Steve 1602

Nice one 👏 Well done in overcoming the problems at the end!

I’ll follow along again John - I have a number of these early Merlin Spits from Eduard in my stash but have yet to build one. Steve

So if DFS do you mean that the colours are dark green/ ocean grey/ med sea grey? Or do you mean a variation to DFS with azure undersides? My observation about the B pattern is not so much about reversed colours - it’s the fact that it’s a complete mirror pattern which strikes me as unusual on a Spitfire at this stage in the war. Steve

That’s an interesting scheme - not least that it appears to be a ‘B’ pattern which seems to have ceased in Aug 1941 on the production lines - ER318 was delivered on 9 Sep 42 so well outside this timeframe http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p041.html I don’t think it would have been an overpaint of one colour in that case as it would [edit] probably [edit] have followed the ‘A’ pattern. This looks like a complete overpaint (but in which colours is your guess as much as mine!) Steve

Thanks Paul 👍 Based on that…. A copy has just arrived from Amazon…. No idea how that happened…. 😁 Thanks John - I’m enjoying following yours as well. It was fun seeing them come together in parallel.

Great paintwork and finish John. It’s really come to life 👏

Thanks 🙏 I’ve added ‘Wing Leader’ to my must-read list Steve

Thanks Andy - and I enjoyed your support through the build 👍

Thanks Paul!

Thanks VF - I appreciated your inputs during the build! 👍

That’s lovely. Hard to believe that is 1/72!

Thank you! Thanks - glad you enjoyed the WIP; it’s a really nice kit to build Thanks - that’s very kind Thanks BB. I agree that a separate part here would very much add to this area. I have built a couple of their Mk XVI kits with their PE and these include some parts for the door closure mechanism which look really good once in. The crowbar remains one piece unfortunately Thank you!

That’s really coming together well Steve

Thanks John - I may have to give that a go on a paint mule at some point. I’ve just started using weathering pencils which I really like, but I think the chipping you’ve done looks more realistic. Steve

Looking nice John. The white tail really stands out. A quick question on hairspray… I’ve read elsewhere that it’s to allow chipping, but does it make the rest of the paintwork fragile (or do yiu target where it goes?) Steve

That looks great 👍 I really must get hold of one of these kits Steve

How about yourself?

The plan is the new Airfix Mosquito B.XVI in the Bomber/ Strike/ Ground Attack group build Andy. Then back to Spitfires 😆 Thanks Charlie 👍 - I tried out AK weathering pencils for the first time. I think they are really useful to control the level of chipping and scratching. Steve

Thanks Andy! I’ve appreciated your support and comments 👍

“I found the engineer officer and together we had a look at her, gleaming and bright in a new spring coat of camouflage paint. Later I took her up for a few aerobatics to get the feel of her, for this was the first time I had flown a Mk IX. She seemed very fast, the engine was sweet and she responded to the controls as only a thoroughbred can. I decided that she should be mine, and I never had occasion to regret that choice.' Wing Commander James Edgar ‘Johnnie’ Johnson “Wing Leader” Here is my interpretation of ‘Johnnie’ Johnson’s EN398 whilst he commanded the Kenley Wing in 1943. The build thread is here: Those who are offended by the presence of Green maple leaves on Spitfires should look away at this point…..⚠️ 😉 I had fully intended to use red maple leaves on the model, but nostalgia about the old Airfix Mk IX and some additional thoughts and comments during the build led me to go with green. If it bugs me later I can always apply red over the top. I’ve also taken a bit of artistic licence with a Wing Commander’s pennant on the port side - this inspired by the Spitfire site’s interpretation http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/johnnie-johnsons-spitfire-revisited.html Kit is the Eduard 1/48 Spitfire F MkIX (Early) weekend edition. Aftermarket parts are Eduard seat harnesses, Montex canopy masks and decals by Victory Productions (Aces of Empire sheet). Paints throughout are Vallejo model air. Anyway, photos are below; I’ve kept it fairly clean as it’s Greycap Leader’s mount after all! Steve

“I found the engineer officer and together we had a look at her, gleaming and bright in a new spring coat of camouflage paint. Later I took her up for a few aerobatics to get the feel of her, for this was the first time I had flown a Mk IX. She seemed very fast, the engine was sweet and she responded to the controls as only a thoroughbred can. I decided that she should be mine, and I never had occasion to regret that choice.' Johnnie Johnson “Wing Leader” So that’s a wrap! Thanks everyone who has liked, commented and supported this build along the way. I have really enjoyed this kit - and it’s now lined up alongside some of earlier and later cousins. I have now added photos to the RFI section. Thanks all! 👍 Steve

Final bits and bobs completed tonight! popped off the cowling, fitted the exhausts and then popped back on. Easy 👍 Then it was onto some weathering, attaching all the remaining pieces, a few bits of detail painting and I’m calling it done! I’ll add better pictures tomorrow. Steve

Thanks Charlie! I blame nostalgia for the decision 😆 Steve

Abet good point John 😆 And another good point 😆 some additional progress! A panel line wash using Flory models dark dirt and then cleaned off and Matt coated with Vallejo Matt varnish. All set now for final assembly and some final weathering. As this is the Wing leader’s aircraft and was described as having a fresh coat of paint, I’m going to leave it pretty clean. Steve

That looks great - always love a clipped Spit! Your finish and weathering is really excellent 👍