malpaso Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 I rather like odd looking Spitfires, such as with clipped wings, so the trainer type is ideal. When one was recently built / restored at Thruxton, some of my daughter's classmates got to sit in it on their primary school aero club visit. As first reflown the plane was in Dutch markings, which look a bit different, though it's now down at Goodwood with WW2 RAF markings. As this kit had been oop for a while I ordered one of the last two apparently available in the world from a model shop in the Czech Republic. Until I worked out the relative price in Koruna (Crowns?) I wasn't sure but even with postage it wasn't too bad - a lot cheaper than the CMR or Brigade conversion options... Now AZ have plans to rerelease the trainer kits this year, but at least I'm ahead of the curve! Basically you get an AZ Spifire 9 kit with an extra fuselage and the second cockpit interior and canopy. So far I've painted and assembled the interiors. It's not Eduard or Airfix, so it's all a bit delicate until the glue cures as everything is butt joints rather than any locating pins etc. Cheers Will 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 This looks like it should be interesting. Also great that they have an aero club at her primary school! I will recommend it my my kids school. Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 This is a view of progress so far. Cockpit parts coming together. I've also added the full wing tips. Alongside this I'm building the Airfix Mk.XIX so that there's something to do whilst the AZ parts set into position. Also much of the painting is similar to the Tr.9 until I get to the final livery. Cheers Will 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 I've wanted one of these for a while, and haven't been able to get one, so I'll do the next best thing; I'll follow your build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 Airfix 19 - fill the panel lines on the tip that continue on from the aileron hingeline - they're totally spurious. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 Nice start on an unusual and interesting kit Will - I'll follow along if I may Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 No I am not making the Mk.III with six-cannon mock-up. I used the transition wedges of stretched sprue to infill the unused armament holes as only the outermost .303s were retained on the Dutch AF Tr.9s. The greenstuff is filling a slight gap on the underside of the wingtip join, the tape each side should give a nice clean job with minimal sanding. Note that word. Should... Cheers Will 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted October 26, 2017 Author Share Posted October 26, 2017 (edited) Okay, well it turns out I left these models so long that AZ put the Tr.9 back into production! My excuse is the summer, cycling and the fact my work area got buried in family stuff. Anyway I got an H&S Airbrush for my birthday (in August) and have practised on blank paper to start with. The basic airframes are now together and some painting done, seem to be doing a huge amount of masking though! Cheers Will Edited October 26, 2017 by malpaso Got the other pic to work! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Nice to see these back Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Nice. I always wanted to build the Irish Air Corps version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted October 28, 2017 Author Share Posted October 28, 2017 The masking is off the PR.XIX and looks reasonably okay. I am a bit worried about the Tr.9 as the Tamiya Ocean Grey and Medium Sea Grey don’t contrast much, neither does either differ much from the Halfords grey primer, which makes seeing where you’ve painted hard. Maybe it’s the lighting or the Dark Green camo will make it all come together? Cheers Will 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted October 29, 2017 Author Share Posted October 29, 2017 Here’s the masking on the Tr.9. No not winter camo but blu-tak sausages with copydex (rubber solution) glue between. And now sprayed with Tamiya RAF Dark Green. I’ll leave it for a day before peeling off all the masking. Cheers Will 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share Posted October 30, 2017 Masking off and looks okay. I need to adjust a bit, there’s too much grey on the port wing. And I’m happier with the lighter grey undersides. No time for modelling tonight as I was dragooned into doing this for my teenaged daughters, who have managed to carve their own pumpkins for years but now can’t for some reason! Cheers Will 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 On 29/10/2017 at 4:12 PM, malpaso said: No not winter camo but blu-tak sausages with copydex (rubber solution) glue between. Never tried the copydex, looked like it worked ok...might have to try that. 9 hours ago, malpaso said: No time for modelling tonight as I was dragooned into doing this for my teenaged daughters, who have managed to carve their own pumpkins for years but now can’t for some reason! 'Cos they're teenagers and they have learnt 'why have a dog and back yourself'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 Tuesday night I adjusted the grey and green on the wings. Camo revised with blu-tak sausages. Walkway panels masked with Little Cars 2mm tape. Then slather on the Copydex, the included brush is fine, just drag it over the trailing edge and you get a clean transition. A cocktail stick is best for detailing areas. It all came out okay. The pair of spits went to club night on Wednesday and were well received and Thursday I brushed on a coat of Klear. Last night and this morning I had a rush of blood to the head and airbrushed on 2 Klear coats. Lovely finish but even more of a palaver to clean up at the end, plus ongoing worry till next time whether the airbrush will still work! I think I will use one of my cheapy Chinese jobs for Klear in future. Anyway they look fairly shiny ready for decals. The Airfix PR.XIX should be fairly quick as the decal sheet is reminiscent of the “good old days” with just national markings and a serial. AZ provide stencils and some lovely Dutch roundels: Most photos show the red portion to the right in all positions, I’m doing H99 however the silver option 3W22 has the reverse on the starboard fuselage. I can find some reversed roundels photos on the web, hopefully AZ got it right. Cheers Will 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 1 hour ago, malpaso said: Last night and this morning I had a rush of blood to the head and airbrushed on 2 Klear coats. Lovely finish but even more of a palaver to clean up at the end, plus ongoing worry till next time whether the airbrush will still work! I think I will use one of my cheapy Chinese jobs for Klear in future. I have never put Klear through my airbrush...don't know why that is. It might be because my subconscious is thinking what you're thinking. Do you spray Klear neat, what pressure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 I sprayed it on neat. The gauge said around 10psi but I don’t think it’s very accurate. Anyway fairly low pressure. In other news the decals are on the 19, all eight of them. Nasty, thick and refusing to come off the backing sheet. They’ve had one coat of Microsol, no sign of setting down properly yet. Not to mention that Airfix provide fuselage decals about 30% larger than shown on the box art or decal instructions! How hard can it be? Too hard apparently! Cheers Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 The MkXIX looks very smart now it has it's decals on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 Very smart indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 20 hours ago, malpaso said: Not to mention that Airfix provide fuselage decals about 30% larger than shown on the box art or decal instructions! How hard can it be? Too hard apparently! Sometimes I think they do this just to get a reaction. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 The main Dutch markings applied now. I’ll let the Microsol cure before dong the rest of the stencils. AZ decals go on easily strong yet thin. Maybe they use the same optician as Airfix though, as the side codes are larger than on the artwork! Cheers Will 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 That looks rather splendid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Nice work Will. Very tidy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 All the decals were given another coat of Klear, then W&N satin varnish. Satin seemed appropriate for post war planes. Then it was a case of adding the undercarriage which needed a bit of trimming to both plane and legs on the AZ. The scissors are a bit of a trial to get off the sprue. The legs needed to set for a while, especially the AZ which doesn't have the rigid engineering of the Airfix. This evening all the last little bits have been fitted and the masking removed from the canopies. Here's a last photo of the two together as now completed: I've set up the two planes with individual RFI threads: Thanks for looking in. It's been fun doing the two side by side. The Airfix is definitely easier, but the AZ is much more delicate and makes a nicer model, but needing more care. It's not quite as nice as the Eduard but I'm more than happy to have a couple more AZs to build. Both planes will go into the club competition on Wednesday. I doubt they'll get far, as those who went to Telford usually come back trailing glory and trophies. I feel like the third reserve sub at Man Utd! Still I guess I learn something from them, a rising tide floats all boats as the saying goes. Cheers Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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