DOD

Discovered that Fireball XL5 is back on TV. Talking Pictures TV is showing it on Saturday afternoons at 14.40. I had never heard of this channel but it describes itself as an archive film and TV channel showing old films and TV programmes. Available on Virgin 445, Freesat 306, Freeview/Youview 82 and Sky sat 328. Check out their website for details and schedules. Not sure if available in any form of catchup. Great to see the coolest spaceship ever back in action! Cheers David

Thanks to all who have commented. Much appreciated. @janneman36 Jan, I will look into no prop effect. Got a spare spinner that I can try out. Cheers David

Hi, As @Work In Progress kindly referred to my initial post about this recently and having just completed it a wee while ago, I thought I would post the finished result. This was my first completed 1/48th model since getting back into aircraft modelling and there were a lot of lessons learned. Number 1. Never build an ICM Spitfire again. To my mind it was a horrible kit with poor fit and mould marks needing filled in. Many times it nearly went in the bin. Other, more positive things were weathering with oils, most enjoyable, scribing panel lines into primer rather than the plastic. This was useful where the new resin chin met the original plastic. Initially could not get a decent line until I read about this. I tried to make it as detailed as possible but there are some inaccuracies with the finished model, some of which I discovered too late to fix. Namely, I left off the seat armour, there a couple of panel lines missing on the top wing, there should not be a ventral signal light (painted over), the fuselage star is not quite the right size and the tail codes not quite the right font (both these seem to be non standard sizes). I would like to thank everyone who responded to my various queries in posts over the time but in particular to @spitfirepr1v who has helped tremendously with information on a whole variety of PR Spitfire marks. Thanks Richard. Overall, though, I think it came out quite well. Cheers David

This technique is also mentioned and it is the one that I was familiar with. I don't have an immediate need for doing this,though. Was really just interested if anyone had used it as I had not come across it being used. Thanks for the reference to the book. It looks interesting. I had not come across it before. Cheers David

I was looking through the copy of How to Go Plastic Modelling, Chris Ellis, 1968, which I have had since a bairn. All the basics are there but techniques have progressed considerably since them. However, one thing caught my eye and that was making canopies using clear nail varnish, a technique favoured by the author. Having carved your canopy shape from balsa and sanded smooth, smear it with margarine or lard(!) rubbing it well in (no comment). Paint over a layer of nail varnish, let set and then repeat at least 15 times. When finished remove and trim. He says the technique can also be used for radomes, fairings, etc and has used, for example, a drop tank that matched the required canopy shape, as a mould (not forgetting the marge or lard). It's not something I have actually come across in practice and wondered if anyone has tried or uses it. Does it work? Cheers David

Hi Justin, Many thanks for your input. I have a photo of MB 950 which shows the stars and bars with nothing on top but it is not clear whether there are still stencils on either side. I was coming to the same conclusion as you with this, though. PL914 was a late addition as a replacement and I suspect it would have been fairly 'factory fresh'.(?). Thanks again David

Hi Danny, Thanks for the reasoning behind the use of the different strengths. It has helped to explain their use better. Cheers David

Hi there, Working on Spitfire PR XI PL914 in US service operating out of Mount Farm. Can anyone supply details on stencils? I have photos which show the main upper wing details but what about the underwing? Particularly the 'trestle' stencils. There is a stars and bars insignia on the bottom starboard wing. This would cover these stencils. So, Was the insignia applied over the stencil leaving bits of it? Stencil obliterated completely? What about the port wing trestle stencils? Perhaps there is information on the fighters that could be extrapolated? Any help would be appreciated. Cheers David

Thanks to all who have replied. Have got useful information. Thanks for this Steve. I have never used Klear. It just seems funny to be using floor polish on models. But I shall investigate further. Cheers David

Hi, I have been applying some US stars and bars decals made by Techmod to my PR XI . Using Ultimate Decal Setting Solution, Normal strength. It is not having much effect in getting the decals to conform to panel lines. I can get the stronger versions but this is going to to several days. Would it still be ok to use the stronger solution on the decals after this time and still work? Or just remove and start again when new solutions arrive? Or suggest an alternative solution? There seems to be a mass of them out there! And terminology: Setting, softening, fixer..... Any help would appreciated. Cheers David

Hi Richard Many thanks for the comments. Would it be possible to see the photos showing the seat armour? I have not seen any good photos of PR IV cockpit areas. I take it from your moniker and your reply that you are seriously into RAF PR subjects. It was the story of AA810 recovery that got me back into aircraft modelling and generated a general interest in the subject. Thanks again, David

Phenomenal work on models and photo presentations. Amazing!

Hi Andy, I asked the question about the headrests on the PR IV and it was attached to frame 11 behind the seat with poppet rivets. No actual armour plate. Cheers David

Hi, thanks for this. I have subsequently been in contact with the AA810 PR IV restoration project and they say there was no armour on the PR IV. The PR XI I take it did retain the seat armour? Cheers

Hi there, I was led to believe that these two aircraft did not have any armour. However, on looking at this review of the PR XI I see from the sprue photos what appears to be armour plating for behind the seat. Can anyone confirm whether these aircraft did or did not have the seat armour? Many thanks David