[Ocidental 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IX questions]

19 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

I don't always agree with Bruce on Spitfire details.

 

Assuming you want to build the Occidental,  and correct major flaws without buying correction parts.

 

Nose.

Take a spare ICM side cowling part, the kit has one moulded and one to be displayed separately, line up on the Occidental fuselage, you will see the entire engine section droops.  Try drawing a line to see where the lower side panel should go (see point on deeper PR cowl) 

As the upper cowl is separate, you can just wedge this to the right height, and move up the exhaust stubs.

use a spinner aligned to the new top cowling line, and draw on the correct position.

Note while both the ICM and Eduard kits have duplicate upper and lower cowls, the ICM is narrow in the cowling and fuselage spine.

And the ICM VII/VIII/IX are actually all the same kit.  

 

You can use leftover Eduard upper and lower cowls.   The Eduard Merlin 60 (VIII/IV/XVI) kits are the best in scale so you can use that as a guide, and also raid for leftover parts to upgrade other kits.   

And, again, if you note how the new high position of the spinner, if you sand carefully, the 'wrong' lower cowl line for a IX,  can be use to make the deeper oil tank line of the PRX and PR XI.

An hour of comparing the various parts and test fitting them to each other hopefully will show you what I mean. 

 

 

the wing, is an easy fix

The Occidental, Academy and original tool Tamiya Mk.I/Vb all have the same basic wing issue, it's too wide in the centre.

this is an Academy wing with a white ICM wing,  if you zoom the pic you can see the leading edge bulge.

50620909 by losethekibble, on Flickr

 

Use the ICM as guide and trim

Underneath you will need to fill and rescribe the flap line

the left wing is as per the kit, the right wing has been corrected, I aligned the wing carefully over the cutting mat lines to show the change.

50620911 by losethekibble, on Flickr

 

I've not rescribed the flap line.

 

If the fixes don't work, use as a paint mule.   I have one I was making into a PR.X in a box....

somewhere....

 

 

Want a surprise, try comparing the Monogram outlines with the Eduard, the old Mono kit while crude and very rivetty is very good in basic shapes.

 

The old Tamiya is a bit slab sided and has the above wing issue

I can't recall  the HC Seafire XV, I think it was OK, their Spitfire XIV is really good shape wise,  just a bit basic.. 

 

There is an awful lot of ill informed opinion and misinformation about 1/48th Spitfire kits online, I spent a good amount of time doing comparisons and cross checking, and seeing how if and how  kits could be fixed.

Sadly I'd get as far as doing the fixes and then not finish the kit.

The 'correction' set for the Academy XIV kit don't really fix it,  as it require more surgery,  but wierdly most of the panel lines are in the right place, and the problems are of parts being oversize, fixable by some reduction surgery. 

 

Spit academy nose mod DSCF0709_zpssziaklh8 by losethekibble, on Flickr

 

50620907 by losethekibble, on Flickr

 

What you don't read is how most of the issues with the Academy kit also affect the Airfix Spitfire XII and Seafire XVII either...

Just they don't have oversize spinners so the problem is less apparent.

 

But that's not what you are asking about.

HTH

 

Troy, THANKS for the very informative post. I will have to print it out so I can keep it in the kit's boxes, for when I get back to working on them.

"Too many irons in the fire" for me. 

One nice thing about being permanently retired, I can work on whichever kit I feel like, whenever I like. 

It will also help me reduce my "stash" faster, by cannibalizing other kits for parts.

Larry

Larry

[Ocidental 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IX questions]

Thanks Bruce,

I may just use the Ocidental Spitfires ( 2 ea Mk.IXe, 1 Mk.IXc) as "practice bleeding" Paint Mules. I also have an Otaki Spitfire Mk.8, 3 ICM Spitfires (One each Mk.VII, VIII & IX), 5 Airfix Spitfires (3 PR.XIX, 1 FR Mk.XIV & 1 Mk.I), an Airfix Seafire Mk.46/47, an Academy FR.Mk.XIVE, 3 Eduard Spitfires - a Mk.Ixc Late Version ProfiPACK,  a Mk.IXe ProfiPACK, and a Mk.Ixc Early Version WEEKEND, 2 Monogram British Spitfire Mk.IXs, 4 Tamiya Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I & 1 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop. The one kit that should be "unmentioned" is my sole Hobbycraft Vickers Supermarine Seafire XV. 

