Johnson Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Hi Folks, I started this back in March as a Britmodeller newbie and having been completely distracted by the FROG Group Build, I've finally finished it. Spitfire PR Mk.XIX RM643/Z based at RAF Benson, the home of British WW2 photographic reconnaissance. A few bits of info about the kit and the AM parts used in the build; 1/72 Airfix Spitfire PRXIX Rob Taurus replacement canopy Pavla resin cockpit Aires Quickboost spinner/prop blades and exhaust Barracuda door and crowbar Xtracolor PRU Blue gloss enamel paint, airbrushed on Xtradecal transfers set Barracuda stencils Winsor & Newton matt acrylic varnish to finish The kit has come in for a fair amount of criticism over the years, but I think Airfix captured the lines of one of the best looking Spits fairly well. Obvious errors that I think are noticeable are the fairings over the Griffon engines rocker covers are too narrow, this is especially noticeable when the model sits on the shelf next to my old Fujimi Mk.XIV and the u/c legs that are too raked too far forward. There are other accuracy niggles, but I overall enjoyed the build and think it looks OK. Hope you like it. For those who want more, the build thread is here; Thanks for looking. 35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 She's a real stunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig88 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Lovely job indeed!! Well done! Miguel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearmatt Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 You've put quite some extra effort in this one. Definitely paid off, well done! Cheers b. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Amazing! One of my favourite Spitfire variants and one of the best builds of the Airfix kit that I've seen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Superb model of my favourite airplane, all categories. Good to see the initial, non-pressurised product run represented, too. I still can't quite accept that it isn't the 1:48th kit… 😉 Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 An excellent job on my favourite Spitfire variant! Regards, Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted November 12, 2019 Author Share Posted November 12, 2019 Thanks everybody, I'm quite overwhelmed by the responses! 1 hour ago, Spitfire31 said: Good to see the initial, non-pressurised product run represented, too. Thanks Joachim, but I should have mentioned, the build was a learning curve about Spitfire XIXs for me, all part of the enjoyment. But if you look carefully, you can see that I included the pressure bulkhead behind the cockpit which I don't think should be there for the early XIXs based on XIV airframes. Of course, by the time I'd figured that out it was too late to remove it. A minor niggle, all builds have them! Cheers, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Lovely. Could be 1/48th. Looks like you tones down the panel lines on the rear fuselage spine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 What the others have said, and I echo the comment about it being the best Airfix XIX build so far! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Cracking build there, Charlie. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Absolutely fantastic Spit. Great job. 👍👍 Lovely finish. Can i ask did you thin the W&N varnish at all? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted November 12, 2019 Author Share Posted November 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Meatbox8 said: Looks like you tones down the panel lines on the rear fuselage spine. Well, not deliberately. But the paint (PRU blue, white and back, plus the matt finish) would have filled them a bit. The panel lines on the kit are quite pronounced and have come in for criticism, but that's what they're like. 5 minutes ago, binbrook87 said: Can i ask did you thin the W&N varnish at all? Yes, but nothing technical or expensive - tap water! Probably anywhere from 20-50%. The W&N Artists' Acrylic Matt Varnish, which was never intended for modelling purposes, is quite thick and needs considerable thinning to go through my fine nozzle airbrush. I always experiment first and then test it on the underside of the model in case it goes horribly wrong! It gives a good finish and I've used it for a couple of years. It's disadvantage when used over gloss enamel is that it can be easily scratched revealing the gloss basecoat which happened a couple of times on the Spitfire. I've just bought some Hannants Xtracrylix Matt to try it out - we'll have to see how that performs! Cheers, 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Great build and finish, I must get some of that Windsor & Newton stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Love it. Superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Well done Charlie.. great to see this one finished in between a couple of rather excellent Classic Frog GB builds in between. That's really a beautiful XIX you've managed to put together here, the additional details have enhanced this kit big time. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 A really fine-looking Mk XIX! It rather inspires me to re-inspect the box contents of my Airfix kit - still waiting in the stash. I'd need to bring my A-game if I want it to look as good as yours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis_C Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Thanks for sharing your build! Looks very convincing. I like how yours turned out. Going to start mine soon so your advice on inaccuracies is indeed helpful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 10 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said: great to see this one finished in between a couple of rather excellent Classic Frog GB builds Thanks Dave. Those GBs are terribly addictive! But they make it hard to get on with the other builds! I've got kits lined up for the Corsair STGB, Heller GB, Battle of Britain 80th GB (a biggie! Maybe I'll finally finish my 1/24 Airfix Spitfire?) and of course the Revell-o-Gram GB... Must pop out and get Mrs J some flowers! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 50 minutes ago, Johnson said: Must pop out and get Mrs J some flowers! Why? She'll only think that's out of the ordinary and start thinking that you've something wrong and are trying to cover it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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