shortCummins Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 19 minutes ago, Alan P said: Nice details moulded on that engine. Makes me want to start one of my new Tamiya Spitfires, but I've enough models on the go already! this is an excellent kit, my main reason to get this finished, I don't really know why it sat on the shelf for as long as it did!?, is a "stash management" promise that I've made to myself in that I'll not buy any more kits until I finish some of the existing ones, i.e. one out one in. So as Kotare have released their MkI, and I really, really, really, really want one I've got to finish this Tamiya Spitfire so I can get the Kotare. To compound my self imposed issue I've recently stumbled across a couple of Spitfire schemes that I really want to do, one of them I can build with a kit from the stash, using a 1:48 Eduard MkI, the second I'll have to buy, a MkXVI rgds John(shortCummins) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 The engine's looking good, John You're a far more disciplined person that I am with your stash management program. I’m trying to not buy any more kits at the moment either, but I ended up coming home from the de Havilland Museum show last weekend with another 5… James 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 22, 2023 Author Share Posted May 22, 2023 I’m attempting to depict the engine “well used” so I started with a light dry brush of vallejo 77.717 dull aluminium… …followed by a couple of 502 Abteilung oil paints for some stains, ABT240 cream brown and ABT260 oxide patina. Next I’ll be building the engine cradle… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmcgill Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 41 minutes ago, shortCummins said: I’m attempting to depict the engine “well used” so I started with a light dry brush of vallejo 77.717 dull aluminium… …followed by a couple of 502 Abteilung oil paints for some stains, ABT240 cream brown and ABT260 oxide patina. Next I’ll be building the engine cradle… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) It looks amazing but the engine was black during WWII, although that wouldn't look as impressive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Yes I think the engine looks a bit too grey as well. I'd go a bit darker, to suggest black. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 I agree that as it stands your beautiful engine looks unusually grey and mid-toned. To change it to my preferred style, and other styles are available, I'd push the contrast as figure painters say. I'd use a thin black wash all over this engine, to suggest the dark and dirty, oil-stained recesses, as well as shifting the whole tone of the thing a bit to the darker. It's one of the vert rare times when I'd go all the way to black instead of very dark grey and I'd possibly do a gloss black wash for max effect. Then I'd highlight the top edges of the various bits and pieces with a very light grey, with the highest of the highlights in actual white (very tiny white dots - don't overdo this.) I'd be trying to increase the contrast between the shadows and the highlights as much as possible because when I see an aero-engine in my mind it's hideously complicated, black and steel and dotted with zillions of oily shiny reflections. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 22, 2023 Author Share Posted May 22, 2023 8 hours ago, wmcgill said: It looks amazing but the engine was black during WWII, although that wouldn't look as impressive. 6 hours ago, elger said: Yes I think the engine looks a bit too grey as well. I'd go a bit darker, to suggest black. 2 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said: I agree that as it stands your beautiful engine looks unusually grey and mid-toned. To change it to my preferred style, and other styles are available, I'd push the contrast as figure painters say. I'd use a thin black wash all over this engine, to suggest the dark and dirty, oil-stained recesses, as well as shifting the whole tone of the thing a bit to the darker. It's one of the vert rare times when I'd go all the way to black instead of very dark grey and I'd possibly do a gloss black wash for max effect. Then I'd highlight the top edges of the various bits and pieces with a very light grey, with the highest of the highlights in actual white (very tiny white dots - don't overdo this.) I'd be trying to increase the contrast between the shadows and the highlights as much as possible because when I see an aero-engine in my mind it's hideously complicated, black and steel and dotted with zillions of oily shiny reflections. thanks for the advice chaps 👍 to be fair "in real life" the engine is darker than it appears in the photos having said that I agree that a black wash is a good idea and I'll add one to try and give the idea of dirt and oil stains rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 23, 2023 Author Share Posted May 23, 2023 The main cradle parts, cowling frame and firewall were given a coat of Tamiya XF-71 cockpit green… …the oil tank, engine cooling tank, air filter and (artistic license employed, the instructions suggest XF-71) the firewall oil reservoir… …employing more "artistic license" the radiator pipes were given a coat of MrMetal Color 215 copper, Tamiya instructions and most reference photos show XF-71 however I’ve seen a couple of references with copper pipes. Next I’ll be detail painting bits of the cradle and assembling the parts… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaminCam Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 1 hour ago, shortCummins said: …employing more "artistic license" the radiator pipes were given a coat of MrMetal Color 215 copper, Tamiya instructions and most reference photos show XF-71 however I’ve seen a couple of references with copper pipes. +1 for artistic license - I've gone for copper coloured pipes on my 1/72 version and it definitely adds interest and makes things look "busier". Really enjoying this build and looking forward to seeing it all come together! