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Showing results for tags 'Supermarine 224'.
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I have a lot of models in the "in progress" limbo, and I promised myself that I would finish a few ones soon. So, here's one from my big shelf of doom, the very interesting Supermarine-almost-to-be-called-Spitfire started more than 15 years ago. Remained in the same condition of main parts cut and sanded - until some time long ago he awoke from hibernation for the lower wing to be cut in sections. Fast forward to a week ago, when I decided to finish the damned thing. [/url] Here is a better photo of the parts: The kit instructions cover promises "...multi-view scale plans, picture and article references, colouring and marking details" - but none came with mine. [/url] I've found some references in my shelves. The 14-page chapter in "Spitfire, The History" together with the Putnam "Supermarine since..." provides a good history of the type, together with some photos and detail drawings. The Modellers Datafile provides two good detail photos of the aircraft in unskinned condition. Of course I grabbed all the photos I could find online - not many different from what I already had - but I decided not to be a nit picker with this one and concentrate on a fast build, possibly sacrificing some accuracy. I'm glad I did this way, as I'm almost ready to close the fuselage and assemble the main parts for painting. A week? A record for me since I returned to modeling! I hope to post details of the work done to date still today. And please feel free to comment and criticize. Carlos
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- Supermarine 224
- Rareplane
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My first entry to this group build is the direct ancestor of the Spitfire. The Supermarine Type 224 was designed in response to Specification F.7/30 issued towards the end of 1931 for a single seat day and night fighter. Speed was to be no less than 250 mph and an armament of four machine guns. A wide variety of types were tendered of a wide variety of configurations, no design was judged entirely successful and the Gladiator was adopted instead. In the meantime another specification for a fighter was issued (F.5/34) for an eight gun fighter with a top speed of no less than 275mph. Several designs were built to this specification, although all were overshadowed by two designs submitted to the Air Ministry and given their own specification numbers F.37/34 and F36/34, the Spitfire and Hurricane respectively. The Type 224 first flew in February 1934 and soon displayed a number of undesirable flying characteristics. In addition, its speed flew well short of the specification and the there were problems with the engine. This was the Rolls-Royce Goshawk, a steam cooled version of the Kestrel and it was hoped by dispensing with the normal radiators and relying on surface radiators, drag would be reduced. However, numerous problems were encountered and it was realized the whole cooling system was very vulnerable to the effects of gunfire. The 224 ended its flying days in 1937 and was used as a target in firing trials. The Rareplanes kit first appeared in the early 1980s and comes on a single plastic sheet A separate sheet has the clear windscreen plus spare and there are no cast or resin parts. Surface detail is raised, but quite good, and I am tempted to leave well alone. I will have a root around my spares box for a suitable propeller and replace the moulded in wheels with something a bit better. My plan is to halve one wheel and mount it on a ledge of plastic within the wheel spat. Decals will come from some Modedecal sheets for pre-war aircraft. First job will be to cut out the parts and sand them down, tedious, but a bit of proper old-fashioned modelling. Let's see how this one will go.
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This is my first Vacform, so with a promise to build a Contrail Blackburn Perth in the flying boat GB to come, I had better start learning. This Rareplanes kit was still sealed from New with little copper staples, so it's a real blast from the past. The moulding looks very good especially compared to an ID Models kit I was looking at in the stash today that is completely smooth and devoid of any detail ! The first obvious challenge apart from it being Vacform is the lack of decals, if anyone can give me a clue on these it would be greatly appreciated. My instructions below, nice and basic, so let's hope this kit wants to be built after all these year. Painting and decal guidance, so that's Silver and find some then.... Whats all the little "pip" marks ? Looks like they need need to be sanded off ? I did say it was my first Vacform cheers Pat
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