Tamiya Spitfire Mk.I

[Pielstick]

Well here's my first kit in nine years and my first attempt at using an airbrush.

I did the Tamiya 1:48 Spitfire Mk.I as a test piece and a bit of practice to get me back into the swing of things.

Here's what I started with. The Tamiya 1:48 Spitfire Mk.I, the Eduard PE detailing set, a set of Squadron Vacform canopies and an Xtradecal "Early Spitfires" sheet.

Not much to say about the construction. Being a Tamiya kit it is very straightforward and easy. The few seams that exisited were removed, and a very small amount of filler was needed at the rear of the wing assembly where it joined the lower part of the fuselage. Then of course the panel lines lost to sanding were rescribed.

Here's the construction finished, the model has been wiped down with IPA and is ready for painting. The Eduard set was used to detail the cockpit, and although it also has the parts to do the interior of the flaps I chose to finish the model with the flaps up as I think having them down spoils the lines of the Spit. I also messed up removing the Squadron canopy so I reverted to using the kit parts.

Here's the model after applying Vallejo Model Air Grey Primer. I found this is a very nice primer, it goes on very well indeed and dries to a nice smooth surface.

Being my first attempt at airbrushing, this is also my first attempt at preshading! I thought the preshading wouldn't show so well against the dark upper camouflage colours, so I just did the lower surfaces.

Part way through the pre shading process. Here I have started filling in the spaces between the panel lines with RAF Sky.

I first did this model in Vallejo Model Air colours but I wasn't happy with their Dark Earth colour that was too dark for me. I stripped the model and started again with Xtracrylix colours which I found to be a much better representation of the colours. Here's the model finished with the Xtracrylix colours.

And the lower surfaces showing the preshading. I was very pleased with this for my first attempt at the technique! It was at this point I realised I had glued the radiator on back to front... DOH!

The model was then sprayed with several coats of Klear and decalling started. It took about a dozen applications of Micro Sol to get those roundels to conform over the bumps on the lower wing surfaces!

Decalling completed! I managed to tear a few of the decals on the white part of the fin flashes so I repaired them with some white paint.

And onto my first attempt at using a wash to show the panel lines. For this I used Mig's Dark Wash.

After the wash had dried I tried to use my airbrush to put on some exhaust staining. Unfortunately I made a mess of it and couldn't face respraying. gave the model a few light coats of Vallejo Model Air Matt Varnish and then tried to hide my horrible airbrushed exhaust stains with some of the Mig Black Smoke Pigment. I also used this to do the gun powder stains. I sealed the pigment in place with another coat of Vallejo Model Air Matt Varnish. I know it's overdone, but it is my first attempt! The fabric patches on the guns come from a canopy mask sheet I have from a set of Bf109 decals. I just cut the small squares from the backing sheet and stuck them over the gun ports. Finally I used a Prismacolor silver pencil to add some paint chipping to various parts of the airframe and used some fishing line to make the aerial.

Here's the finished article. Yes I know the rear view mirror is missing, it is currently somewhere in the deepest darkest part of the carpet! I'm not so happy with the exhaust and gun stains. Likewise the back to front radiator will bug me!

It was my first kit in 9 years... I enjoyed myself a lot and had to re-learn some long forgotten techniques, as well as learn a lot of new ones! Thanks to Julien for giving me the tip about thinning Vallejo and Xtracrylix paints with Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner - it worked a treat!

When I get the time I want to get started on the Revell 1:32 Hunter F.6

[AnonymousAA74]

You've done a real fine job there. I'd be pleased if I'd airbrushed and pre-shaded like that. A real nice job!

I may try some of that primer too.

Jim

[mikeew]

Lovely job!

the undersides look particularly good with he preshade and wash effect, nicely used n dirty looking.

I must admit the exhaust stains and gun cordite staining is overdone, though I'm sure flash photography "enhances" the effect and it probably looks far more toned down in real life .

Great effort though for first one in 9 years!!!!

[Paddy]

Thanks for sharing that Pie

as has been said, exhaust stains a bit heavy but after nine years break, you have done really well there :-)

[lampie]

Great job!

Even more impressive with all the "firsts".

Really well done

Nige

http://p47.kitmaker.net/

[Obi-Jiff Kenobi]

[Pielstick]

Cheers everyone

I definitely want to practice more with the airbrush before I start my next one

[avro683]

Very high quality work. You'llenjoy the Hunter kit, it builds up into a very impressive model.

Tony

[Tin_Bitz]

The underside of the model has come out really well- it looks great. Did the kit take long to complete?