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Okay so here we have an ill-advised third build. As a background, in a 'cheap, lucky dip' group build, I got Airfix's more recent 1/72 Spitfire 1a, no doubt from a Lidl special, that we all know and love. The rules are that aside from decals, no aftermarket is allowed, and the models must be brush painted. The thing is, I build this kit last year, so it seemed a bit boring to just do it all over again. Really, I saw 2 options: do a 'starter challenge' build only out of the box (but I'd still end up with another BoB spitfire on the shelf); or mod it to something I actually wanted to build, namely a type 300, or a Seafire. I already had plans to mod Airfix's Vc into a folded wing Seafire L.III, but the lack of aftermarket rule would make the propellor and exhausts a bit of a struggle. So the obvious choice would be a quick Seafire 1b mod, but scratching around for wing mods, I realised I had no B wing kit to steal from, but I could pinch a from my daughter's Airfix's starter Vc. So a IIc then seemed appropriate. Really it's an excuse for me to learn some scratch building skills, which so far I haven't done a whole lot of. It also fits this GB's theme and allows to be shamelessly steal all the good research being done already! So yeah, I know there are much better and easier ways of achieving a IIc, but this is what we've got. So where are we? First, I'm sanding down, cutting out and scratching up some flaps out of styrene, hopefully with paper ribbing. I thought it might be nice to pose on approach to landing with everything down. (there's my first effort at the kit; it feels like this one fits rather less well!) The start of filling and rescribing the wings to 'C' configuration; adding the 'fishplates' to the cockpit side longerons and a rough go at the kite shaped supports around the cat spools. These are the thinest styrene I could find, but will need sanding back to not be ludicrously out of scale. I've seen raised details like this done in tamiya tape, but didn't trust myself not to dent or peel it off. As for the hook, after a bit of considering, I think I will join the fuselage halves, thicken the hook area with some CA glue, then chisel out the hook recess. The hook will be scratch out of styrene sheet and rod. I thought it'd be a good opportunity to do a first experiment with moulding and resin; so I've used some silicone to steal the blister from the Vc kit. The first efforts are in UV activated resin, which look a bit bubbly, but I do have some epoxy if that doesn't work, The bubbling seems hard to avoid, so perhaps I'll have to try some dodgy degassing with a cut up tupperware and a bike pump or something. I've even scratched up a never-to-be-seen-again flare rack under the pilot's legs. I'm sure there will be a multitude of other changes needed (new spinner, but the starter Vc one looks overlong to me; coffman starter?; securing rings; cat spools?). I'd love to hear what I've missed if people know, but can't promise my effort level will stretch to all of them! Andy