phat trev

I have had a similar problem (ie. making a super glue related mess) when trying to sort out my Spitfire cannon covers. I have found light sanding followed by a quick spray of primer (rattle can cheap grey paint) and then another bit of sanding seems to have leveled the 'mess' to an acceptable level. Take your time i trying to get rid...

I like the all Silver scheme! Good to see some Fujimi MkXIV models finished.

Ok thanks Giorgio N. A swap may be a good idea thanks. I have found some good Natural Metal Starfighters that are 'D' Models, so thats good. I really like the Italian and Danish ones! (the later being light grey but with natural metal rear sections, a chance to do some heat treatment I hope.

Whats the difference between a F104A and G? Can it be converted easily to a USAF version (which I think is an A?)

If your Italian it's the 109....until you bottom gets wooped, then its the Spitfire

B52 TSR2

dry fitting a few main parts, and just checking the new blisters are lined up correctly (they are..phew) Wings undercoated today and looking good, still a small blemish on the starboard wing -superglue blotch- so I am hoping the top coats will deal with this. On with painting the cockpit tonight, I have the inside of the new Airfix Spitfire to fill the space, the parts look good.

Converting an accurate Mk V would be fine, many of the first MkIX Spitfires started off as a MkV and were updated with the new series Merlin, Radiator/Oil cooler housing etc...

I would be interested in 1 of the engines? (not the bearers though) If indeed you did not use all 4 RAF Colonel? Again a seperate project not a Lanc.

Have been working on another project (academy tempest) so I have not go as far a I would have liked on the MkIX. Here it is with the cockpit detailing started, I decided to build up the inside using odd bits of plastic as the original idea of brass was a.) to fiddly b.) the set I had did not fit the Hasegawa cockpit to well oh, and I messed up the 2 instrument panels and they are bent out of all proportion and superglued to death...) The Mk.IXb Cannon bulges are superglued into place and the inner (late) u/c bulges have been sanded down as per an early Mk.IX (thanks Giorgio N) I used superglue applyed with a pin to cover up the scars but it is still pitted after sanding and primer (indeed the glued areas are slightly raised now , now the cannon bulges have been added the area does look better but it would be nice to completly 'flatten' the surface.

Did the early Series 1 Tempests have smaller 'typhoon' tailplanes?

Did not take many of the early stages of construction as I was faffing around decorating the cockpit (Which admittedly cannot be seen now in any real detail! and my photo prior to gluing the fuselage is really poor) Wanting to create an early Tempest Mk.V I searched the spares box and came across 4x missiles in 1/144...Ideal after some butchering. Fuselage joined up, bottom section of the wing attached and a few crappy seams filled (The cockpit was so stuffed full of details I had a job to close the whole thing up! Squeeeeze)

Ed, there is a great book called Diver Diver Diver (I am borrowing it from my library at the moment) its quite a substantial amount of records coving v1 kills by the RAF. Otto Smik' Kills are found on pages 162 unfortuntly it does not give his full ID code of his 310SQN Spitfire MKIX. EN627 NN-? 8/7/1944 Stationed at Lympne airborne at 2128hrs looks likw he had 3 kills 2128hrs 2148hrs 2200hrs landed at 2235hrs. His only V1 kills.

Greatest fighter of all time? P-51 (and this is coming from a Spitfire nut) Also way up there in the running, and in no particular order... F6F, Spitfire, F-86, F4, Sea Fury prehaps. Heck I forgot the F104 Starfighter..

Some good infomation thanks all ! I really need to get a look at these 2TAF books they keep croping up in discussions on BM and sound really good.

Can anyone help answer what RAF Squadrons used the Spitfire FR.MkXIVe (lowback) in Europe (1944-45)

Awesomeness.... will be following this! Got some 3-spokes for you, PM me your address.

Super Hurricanes! I love the look of the spinner on the IIB, does anyone know if this type of spinner was used on the IIa?

First off then, What a good book, thanks! Second... what a stroke of luck for you to read my post! Very interesting what you say Chris, Working of a finish for my Early Tempest V (academy) as I am wanting somthing that is not usually modelled . This looks to be a good one with interest.

In the Osprey Book Typhoon and Tempest Aces (p.50), there is a photo of a 3Sqn Tempest in D-Day stripes with a caption stating that JN812 JF-M shows signs of repainting around the code letters where they have been changed from QO- to JF the day before D-Day. I have never seen any photos of Tempests with QO- markings so this may have to go on the one I am building! Can anyone enlighten me on such a change of markings? Happy New Year everyone!

Looking for a cheaper acyrilic primer as usually buy Tamiya rattle cans and they are small and quite pricey. I have found a Simoniz Car Primer from a Spray Can fir a lot cheaper and larger quanity. Can anyone recomend these maybe?

I think your airbrushing of the Baby Spit in camo looks most impressive in 1/72. Roll on another Spitfire I say!

The cannon bulges from the Airfix 1/72 Mk.VC were in the spares box, a little off shape but after a bit of sanding to remove them from the 'backing' they look good I feel. Using a sharp/ flat blade I chiseled into the moulded 'late' bulge detail...this took two goes on one wing! I managed to scar the surface a little unfortunatly so considering how to remove the errors. The new cannon panels have not been glued yet, I think the wings will be primed first to see if I havee managed to level the bulges enough over the top of the u/c bays. I have got an Airwaves set for the cockpit but it looks to be poorly etched?? can this be rectified and are the parts still ok to use.

A very interesting discussion, so thankyou everyone for your comments and views! I am personally happy with the Hasegawa fuselage so I am please many have stated that is good to keep it so as I do not really see the point in cutting it up too much! I may well deepen the undercarrage wells thanks to suggestions here and will consider using 'early Mk.V style' elevators I can find some that match the neat detail work of the Hasegawa panel lines. As for the propellor I have a Heller one somewhere I hope. First pics up later this eve of the build.

I have started on a 1/72 Spitfire Mk.IXc by Hasegawa (converting it back to an early style Mk.IXc, basically larger cannon blisters taken from the Airfix VC) How accurate is this model though?