Now that doesn't count the aftermarket recce Spitfire conversion sets I also have.

 

Larry

 

[Ocidental 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IX questions]

Thanks Troy (And Graham) for the great information. I think I will just stick with my plan of using one of my Ocidental Mk.IX Spitfires to use my Airwaves PR.XI conversion on. I really need to finish something, so I can show the model club guys I actually DO finish kits, once in a GREAT while.

Larry

[Ocidental 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IX questions]

44 minutes ago, Graham Boak said:

The Spitfire Mk.IX began (excl;uding the first 50) with a fairly flat cowling top.  At a late stage this was replaced by a newer slightly bulged top which was introduced on the Castle Bromwich line to simplify production.  This was not specifically linked to either the c or e armament, but late production Mk.IXs were mainly e  and all Mk.XVI were, I believe, and are more than likely to have had only this later top.

 

I have no idea about the 1/48 kits, but that's presumably what this business of a "bad" nose shape may be about.  The PR XI will have had the earlier top.

Thanks for that quick response. I looked over both kits and their instructions, and BOTH of them have identical top pieces. At first I just looked at the instructions, which showed what appeared to be "bulged" cowling tops. When I pulled the kit pieces out, they actually look fairly flat overall. Makes me wonder why I added the "bad nose shape" comment to my database. 

Oh well, I will just try to make these "Fun Builds", with at least one Recce bird among them. I just noticed that I have 2 IXe kits in the same box. Have to look through my stash of Spitfire decals, to determine which of the 3 kits to build first.

 

Larry

[Ocidental 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IX questions]

A search of the forums didn't find the answer(s) to my inquiry, so here goes. I have both the Ocidental 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IXe & Mk.IXc kits, along with an Airwaves 1/48 Spitfire PR.XI conversion. My model stash "database" (Actually an Excel Spreadsheet) lists the IXe as having a "bad nose shape". Does the IXe and/or the IXc have a "bad nose shape? If so, which Ocidental Spitfire kit be the best choice for the conversion? Will just using the Airwaves conversion overcome the bad shape? I will also be using my Almark decals sheet A48-26 "PR Markings Europe" for the conversion.

Any & all help/comments will be appreciated. Just don't tell me to dump the Ocidental kit(s) and go buy some other "Newer & Better" Spitfire kit. 

At 71 years old, I need to concentrate on building what I have in my stash, NOT increasing the stash. 

Larry in Florida

[1/48 - BAe Harrier T.2/T.2A/T.2N/T.4/T.4N/T.8 by Kinetic - released]

1 hour ago, sloegin57 said:

Only on the single seaters Nick, the F95 was mounted under the rear cockpit on the T-Birds

 

Dennis

I'll have to look for pictures of that installation, so I can put it on my Thai T-Bird.

Larry

[1/48 - BAe Harrier T.2/T.2A/T.2N/T.4/T.4N/T.8 by Kinetic - released]

Glad I have everything I need to do an accurate (MOSTLY) 2-seat Harrier in Royal Thai Navy markings.

I agree with the previous post that Scooby's "research" leaves a LOT to be desired.  

Larry

[Any aftermarket 1/48 Photo Lightning (Ex P-38) decals?]

1 hour ago, Ed Russell said:

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235114689-limping-lizzie-75-sqn-raaf-f-4a-1-lightning-completed/

 

There is a company called Novascale which used to make some F-4 and F-5 decals. Poor quality and service according to many posts. Best avoided.

I have the DK Decal sheet shown in that post. Will probably be doing a few birds from that sheet.

Thanks for the suggestions on Novascale.

Larry

[Any aftermarket 1/48 Photo Lightning (Ex P-38) decals?]

I have a few of the Xtraparts 1/48 Photo Lighting conversions and was looking for decals to use on them.

The versions I have are F-4-1, F-4A, F-5A & F-5B Photo Lightnings. The only stuff available appears to be for the F-5E Photo Lightning, probably because there is an actual kit of that version.

On a related issue, does anybody know if the Nationalist Chinese Air Force used any recce Lightnings besides their F-5Es, for which I have the nice (OOP) Third Group decal sheet (48-047)?

I am ashamed to admit that my research hasn't turned up any data to support a "YES" answer.

Larry

[Harrier GR.3 Recon Pod]

Looks good to me, as well. I know there are a few guys in my local model club, who'd like to print them out in different scales.

