Lindsey C

Very helpful guys. They are sending on replacements. And.......from the 'Horses Mouth' a Mk1 Spitfire kit is in their plans but no time scale yet. It should be the definitive kit we all hope for 😊 Regards, Lindsey

I'll try that. Thanks Dave.

Hi Guys, Received Arma Hobby's Hurricane Mk1 Expert set (70019). Lovely kit 👌. Also Eduard L.E. Hurristory 1:72 Dual Combo kit today. Lovely kit too.😊 But how do I get replacement's for the tiny 1:144 resin wheels. I bought from Super Hobby, Poland. Through them or Eduard/Arma? Thanks in advance, Lindsey

@Troy Smith. Do you know what the bits of material that are sticking out from the underside of the elevators, just outside the trim tabs on pictures 8, 18 & 21, were for? Rgds, Lindsey

Yup, thanks @Fukuryu. Fits in. Arrived on the 3rd September, not the 4th as stated on the the thread earlier. Must have arrived near midnight of the 3rd! 😂 Rgds, Lindsey

Oops, yes Troy. My error. I forget the outer wheel well shows when undercarriage is up! Haven't built one that was flying yet! 😂 Where did the yellow spinner idea originally come from anybody? It seems to be the norm. Thanks @Troy Smith as ever for the great info. Most helpful. I am learning quickly. First coat of green on over the dark earth so spinner decision will be soon (though in my heart I know what's going to happen)😂 According to http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p008.html - FF 1-3-40 AMDP Airspeed trls with company test pilots 6-3-40 38MU 11-5-40 257Sq 18-5-40 19Sq 'QV-K' 3-9-40 152Sq 26-9-40 58OTU 23-3-41 Scottish Aviation 12-9-41 52OTU 17-11-41 57OTU 29-8-43 dived into ground East Lothian CE 5-5-44. Am I reading this wrong? It reads to me that P9386 was delivered to No.19 Squadron on 18th May 1940. Rgds, Lindsey

I am really struggling to see how it is yellow in that side shot. Can't be Sky. Too early. It IS a late BoB Spitfire given the under-wing roundel position so September 1940 fits in with the supposed date of the picture. Look at the yellow tips of the props especially the upper prop front of yellow (allied to the yellow in fuselage roundel). I think it is white. Here is a scenario🧐: Aircraft was given it's underside Sky repaint most likely at No.7 OTU sometime after early June. Probably later than front line squadrons since it resided then at an OTU. It still gives it some operational time to develop some streaking as seen on lower port wing. It Was delivered to No.19 squadron on the 4th September. On the 5th, Lane was promoted to C.O. on the demise of the former C.O. so they painted the spinner soon after being unaware the aircraft would be sent on to 152 Squadron. Regards, Lindsey

Painting the Spinner Yellow or White! They couldn't decide. It took them over 3 months! 😂

Now, there is another thought! I am going to go on the side shot photograph since I know it is definitely P9386. This means I need to paint matt black over the sky paint I have on the inside of the port leg cover! And also the sides of the port Wheel Well. Which probably means I need to do the same on the Starboard side in white to cover the Sky paint there. I presume no.7 OTU aircraft were in standard pre BoB Black/White scheme. They must have been judging by the picture. I wonder was the sky paint applied at No.7 OTU a while before No.19 Sqd accepted delivery (which might account for the streaking seen underneath) or would it have been applied at RAF Fowlmere? This aircraft must have been painted sky very late (No.19 Sqd had it for one week in September) judging by @Troy Smith's observation of the undercarriage since the order came in, in early June for all fighter aircraft to be so painted. Initial slow supplies of the new paint were sorted around the end of August when it seems supply was not an issue thereafter. Hence different adapted mixes probably varying from Squadron to Squadron before late august! Was it late being painted Sky because OTU aircraft were last on the list to be painted so? Is there any date on the photograph of the side that anyone is aware of? It must have been Sky paint rather than any other to my mind since one would think every base would have had the paint readily available to them by September 1940. Lindsey

Thanks @wmcgill How do we know it is actually P9386 from that shot? The website just states that it is Brian Lane standing 'in front of a Spitfire at RAF Fowlmere, September 1940'. I prefer the shot with the serial number. 🙂 Regards, Lindsey

Thanks @Troy Smith & @stever219. I have this photo already downloaded Troy 🙂. I see no definition or trace of a stencil on the outboard, lower side of the port aileron. This has me going with the Eduard "no stenciling is seen on the bottom surfaces" 👌 I agree completely Troy, with your comment on the spinner colour/tone. Could it be the way the sun is catching it? I don't think so. The 'Sky' paint on the port lower nose is bright there too but it is at a greater angle to the the sun than the spinner. The shaded, lowest part of the spinner in the shot is only as dull/bright as the yellow in the fuselage roundel in full sunlight! From what I gather the yellow spinner came with the aircraft from no.7 OTU to replace the troublesome MK1b 'Canon' Spitfires. It seems strange to me that they would have left it yellow. I can more understand a white spinner for the C/O. Would I be instantly expelled from Britmodeller if I painted it white? I have never seen a white spinner on a model of P9386! Or would I have a chance to explain my actions before I am 'excommunicated'? I am seriously tempted! 😂 Thanks guys, Lindsey

