Johnson

A great project Stefano! I look forward to following. Best wishes, Charlie

An excellent build Pete. A fine looking IL-28R. As to inaccuracies I would never have known but for your research, as Pete (in Lincs) says, most informative. Charlie

We'll have a 'flight' soon, maybe even a Squadron!

With the cockpit glued in place, time to get the lower wing on. Those familiar with this little Spitfire will know that the join of the wing to the fuselage can be a bit problematic. I've had to trim the 'snap & glue' tabs at the back which were preventing the wing joining the fuselage. I'll start with the front, I'm using Humbrol Liquid Poly on both surfaces, rather than my usual TET, as I want a good wet joint that I'll allow to dry for at least 24 hours, probably longer. The rear join is still high, but I've made sure it is aligned with the fuselage and I'm hopeful that I'll get a reasonable join in a day or so. Charlie

Cockpit. I scanned a instrument panel and printed it on photo paper at various sizes so one should fit. Humbrol 78 for the interior, Tamiya 68 (NATO Brown) which I reckon is pretty good for the early composite seat. Minimal details. Tamiya tape belts, I may darken them a bit, but you're not going to see much once the canopy is on. Charlie

These build into a nice model. The parts seem very similar to those of the Mk.1 I'm building. The Airfix Mk.1 and Mk.V both came out in 1978, I wonder if the same Airfix team did them?

A superb model Bruno, well done. The details you have revealed are excellent. Best regards, Charlie

Nice work. I’m sure it will look good even though the thick plastic, there’s enough of it! They do like their bright colours in the cockpit. I made a Mig21 in the recent GB and it was a garish blue/green. I wonder if this is something that carries on to the modern day?

A dry fit can be helpful in preempting future fit issues. A few gaps, but nothing that tape, clamps and filler won't sort out. Or so I hope. Charlie

Really sorry about your canopy, must have been heartbreaking after all the work and research you’ve put in. If it were mine it would have to come off. A gentle rub with a very fine micromesh cloth (8000 or more) and then a dip in Johnson's 'Future' or 'Klear', the floor sealer. I've improved very compromised canopies with it.

I remember it now. I should have bought one at the time.

Was there an Airfix 1/72 Mk.Va?

Hi Pete, I'm not sure if anyone answered your question, but this is what I had left over after making the 2 blade 19 Sqn Mk.1a. The sprue on the lower right contains the parts needed for the Mk.II. I appear to have used part 37, the Coffman starter bulge for something, and I'm not sure why you get parts 41 & 42 (full depth oil radiator) as IIRC this appeared on the Mk.V. The Rotol spinner and props are for the Mk.II, but I think they were also used on some Mk.Is. I wonder if I can use the spare canopy on the earlier Spitfire I'm making here? Looks a bit better. The Mk.I/II boxing; Seems harder to find now. I've made a couple of these newer Airfix 1/72 Spitfires as Mk.Is (another in the stash for a Mk.II - one day) and I thought they were pretty good. Looks like a Spitfire to me. Cheers, Charlie

Excellent choice! I hope Cliff gives you the OK. Having just restored a 50 year old FROG Lightning in the Classic FROG GB, I’m sure you are going to enjoy it. My canopy was in a poor state but a gentle rub down with these new very fine microfibre abrasive cloths and a dip in Klear worked wonders. Best of luck! Charlie

Thanks @tempestfan. An interesting idea, but if I can produce the 'Dirty Dick' decal, I'll stick with her as she was when flown by Pilot Officer Richard Hardy so as to pay tribute to him and to the original Airfix boxing. Most likely! In this case the pilot has gone AWOL, so will have an empty cockpit. The pilot flying my 1990s build seems pretty tight! Cheers.