FinnAndersen

I've done a few and while you can make a nice model out of it, it has a few problems. One is the span which is 2 mm too narrow at each side, something which is almost impossible to correct. An other problem is a very complex nose made of 4 parts and therefore somewhat difficult to assemble correctly. Verdict: Without at least some modelling skills, you will be challenged. It seems that we do not have a Griffon engined Spitfire kit that is accurate out of the box, so you will have to either correct the kit you buy or leave it as it is... /Finn

You did well and you are among friends here. /Finn

Just curious: What would a XVIII use a GEE receiver for? Any way, my understanding was that a GEE antenna came out of the canopy and that the antenna mast was sometimes replaced with a (large) whip aerial. /Finn

To follow up on gingerbob: Best in what regard? Ease of assembly? Accuracy? Diversity of aftermarket decals? Availability? Price? Try to put a few extra word on your question, then you will get lots of responses. /Finn

Yes, I'd say so. In itself a resin kit isn't difficult, it just requires a set of skills and techniques specific to that media, e.g. you glue with cyano and have very little if any time to adjust. On top of that, you are supplied with a vacform canopy which you need to be confortable with. So don't... Or jump into the deep end... It's your time and money. If having a XII on the shelf is important, you will probably overcome any difficulties, but it will come at a price. I ditched mine after a prolonged period of assembling and correcting and whatnot. I wasn't too fond of the fat fuselage in any case and I have had reasonable succes swabbing noses on styrene plastic Spitfires, so that's my chosen path. /Finn

I've said before, but I'll say it again: We respect your choices, but damm, you're missed 😀 /Finn

brilliant, just love it

Watch out for the geometry of the nose. I had something not circular at the very front, narrower than the spinner. In other respects is like the Sword kit, meaning that you will want to look out in the cockpit area, behind the seat to make sure that the canopy will fit ( my cockpit cover was too narrow for the unmodified fuselage). /Finn

While I have not actually jumped this particular Skyvan, I have appx. 100 jumps out of Skyvans AND an Airfix Skyvan kit in the attic. Must get to it... Very inspiring and well done. /Finn

Is this a plane? Well if it is, then you did a very good job on it. Congratulations. /Finn

I'll second that. Wanting an accurate kit, but not having the funds is a bugger. On the other hand you could ask yourself how much the accuracy is worth to you. Look in the RFI section, a bloke is doing 1950'ties Airfix kit and having the time in his life. Hurricanes are difficult beasts, especially the fabric on the rear fuselage is hard to get to look right. I know, because I once filled the trenches on a Hasegawa and filed them down to a more satisfactory form as the space between the stingers should be flat. It took forever and didn't correct the nose that's too short for a Mk II and too long for a Mk I. My advice is to drop making two models, and just make a single, but to a Telford winning state. /Finn

Thank you very much, this is extremely useful and add tons to my meagre knowledge of RAF fighter operations /Finn

I was aware of the Coffman in the Mk II, but had a vague memory of a autobiography mentioning a later Spitfire pilot with his pockets stuffed with Coffman cartridges during a crosscountry flight. Thinking about that, how on earth would he reload the Coffman? Perhaps it was not a Spitfire. /Finn

Thanks all. I will include the trolley and hope it does not clutter the whole ting up, you know, "less is more" It's nearing completion, so watch out /Finn

Thanks. Overall positive, but you'd have to cleanup some of the panel lines, where the mould is damaged, so you need a scriber. I used a Vacform canopy as the kit canopy was rather heavy. I also used aftermarket cannons as they have a more crisp detail. Otherwise it was plain sailing. /Finn

I do not have fond memories with the Xtrakit XII. That said, it will still be the easiest route to a XII for the average modeller. Swapping Spitfire noses is not for everyone. So 3 cheers to Hannants for doing this. I also notice that they have included some nice new assessories in this edition /Finn PS: For the record, IMHO the XII is the best looking Spitfire. The XIV and later is just too brutish looking PPS: I have 4 XII in my collection, so will pass this one

Asking because I have one and are in process of building a diorama with Spitfire MJ221 SK-J during the Diver campaign /Finn

Nice Cat. I've just completing 3 of those and also noticed the missing undercarriage strut. I had some trouble with the V-shaped supports, which IMHO was too short and needed replacement. Yours look better. Otherwise a great kit, Recommended /Finn

I get it. Not that I would want to participate, but read my post, I'm not in any way condemning or indulgent /Finn

No question that every kit can, with love and care, be completed, but why are you doing these? To prove that the plastic doesn't matter and only building skills do? Sort of like the bloke who presented a Spitfire in all shades of gray at Telford claiming that it looked that way on photos? Sincerely hoping that you tell us that your budget is limited and you get as much fun out of doing these ancient kits as us spending our entire pension on the latest thing, because that's perfectly alright 😀 I'm with you some of the way, 'cause sometimes I get the feeling that some just like to toy with a ruler on every new kit, just to find faults and never actually building anything. /Finn

I had to dig very deep, but I believe that this model was my very first effort into modelling. It was in 1959 and I was 6 years old. My model came with a canopy that did not fit, later identified as a Spitfire canopy. And yes, it took around 30 minutes from comming home to it standing, somewhat wobbely, on its undercarriage I never painted it, this was quite beyond me at the time And of course everybody that saw it identified as a Spitfire /Finn (feeling very old)

Very nice Mossie and a striking scheme. Having done some Tamiya and know about the problem of painting the canopy frames (for the benefit of the uneducated: There was some internal frames, which was not painted the outside colour) A minor detail, which is unrelated to the high quality of the model: The squadron was No. 60 SAAF, not RAAF. /Finn

Thanks for spotting the dust. It was important to me as I could see it on the photos of the real thing, but I was afraid of overdoing it /Finn

Strictly speaking, accentuating each and every panel lines is not weathering. I know, I'm splitting hairs, but it's not every panel line that is filled with grime and dirt, see Grahams post above. You must know the saying "Less is more" and this applies here So you do not need to improve you skills, you just need to restrain yourself 😉 /Finn

An early Typhoon as tested by 451 Sqn in the western desert. A small number was modified with a tropical filter under the fuselage and shipped to Egypt for tropical trials. It was not a unqualified success. They were never flown operationally and were quickly grounded for lack of spares, but it's the only Typhoon in desert camouflage. Kit was the Brengun offering with a aftermarket canopy and cannons. Paint is Xtracolour. Decals from Red Roo, which also furnished the tropical filter. Underside view shows, not very clearly, the tropical filter under the fuselage between the inner undercarriage doors