DaveJL Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Hello all, A second entry from me - Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb Tropical, marked as AB262, of 249 Squadron at RAF Takali, Malta in March 1942. This machine was used by the then Flying Officer Robert McNair, DSO, DFC & 2 bars, claiming a 'damaged' on the 18th March followed by a number of 'destroyed' - an ME 109 on 19 March, a Junkers Ju 88 on 26 March, a 109 on 20 April and a Ju 88 on 22 April. He downed a further three ME 109s on the 22nd May, 25th May and 10th June 1942. EDIT - Scheme change, see below. Kit: Extras: Eduard interior etch and mask along with Xtradecal markings. Decals and paint scheme: The appropriate MRP colours: Perhaps not as modern or as well detailed as the Eduard series of kits or Tamiya's new Mk.I, it's still a nice looking little kit. Will make a start later this week all being well. Dave 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 1602 Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Desert camo, Malta and a big-Chinned Spitfire.... what’s not to like? Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 On 6/14/2020 at 10:07 PM, Steve 1602 said: Desert camo, Malta and a big-Chinned Spitfire.... what’s not to like? Steve Thanks Steve, my thoughts exactly Made a start, and for a kit that is 20 odd years old, it just falls together. Don't know why I'm surprised, it is Tamiya after all! Anyway, all the interior bits painted and given a light wash with Flory's dark dirt. Eduard etch added where applicable: Fuselage closed up: More soon. Dave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted June 17, 2020 Author Share Posted June 17, 2020 Another few hours today and main construction is all but complete. Just a few seam lines to tidy up and some odds and sods to add. A nice little kit this. I also picked up this book for a few pennies on ebay, some good references in it With a few kits on the go, I just had to take a picture of the current bench: A fine trio! More soon. Dave 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEMPESTMK5 Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Good morning Dave Very good job so far Best Regards Patrice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 (edited) Hi Dave, As I am sure you already know there is much debate about what colours some of the Malta Spits were painted in. Are you sticking to standard "desert" scheme, or going for one of the "local variations" involving grey or perhaps even blue? I gather it largely depends on which of the various delivery "batches" this particulary plane was in and therefore of course the date it arrived in Malta. I believe Hannants say this was in the first batch? For many years there was a belief that some were actually painted "blue" on route when aboard the USS Wasp, but the last article I read seemed to cast doubt on that as I recall. I believe it made the point that camo paint and stain for US ships was a very dark blue, whilst USN planes were still in the much lighter blue/gray - may be wrong about that as my memory is not what it once was! There is some suggestion that as these planes were operating over the sea when in action the "desert" scheme was too light, but again that raises the question of exactly what paint would be in stock at Malta. I will watch with interest. Cheers Pete Edited June 19, 2020 by PeterB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Simple rule of thumb is that if it is 249 Sq then it wasn't in desert. This was the Takali unit responsible for the early repainting. However, AB262 was indeed delivered in Operation Spotter and so was painted in Desert on arrival. It was then repainted, either completely or partially in a dark grey-blue. Perhaps it got the squadron codes on before it was repainted - perhaps, but there are no photos of any such. When it came to the second delivery (counting the two Spotter deliveries as one, as intended) the Malta representative (Sq Ldr Gracie) stated that the desired colour was Mediterranean Light Blue, which isn't particularly light except in contrast to MDarkB. This is available from Colourcoats, but otherwise just stick some extra blue into your PRU Blue. As far as the early deliveries are concerned the matter is pretty well sorted now, thanks to the finding of the actual correspondence in the files, but the later ones, another matter Other than 249... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 Thanks chaps. I'm just going for the desert scheme as depicted on the decal sheet and in the Osprey book. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share Posted June 26, 2020 Cockpit glazing fitted and masked. Ready for primer now: More soon. Dave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 So I'm having a debate with myself and think I'll be doing the below scheme now: EP829 flown by Sqn.Ldr Joseph Lynch in April 1943. He downed 3.5 Junkers Ju-52 transports, making him an Ace. This encounter also included the 1000th aircraft to be shot down by the Malta defenders. Just need to get some Extra Dark Sea Grey paint now! Gives me an opportunity to do a well worn machine and also an excuse to build another Vb in desert colours 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Livingston Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 I will look forward to this... multi coloured mixed camouflage Spitfires are absolutely the coolest thing for me at the moment... and a well worn one will look even more interesting... Excellent... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 Thanks Bill. Worked on the paint over the last couple of days. After a prime and pre-shade, I sprayed the Azure blue on the undersides before masking up. Dark earth on top then needed to mark up the camouflage pattern. Using the Tamiya painting instructions as a rough template, I traced over these onto Tamiya masking sheet to give me the patterns for the wings. Some Bu-tack rolls and we had a rough pattern: As I wanted this to be a rather worn machine, I first sprayed on a rough coat of Middle Stone before overcoating this with Tamiya's XF-77 IJN Grey (which I'm told is a close match for the Extra Dark Sea Grey). Once dry, I chipped away and lightly sanded some of the grey to expose the Middle Stone underneath. Here's the result, with a few coats of gloss on: More weathering to come of course. Sub assemblies completed: Decals are in the process of going on as I type this. More soon. Dave 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back in the Saddle Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Nice job Dave. 👍 I’m also building a 249 Sqn Vb - good to see another one in the go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 1 minute ago, Back in the Saddle said: Nice job Dave. 👍 I’m also building a 249 Sqn Vb - good to see another one in the go! Thanks mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted July 2, 2020 Author Share Posted July 2, 2020 Decals went on last night then sealed in with another coat of gloss, being left to cure overnight. This morning, I applied the Flory panel wash: I also chipped away a few small parts of the roundels and lettering (inadvertently it must be said!) but gives another dimension to the worn look. I'm currently working on the weathering. More soon. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted July 2, 2020 Author Share Posted July 2, 2020 So this one has come together rather promptly this afternoon. I used oils for the majority of the staining and fading (starting to get the hang of oils now!) then sprayed on a flat coat. More weathering was added courtesy of Tamiya pigment sets, AK pencils and some dry brushing. Masking off the canopy then on with the landing gear, exhausts and propeller. Beside Eduard's MK.IX that I completed earlier in the GB: More pictures in 'Ready for Inspection' Turned out quite well and was quick and simple build. The grubby, worn look really sets it off I think. As always, thanks to all who commented/followed the build. Dave 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Livingston Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 That looks fabulous! 53 minutes ago, DaveJL said: The grubby, worn look really sets it off I think. You are not kidding. It looks really believable. The worn wing roots.. was they IJN Grey, rather than exposed metal paint of some kind? ? If so, it looks great in the photos... Superb build... and fast, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted July 2, 2020 Author Share Posted July 2, 2020 17 minutes ago, Bill Livingston said: That looks fabulous! You are not kidding. It looks really believable. The worn wing roots.. was they IJN Grey, rather than exposed metal paint of some kind? ? If so, it looks great in the photos... Superb build... and fast, too! Thanks mate. I sprayed some aluminium on then added some Maskol. Once the IJN grey went on, I removed the Maskol with a stiff brush. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Livingston Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Thanks... there was no mention of aluminium in previous posts (unless I missed it) and I have seen grey used to simulate old but oxidised metals before... so wasn't sure). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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