CedB

What an odd aircraft! I don't usually venture outside things that were in Europe but I think I'll watch this one and see how you get on!

Thanks MG. That does look like they're covered with those horrible little decals that are really hard to apply until you discover Micro Sol / Set! That said the image I have on my desktop (which is obviously a painting) that prompted the question and posted earlier has trails behind the red holes (??) seem to imply there's something in there. The trails are reddish too - odd? This one's also blocked too: but there's no ID markings so this may be a restoration, like most of the other colour photos I've found. This one: spitfireperformance.com says "Armament was either: B wing - 2 x 20 mm cannon and 4 x .303 Browning guns, or E wing - 2 x 20 mm cannon and .50 Browning guns." B/E wing? Wikipedia has this picture (the one I'm modelling is RM619 and was in Belgium). The entry says: Armament Guns: ** 2 × 20 mm (0.787-in) Hispano Mk II cannon, 120 rpg. 4 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns, 350 rpg. Replaced by 2 x .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns 250 rpg Mk XIVE. Bombs: 2 × 250 lb (113 kg) bombs It also says "The first test of the aircraft was in intercepting V1 flying bombs, and the Mk XIV was the most successful of all Spitfire marks in this role." Cool! Your photo and the one above without the markings both have bigger 'lumps' next to the cannons than the last one - perhaps these are the 2 .50s and that's what I should be modelling, ignoring the painting?

Morning (just, and only here I guess). Thanks MG, no problem, but you were missed! Should I have some Brownings on this? Had a very close look whilst painting the yellow stripes (hate, hate) and there's no sign of holes and I don't remember filling them in. There appear to be hatches on top of the wing in about the right position but that doesn't mean there was anything under them on this mark, I guess. Thoughts?

Guys what can I say apart from "isn't the Internet wonderful". To see you guys connecting over a common interest, nay infatuation, is inspiring. If the whole world worked like this it'd be a better place (or perhaps I should just stop listening to the news. And drinking wine). Thanks for letting me look in on this amazing work. I must try harder.

Thanks Cookie, I'll try to do it proud. You MUST watch this (and their other stuff. If you have kids then you'll have been here)

Thanks Rick. To be honest these are great paints and I'm loving them in the airbrush - they're easy to use, non-smelly and they cover well. The sets are also very attractive - what newbie wouldn't want 'all the paints you need for...'. I've bought two - I do WWII so RAF and Luftwaffe. But the disappointment comes, and it's a big disappointment, when you paint a carefully built model and you're trusted colleagues on BM say "Great, but er, um, that's not the right colour". And this has effected experienced modellers too with new sets. Vallejo do (most of) the right colours I think - they've just got the set pamphlet wrong. This can cost you a lot of time and money. Hopefully they, and the other set manufacturers, will realise that (with tiny bottles) we'll come back to them BUT only if they're trusted. BM is a great resource and an amazing group of modellers and, once manufacturers lose our trust, they're unlikely to get it back. No ones going to spend MORE money on another set of 'almost' right paints. That's got that off my chest then. I'll let you know what Alex comes up with.

Either that or he's on his own... Picture buckets and wooden spoons.

Looking good Jon! Watch that Cotes du Rhone - the bottle I had last night gave me a headache this morning... Must take more water with it!

Thanks guys! Had an email from Alex Vallejo today - they're working on the colours / pamphlet. Sadly the apologies were not accompanied by a pressie so I've asked to be notified when they've corrected the colours. Daughter 2 home so no progress tonight, but hopefully something over the weekend.

Received today: Dear Ced, Thanks for contacting us and we will soon be revising this issue. We are going to check, together with our new air colors specialist, all the info; colors and sets for RAF .We noticed a few more request about 2 other colors that are not properly matched.. We apologize again for this incorrect info. Regards Alex Vallejo Acrylicos Vallejo, S.L. Tel. + 34 93 893 60 12 Fax +34 93 893 11 54 [email protected] Alex Vallejo? Coo, an email from 'the man himself' (or, not being sexist, 'the person, um, themselves'?) No mention of a new set of paints being sent in the mail (rats) so I've replied and asked for notification of the corrections. Let's hope their "new air colors specialist" does a more accurate job.

They're great Rob and you seem to be on a roll! Looking good.

Thanks all for helping me persevere... after the hangover thing cleared this morning (oh, and some work) I was able to achieve this: Not quite up to Rob's "Airbrushed? No I used a hairy stick" standard but I'm happy enough with that. OK, go to post #142, do not pass Go, do not collect £200. Thanks again guys, really appreciate your help and support. Ced

I seem to have a bit of a headache this morning... hmmm. I love HIGNFY and I'm glad you've found it. Hislop is a bit odd until you get used to him. It's also occurred to me that others may not know the "you're my best mates you are! I really love you" quote and have interpreted it the wrong way! It's from a happy hour joke which I can't find now but will hunt it down and post. Thanks for the photo PC - inspirational it is! More later - and thanks again guys.

It's the one here. "I'm on the 'phone" LoL - but too late to look up the "HELLO, I'M ON THE TRAIN" mobile joke... PC it'll be great to meet you and, if you're willing, to share some time at sites of common interest... Nonsense (IMHO). You're in a group of like minded people here that are considering matching other's physiques by buying "Japanese Strap-on-Sumo Belly attachments". We're not super-models... it's the mind that matters. Let's make some plans closer to the date, but I have the 19th Sept in my diary and would love to add the 15th. Beware though... "Americans think 100 years is a long time, and Brits think 100 miles is a long way". I hope your travel plans are appropriate! i need o go to bed now (1:26am) but we should continue this when I'm not tired (and emotional - unquote).