Larry in Florida

[PLAAF Shenyang JZ-6 cockpit color(s)]

24 minutes ago, alt-92 said:

 

Perhaps more luck here:

 

Thanks for those links, ESPECIALLLY the color walkaround pics of the Chinese Migs. 

[PLAAF Shenyang JZ-6 cockpit color(s)]

I am about to start on building a 1/48 Shenyang JZ-6 reconnaissance aircraft, by converting the Historic Plastic Models 1/48 S-105/MiG-19S Farmer C.

This is the aircraft I plan to model: https://www.airliners.net/photo/China---Air/Shenyang-JZ-6/1618438/L

The kit instructions have the cockpit color as "Grey-blue", with no other references. I do have a Post-It note in the kit that says the colors are the same as on the F-8-1, but that might just be the exterior off-white color.

Does anybody have an existing model paint that would be a good match? If it's a brand I don't have, and can't easily get, I can always try to match a different brand using various model paint conversion charts.

Thanks in advance.

Larry in NW Florida

[Heller Revived from the Dead]

On 6/13/2019 at 8:27 AM, Julien said:

CL-215

Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) UD.13-13 | September 1993

Polemikì Aeroporia (Hellenic Air Force) 1045 | November 2014

Province du Saskatchewan C-FAFO | 2010

Securité Civile

I've always liked this scheme:

 

https://www.aviationmegastore.com/img/siam-scale-decals-ssn72004-hu16b-albatroscl215-rthai-navy-x47-44144_0.jpg

 

 

Someday, I need to get back to working on mine.

Larry

[Airfix 1/48 P-40B Tomahawk aftermarket question]

A LOT of GREAT discussion here! 

While looking through my PDF copy of Camouflage & Markings - Tomahawk, Airacobra & Mohawk, I blew up some of the clearer photos, that "appeared" to have non-round (Fishtail?) exhausts.

The aftermarket exhausts I have on order don't have as pronounced a "Fishtail" look to them, so I think I will go ahead & use them.

It's not like I'm going to enter my model(s) into an IPMS/USA contest, they're mainly for my satisfaction.

Again, THANKS for all the comments & replies to my questions. That's one of the main reasons I like Britmodeller, all the helpful people here. 

Larry

[Airfix 1/48 P-40B Tomahawk aftermarket question]

After reading all the interesting replies......

[Airfix 1/48 P-40B Tomahawk aftermarket question]

3 hours ago, Harry Lime said:

 

The problem is Xtradecal's research, it has a poor rep these days. Click here for an IWM image of AH893 in flight with two others. Using the zoom function, I'm not seeing anything other than regular straight exhaust pipes, even allowing for the quite heavy shadowing around them.

 

Mark. 

Thanks for that link. Unfortunately, I had already ordered the "fishtail" exhausts. I will probably still use them (If they fit okay), as they aren't that Fishtail-looking. But they are more oval looking than the Airfix kit.

Now, I just wonder how accurate Xtradecal's color callouts are for the paint scheme. 

Larry

[Airfix 1/48 P-40B Tomahawk aftermarket question]

19 hours ago, georgeusa said:

Quickboost has some fishtail exhausts for the Hasegawa kit that you should be able to use.  Sprue Brothers has them in stock for $6.99.  (No affiliation, other online merchants may carry them, go there if you want).  

 

 

Thanks, I just ordered a set for my Airfix kit, and 2 different sets for my AMT/ERTL kits. Those were listed as being for the Italeri kit, which is the same as the AMT/ERTL kit, according to Scalemates.

[Airfix 1/48 P-40B Tomahawk aftermarket question]

I have the really nice Airfix 1/48 Curtiss P-40B Tomahawk kit, that I want to do as a Curtiss Tomahawk Mk.IIA (AH893 ~ RM*D) from the Xtradecal sheet X48162.

The build is going smoothly, but I ran into a "problem", based on the comment on the Xtradecal instructions, which say that AH893 had Fishtail exhausts.

The only aftermarket 1/48 P-40 fishtail exhausts are by Quickboost (48442), which are made for the Hasegawa P-40M/N kit. I'd hate to spend the money on them, only to find out they won't fit.

I haven't looked through my other P-40 kits to see if any one has fishtail exhausts that would work (FIT) in my Airfix kit. I only have an AMT/ERTL P-40K (Kit 8794) and P-40N (Kit 8798).

Of course, that would be "Robbing Peter to pay Paul", since Quickboost's aftermarket exhausts may not fit the AMT/ERTL kits.

