tonyot Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Hiya Folks, Another addition to my Malta Spitfire collection and my first using the excellent new decal sheet for Malta Spitfires by DK Decals. Towards the end of 1942 Malta`s Spitfire`s went onto the offensive with fighter bomber sorties against targets in Sicily to support Operation Torch and they continued to do so during early 1943 in the run up to Op Husky, the invasion of Sicily,.....and a number ran up bomb logs including this aircraft, JK879, T-B of 249 Sqn. In this photo of the aircraft the pilot is Sgt Hughes RCAF; And here is my representation of the same aircraft,...... I used XF-17 FLAT SEA BLUE to represent the blue grey upper surfaces with Azure Blue undersides, the side door was cut open and a vacuformed canopy was used to have the hood slld open ; I`ve just noticed that the back of the canopy has slipped upwards,......oh dear,...... and I forgot to weather the tyres!!! I may sort both issues out asap and maybe add a pair of underwing bombs from an Eduard Spitfire, utilising Beaufighter style bomb racks! All the best Tony 54 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredSprue Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 looks really nice. How was it building this kit? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 14, 2019 Author Share Posted May 14, 2019 26 minutes ago, ArmouredSprue said: looks really nice. How was it building this kit? Cheers mate,...... yeah built up really well actually,...... nice little kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fubar57 Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Very nice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 She's a beaut, Tony! 👍 Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Very nice Spitfire! I enjoy the KoPro/AZ kits as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Love the Maltese Defenders, great work Tony ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Very nice model. I like the KP/AZ kits too. I do have a criticism of those decals though. The width of codes TB and the bomb tally look a bit thick and heavy compared to the wartime photo? Cheers Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 Thanks everybody for your kind remarks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 On 5/14/2019 at 6:48 AM, malpaso said: I do have a criticism of those decals though. The width of codes TB and the bomb tally look a bit thick and heavy compared to the wartime photo? Cheers Will I know what you mean Will,.... but not much I can do about that,..... I can live with it so don`t worry too much! Considering just how many Spitfire`s are crammed onto the sheet,......the DK Decals are still very much worth getting,...... I suppose I could have altered them with a bit of fine brush work,..... but I didn`t! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Cracking Spitfire Tony, great scheme too. Great work as always fella. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Duvalier Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Looks good to me! My KP Mk.Vc is more or less permanently stalled due to the $%#@ing crap kit canopy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 That looks great Tony. Interesting paint jobs on the Malts ones. I've got one of these KP Vc kits, but the wings on mine look oddly shaped: both too short in span and too pointy at the tip. Yours look much better-proportioned. Did you take some remedial action? Justin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Very nice indeed Tony, seeing a Spit with bomb mission markings is rare in my experience so to see yours is a nice surprise. Superb weathering too and an all round good job on what was one of the greatest defensive battles in history, I must visit one day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 4 hours ago, Bedders said: That looks great Tony. Interesting paint jobs on the Malts ones. I've got one of these KP Vc kits, but the wings on mine look oddly shaped: both too short in span and too pointy at the tip. Yours look much better-proportioned. Did you take some remedial action? Justin Thanks Justin,...... yeah I sanded the trailing edges and wing tips and this seemed to help. Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 10 hours ago, Jackson Duvalier said: Looks good to me! My KP Mk.Vc is more or less permanently stalled due to the $%#@ing crap kit canopy. Thanks Jackson,..... that is partly why I elected to use a vacuformed canopy and mount it open,...... plus the detail inside the cockpit is rather nice. 12 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Cracking Spitfire Tony, great scheme too. Great work as always fella. All the best Chris Thanks Chris,.... means a lot pal,.... hope you are keeping well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 4 hours ago, Head in the clouds. said: Very nice indeed Tony, seeing a Spit with bomb mission markings is rare in my experience so to see yours is a nice surprise. Superb weathering too and an all round good job on what was one of the greatest defensive battles in history, I must visit one day. Thanks mate,...... yeah the first Spitfire`s to carry bombs were on Malta when they were fitted with bomb racks from Beaufighters under the wings, for offensive sorties against Sicily. It was later refined and made standard on the Mk.IX. 249 Sqn had quite a few Spits carrying bomb logs. Malta is a beautiful place,..... maybe a bit touristy since the early 90`s when I first visited,..... but Grand Harbour is an awesome sight that I never get bored of. Mdina is special too and this is where the fighter pilots from RAF Takali were billetted, overlooking their airfield. I do think that the epic battle of Malta would make a brilliant film,...... done to top standards like `Band of Brothers',..... the strong sunlight, beautiful Mediterranean island, aircraft, the story of the siege,..... the international cast of Allied aircrew,.... not to mention the naval war, civilians and Army,....... it would be stunning. ....but hey,...what do I know? Cheers Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 A terrific looking VC, Tony. A great paint finish as always. I seriously 'need' a few VCs from Malta, North Africa and CBI. Do you happen to know if the DK sheet includes marking for Johnny Plagis' 'Kay', BR321, 185 Squadron? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 59 minutes ago, Meatbox8 said: A terrific looking VC, Tony. A great paint finish as always. I seriously 'need' a few VCs from Malta, North Africa and CBI. Do you happen to know if the DK sheet includes marking for Johnny Plagis' 'Kay', BR321, 185 Squadron? Thanks Mate,...... yes Plagis BR321 is on the sheet, ,.....here is a link to the sheet instructions; All the best Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 1 hour ago, tonyot said: Thanks Mate,...... yes Plagis BR321 is on the sheet, ,.....here is a link to the sheet instructions; All the best Tony Great. Thanks Tony. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 7 hours ago, tonyot said: I do think that the epic battle of Malta would make a brilliant film, I can't believe it has not been done either, we know so much more about it now it would be a modern classic. I went to the new Bomber Command memorial in Lincoln where they have an animated map that covers a whole wall and shows the bomber campaign of the Allies and the Axis. I noticed a little dot in the Med that stay illuminated through most of 1942, Malta under siege, and it struck me how hard they were punished. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Very nice build indeed. Always loved Malta Spitfires. The variety of schemes alone make them an excellent choice. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Well there was “The Malta Story” though Alec Guiness didn’t seem particularly engaged in it as the romantic lead. No wonder Muriel Pavlov went off with Douggie Bader! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted May 22, 2019 Share Posted May 22, 2019 Brilliant! My KP Spit Vc kit is still waiting in the stash. Your excellent build is quite an inspiration. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Sherratt Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 That looks really good - like it. Cheers, John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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