C460 Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 (edited) Hello all,Here is my latest build, of Spitfire G-AISU as raced by Allen Wheeler in 1949 for the Kemsley Trophy and Air League Challenge Cup. I used Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb with some modifications. The cannons and radio mast were removed, the tailplane was replaced by a later Mk.IX model by Ultracast, and the windshield was replaced by a PR version from Falcon's Spitfire set.Other aftermarket are the exhausts, wheels and seat by Ultracast. I used no photoetch and had fun making the harness from Tamiya tape.I also altered the shape of the oil cooler and carb intake, two parts that don't look too accurate on Tamiya's kit, and I made resin duplicates of the modified parts, which was a first for me ! The painting was entirely done with paint masks. They were drawn on my computer according to the available pictures and cut by a local shop. The masks were somewhat difficult to apply on some areas like the gun embossings. Next time I will try to use Tamiya masking sheets instead of Oramask, in the hope that it will follow the shape of the surface details more closely.For the colours, only black & white pictures are known, but mention of a blue aircraft and a red racing band are found in period descriptions. The shade of blue was obtained with a mix of Tamiya X-4, X-14 and white. For the stripe and spinner, there was disagreement on various forums whether they were silver, gold or even yellow. I chose dull silver (Alclad Semi-Matte Aluminium) because it is compatible with the black & white pictures while reminding earlier Supermarine racers.I took some pictures next to my Hurricane G-AMAU: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234936865-hurricane-g-amau-the-last-of-the-many-148/ The two aircraft actually raced together in the 1950 King's Cup, but I preferred the 1949 colours for G-AISU. Today both aircraft are owned by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, in military colours, as AB910 and PZ865. Greetings,Adrien Edited July 20, 2013 by C460 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Wow, beautiful job on both, and meticulous work. . I always liked the Spit in that scheme and you've done it justice. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Absolutely knocked out by this. Nice to see a familiar shape in an unfamiliar sceme Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengalensis Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 That's wonderful! You can't go wrong with a Spitfire as a racer. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theanorak73 Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 yeah, thats realy nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Really cool work, I didn't realise that the BBMF had them both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCinLA Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Very out-of-the-ordinary. A good thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niles Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Wow! Do I like that. Making some bright colorful civilian versions of these old fighters is a really nice change of pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 That is nice! very nice indeed! It really makes a nice pair with the Hurricane in the similar scheme. Well done! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim T Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Excellent work and it looks lovely with the Hurricane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOAN Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Wow ! amazing smooth finish ! your paint job is excellent. Very nice build. thanks for sharing. Olivier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankymodeler Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Very nice! I have a real affection for warbirds in civilian service. A lovely pair you have there. Eric aka The Yankymodeler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 What a pair! bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Modeller Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Those two are really nice. Beautiful finish on both. I like the idea of making your own masks for the markings but I also appreciate the time and effort you've put in to get the masks to work so well. The Spitfire reminded me of a model I saw of this aircraft at the Berkshire Aviation Museum. Someone thought it was red with a blue stripe - personally I prefer your interpretation as the overall blue looks much more likely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick231 Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Wow well done man they look amazing together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Lovely work - the two together are very attractive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Warbird racers are always very nice but your two are really amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Couple of crackers! Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C460 Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 Thank you for your nice comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Very nice. In particular accompanied by the Hurricane. Both are ones I wanted to build years and years ago but for the Spitfire, I never knew th colours. There is another I've seen photos of registered G-AHZU or HXU. Looks to be a dark colour and light colour but still don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C460 Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 There is another I've seen photos of registered G-AHZU or HXU. Looks to be a dark colour and light colour but still don't know. Yes, it's G-AHZI, originally a Mk.II modified into a Mk.V. Here is a picture found in an old Aeroplane Monthly: Its colours are not known for sure. In another forum, someone posted a colour painting of it, done in 2006: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?86473-Warbirds-in-civilian-colour-schemes&p=1330527#post1330527 The painter chose to depict the aircraft in chocolate and cream (or is it black and yellow?), but I don't know how accurate it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Very tasty couple indeed and I don't think that I could emulate that spotless finish, however much I tried. Splendid work! Kind regards, Joachim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Yes, it's G-AHZI, originally a Mk.II modified into a Mk.V. Here is a picture found in an old Aeroplane Monthly: Its colours are not known for sure. In another forum, someone posted a colour painting of it, done in 2006: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?86473-Warbirds-in-civilian-colour-schemes&p=1330527#post1330527 The painter chose to depict the aircraft in chocolate and cream (or is it black and yellow?), but I don't know how accurate it is. Yes thats the one. I did see a 1/32nd built model of it at a Hornchurch show a few years ago and it was finished in the Choc/cream colour. But I really would like to know more. Sadly the caption in Aeroplane Monthly(which I had) doesn't describe the colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Beautiful models! (Late to the party) I also have a love for these racers, have done G-AMAU: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235045684-hawker-hurricane-racer-completed-academylifelike-decals/ and Hart G-ABMR: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235045681-hawker-hart-racer-amodel-arctic-decals-172nd-scale/ Glad to have found a fellow converted-to-racers fan. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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