ProfSparks Posted May 1, 2019 Share Posted May 1, 2019 Hi All Something simple to be getting on with, the ubiquitous 1/72 Airfix Spitfire I/IIa Should have been easy enough, but I found an Eduard Zoom SA set, and a second canopy And as I feel it a bit wasteful to apply etch to an interior you can't see, I'm going to hack the two canopies apart to make one open one. And open the door too. Simples. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenCJ Posted May 1, 2019 Share Posted May 1, 2019 I have one in the ever growing stash. I will tag along. Stephen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Hack away Steve. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 I made the 72nd Airfix Spit I converted with the 3-D Kits Mk IIa conversion set late last year and it was a great fun build. Looking forward to following this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 3, 2019 Author Share Posted May 3, 2019 Hi All The stock internals, with faithfully reproduced ejection pin marks Most of this will go, either replaced with PE or just by accident. The canopy is very nice though, clear and discrete sprue gates on the framing It is a tad chunky But it's a great fit, clicks into the body without glue or gaps Completely acceptable for an OOB, almost seems a shame to butcher it. But that's not why it's in The Lab. Breathe in And breathe out again Did I say how much I love that saw? Thso, front and rear parts still fit as intended, the sliding part not so. I have the start of a cunning plan that could well end in the purchase of a replacement body. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 If you see Spitfires as a big part of your future, you could opt for a Falcon Spitfire Special vacform canopy set. All the Spitfire canopies you'll ever need. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FNCV4172 (other retailers are available). Justin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 4, 2019 Author Share Posted May 4, 2019 Hi All 14 hours ago, Bedders said: If you see Spitfires as a big part of your future, you could opt for a Falcon Spitfire Special vacform canopy set. All the Spitfire canopies you'll ever need. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FNCV4172 (other retailers are available). Justin Hi Justin, thanks for the info, they certainly seem to have all the bases covered. I'll see how this one goes... Anyhoo, chopped! Sitting at about the right place? The canopy thickness doesn't look too bad now And the internal will just need smoothing off I was going to adapt the cut off pieces and rear window to fit back inside the canopy, but their thickness would take up most of the room. I'm erring towards a piece of clear acetate arched internally, masked off for the rear window section. You never know, I may be back to Hannants yet! Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted May 4, 2019 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Nice progress, Steve! I’m glad that you’re sorted out the canopy fit issue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 5, 2019 Author Share Posted May 5, 2019 Hi All This might work? The proof of the pudding will be in the painting. A bit more saw action and the door pops off I'm going to thin down the door and those walls a touch, but I think I might get away with it. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike romeo Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Hi Steve, If it were me, I might scratch the door out of thin styrene sheet and rod. Love the sit of the sliding hood, btw. Regards Martin 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 On 5/5/2019 at 11:48 PM, ProfSparks said: This might work? Works for me Steve, just mask it paint it before you put the sliding canopy on and you'll be good to go. 21 hours ago, mike romeo said: If it were me, I might scratch the door out of thin styrene sheet and rod. I agree Martin. Stuart 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stromness Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 If you came this far, why don‘t you go all the way and use a vacform canopy - at least for the sliding part? It looks sooo much better and really isn‘t that much work. Rob Taurus makes nice things, or any other set specified for this kit! Great job so far BTW! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 9, 2019 Author Share Posted May 9, 2019 Hi All A brief encounter with The Lab! On 5/6/2019 at 10:04 AM, mike romeo said: If it were me, I might scratch the door out of thin styrene sheet and rod. On 5/7/2019 at 6:55 PM, Stromness said: If you came this far, why don‘t you go all the way and use a vacform canopy - at least for the sliding part? Hi guys, well, the thing is, I'd love to scratch the door and use a vacform canopy (they're beautiful, it would really set it off), but this is a voyage into the Curious Zone. So far it's cost me less than a pint, and anyway I need something to do a bit of homework on before committing to a proper build. I'm still at the stage of "everything's a mule" and am poking my abilities with a blunt stick to see what happens. I've a list and a small stash to work my way through once my chops are firm, but 'til then anything's fair game! Anyhoo, on with the poking... The Zoom set back plate should be glued on before drilling out the frame holes, or this will happen Also those pedals are removed and replaced with etch, though there's scant area for attachment The IP is a good fit (there's more of it to add) But it needs to be fettled in for the fuselage halves to close Also, it locates as the original Airfix part, but isn't anywhere near as bulky Packing will be added to bring it out parallel There's some particularly small bits of etch Should be ok once they're glued out of sight. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 11, 2019 Author Share Posted May 11, 2019 Hi All After much breath holding, tiny part pinging, and general purpose Thesaurus raiding, most of the Zoom is in The IP will be fettled in once I've my Chi back. I'm leaving the seat, harness and gunsight off because I'll only have to replace them when I destroy them in the sanding/ painting stages. MUST remember the control column too. I have come to the conclusion that this Self Adhesive stuff is a bit of a double edged sword. It does stick well to tweezers, pins, toothpicks, and just about anything else you're using to put it in position with, then usually refuses to stick to the intended surface. If it does adhere, then any attempt to slide it into a better position is countered with an inextolerable creep back to the initial landing site. The homing glue also provides an effective barrier to CA. Wondrous stuff indeed. