PlaStix

Absolutely fine with me!

I was going to do something based around a 38t anyway, so more than happy! Kind regards, Stix

Hi Giorgio. Hope you are well. Fantastic work on the canopy. Lovely job! Kind regards, Stix

As always, thank you very much for your comments James and Giorgio. Not much to show in the way of progress, but I have added most of the parts I want to add, in terms of getting it to where I want it to be before I start the painting: Most of it has gone together well, although there have been a couple of gaps in places and some odd seam lines to remove - the oddest of the latter, being in a couple of places along the leading edge of the upper wing parts. Some of the slight fit issues may have been my fault - not being used to building in 1/72 for a while, but I was surprised with some of the seam lines. I also took the time to alter the elevators, using a scalpel, to enable them to angle downwards: Plus I have built up the parts for the radiator units: I will fit these after the main underside paintwork has been applied. Next up I will hopefully be starting the painting. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix

Hi Julian. Looks like you are off to a great start already. Lovely work in the cockpit. Kind regards, Stix

Well. It was looking absolutely superb up until the 'incident'! I've done exactly the same in the past with an airfix Spitfire canopy. So easy to do. Airfix were great at sorting out a replacement. Can't remember how much it cost though. Hope you get sorted soon, because it should look superb eventually. Kind regards, Stix

Hi Giorgio. Hope you are well. Not sure doing it blindfold would be a good idea! It's hard enough in 1/72 compared to 1/48 anyway, although Eduard's detailing really helps with painting. Thank you as always for your comments and I'm sorry for the slow reply, I'm finding it difficult to find the time to be on Britmodeller as much at the moment. Thank you very much for your comments James. Thank you Zebra and yes, the detail does seem very good for this scale, just very small at times!! Thank you Robin. Yes he was a real chasracter and a truly gifted flyer. Apologies (again!) for the lack of updates. I have actually been finding a bit of time, here'n'there, to do bit on this project, but not the time to update this thread. Anyway, first off, I got some detail painting done on the cockpit parts and I did some assembling of those parts I felt I could: As mentioned above, the detail on this kit is good, which makes it easier to paint, but it feels quite small in places. Some closer views: Then I assembled some of the parts onto the lower, port, cockpit wall: Next I added the gunsight part: Then glued it all to the port fuselage half and final seatbelt PE part added: Lower, starboard, cockpit part glued in place: You will have noticed that there are quite a few photos of the cockpit parts, primarily to remind me that they have been detailed and painted! Because, before too long, this has happened!: And then there is only the occasional glimpse of all that work!: Work on the wings is next. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix

Good morning Craig Et al! Great news that this is in the bunfight. I kept my Canadian Leopard out of the Canadian GB, just in case we got another chance with this one. Perhaps @Enzo Matrix can update us on his thoughts about AFV STGBs in the bunfight arena? He and I briefly had a discussion near the start of the Sherman STGB, with regards the difficulties of getting GBs, other than aircraft GBs, into the GB calendar. Understandably, aircraft are the most popular topics on Britmodeller, but, once underway, AFV GBs often have more builds taking place and more contributors than some aircraft STGBs. But it is often difficult to get enough votes in the bunfight because, given that more people enjoy building aircraft, or watching aircraft being built, the voting tends to favour aircraft based GBs. Anyway, I’m pleased we have a chance of this STGB getting through. Kind regards, Stix

Hi Giorgio. I hope you are keeping well. That really is beautiful modelling in progress there! As always, I am so impressed with the amount attention you put into every stage of your build. Kind regards, Stix

Wow!! Excellent progress already!! Great to see another Eduard 1/72nd Spitfire being built. Kind regards, Stix

Looks like you are off to a great start Dennis! Kind regards, Stix

Hi James. Lovely idea for a project for this GB and it looks like you are off to a good start. Your work in the cockpit looks excellent! Kind regards, Stix

I do apologise for not updating this thread before, but it's been a bit of a busy time, again, recently. I have managed to find a bit of time, here and there, and made some progress. As I always do with Spitfire cockpits, as well as cleaning up the parts ready for painting and assembly, I look for places where I can improve the details a little, without too much effort. This often just includes drilling out various holes and adding basic wiring, For example, this was the seat frame(s) being drilled out: I'm working on both of these in case I cannot get the PE headrest armour right,. I have since drilled out and cut the seatbelt strap slot right through in the left hand frame headrest armour. I must also add that the details on the 1/72nd Eduard kit don't really need much of any help with detailing... ...for example, the seat is very nicely done. A Five Pence piece is inclued in the photos to show how small the seat is: After the clean up of seam lnes and bits of flash, of which there were more than I was expecting on and Eduard kit, I had everything for the cockpit area, ready for painting: The only wires I ended up adding, at this stage, were on the IP bulkhead frame. And then I started getting some basic paints on, all applied with brushes: I used Humbrol's Cockpit Green, plus Revell's Aluminium and Reddish Brown - all acrylics thinned well with water. Basic weathering, including some dry-brushing, and then some deatil painting will be next. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix

@fatfingers @Corsairfoxfouruncle, @bigfoot, @robw_uk, @Robert Stuart, @Bonhoff, @TEMPESTMK5, @JackG, @Ted, @klr, @Bullbasket, @Jasper dog, @Matt B, @diablo rsv, @badger, @Tim R-T-C @Angus Tura, @Marklo, @Six97s, @Das Abteilung, @diases, @desert falcon, @Ian C, @Rob S, @Scargsy, @Ozzy, @planecrazee, @Ray_W, @Bertie Psmith, @sardaukar, @trickyrich, @Longbow, @Geo1966, @MarkSH, @Enzo Matrix, @GREG DESTEC, @ColonelKrypton, @TimJ, @wellzy, @THEscaleSHOW, @Mig Eater, @bull-nut, @Threadbear @edjbartos, @Blade2009, @Michael Taylor, @SleeperService Dear all. And just like that it was all over! First off, once again, congratulations to all those modellers who got their builds into the Gallery. It really was an excellent selection. Next, thank you to the 34 Britmodellers who voted for their favourite builds in the poll. Your top three favourite models in the smaller scales were: dnl42's Sherman IC Firefly in 1/48 IanC's M4 Sherman in 1/72 & Plastix's Sherman IC Firefly in 1/48 In 1/35, your top three favourite models were: Jasper Dog's M4 A1 Sherman Bertie Psmith's Museum Cutaway Lee & Longbow's up armoured M4A3E8 Well done to all. Thank to everyone who took part and helped make this a great STGB and a special big thank you to Dennis @Corsairfoxfouruncle for co-hosting! Let's do it again sometime! Kind regards, Stix

Hi Bertie. Really looking forward to see what you do with this very interesting looking kit. I always fancied building a similar sort of idea kit. Nice choice. Kind regards, Stix