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 23, 2023 Author Share Posted May 23, 2023 Various straps and components were picked out with either Tamiya XF-56 metallic grey, Alkan BS:283 aircraft grey/green, vallejo 70.995 German grey or 77.717 dull aluminium… …some straps were made from aluminium tape, the type used to join laminate underlay, cut into thin strips and stuck in place. Next I’ll be darkening the engine before building the cradle… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 23, 2023 Author Share Posted May 23, 2023 Thanks to @wmcgill, @elger and @Bertie McBoatface points about the engine looking too grey, I’ve decided to start by giving it a black wash with some MrWeathering Color multi-black… …the top of the rocker covers were given a light highlight with some MrWeathering Color multi-grey. Here are three photos taken outside, to give a better idea of the true colour. Next I’ll be continuing with the engine cradle build… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 I think more black washes might help, but the darker colour will naturally appear more dark by contrast when you add the metal bolt and rivet head details to the crankcase and supercharger/intercooler areas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 24, 2023 Author Share Posted May 24, 2023 The remaining bits’n’pieces were added to the firewall… …Tamiya panel liner dark brown was applied to dirty the firewall… …the cradle supports were then added, I glued the firewall ends, with the “horseshoe” support placed to (hopefully) ensure correct alignment, once the firewall ends had dried the “horseshoe” was glued in place. The coolest pipes were then fitted… … this proved to be the most difficult part of the build so far, the top pipe, with the hairpin bend, proved to be quite tricky having to “join” in 4 different places all with minimal connection points. Tamiya give you the option to add the starter connector to the underside, you’ll need to remove the moulded version from the side of the cradle, I left the side version, and fitted the under brace to the cradle. Next I’ll be adding the engine to the cradle… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 24, 2023 Author Share Posted May 24, 2023 The engine was screwed into the firewall and the cradle manipulated to fit… Both the engine cooling and intercooler oil tanks were then fitted… …the kit supplied PE was attached to the air filter… …the oil tank was “dirtied” with some MrWeathering Color multi black and fixed to the underside. Tamiya panel liner(s) black and brown were used to create some stains. The air filter was “pushed in place”… …the cowl panel frames were fixed in place… …and dry-fitted to the airframe. Next I’ll be painting with the exhaust pipes… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 That's really something, John. Worth every bit of effort to get there James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Oh wow, that was a great catchup seeing tge engine, pipework etc going together and being mounted. Looks fantastic John, great work Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 That all came together quickly! All makes for a very snug fit. That's some good engineering right there 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 25, 2023 Author Share Posted May 25, 2023 17 hours ago, 81-er said: That's really something, John. Worth every bit of effort to get there James 15 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Oh wow, that was a great catchup seeing tge engine, pipework etc going together and being mounted. Looks fantastic John, great work Chris 10 hours ago, Alan P said: That all came together quickly! All makes for a very snug fit. That's some good engineering right there 👍 thanks chaps I really think that Tamiya could release the engine and cradle, from the firewall forward, as a kit in its own right. I had intended to add additional wiring and other bits'n'pieces however as I've now glued the engine to the cradle I think its too late, having said that I don't think it "needs" the additional detail, it would be a "nice to have" rather than a "necessity"? if/when I build another Tamiya 1:32, the MkVII, Mk.XVIe, P-51 or when (hopefully) they release a Mossie B I'll probably add the extra wiring? rgds John(shortCummins) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted May 26, 2023 Author Share Posted May 26, 2023 After a coat of MrSurfacer 1500 black I gave the exhaust a “base” of Xtreme Metal AK476 steel… …followed by AK485 pale burnt metal… …and the tips given a light coat of AK484 burnt metal. As per the instructions the exhausts were then attached from back to the front of the engine. I wish that Tamiya had made the location "tabs" of the exhausts bigger/longer as they are, in my opinion, unnecessarily shallow, a "firmer" location would make the alignment far easier. Next I’ll be starting on the propeller and spinner… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted June 2, 2023 Author Share Posted June 2, 2023 I stumbled across this photo of a couple of Spitfire Rotol blades that show the rotoloid covers Hydulignum wooden laminate propellors with copper or brass leading edges… All 5 parts of the propellor… …was assembled and given a coat of MrSurfacer 1500 black primer… …the tips were then masked and given a base of pink, a mix of MRP-004 white & MRP-042 red. I find that a pink base for the MRP-122 marking yellow makes the yellow more vibrant. LP-11 was then sprayed for both the centre hub and backing plate. I’m 99.99% certain that none of this will be seen once the spinner is added!? Using the MRP-077 NATO black to cover the overspray, hairspray was then applied followed by a a “highlight” of MRP-059 RLM 66... ...then an “overcoat” of highly thinned 95% thinner 5% paint of Tamiya XF-24 dark grey which was then “chipped” to give the blades a worn appearance… …when I was happy with the worn look I dotted some 502 Abteilung ABT240 cream brown onto the blades… …and streaked them with a dry brush on both sides of the blades. To complete the worn effect Tamiya black panel liner was then flicked onto the front of the blades. Next I’ll be starting to prepare for paint… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Another day, another catch up! mate, you are a weathering machine! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 great work on engine,prop, and engine bay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Outstanding work and superb detailing! 👏 Keith 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted June 3, 2023 Author Share Posted June 3, 2023 19 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said: Another day, another catch up! mate, you are a weathering machine! 16 hours ago, mick said: great work on engine,prop, and engine bay 16 hours ago, Keeff said: Outstanding work and superb detailing! 👏 Keith 😁 thanks Chaps I really think that Tamiya could offer the engine, cradle and prop as a "stand alone" kit, some parts are a little fiddly but once built and painted it turns out nicely rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted June 3, 2023 Author Share Posted June 3, 2023 After a bit of a struggle the engine sub-assembly was fitted to the airframe. Previously I’d checked the seems, with some black primer, and a little sprue-goo was applied and sanded flush to remove a couple of gaps. The “insides” of the cowling panels were painted XF-71. Next I’ll be adding the aftermarket Master gun barrels and giving the airframe a coat of primer… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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