Lancbuilder219 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 (edited) Having just read Geoffrey Wellums wonderful bio First Light, I found myself inspired to build a MkVb as in the book when the RAF tried the Spitfire out as a nightfighter. The book describes in detail the issues facing a Spitfire pilot attempting night flying. I have seen some great images on Google with 111 Squadron being a good example; paint and (I think) decals won't pose any issues but is there anything that needs to be added to a standard Vb for a nightfighter version? A very good excuse to break out my 1/24th Airfix Vb! Edited September 1, 2015 by Lancbuilder219 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bunker Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I am working from memory but I seem to remember that there were flat panels sticking out above the exhausts in order to protect the pilot from the glare of the exhausts. Many years ago I made a black nightfighter Spitfire Vb using either Kits at War or Dutch Decals transfers. I am at work so have no access to the sheet in question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 The only modifications these aircrafts seem to have carried were fishtail exhausts (that later became standard on all Mk.V) and "blinker plates" between the cockpit and the cowling. These were however likely not on all aircrafts, as for example the well known picture of JU-H (probably W3848) does not show them in place. A picture of such plates can be found in Price's "The Spitfire Story", page 134. Colour scheme was overall black with initially standard B roundel and fin flash and medium sea grey codes. The roundel later became a small C type one. Wojtek Matusiak in his book on the Mk.V from Mushroom mentions that no roundel was carried above the wing and the few pictures I've seen seem to confirm this. However it may just be that it's hard to see the roundel over the black paint ? No idea about the underwing roundels. No sky band and the serial numbers were overpainted. Really in terms of decals this looks like an easy enough project, with everything available from generic sheets or the kit decals. Apart from the codes that however in 1/24 scale may be painted using masks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZ6 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I have a slow moving project to build the classic Airfix Spitfire VB as a night fighter. This article may be of interest to you. http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2006/06/stuff_eng_profile_night_spitfires.htm Regards, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancbuilder219 Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) That is good info guys. Are masks for tail letters generally available or is it a scratch-build / DIY method? Edited September 2, 2015 by Lancbuilder219 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'm not aware of masks in 1/24 scale, apart from generic sets for roundels. At the same time I'm not aware of generic 1/24 letters either, but this is not my scale and I may be missing a lot of products. Maybe Fantasy Printshop has something ? At the same time of course letters meant for other scales may be used There are companies that can make custom masks though, no idea how much it could cost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 A suggestion for masks in 1/24 would be Maketar. You have the option of choosing sets in either vinyl or kabuki (similar to Tamiya's yellow tape). http://shop.maketar.com/?product=124-raf-24-inch-letters-numbers regards, Jack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveCromie Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Oh dear, just when I thought I had beaten my urge to build too many more 1/72 Spitfires :weep: I can feel an AZ Joypack (or 3) coming on DC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Interesting that all the articles you read state that 111,65 and 41 Squadrons were the Spitfire nightfighter Squadrons, but Geoffrey Wellum was doing night patrols and he was on 92 Sqn! Perhaps the full history of nightfighting spitfires has yet to be told, and the question is as they were involved in night patrols did 92 have black spitfires as well? Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossm Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 The photo of JU-H mentioned above shows it, I believe, with the larger red centres to the roundel - supposedly a common misinterpretation of the instructions on painting roundels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85sqn Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Geoffrey Wellum was flying MkI spits painted in the standard camouflage of the time for 92 Sqn. It was during the time June-Sep 1940 when 92 Sqn were based at Pembrey sands that whilst trying to qualify to night fly spits he struck the light at the end of the runway. A few weeks later he went to repeat the sortie and whilst doing circuits was vectored off to intercept some German aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZ6 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 If anyone wants to build JU H in 1:72 this AZ model kit comes with the decals and is currently on special offer on Hannants at the moment. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AZM73009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Photos of JU-H appear in Spitfire at War 3 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0711019339 great book of photos. Airfix used this as an option in their Club Edition of the 1/48 Spitfire Vb kit http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/specialist-spitfires-1-48-airfix-club-special.html Regarding masks. do you have a printer, and can you use a graphics program? If so you could make some with some label paper. You could use the above image, rescale it and then print on label paper, and make you own mask. Or, if this is getting complex, get some wide masking tape, apply to fuselage, and then use the above and refer to panel lines to draw on the tape, peel off carefully, put a fresh piece of tape on a glass or a tile, and then, apply tape with drawn in letters, and then cut you own mask. there maybe enough tack on the original tape, but the fresh bit is to seal down. this is a similar technique, but illustrated http://www.agapemodels.com/2013/02/15/techniques-making-negative-masks/ as with everything, try a tester on a scrap kit. If you are not happy, then you could get some masks made up. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancbuilder219 Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 A veritable deluge of useful information and help. Many thanks! Re First Light, there is a short interlude where Wellum is posted away from Ops and, during a taxi journey, the driver remarks about Spitfires flying night sorties and being painted black. I look forward to digging out my big Mk Vb and, when I finally get to the decal stage I will have to decide the best option. Regarding the mode to the aircraft, was anything done to help with muzzle flash or was it only the exhausts that were 'blinkered'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85sqn Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 A veritable deluge of useful information and help. Many thanks! Re First Light, there is a short interlude where Wellum is posted away from Ops and, during a taxi journey, the driver remarks about Spitfires flying night sorties and being painted black. I look forward to digging out my big Mk Vb and, when I finally get to the decal stage I will have to decide the best option. Regarding the mode to the aircraft, was anything done to help with muzzle flash or was it only the exhausts that were 'blinkered'? Ahh yes that's when he returns back to Ops on 65 Sqn I believ,e into 1942? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancbuilder219 Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) Have just checked and it appears that Hannants have quite a few 1/24th scale decals albeit for Typhoons and Mosquitoes. There is also a forthcoming Eagle Squadron set, price tba. Edited September 2, 2015 by Lancbuilder219 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonM Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 In his book Battle For Britain, Wing Commander H R 'Dizzy' Allan described flying night sorties while with 66 Squadron. It's been a very long time since I read it (I got it aged about 12!) but I believe it was whilst based at Coltishall. He describes being blinded by the exhausts which would suggest no flame reduction was fitted. He certainly suggests he had no luck, other than making it back down in one piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancbuilder219 Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 It doesn't look like standard matt black paint will do the job. It wouldn't look right. I have no experience with paints other than humbrol and revell. Is there another make / type of black? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Regarding the mode to the aircraft, was anything done to help with muzzle flash or was it only the exhausts that were 'blinkered'? Only the fishtail exhausts and the plates on the tank area, that were supposed to shield the view of the exhausts from the pilot to prevent blinding them. No other mods and the plates were not even on all aircrafts Regarding the reproduction of black in model form, best start with a very dark grey or brown. Tamiya has a paint named Nato Black that is a very dark grey, this could be a starting point on which add true black in selected areas to make the whole more interesting. I believe Revell has a very dark grey too, named Anthracite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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