Pawel Szczudlyk Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Hi Stix! I'm glad that you doing it. I just bought new mark one from Airfix so i can maby steel some of your ideas Cheers and I'm looking forward to see your progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 (edited) Hi Stix, good choice of Spitfires. I've made a couple of the Tamiya Spitfires, and very good they are too. I got the Airfix Spitfire when I noticed one set of markings was for a Westhampnett Spitfire (which I'm sure you know is the Goodwood car racing circuit). That's only about 10 miles from me as the crow flies. Looking forward to seeing you progress your builds. JoeHi Joe. Thank you for the info about the Tamiya kit - it's good to know others have had good experiences with it. Interesting that the kit decals are for a Spitfire with a local connection to you. It's always an added benefit to have a bit of a connection with a kit. Thank you and I hope I can do them both justice. Hi Stix! I'm glad that you doing it. I just bought new mark one from Airfix so i can maby steel some of your ideas Cheers and I'm looking forward to see your progress Hi Pawel. Thank you for your comments. Any chance you'll be making your Mk.I for this GB? Be good to be able to follow another one of your builds.Kind regards, Stix Edited July 9, 2015 by PlaStix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Hi Bernd. I must admit I'm itching to get started on these two. Are you going to be taking part in this GB? It'd be good to have one of your builds to follow as well. You can t have too much Spitfires, especially in the fashion, you did the two Mk.V s Will have a look for something that fits the theme. The RoG Spitfire Mk.II in 1/32 would need some work and stuff to convert it to a Mk.I We will see 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 Hi Bernd. I'd be very interested to follow a conversion of the Revell kit to a Mk.I. Might be something I'd be interested in doing in future - I could make notes and 'borrow' your ideas! Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Hi Stix, this will be an iteresting project, should do first some research. The Bf 109 is known for all the rather complicated versions, the Spit is quite similar. Bulges here, some there, Rotol or De Havilland props, antenna masts.... Not much to "borrow" so far, but i think a future Spitfire will need a good oxygen hose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 You're at it again! I shall be watching carefully to make sure you don't get lazy and try to slip in a few pics from the Mk V builds! Bonne courage John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolwe82 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 amazing, more spitfires! and your spitfires are one of most beautiful ones Styx, so hope these ll be even better! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimbledon99 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 So looking forward to this Stix. Have picked up some tips with your previous builds and hoping to put the lessons to good practice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 You're at it again! I shall be watching carefully to make sure you don't get lazy and try to slip in a few pics from the Mk V builds! Bonne courage John Good morning John. Well that's most of my posts out the window........... going to actually make them now () Seriously.........yesterday I was beginning to wish I'd taken a day off work so I could start building these two.amazing, more spitfires! and your spitfires are one of most beautiful ones Styx, so hope these ll be even better! Thank you Wolwe.......you're too kind! So looking forward to this Stix. Have picked up some tips with your previous builds and hoping to put the lessons to good practice Hi Nigel. Thank you. I've just been looking at your thread - looks like a fantastic project in prospect!Right time to start!! I Hope to be back later with some updates. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) This is going to look a lot like my earlier build of two Mk.Vb Spitfires (which can be found here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234968337-two-148-mkvb-spitfires-tamiya-and-airfix-new-spitfire-collection-expansion-project/ if you're interested). First up here's some photos of the parts I'm going to start work on, just to give an idea of what they look like before I've done anything to them - Airfix fuselage insides: Airfix lower cockpit sides: Tamiya starboard fuselage inside: Tamiya port fuselage inside: Airfix: Tamiya: First off I began by drilling some holes in the Airfix cockpit wall frames: I'm going to display these kits on the ground so on the Tamiya kit I cut away the cockpit door. To do this I carefully cut along the panel lines for the door from the outside with a craft knife: You can see I also added the frame piece, with holes in it, from the Eduard PE set intended for older Airfix Mk.I Spitfire. I will have to see if these eventually end up fouling any other cockpit parts. I added a couple of the PE parts to the Tamiya cockpit side. These are actually intended for the Tamiya version: At this stage I'm only attaching parts that I can easily paint over. I'll add other detail parts once the main cockpit colour is on. I cut away the Airfix version cockpit door in the same way as the Tamiya one: On the Tamiya seat bulkhead frame I cut away the seat side supports (they'll be replaced with Photoetch parts later) and drilled out all the holes on the parts from both kits: Finally I started to add some PE to the Airfix cockpit sides: As you can see I didn't get a huge amount done but I'm delighted this project's underway. The first part of the morning was taken up with working out which bits needed more work before painting starts and also which bits of the Eduard sets I was actually going to use and on which kit. It was a bit confusing at times. Hopefully I'll get more done tomorrow. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix Edited July 11, 2015 by PlaStix 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Stix, Thanks for the comparison. Ozzy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Here we go, Stix's magic has begun Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 We're off...... Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) Stix, Thanks for the comparison. Ozzy Hi Ozzy. No problem. I felt it might be useful to see them made side by side, like the Vbs I made - especially if anyone is undecided which to get. Both will probably have their strong and weak points - the Vbs certainly did. Here we go, Stix's magic has begun Ciao You're too kind Giemme but thank you. We're off...... Sean I thought I could smell something! ;-)Kind regards, Stix Edited July 11, 2015 by PlaStix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 (edited) This morning carried on from where I left off yesterday - adding photo-etch parts here and there and generally preparing various bits and pieces in the cockpit area before I start painting. Some photos of this morning's progress. Airfix - some tidying up of the frames and a photo-etch cross bar added: Airfix - photo-etch parts added to each side of the seat support unit: Airfix - photo-etch parts added under where the IP will go: Airfix - I removed the raised plastic detail (depicting the Instrument Panel) with a needle file - in preparation for the photo-etch IP to be added after painting: Airfix - additional photo-etch part added to the side wall of the cockpit: Tamiya - cables added using fuse wire and the Instrument Panel detail removed, with a needle file, in preparation for the photo-etch IP being added after painting: Tamiya - additional PE parts added to both sides of both cockpit walls: Apart from a few more bits of tidying up seam lines I think I'm almost at the painting stage for some of these parts. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix Edited July 12, 2015 by PlaStix 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick32 Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Excellent start Stix, some of those details must be very fiddly, especially the fuse wire cables - How do you go about doing that? I've tried before but always end up swearing at it... Nick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 (edited) Excellent start Stix, some of those details must be very fiddly, especially the fuse wire cables - How do you go about doing that? I've tried before but always end up swearing at it... Nick Hi Nick. Thank you. Usually I cut some lengths of 5 amp fuse wire a bit longer than required. I start by feeding about 5mm of the first piece, usually the one that's going to be closest to the internal frame, through to the back, from the front, and bend it over downwards so it's flat against the back. I then apply a tiny amount of CA glue using a toothpick. Once this has set I get the wire on the front to gently curve (only by hand) and then apply another small amount of CA glue under where I want the end to be. I then gently hold the wire until it's set with another toothpick. Once it's firmly held in place I check that the curve still looks okay. Sometimes it goes slightly out of shape but, because the entire length isn't glued, it's fairly easy to move. Then I repeat the process with the middle and outer wires, trying to match the curve of the first as much as possible. Once all three are set I carefully cut the wires at the bottom with a craft knife. Finally I use some very thin styrene to make the holders. In the places I want them to be I apply a small amount of CA glue, across the wires, (by toothpick again) and then I apply the styrene by toothpick with a small amount of blu-tack on the end. These styrene pieces help keep the curve in place until the paint is on.That looks like a lot of text for attaching three small bits of wire!! Let me know if anything needs clarification! Before I did it the first time on an actual kit I practiced on a scrap bit of plastic. Hope that's of some help. Kind regards, Stix Edited July 12, 2015 by PlaStix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eludia Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 I love a good build thread. I am always in awe of the patience and skill of you guys working with fiddly PE bits. As a figure painter, I could spend half an hour painting a hand (and then repainting it if its not to my liking) but show me a bit of PE then it all goes pear-shaped. Respect 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Really nice work Stixs. Lovely additional details. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 You've really mastered the PE thing, Stix! Looks really neat! Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Lovely bit of detailing Stix, especially the wiring, Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Szczudlyk Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Great job Stix. It is very inspiring to wath you work. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) I love a good build thread. I am always in awe of the patience and skill of you guys working with fiddly PE bits. As a figure painter, I could spend half an hour painting a hand (and then repainting it if its not to my liking) but show me a bit of PE then it all goes pear-shaped. Respect Thank you Billy. Not sure that fiddling around with bits of etched metal is as much of a skill as figure painting but I suppose it does require lots of patience - especially when the bits sometimes fly off when you least expect them to! Yesterday one of my bits went off on it's own with no warning and it took a good 20 minutes of searching to find it - right below where I'd been working but stuck (with CA glue) to the wooden floor monster (dropping buttered toast principle at work here). In my defence the piece was the same dark colour as the floor and it'd stuck itself in a shadow. I had to carefully re-acquire it from the floor with the aid of a craft knife. It's now in it's correct location after being flattened and cleaned up. Fun times!Really nice work Stixs. Lovely additional details.Thank you Greg. Working on the cockpits is one of my favourite things of building Spitfires - that's why I'm not rushing! You've really mastered the PE thing, Stix! Looks really neat! Ciao Hi Giemme. I don't think I've mastered it yet! They still let me know who's boss at times (see my reply to Billy above!) Lovely bit of detailing Stix, especially the wiring, Sean Thank you Sean - I do enjoy doing stuff like that.......... Great job Stix. It is very inspiring to wath you work. Cheers Thank you Pawel, you're very kind.Kind regards, Stix Edited July 13, 2015 by PlaStix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick32 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Thank you for the tutorial Stix, it's extremely helpful and i'll give it a go when i next build a Spitfire. Your build's are looking fantastic, as they always do. Nick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 Thank you for the tutorial Stix, it's extremely helpful and i'll give it a go when i next build a Spitfire. Your build's are looking fantastic, as they always do. Nick Hi Nick. No problem - I hope it does prove useful. And you are very kind, thank you. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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