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Silver Spitfire I, 1 Sqn., Templehof September 1939.FINISHED


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I managed to do a bit more tonight.

I concentrated on finishing the cockpit and some (crude) shading of the internal detail.

Once I installed the seat, using Tamiya tape for the harness, I placed the transfer for the instrument panel I then indulged in some shading. Tis consisted of heavily thinned Revell Tar Black so that it had the consistency of water. It'll do once the office is closed up

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............and then, it rapidly came together

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I've got to say, I loved the way this came together so quickly. I'm particularly impressed with the tailplanes and how they are virtually impossible to stick on incorrectly and also virtually align themselves. The upper wing/fuselage joint is snap together and underneath is also a good fit. However, the upper fuselage in front of the cockpit is a force together joint. Lashings of glue and tape to hold it all together.

This kit makes me happy in its buildability. These modern Airfix kits are the perfect antidote to modeller's block.

Trevor

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  • 2 weeks later...

A little more progress.

As the tail will be red I have undercoated in white. I've heard that silver likes a black undercoat too.

The Spit looks a little wierd at the mo.........

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Onwards and upwards.

(I'm making this up as I go along and I'll be interested to see how it comes out too!)

Trevor

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Can't help thinking she looks like a nightfighter with some sort of id markings on the tail at the moment.

Sorry I missed your previous post Trevor but both cockpit detail and overall fit look good.

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Thanks Col. I've since decided that the cowling top between the canopy and spinner is to be dark green. B****y Tamiya paint again the RAF Dark Green has lifted the Revell black (also acrylic) underneath even after the latter had cured over the previous 24 hours.

I HATE brushing Tamiya but it was the only Dark Green I had in the tin.

GRRR!

Trevor

Edited by Max Headroom
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Col!

Possibly but I thought a simple paint job would be uncomplicated.......

I'm phasing out Tamiya paints. The last time I used them was on my Askan in WHIF1 and that was a mare too

#^^*$€~#!

Trevor

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Know how frustrating paint problems can be. Made a right mess of a Tamiya Spitfire I I'm working on at the moment when the masking for a fuselage roundel ripped off a huge chunk of the underlying camouflage colours and let blue paint bleed on to some of the white on what was left. Much swearing ensued. Don't use acrylics myself but sure I have some small pots that have come with starter sets and there's most likely a suitable green in there. PM me your address if you need some ;)

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Two steps forwards and one back.

I'd forgotten that silver is VERY unforgiving. Here are a couple of shots.........

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and

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I expected the streaks and intend to have another, thinner coat on top.

But the finger marks and oozing plastic on the joins are unforgivable!

Tidying up is in order.

Soldiering on.............

Trevor

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More 'progress'.

One shade of silver looks odd, so I did some masking prior to applying another shade

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Underside......

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Then I thought about adding the colour (been looking forward to this bit)

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It may not show it but it's rather dayglo orange but without the dayglo (if that makes sense). I used this pot (brand new, stirred thoroughly and thinned)

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I'm not happy with it and will get something redder next week .

Ah well, this things are sent to try us :-/

Trevor

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A little more progress tonight.

I'm calling the patchwork quilt of silver shades done!

I've fixed the dark green anti glare panel. Still annoyed about the red though.

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Next up I'll button up the cockpit and stick the radiator on.

Still thinking about the markings.......

Trevor

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  • 2 weeks later...

Small progress.

I'm happier with the new pot of red.

Whilst looking at what to do next, I realised that it needed more colour (striping excepted). So I speculated that to make it easier to spot in the air it would need red wing tips.

......and thus it was so!

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You can see that the spinner is also red. I'm justifying that on the basis that 1 Squadron Furies had them.

Thanks for looking, hopefully more soon as I can see where this is going.

Trevor

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Now the bit I've been waiting for......the stickies!

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I used the kit markings for the walkways and minor stencilling and then Xtradecal for the roundels. 55" for the wing upper and 40" for the fuselage, the latter on the basis that it looked pleasing to me.

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Not clearly shown here is the Squadron Leader's pennant by the cockpit (Frog Spitfire XIV) and the Union Jack on the tail (original Airfix Gnat release).

Incidentally, what is the red square on the upper starboard fuselage between the roundel and the tail? There is a 'hole' underneath so its meant to be there.

Next will be the serial (K something or other) after which the striping will go on. (I'm trying to think of this logically).

Onwards and upwards!

Trevor

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Well contrary to what I said above, I decided to put the squadron markings on next......

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I used the Revell Fury I markings suitably chopped to fit and Ihave to admit I'm rather pleased with the effect.

Now where do I put the serial?! I wonder if they will squeeze onto the rudder.................

Anyhoo I'll have her standing on her legs this weekend (probably).

Trevor

Edited by Max Headroom
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Smashing build. Love the Nivo type colouring on the upper decking. With the squadron markings it looks a natural transit from biplane to monoplane.

Glad you like it so far. I've tried to be logical in the application of markings. I have a cunning plan brewed up for the side fuselage serial application, so I *may* be able to get away from placing it on the rudder even though logically (ha! in a WHIF!) it ought to be there. It's just that a Spit I's rudder seems an awful lot smaller than that of the Fury.

As for the NIVO, that's actually the last scrapings of Dark Green from my Lifecolor pot. I considered NIVO but don't have any lol. I also considered extending it behind the cockpit to taper out at the base of the fin, but thought that aesthetically it would look too cluttered. Still undecided whether the cockpit framing should be Dark Green or natural metal. I think I'll plonk the transparency on and see if that helps me to decide.

Thanks again for looking!

Trevor

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Slowly getting there!

She's now on legs and has sundry other bits on. I was going to put the canopy on but discovered I'm out of pva glue.

The next big thing is the serial and then I'll probably call it finished.

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Thanks for looking!

Trevor

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  • 2 weeks later...

Very nice indeed. Captures the colourful nature of the Spitfire's predecessors and suits the classic lines of the machine. Were it not for the Second World War spoiling the narrative this makes perfect sense bridging the interwar and Cold War squadron markings used by RAF units.

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