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Bubbletop Pt 1 - Spitfire XVI


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My first entry into this groupbuild is a 1/48 Eduard Mk.XVI

 

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Both markings options provide choices of aircraft that entered one of the Cooper Air Races.  That's interesting, because another of my choices for this GB also does.

 

Nevertheless, I shall be ignoring those choices and going for an aircraft from 631 Sqn based at RAF Llanbedr in 1947.

 

 

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I thought I had posted the sprue shots.  But obviously not.  Time to rectify that.

 

It is a typical Eduard offering.  Thet have produced a number of different sprues for their spitfire series, which seem to be interchangeable.  I would imagine any new kits are simply mix and match from a collection.   This has the major advantage that once you have built one, the others won't hold any surprises.  So I know, this is going to need some trimming at the wing roots. :)   

 

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The wing parts represent the Type e wing.

 

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Again, just to be contrary I built the wings first.

 

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The seat harness is provided as a decal and works rather well.   I used a Yahu instrument panel.

 

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In my opinion the exhaust stacks are over-engineered.  Each stack has four parts.  I reckon they could have used two and made assembly a lot easier.

 

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A lot of people think that the thing that distinguished the Spitire IX and Spitire XVI was the cutdown fuselage on the XVI.   Not so.  Late IXs had a cutdown fuselage while early XVIs had a full fuselage.

 

The difference was actually in the engine.  The IX had a Rolls-Royce Merlin while the XVI had a Packard V-1650, the "Packard Merlin".

 

The Packard engine was very slightly taller than the R-R one, so the upper cowling of the XVI was bulged in comparison to the IX.

 

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As predicted, the wing roots needed a bit of fettling.  Nothing to be concerned about. 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Primed with my usual grey plastic auto primer.

 

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And then sprayed with Xtracrylis XA1006 Ocean Grey.

 

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The camouflage is masked using, in part, a photocopy of the Airfix Spitfire XIV instructions. 

 

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Dark green sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1001.  The undersurfaces have been sprayed with Xtracrylix XA1003 Medium Sea Grey.  Fuselage band from Lidfecolor UA539.

 

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And then the wing leading edges were masked off, sealed with a coat of clrar acrylic varnish to prevent paint creep and then carefully sprayed with Fiat Broom Yellow from an auto paint rattle can.

 

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