John Masters Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 I have been resting on my laurels a bit so I figured I'd get back into the Spitfire game and crank out another AZ Model kit, this time a MK.22 of either the Egyptian or Syrian Air Force. The Egyptian bird is from the Suez Conflict. The same might be said of the Syrian aircraft but I am not sure. And yet, I might just build the S. Rhodesian aircraft from 1954. Who knows at this stage? What I do know is that these are older moulds (even though it says 'new tool' on the box) and there is a fair amount of very fine flash all around the edges of most pieces. Also, this was pressed before they decided to press solid wheels as the wheels are in halves that must be assembled. I think I might try to find some spares in the stash somewhere. In any case, here's the box art... ..and the back... Sprue, decals and a nice PE seatbelt set. Note that they also give me the parts for a Seafire, which I will not use. I have heard things about these older AZ Model kits. Not all of it good. Mostly having to do with the wings. Accuracy of design? I am not sure about that, but in the end if it looks right from 75cm away, it suits me fine. --John 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 I vote for the Syrian scheme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 South Rhodesian, Syrian, & Egyptian in that order if youre asking for votes ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 21 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: if youre asking for votes ? Why not? I'll give it another few days, but to be honest, I want an NMF Spit... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 I think the S. Rhodesian roundels are silvered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 I have built the Seafire 45 which uses a lot of the same parts. Not a snap together kit, but by no means unbuildable. The parts need a fair bit of cleaning up and test fitting. I will interested to see how yours turns out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 4, 2019 Author Share Posted January 4, 2019 Thanks Mr. T. A test fit of the wing and fuselage last night revealed enormous fit issues. Surmountable, yes, but shocking compared to what AZ Model is putting out now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted January 4, 2019 Share Posted January 4, 2019 12 hours ago, John D.C. Masters said: I want an NMF Spit... 12 hours ago, John D.C. Masters said: I think the S. Rhodesian roundels are silvered. That leaves the Egytian Spit then, looks cool. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted January 4, 2019 Share Posted January 4, 2019 Reeee spitting on !! Good idea John ! I would have liked the Rhodesian one !! Roundels can be found here on BM methink !! Sincerely. CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 4, 2019 Author Share Posted January 4, 2019 Thanks CC. I might have some suitable roundels in the files somewhere. I'll give a look. Yes...I would like the Rhodesian Spit. I already have an Egyptian one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 4, 2019 Author Share Posted January 4, 2019 A big update, mostly pictures of the flaws I have encountered. Flash like this... ..and this... ...but wait, there's more! The interior walls of the wheel wells had to be sanded down considerably in order for the wing halves to fit flush together. Thankfully the plastic is somewhat soft so it wasn't much work. But still...😣 The test fitting of the fuselage-to-wing looks like this... ..and this... ...and this too... Thankfully, AZ has corrected many of these issues in their more recent Spitfire kits, as I can attest. Not perfected perhaps, but certainly better. And the cockpit you ask? No real issue there once everything was cleaned up, glued together, primed and painted. Ready to close up the fuselage! Let's all cross our fingers...😉 --John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 A bit of progress...fuselage closed up, wing halves together. Cockpit inserted from below with only a modicum of sanding to get to fit right. Then, I test fitted the two pieces once they were all dry and, hallelujah, it forts much better than the test fit! there is a still a big step on the underside, but that's an easy fix. Yes...I know the cockpit doesn't belong there...it's just for the photograph... See? This is more the AZ Model style... --John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I remember that about my Seafire, I ended up using some plastic strip to fill the gap. Gluing the front of the wing first and then doing the lower wing/rear fuselage bit when the forward bit had dried. Even then the fit was not brilliant.but the plastic is workable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Coming together nicely and with few complaints... Wings, stabilizers, rudder...on. Gaps filled; nasty step on the underside Milliputted... I'll give that bit a small amount of fine sanding to even things out. --John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 On 1/4/2019 at 5:58 AM, John D.C. Masters said: but to be honest, I want an NMF Spit... That's looking very nice. The Syrian one can be done in HSS............ (I don't think any were in NMF). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 What does HSS stand for? And thanks. That opens up the doors a bit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturmovik Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, John D.C. Masters said: What does HSS stand for? And thanks. That opens up the doors a bit... High Speed Silver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Aha...So a chrome-like finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 3 hours ago, John D.C. Masters said: Aha...So a chrome-like finish. No, not really. Or at all in fact! HSS was a very well polished silver paint job. At least when it’s new, it tended towards a Matt metallic grey as it aged! cheers Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 So I imagine the Syrian finish would not be factory fresh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 7, 2019 Author Share Posted January 7, 2019 A bit o'primer... I decided to use the kit wheels. I couldn't find any three-spoke wheels in the spares bin. --John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 I have a head cold which is sapping my strength and some of my wits. In any case...some progress on the Spitfire (and it will be Egyptian)... My version of HSS...rattle-can Humbrol Aluminum, lightly sanded down and then a light overspray of Vallejo Duraluminum. Little bits. The wheels are finished too, but I forgot to photograph them. I blame the drugs I'm on. The prop bases have their Trainer Yellow tips and await the black... I guess I should mask and paint the canopy now. --John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 That looked a bit rough in the 'out the box' pictures, but looking quite nice now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 16, 2019 Author Share Posted January 16, 2019 Thanks Smudge. Yes...it is coming along. These pictures are actually a couple of days old. I have all but completed it and will have some new images today... Small bits left... Canopy on, prop ready, etc... I'll have some more in a jiffy... --John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 16, 2019 Author Share Posted January 16, 2019 And this one is done as well! More images in the RIF section... --John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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