snapper_city Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) Hi guys I will be building Eduard's 1:48 Mk.XVI Bubbletop in the box art markings for 17 Squadron based at Farnborough airbase in 1950. Review here. I picked this scheme for a few reasons. 1: It was the box art that sold me on the kit. The Spitfire looks great in NMF / Aluminium paint. 2: I worked at Farnborough (now airport for business jets) for nearly 4 years in one of the old hangers that quite possibly could have housed these back in the day. 3: Being a member of Farnborough IPMS model club it was the only choice. I will be doing this OOB with a little scratch building in the pilots office to liven things up. One thing I need to work out is what paint to use that best represents the painted silver / aluminium airframe. More pics to follow. Below are the only pictures I can find of SL549. The instructions say roundels and serial numbers were not painted on the lower surface of the wings. The above photo appears to confirm this. Edited May 5, 2016 by snapper_city 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Good choice of subject given its personal connection to your former workplace and current club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 I can see how the box art may have influenced you, it's very persuasive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 This'll be yummy! bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwaterous Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Some very nice schemes in this kit. I must resist buying one for that black bird... Will watch your build K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) Some very nice schemes in this kit. I must resist buying one for that black bird... Will watch your build K I must admit the black scheme is a very close second as my favourite. Almost to the point that if this build goes well I may have to buy the kit again. Strangely the paper instructions do not feature the black scheme. Only a side view on page one with reference to the website pdf instructions. I guess they just ran out of pages. I'll aim to take a couple of pics of the kit tomorrow. Edited February 29, 2016 by snapper_city Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 (edited) Here are a couple of pictures as promised. The obligatory box and contents shots. For more detailed pictures of the box contents see Mike's review that I have hi-lighted in the opening post. DSC_6671 by Mark Inman, on Flickr A better shot of the scheme she will be sporting. DSC_6673 by Mark Inman, on Flickr Really looking forward to cracking on with this next week. Edited March 1, 2016 by snapper_city 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Looking forward to seeing what you do with that rather nice looking kit Mark! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Look's a great kit,best of luck,will watch with interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share Posted March 7, 2016 I'll hopefully be making a start on this tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 Finally started my entry guys. It has been a bit stop and start but I'm out of the blocks. Yesterday was a right off as I slept till 3pm after my last night shift but managed to get 30 minutes in to break the ice. Today Mrs Snapper treated us both to a morning at a spa which was nice. Feeling extremely relaxed I got home and carried on with the build until I had to collect our 18 month old daughter from nursery. A few hours chasing around after her then I got back to it for a couple of hours this evening. I have started assembling the cockpit which is going together well. It is an extremely nice kit to work with so far as the plastic is soft and a perfect fit all round. DSC_6675 by Mark Inman, on Flickr I have drilled out the lightning holes on the rear bulkhead and attached a few bits of PE. These are the pilots rear armour and some sort of lever on the floor. DSC_6680 by Mark Inman, on Flickr DSC_6679 by Mark Inman, on Flickr The rear of the PE instruments have received a thin membrane of Quickshine to emulate the glass for the dials. DSC_6677 by Mark Inman, on Flickr DSC_6678 by Mark Inman, on Flickr Tomorrow I'm free so will hopefully make a good push on with things. As usual any critiques or comments welcome. I'm no Spitfire expert and open to ideas about how to make the build better. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 A quick update of today's work. The pit is ready to paint which I should get done tomorrow. All the smalls ready to go. DSC_6690 by Mark Inman, on Flickr IMAG0169 by Mark Inman, on Flickr IMAG0170 by Mark Inman, on Flickr Here is the inside with all the etch and a couple of plumbing bits added. IMAG0168 by Mark Inman, on Flickr IMAG0167 by Mark Inman, on Flickr IMAG0166 by Mark Inman, on Flickr Most of these shots are using the phone camera as the DSLR can't focus on close up. Really need to get a macro lens. That's it for today. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadgaddad Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Some very nice schemes in this kit. I must resist buying one for that black bird... Will watch your build K You must but you can't. Nor can I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Why worry about a macro lens when your phone does such a great job!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Why worry about a macro lens when your phone does such a great job!? True true but I've fancied one for a while now. One day I might have the spare £100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Great start on a very nice kit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu_davros Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 This is looking good Mark, I'll be watching this with interest. Cheers, Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 While waiting for tomorrow to come round so I can get the airbrush out I put together the wings, horizontal stabilisers and main wheels. Nothing much to shout about but more beautiful fit from this kit. My only criticism would be the two part tyres on the wheels but very minor clean up required. It is such a joy to be working with a kit of this quality. Recently I have been building a lot of minicraft, italeri etc so this is pure joy. Anyway here is tonight's achievement. DSC_6693 by Mark Inman, on Flickr DSC_6695 by Mark Inman, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Now that is some serious detail in that cockpit ! Looks great even unpainted. And your phone seems to be capable of taking better pictures than my DSLR... I'll have to try using the phone for the next shots of my models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thanks. I normally use the DSLR but the phone is much better at the close in shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Fantastic progress Mark and looking very good so far. I like all the detailing work in the cockpit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 After a quick trip to the LMS to get some Tamiya X-1 Black this morning I got round to spraying finally. Here are things sprayed black first to help create artificial shadows. DSC_6696 by Mark Inman, on Flickr Then on with Tamiya XF-71. Not 100% correct but it will look ok after weathering etc.. DSC_6699 by Mark Inman, on Flickr Back to the phone camera for a few close ups. IMAG0174 by Mark Inman, on Flickr IMAG0175 by Mark Inman, on Flickr IMAG0176 by Mark Inman, on Flickr The other side looks quite barren by comparison. I'm not massively fussed as the way I look at it with the door being open the majority of people will look in from that side and not pay much attention to this side. IMAG0177 by Mark Inman, on Flickr Going to sit back now and watch James Bond Spectre for the first time. I'll maybe start the detail painting tonight. Ciao for now. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mottlemaster Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Good ,clear progress pics . i will use this method on mine tonight. Alistair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Just do a smidgin of research Mark,you may have had the cockpit colour correct after the first squirt. Many of these wartime built XVI's were selected for further service with the RAF because they were low-houred airframes. They were refurbished and repainted at the MU's then sent for allocation to RAFVR units,Refresher schools and research establishments. Late Spit/Seafire production went over to black cockpits with the 22/24,some XVI's retained in service had theirs done black when being refurbed at the MU's........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 (edited) Just do a smidgin of research Mark,you may have had the cockpit colour correct after the first squirt. Many of these wartime built XVI's were selected for further service with the RAF because they were low-houred airframes. They were refurbished and repainted at the MU's then sent for allocation to RAFVR units,Refresher schools and research establishments. Late Spit/Seafire production went over to black cockpits with the 22/24,some XVI's retained in service had theirs done black when being refurbed at the MU's........... Interesting. I never knew this. One question, what was the MU? Next question for all. Could anyone point me in a direction where to find the correct colour for this airframe during the period. I will do my own research this evening once my daughter is asleep. The first reference picture I have of the aircraft in the opening post shows the inside of the door and light colour I'm assuming to be green. The inside looks very dark but this could be the angle and low quality of the picture. Edited March 11, 2016 by snapper_city Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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