid I've been away from BM for a couple of weeks so I've missed out on this. Cracking job so far - really looking forward to seeing it completed. For what it's worth, I finished one in 1/72 a couple of years ago and I'm pretty sure that I went down the Humbrol 28 route : http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234976527-172-sraf-spitfire-mk22/&page=1 (I've another one going on in 1/48, but there again, I have a lot of "other ones" going on too and I'm struggling with the motivation). Best Regards mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Posted April 23, 2017 Author Share Posted April 23, 2017 2 hours ago, mitchem said: For what it's worth, I finished one in 1/72 a couple of years ago and I'm pretty sure that I went down the Humbrol 28 route : http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234976527-172-sraf-spitfire-mk22/&page=1 I've been considering Humbrol 28, even bought one (I've not been using these paints for years), but it's slightly greenish from what I see, and as the description of shade points definitely at blue - will go down the MSG way. Thanks for comment Best regards Hubert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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