Any suggestions from the P-40 experts?

Larry

 

UPDATE: I just looked at both of my AMT/ERTL 1/48 Warhawk kits (P-40N & P-40K), and neither one has fishtail exhausts in the kit, even though the box artwork shows DEFINITE Fishtail exhausts! 

 

Would these be considered "Fishtail" exhausts?

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/QB48674?result-token=jYAlR

[New(not) Tu-2vs from Xintong, but there is a nuance]

I thought that Tu-2R meant it was a photo-reconnaissance aircraft. If so, then why is 403 carrying torpedoes?

 

Sorry, I was looking at the wrong picture for that caption. 

[New(not) Tu-2vs from Xintong, but there is a nuance]

So are the purple areas the wooden parts?

If so, what is designated by the dark marked areas?

Larry

[Revell 1/32 Tornado GR.Mk.1 RAF kit questions]

1 hour ago, DeepSea said:

@ReccePhreak I've a couple of the flightpath conversion sets in my stash and I am only planning on doing one of them as a recce bird.  If you want the recce parts of it let me know. 

 

Best

 

David

Do you know of anywhere that has the Double Ugly one in stock? I think it only covers the German version but I'm still hunting a copy!

@DeepSea Thanks for the offer. I wouldn't need any photo etch stuff, only the resin recce "bumps". PM me for the details.

Larry

[Revell 1/32 Tornado GR.Mk.1 RAF kit questions]

I went to the Tornado SIG site and recognized their drawings as the ones I had downloaded & printed out a LONG TIME ago. Since I couldn't find those drawings anywhere, I downloaded & printed them out again.

 

I also have a Revell AG 1/48 Tornado GR.4 kit in my stash (04924), and there was a pack of "Cottage Industry" (Homemade?) 1/48 aftermarket parts that I forgot I had. They included a RAPTOR pod, and all the other underfuselage "bumps". I can use them to scale up to 1/32 scale and try to scratchbuild most of them (NOT the RAPTOR pod). I have nothing to lose; if they don't turn out, I will just build the 1/32 Tornado pretty much OOB.

Thanks for the info on the colors. I don't plan on weathering the model, it's just not "my thing". 

I won't even weather my Revell 1/32 Ju-88D-2 conversion (From Revell's Ju-88A-1) that's been "started" in my "Build Queue" for years.

[Revell 1/32 Tornado GR.Mk.1 RAF kit questions]

Thanks @Jabba & @CT7567 for your informative replies. ISTR that somewhere on the internet awhile back, there were drawings that showed the different windows & bumps that pertained to the various Tornado variants. Unfortunately, any documents/drawings/photos that I might have downloaded were lost when my previous computer had a complete meltdown. Does anybody know if there is a book or particular issue of modelling magazine that would have that info?

Finally, since Revell ONLY lists Revell paints (Or mixes of Revell paints), I will have to come up with with either Testors ModelMaster, Tamiya or Gunze Mr Color "versions" of the needed camo colors.

As of now, the only "aftermarket" I ordered for this kit is an Eduard Canopy Mask Set and a set of Quickboost Panavia Tornado Ejection Seats w/safety Belts. I got the seats because I wasn't happy with the way my friend built the kit seats.

I will keep looking for more info on the Tornado, before I decide which markings (Probably kit decals) I will do it in. For me, ECM pods & Sidewinders are a must, I just have to find info on the various sensor windows.

Larry

[Revell 1/32 Tornado GR.Mk.1 RAF kit questions]

Thanks @CT7567 for the informative post. I have edited mine with more info. A Raptor "bird" is not really needed, just a photo-recce bird, not a mud-mover. 

[Revell 1/32 Tornado GR.Mk.1 RAF kit questions]

I was given this kit (Slightly started) by my friend before he moved away, and would like to work on it, IF I can build it as a strictly reconnaissance aircraft, with NO air-to-ground weaponry on the plane.

Is that possible, especially with the decals in the kit? If so, what changes/modifications, if any, do I need to do to the kit? 

I would love to fit a RAPTOR pod on it, but I doubt that anybody made an aftermarket kit of that pod.

EDIT: It's kit 04705.

The kit decals have markings for a GR1 of 31 SQ, RAFG Brúggen 1995; 617 SQ, RAF Lossiemouth 1992 and one from Tabuk, Saudi Arabia 1991.

I don't really want to buy aftermarket decals, but I could if needed to do a recce bird.

Larry