Dstream Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 (edited) Dear all, this is my first installment here, on Britmodeller, and I thought that building a Spitfire would be an appropriate choice for this circumstance. The kit is the very well known Tamiya offering of the Spitfire Mk I in 1/48 scale of which several other builds can be found in this forum, surely all very well done. I am impatient to start mine to verify in person the reported high standard of the kit and also because this will be my first Spitfire model. Because the kit is so well documented, I will skip any presentation of it and start immediately with the pictures of the build. Nothing special was done so far, I just started with the fuselage sides adding some fictional wiring. I was addressed to a lot of interesting discussions, especially here, about which color would be the most appropriate for an early Spitfire. I learnt that a clearer shade of green might have been used, but eventually no certain color code could be given. The ubiquitous XF-71 indicated in the instructions looks dark in comparison with the few pictures available, hence I decided to lighten it up and arbitrarily went for a mix of 50% XF-71 and 50% XF-21. The first subassemblies are prepared, painted and highlighted with a wash. The parts left aluminium, are sprayed with Humbrol metallic 'polished aluminium' which in my view reproduces well an aluminium paint. Here the cockpit tub and two frames are posed with half fuselage to get a first impression of the interior. Indeed, the quality of the Tamiya parts is really good and a careful planning of the painting and of assembling is needed not to risk spoiling the nice level of detail. Finally, the tub with the frame that support the instrument panel and the assembly of the rudder pedals linkages is fit checked. That is all for now, thanks for any feedback, Daniele Edited March 13, 2020 by Dstream 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Excellent work, coming along very well. Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 Great start! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 Welcome 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted March 19, 2020 Author Share Posted March 19, 2020 H alli, continuing building the cockpit of my Spitfire, I painted and installed the Sutton harness which was provided in the photoetched fret coming with the kit. The metallic parts were slightly sanded, primed and then painted. The parts are of good quality and the result is not bad in my view. And here the tub with the harness is posed with the fuselage side. At this point, I tackled the instrument panel which is always the focal point of every cockpit. I sourced the Yahu pre-painted panel, which is exquisitely detailed. I assembled the central panel with vynilic white glue and after some careful positioning, this is the result. Then the control column with its iconic spade grip followed. Actually, the enlarged photo above showed that some touch up is necessary on the firing button of the grip. Finally, the cockpit tub is completed and this is its overall view. The cockpit is made by a lot of small parts which with some attention, allow to obtain a pleasing model. Definitively, this model deserves to be finished with an open canopy to fully appreciate the nicely detailed interior. Now I am ready for the first milestone of the build, namely the closing of the fuselage. That is all for now, thanks for watching, Daniele 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted March 29, 2020 Author Share Posted March 29, 2020 Hi all, the fuselage was buttoned up and many details disappeared inside it. However, what is left to be seen from outside is not bad. The wing with its distinctive planform is being readied to be joined to the fuselage. The first turn of my Spitfire. The assembly of the model is mostly completed and the underside is ready for painting. For the version I chose, I need to reproduce an aluminium paint finish. So I left aside all my natural metal acrylics and turned to my Humbrol assortment of metallic paints. I tried a mix of 70% 'polished aluminium' with 30% 'matt aluminium' to tone down the shine. I sprayed it onto the complete underside so to use it as a primer for the white and black of the wing. Perhaps still too shiny, but I can tone it down later. I am satisfied with the tone of the color. Next, I will preshade the starboard wing in preparation for the white paint. This is all for now, thanks for watching, Daniele 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Prima! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Top quality work! Martian 👽 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Amazing cockpit and that colour looks just right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 Thanks guys! Glad that Lord Riot finds the interior color alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 I'm no expert but it looks good compared to photos! Closer than the one in my Hurricane anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Hi all, I started painting with the white half wing. I wanted to make the uniform white coat slightly textured, so I applied some pre-shading: Then I applied a first coat of white applied in a quasi random fashion: After a slight sanding, I finished with a last coat of white doped with a dab of red brown: The result in person is not bad and is highly variable with the illumination conditions. Now the black part will follow. Daniele 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 (edited) Hi, I have completed the black half wing with an off-black and some pre-shading: Some details seen from different angles: Now the underside is basically completed with the landing gear, the air intake and the last panels. Next, the completion of the upper side will follow. Best regards, Daniele Edited April 4, 2020 by Dstream 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Hi, after one month of interruption, please find a small update of my Tamiya Spitfire build. I primed the upper surfaces and adde some shading in preparation of the camouflage colors. After, several uniform light layers of Dark Earth followed (mix of Tamiya acrylic paints). After curing, I applied again Dark Earth selectively on the areas where this color will appear, trying not to cover them evenly. This is the result now: Now the Dark Green will follow. I can't wait to see the contrast. Bye for now, Daniele 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 looking really good, very impressed with the black and white wings, not an easy thing to do and you've got it spot on. rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 21 minutes ago, shortCummins said: looking really good, very impressed with the black and white wings, not an easy thing to do and you've got it spot on. rgds John(shortCummins) Thanks for your feedback, John! I tried to depart from uniform colors and get plausible shades at the same time. I had a couple of photos showing the black/white underside from which I got the 'inspiration'. Best luck with the bigger brother. Regards, Daniele 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERK Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Really nice work the shading looks first class. ERK. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted June 6, 2020 Author Share Posted June 6, 2020 Dear all, please find an update on the progress done with the camouflage of my Spitfire. I prepared the adhesive masks out of large Tamiya tape and here is the model ready to receive the first coat of Dark Green (Tamiya XF-81). It took several very thin coats of green, with the last one sprayed in a random pattern. All the masking material was finally removed. The long and tedious masking job paid off and only few spots need to be touched up. Once fully cured, I will lightly sand the surface to smooth it and remove any paint ridges. That is it for now, any comment will be welcome. Regards, Daniele 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Beautiful, neat work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted June 7, 2020 Author Share Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) Dear all, just a tiny update of the work over the week end. I touched up the blemishes of the camouflage and I started to apply some shades. Then, A glossy coat was applied. This time, I tried the Humbrol Gloss out of the bottle, but perhaps I should have added some thinner. Now, the model is ready to accept the transfers. However, I am afraid that these will have to wait until the next week end. Best regards. Daniele Edited June 7, 2020 by Dstream 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunderklumpen Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Stunning work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted June 13, 2020 Author Share Posted June 13, 2020 Hi all, the dreaded Tamiya decals are on. The decals, although very nice and precise, were difficult to apply. The are thick and stiff requiring lot of attention. Probably, one factor was that the surface was not glossy enough. Anyway, I purchased the 'Mr Mark Softer Neo' and 'Setter Neo' (these are the ones I found here, where in the Netherlands), but they were not very effective. Actually, I immediately dismissed the 'setter', because after the first application, it left white stains on the decals. At the end, I went on with the 'softer', my usual 'Micro Set' and few tiny touches of Tamiya extra thin cement in selected spots. I had a couple of panic attacks, but at the end I got a reasonable result. After the decals, I applied a layer of Tamiya Clear. Finally, here few pictures to show my results. Now I will let it curing well for few days at least before playing with paneling and shades. Thanks for watching, best regards, Daniele 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shark444 Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 Absolutely LOVE the variegated shading on this kit. Well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERK Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 Very impressive tidy work - really nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dstream Posted June 13, 2020 Author Share Posted June 13, 2020 Thank you, Shark and ERK for your great feedback! Let's see how I will manage to conclude this. See you around, D. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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