Hi guys, Am getting close to decaling on 1:72 P9386 QV-K. Brian Lanes yellow spinnered Spitfire. A common build and a nice one for the BoB shelf. Looking around at other builds, they show technical stenciling on underside. Eduard's 1:48 kit instructions state that "no stenciling is seen on the bottom surfaces". I am now wondering should I run with underside stencils or not? 🧐 Any thoughts or further info out there. I have not managed to find any other reference than Eduard's regarding the lack of bottom surface stencils. Thanks in advance, Lindsey

It's ok. Found a shot 🙂

Hi Guys, While we are (or were) at it, Has anyone a picture or know where to find a picture of the interior of the cockpit door for a Mk1a Spitfire. This one is going to be Sqd Ldr Brian Lane's P9386 QV-K. I have various tech stencils (in red) just seeing if it is known which ones to use. No worries on the Crowbar. I have already chiselled away! 😂 Regards, Lindsey

No I have no imagery 😪 I am just going by the stencil instructions of TechMod and Eduard (1:48) plus museum aircraft for Mk1a's. Regards, Lindsey

No @Dave Swindell, It is not the W/T markings. Just a single M. See them on the flaps below 'DTD 517 S'. Above rear wheel (both sides) Also on the access panels on lower rear stabilizers. There are others elsewhere. Regards, Lindsey

These are just a single capital letter 'M'. They occur singly (no associated serial) on the fuselage just above the tail wheel, on the rudder, flaps, ailerons (lower surface) and elevators (lower surface). I see them on many actual spitfires in museums at present. Period photography has not been close enough or high enough resolution for me to see them on actual BoB Spitfires. Regards, Lindsey

Wow, applying other Techmod Stencil's to Kiwi II. Even the smallest can be clearly read with my 10x magnifying glass and they have the correct 'stencil' typeface! I completely understand where you are coming from @FinnAndersen but I think they look great. I know most will not notice them but I know they are there! Any tiny pixie wandering around the display cabinet is going to be seriously impressed. Plus I kind of enjoy the light stress of applying something the size of a good pinhead. Orientation & position is everything!😱 I can see them with my standard reading glasses and while they cannot be read, they 'look right' when in the right places 🙂 Mind you, looking through a 10x magnifying glass shows up every imperfection and the tiniest dust specs caught in paint on the model surface. The glass will only be used for tiny stencils forthwith! Out of interest guys, what does the 'M' stencil designate or mean on an RAF aircraft of the period? Regards, Lindsey

Found info on Decal sheet. 3 Kiwi's and X4236 hit by bomb blast with the other 2 Spitfires on take off. Kiwi 1 - N3180 KL-B. After receiving damage from the Do. 215, crash landed on beach at Dunkirk Kiwi 11 - P9398 KL-B. Collided head on with Bf109. Kiwi 111 - R6981 KL-B. Damaged by 109's over Dunkirk, made it back to England but had to bail out over Kent. Non Kiwi - X4236 KL-B. The aircraft hit by bomb blast along with the 2 other Spits while scrambling to take off. Thanks Chuck. Lindsey

That is my reading of the 3 aircraft from what I have read too Colin. and N1380 (Dunkirk) as Kiwi (1). Lindsey

That is my reading of the 3 aircraft from what I have read too Colin. and N1380 (Dunkirk) as Kiwi (1). Lindsey

Yes. That is the one the kit states to use (as presumably a DH blade). They are not the best props on a kit I have seen and the KP detailing is a little fine for my liking and may have to be improved but it will be built and opinions formed thereafter. Now I will know a Jablo Rotol too for future ref. Thanks guys. Regards, Lindsey

I was thinking of N3180 as I have these decals too but it fell outside BoB dates falling victim during Dunkirk and I like the story of P9398 and the Bf109 collision. Interesting story for the 'Little Book' to be housed around the BoB shelf. Still, I may be being too pernickety here and it will give a 'lead in' to the BoB. I could steel the Rotol from the KP kit though the blades look wrong to me. They are very wide at the root. Are these 'Jablo' Blades (top set) for a Mk2? They dont look like the Magnesium blades. Regards, Lindsey

Hmm, this kit must not be based on the KP Mk1b tooling I have. It contains many parts not for use on a 1b. Desert filter, 3 prop & spinner types (including Rotol), alternative exhausts, extra wing bulges etc. Regards, Lindsey

That's already my choice for the Tamiya Spit @fishplanebeer coming behind the Airfix Kiwi 2. I already have the decals. Great minds think alike Colin! 😀 Regards, Lindsey