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C460

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  1. You're welcome, I have STL files and 3-view plans to share if other people are interested.
  2. Hi @wellsprop. In short this build didn't go anywhere on my side, and I got discouraged. I managed to make only two good sets, one of which was used by a French modeller for this build: http://fighters.forumactif.com/t75433-speed-spitfire-1-48 (work in progress) http://fighters.forumactif.com/t88796-supermarine-type-323-speed-spitfire-1-48 (finished) Yes I can share the files for printing, please send me a PM to tell me a bit more.
  3. Hi Edge, Thank you for your interest in this project. Because of my inexperience with mold-making, I ran into many problems with mold design, resin quality, etc. Notably the hollow wing tips were deformed by the application of vacuum and I had to rebuild them before the project was shelved by lack of time. I only managed to obtain one good copy of the small parts for myself, and enough leftover usable bits to make a second set, that fellow member Roadrunner from the French forum master194 convinced me to send him for this build: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234993597-speed-spitfire-148/ Because of Roadrunner's recent efforts and because I have a bit more time now, I've unshelved the parts and I'm currently rethinking the mold design to make a second attempt. If I succeed, I'll contact you and the people who expressed interest above. If not, maybe I'll pass along the parts to a professional resin caster, I don't know. Adrien
  4. Interesting build, it's nice to see how the model looks like once finished. It's very late to say that, but I think that the cowling was the same colour than the aircraft. The original picture that you posted was taken just after the race, and the fuselage looks very dark because it was heavily stained by soot from the exhaust. The additional intake that you spotted above the cowling was added before the race to draw fresh air inside the cockpit through a hose under the windscreen. The third picture you posted, with different chin intake and wheel covers, shows the Potez 533 made the following year.
  5. Hi Troy, There are certainly many other routes for a conversion. I happened to start with Tamiya's kit because I have one and I'm satisfied with its overall quality. I traced drawings of the wing tips from the available wingspan data and from pictures showing the aircraft in flight. I will post those drawings here once they are cleaned up. I found that there is no need to adjust the aileron line, and the wing tips are merely reshaped. I thought it easier to separate those from the main wing to maintain symmetry and ensure that I was removing the right amount from both sides. The oil cooler is indeed quite similar to that fitted to the Mk.V, except it is longer and extends up to the flap hinge. I used Tamiya's Mk.V oil cooler as a basis. The intake was reshaped with plastic tubing because Tamiya's part is not very convincing in my opinion, the central portion was fattened and the rear was extended. Apart from the 3D parts, probably none of those modifications is very difficult, depending on one's own modelling level. However I thought it would be fun to share with others and make a complete set of parts. If you are interested, I can cast the radiator and propeller alone, though the radiator may need some minor adjustment to fit a different kit. Thank you also for the offer of a Falcon canopy. I already have one myself and won't need it, but maybe others might be interested in the offer. Adrien
  6. Erik, Thank you for your interest. Jörgen, I've just realized that it's you who posted pictures of that extraordinary 1/24 Speed Spitfire last year. Congratulations, the paint job is perfect and it is one of the best looking models I've seen. Your build was inspirational in my decision to tackle this project. About the exhausts, the picture you posted is a bit troubling, but maybe it's the peculiar angle of view which makes them look unusual. Here is an extract from another picture of the aircraft, taken at the same exhibition. I don't really see a difference with Mk.I exhausts. Incidentally, the picture gives a good view of two of the parts that I'm trying to reproduce. For my build, I think that I will simply use Mk.I exhausts and adjust their position so that they stick out from the right amount. But I know there are real Spitfire experts on this forum, maybe some of them will give a definitive answer. Adrien