Dynamo (I love your magic by the way) that looks like a good finish but, like me and others, it's a pain when the colours aren't right. I'm finding Vallejo Air a joy to airbrush and then a complete pain when the colour's obviously wrong. There are a couple of issues here: 1. Do the sets have the correct colours? 2. Is the pamphlet suggesting the correct Vallejo colour from the range? I won't bore you with my problems (you can look it up here) and the paints are great for airbrushing... but the set's pamphlets guide you to the wrong colour and we need to double check, hence the warning. Sets should be treated with care, attractive though they are. I've yet to hear anything from Vallejo in response to my email and Tweet so we're on our own, apparently.

Thanks guys. Stew, I have no facist concerns and appreciate your input. Done! , you're my best mates you are! I really love you all! Naked wines are my main man! Nice bottle of Cotes de Rhone has eased my pain* * Drink responsibly. OK. Serious stuff (if I can make it) Thanks Jon. I'm not averse to buying paint, or anything else actually (although I'm drawing a line at "Japanese Strap-on-Sumo Belly attachments", despite my gurus' apparent interest). The model itself is, apparently, reasonably accurate and: I just need to sort out the colours? (Perdu your typhoon looks great) I have these Humbrol acrylics in my (really nice) rack. (I like the "cool" buzz bomb too). I take the "Great paint work" comment as an accolade - thanks Rob! So, as... there doesn't seem to be a (much) better model, I'll use Rob's techniques, flow enhancer and my Reeves brushes (they are great Rob) and repaint the Frog for your comments. PC thanks for commenting from "on the train right now". "...our rail network is poorly maintained". you'll be right at home when you visit and I hope we get to meet up in September. More tomorrow (hopefully). This is the fourth time I've tried to post this. My 'Apple Magic Mouse' has a great feature that, if you brush to the right, goes back a page and loses your post. Sometimes technology just makes me go bluh blah bluh, or whatever the 'parrot sketch' quote was.

You've done it now Stew, Mr P's changed his signature to match your words of wisdom. I too may select a phrase from one of you, my Gurus, so watch out!

Done! I'm such a shopper...

For what it's worth I bought one of these a long time ago to help fixing specs (one of the unkindest things in old age, having to fix your reading glasses) and it's okay... BUT for modelling I would suggest a cheap but high powered lamp like this and one of those magnifying things you stick on your head. Paul has one here but you could shop around and get the cheap one I have where the headband is so rubbish it keeps falling down and chopping off my nose. HTH Ced

p.s. in case you've forgotten my post 87 here's what I can see as I type this: That's my laptop desktop picture at the bottom and this post above. Not even close are they? Help me Obe Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

OK gentlemen, now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the, er, Mk XIV / V1 pair. I'm pleased with this: which I've just picked up to look at again and I put it next to the Spit. I'm not happy with that for all sorts of reasons... I've also just been doing my chores. What chores? I'll have a red wine please (boom boom tish!). No seriously (for a second), I've been 'putting out the recycling' which should make me feel better, or at least smug. I believe 'recycling collections' started in Bath and we used to have some volunteer 'greens' coming around and taking away our carefully sorted materials. Then the council took over and sent around a really patronising leaflet on how to do this properly, including pictures of 'black bag on the pavement' = bad (red cross through picture), 'black bag just at the end of the drive' = good (green tick through picture). I now trudge through this task muttering about 'jobs worths' and bleating like a sheep. Grumpy old man? Who me? I do think we can save the planet by recycling all the plastic packaging we get from the supermarkets (normally labelled 'produce of Kenya, packaged in Scotland, Fresh to your door') and the cardboard boxes from Amazon and Little Cars (thanks Paul), and the empty bottles (you know they smash them up and make new bottles because the old ones are the wrong shape, don't you?) and the Tetrapaks and those bl**dy milk cartons. No, really. No. Really. While we're being realistic and not following the herd, I've begun to think that I should 'recycle' the Frog Spit and: - buy a good Mk XIV kit - buy some decent paint... OK, OK Stew, I'll test the Humbrol on one wing of the Frog - start the Spit again. I really think I should despatch the Frog and get a better Spit to dispatch* the V1 - I intend to hang this over my desk and I think the Hobbit and other faults, not least the paint, would mither me. Your thoughts? I shall now finish my glass of wine (only two sips so far, honest) and come back just before bedtime, as usual. * Interested in grammar? I looked this up.

Wise words, thank you Kemosabe. Edit: This is me sharing a joke, not implying, of course, that you're any part of an animal's anatomy Stew!

Gah! More shopping. Sorry to be dumb but are these acrylics or (smelly?) enamels? Can't see anything on the site to tell me.

I've seen others using a jewellers eyepiece thingy to check their nozzles (oooer missus) but I've not bothered to buy one... I guess if I have a problem like yours I may invest... not that I know what to look for of course! Perhaps I should get one now and look at my nozzles / needles before I mess them up... decisions, decisions.

Amazingly detailed work going on here... watching with interest