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the increased detail it adds, but my admiration for those of you who can wrangle decent forms from it has increased beyond measure. I'm off to find an OOB (Out Of Bottle) diversion. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 14, 2019 Author Share Posted May 14, 2019 Hi All Incremental progress. I sanded the door down until I could just about see through it The ribs are a bit thick but I can live with them all things considered. I roughed up a rear frame for the internals, and the wings just clip on, so it's looking promising for the Filler Fairy I have, however, realised that I need to install the seat and harness before the rear canopy part, as the harness passes through the slot in the PE behind the seat. And yeah, I know the IP hasn't gone far enough into the cowling. Next one will. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 Hi All That Eduard Zoom etch really busies up the office That gap is just slightly too wide to fill comfortably, I'll see if I can shave some thickness from the interior wall and squeeze it in tighter... What followed involved a catastrophic misalignment of the fuselage halves, resulting in them suddenly collapsing in on themselves, crushing the cockpit. I put it down carefully and walked away for a while. After a cup of tea and some controlled breathing exercises later, I forlornly untwisted the IP and reattached the seat, control column and compass. There are some small PE parts missing presumed Snaffled, but at least it resembles what it was. That, and I didn't smash it to bits. Good stuff this Therapy, best I've had. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 These things are sent to try us, at least you kept your cool. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturmovik Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 I can't see the photos past the one with the fuselage gap. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 Hi All 21 hours ago, Sturmovik said: I can't see the photos past the one with the fuselage gap. Hi, yeah, sorry, I sort of vented my spleen on them and they were no more However, I decided to take the seat out again to fit the harness Those little strap bits were like Mexican Jumping Beans. Fortunately they happened to jump into a couple of blobs of CA and that's where they're staying. I plan to feed the strap through the bulkhead and bend it down once the seat is fixed back in again again. Then I can get it closed up and the wings on! What could possibly go wrong? Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Hi All On 5/19/2019 at 9:26 PM, ProfSparks said: What could possibly go wrong? Well, it's like this I looked at the seat harness too suddenly, and the harness just popped off its' CA anchor. In retrospect, that wasn't a totally bad thing, as I could now fit the seat sans harness and feed in the pre-shaped PE once the seat was secure. Simples. Yes folks, when adding the small plate of PE on the framing behind the seat, make sure the slot for the harness is above the seat backrest, or it gets quite tricky. It's in now and I've just noticed there's a rudder pedal missing. And so it shall stay missing. Closing it up a section at a time, just as well it's an easy kit. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Hi All As luck would have it, the incrementally wider section forward of the too wide IP makes the wing root join very snug I suspect it may have knocked out the dihedral by a degree or two (five?), but at this stage I'm just pleaded the whole thing hasn't imploded again. At least the nose join looks smooth from here! Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted May 27, 2019 Author Share Posted May 27, 2019 Hi All I fitted the rear cover and made a mask from the kit window The front and sliding sections were masked and the door held in with Blu Tak sausages Time to get this moved on, undersides and fuselage band done with Vallejo Air 71.302 Sky Type S straight from the bottle, no primer Smoother than I thought. Apart from that, I've just discovered that it didn't come with decals, so I may have to shelve it until I come across roundels. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted June 1, 2019 Author Share Posted June 1, 2019 Hi All I got the underside masked and started on the uppers. Normally I'd start with the light (brown) then add the dark (green) as dark covers over light better (right?) However, as an Experiment I put the dark on first, cue Vallejo Air 71.324 BS Dark Green (It's still slightly wet here) It looks slightly yellowy limey, we'll see how it dries. Having dried, time for the sausages (still a slightly unnerving shade) On with the Vallejo Air 71.323 BS Dark Earth and off with the masking The green still shows through in the panel lines, I'm going to go for a pin wash once decals are sourced and applied. But for now, it's glossy varnished It has its' remaining parts matted And it's all bagged up This is not a Shelf Of Doom inmate, just a hiatus. Comments and suggestions on generic roundel decal sheets welcome Cheers Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfSparks Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 (edited) Hi All Now then, where was I? Ah yes, I found a donor so it's back on They went straight on and had a coat of W&N matt Now for the raison d'être, or the eating of the raisin if you prefer Masks and bits removed And it's more or less worked out ok! Door just 'Tack'd on, will tidy up the paintwork and get it in for a RFI session. Thanks for all the company on this 'Doing things the hard way' experiment, see you on my next common sense bypass. Comments and suggestions welcome Cheers Steve RFI here Edited June 14, 2019 by ProfSparks added RFI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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