  7. Thank you for your comments! Nick, MirageF1, Bob and Mark, I take good note, I'll cast some for you. Please be patient though, I will need some time to sort out the casting process. The propeller is made of wood, and there is no gap between the blades and spinner. The front part of the spinner is detachable, as shown by some pictures of the aircraft under maintenance: To figure that, you may want to add an engraved line around the spinner, right in front of the blades, though the demarcation is not really visible on the pictures showing the complete propeller. I will try to add that on a casting. Please tell me if I'm wrong, but I think that the exhausts were not specific to the Speed Spitfire, and that any Spitfire Mk.I exhaust would do, such as Tamiya's or Ultracast's. Adrien
  8. This is a very beautiful subject, the Spitfire is so nice in those civilian markings! You had a lot of bad luck on this one, I hope that you will finish it without further problems. Adrien
  9. Hi all, I've started to convert Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I into the Speed Spitfire N17. For the four-blade propeller and the large radiator fairing, I made only slow progress through traditional scratchbuild techniques, so I decided to take a different route. I made a 3D model of these two parts and had them 3D-printed. The shape was well rendered but the surface needed smoothing. This took quite a lot of time. Now I have a complete set of parts, ready for casting: There is all is needed to build a Speed Spitfire in its first configuration, except the special canopy that is sold by Falcon: - the four-blade propeller - the large radiator fairing Other parts were converted from Tamiya parts: - the shortened wing tips - the special oil cooler, carburettor intake and tail skid The oil cooler should have two engraved lines, but I'm afraid of damaging the pattern. I'll try to add them to a casting later. The parts should fit the Tamiya wing, the two radiators dropping into the depressed slots made for the original parts : The central portion of the wing was merely filled and primed, I don't plan to cast this part. I'm currently studying the best way to make the molds. I've already cast minor parts before but this will be the first time I cast something that difficult. Adrien
  10. Nice subject. There was a very beautiful demonstrator in civilian colors: Picture found here: http://www.airteamimages.com/boulton-paul-balliol_G-ANSF_-_115216.html
  11. Yes, it's G-AHZI, originally a Mk.II modified into a Mk.V. Here is a picture found in an old Aeroplane Monthly: Its colours are not known for sure. In another forum, someone posted a colour painting of it, done in 2006: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?86473-Warbirds-in-civilian-colour-schemes&p=1330527#post1330527 The painter chose to depict the aircraft in chocolate and cream (or is it black and yellow?), but I don't know how accurate it is.
  12. Hello all, Here is my latest build, of Spitfire G-AISU as raced by Allen Wheeler in 1949 for the Kemsley Trophy and Air League Challenge Cup. I used Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb with some modifications. The cannons and radio mast were removed, the tailplane was replaced by a later Mk.IX model by Ultracast, and the windshield was replaced by a PR version from Falcon's Spitfire set. Other aftermarket are the exhausts, wheels and seat by Ultracast. I used no photoetch and had fun making the harness from Tamiya tape. I also altered the shape of the oil cooler and carb intake, two parts that don't look too accurate on Tamiya's kit, and I made resin duplicates of the modified parts, which was a first for me ! The painting was entirely done with paint masks. They were drawn on my computer according to the available pictures and cut by a local shop. The masks were somewhat difficult to apply on some areas like the gun embossings. Next time I will try to use Tamiya masking sheets instead of Oramask, in the hope that it will follow the shape of the surface details more closely. For the colours, only black & white pictures are known, but mention of a blue aircraft and a red racing band are found in period descriptions. The shade of blue was obtained with a mix of Tamiya X-4, X-14 and white. For the stripe and spinner, there was disagreement on various forums whether they were silver, gold or even yellow. I chose dull silver (Alclad Semi-Matte Aluminium) because it is compatible with the black & white pictures while reminding earlier Supermarine racers. I took some pictures next to my Hurricane G-AMAU: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234936865-hurricane-g-amau-the-last-of-the-many-148/ The two aircraft actually raced together in the 1950 King's Cup, but I preferred the 1949 colours for G-AISU. Today both aircraft are owned by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, in military colours, as AB910 and PZ865. Greetings, Adrien
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