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RAF 100- Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa and Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 Hi everyone, With the exam season drawing to a close, it's almost time to jump back into a bit of modelling! (note that I said "almost time"!- these kits were completed before the exams began). So, what about the kits? Spitfire: This model came from the Airfix 1:72 BBMF gift set (Lancaster and two Spitfires). I haven't previously done many Spitfires as I have always preferred fast jets (I'm sorry! ) but I can admit that there is a certain elegance to the aircraft that some modern aircraft are certainly lacking. As for the kit; despite its deep-ish panel lines and its one-piece canopy I think the Airfix kit holds it own. I had to resort to cutting the front section of the canopy off and using a bit of clear plastic packaging to create the sliding portion, in addition to that I cut away the cockpit door and added a few bits of plasticard to spruce up the cockpit a little bit. A smidgen of filler later, a lick of paint and a touch of paint later and here she is. Weathering for the Spit (as used on the Typhoon too) primarily consisted of a wash with Ultimate Modelling Product's dark grey wash and a mix of pastel paints (silver paint was used on the Spit to add a little bit more weathering. Now, onto the next one: Typhoon: Not much needs to be said about this kit- apart from a bit more filler was required (particularly around the wing-fuselage join and on the fuel tanks). The cockpit details on this kit (when one cleans up the small amount of flash) are quite nice indeed, and more than adequate for a 1:72 kit. -The decals used for this kit were from an Xtradecal "RAF and RN Update 2014-2015 Pt.1" sheet; some of the finest decals that I have ever had the pleasure of using, they settle down onto the plastic surface exceptionally well. Edit: I completely forgot- I added the rivets (?) by hand using a metal compass point, just to add a bit more detail. Conclusion Overall, these two kits spanning the majority of the RAF's history were a pleasure* to build and I can highly recommend both. *(Pleasure= I have had some prior experience with Revell Typhoons before, so my use of the word "pleasure" is subjective: there are a few shortfalls in the kit (flash, some minor fuselage join issues and panel lines of varying depth but I can't recall these standing out as major problems. It is quite possible that having been through a few of these, I have just gotten used to its flaws? Or maybe it is a case of my positive view of the aircraft overshadowing the problems with the kit?) Thanks for having a look! Best wishes, Sam

I seem to recall that a Spitfire Mk.IIa kit can be converted into a Mk.Va but I can not find that thread. I am hoping that someone could either point me to that info or better yet, explain it here. I have a set of 1/72 LifeLike decals with Bader's markings on it and an Airfix Mk.IIa kit looking to be put to a good use. Thanks.

Hi! This is Revells Spitfire Mk.IIa, with some aftermarket bits from Eduard and Eagle Parts. Decals are from Xtradecals excellent range. The machine depicted belonged to no. 71 sqn (Eagle), and was flown by Bill Dunn in august 1941. Paints and colours used: Gunze RAF Dark Green and Sky. Self mixed Mixed Grey and Sky Blue (spinner and tail band). Comments appreciated Best regards Rune Haugen Norway

Hello folks, After the last build I've leapt up in scale to the new Revell Spitfire. I've had the kit a wee while but lacked the motivation to start it after reading of a few issues with it here and there. However, bouyed by some recent top builds of almost OOTB models my joy has been re-kindled. I've long wanted a large scale early Spit in the cabinet and waited for Tamiya to release one of their uber kits, sadly to no avail. Instead, Revell came to the rescue with a brand new tooling. It's a fairly well known fact that opinion is divided on this model. Somehave said that the rivet and surface detail treatment is too heavy handed. Others, the exact opposite. I think we all have to take our own view of the subject and decide whether to proceed or not. Personally, I expect to be doing some work on the details so it bothers me not at this point. On to the build and it's a slow start. The instructions begin with the cockpit and as we've probably seen elsewhere, the detail is pretty good ootb. I expect to have to add some detail in there for my own personal satisfaction but, being the lazy b****r that I am, I'd like to keep it to a sensible level. To that end, I've opted to add a pilot. Unfortunately, Revell have chosen not to provide one. No matter, there are some super resin aftermarket pieces available. However, just to complicate things, I'd like to model this airframe as a kind of restored warbird type thing in which case, that whole Irvine flying jacket and Mae West combo is rarely sported. Instead, these warbird jockeys are often to be seen purely in a flying overall. Since I have never spotted a pilot model in that garb there was only one choice,....scratch build the blighter. In my hazy memory I seemed to remember that I had some armour kits that a chum had donated years ago. Sure enough, I found some German tank of some description or other with some unbuilt crewmen still on their sprues. Yes, they are 1/35th scale and might look a little, umm,...little but I thought it was worth a go. To get the clothign to look more like a pilot I sanded off the dude's tunic and used green stuff to add rolled up cuffs and stuff. I'll add a watch to one of his wrists and finish his flying gloves off with more foil once the green stuff has set overnight. If any of you pilot types spot anything that should be altered or could be improved please pipe up and I'll get on it. Originally I'd planned to use the head off a Hasegawa Spit pilot but it's quite crude. Luckily, and thanks to the smashing generosity of one of our members I may be able to revise the head issue. More on that in due course of course. While I had some green stuff on the go I splodged a bit on the backrest of the seat to represent the padding that Revell omitted. It's not brilliant but much of it will be obscured by the parachute pack, belts and harnesses. Once the pilot's putty is cured I'll dry fit him into the seat and see what can be seen around him. That will allow me to decide just how far to take the internal detailling. More soon. Cheers.