Olly_5 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Starting a new project today - converting the ICM 1:48 Spitfire IX kit into a Grace-canopy TR9. The scheme I am doing is G-CTIX, i.e PT462. First up - Planning. Here is the 'base plan' of a Mk IX Spitfire ... and the plan converted to TR9 spec The red lines indicate what I'll be cutting/adding etc. . The red section will be moved forwards 6.3mm, plus with a 6.3mm piece of plastic added on the back of this section to fill the gap left. I'm completely new to any kind of scratch building so any tips/help will be muchly appreciated! Thanks, and hopefully this project wont end up in the bin! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 Here's the first thing I'm doing to the kit - marking out the cut position. The shaded in box will be removed from the aircraft and the cockpit section brought forwards. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Nice, will tag along of i may. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 While I wait for filler to be delivered, I started work on the engine. Only done the two cylinder stacks, rocker covers and exhausts for the time being. In the kit, they only had fishtail exhausts. However, Indy has rounded ends. I found an old Eduard kit which had these, so had to cut off each exhaust and stick them on individually. All is ok so far! Going to build up the engine today and then move onto the fuselage when the filler arrives. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Me too, I have a stalled one based on the Eduard Mk IX. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 I converted a Revell 1/32 Spitfire into a T.9 a couple of years ago, albeit with the Vickers style rear canopy. Any help I can be, ask away... Good luck with it, Dean 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 Thanks Dean! That looks excellent. I imagine the problems will crop up when I'm trying to make the 2nd cockpit haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 Here is yesterday's progress - added the supports and fitted it to the bulkhead. Also scratch built some more parts for the engine; pipes, the starter etc. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Olly_5 said: Thanks Dean! That looks excellent. I imagine the problems will crop up when I'm trying to make the 2nd cockpit haha Actually, the second cockpit is easy enough- get a second kit for it! All you need then is an instrument panel. The problem will be the rear canopy, I think- are you aware that it's not just a standard front canopy? Your drawing shows them the same length, but in reality it's about 20% longer than the front one: Dean Edited February 18, 2021 by Deanflyer 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Very nice start looking forward to watching this one many thanks for sharing Eamonn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 45 minutes ago, Deanflyer said: Actually, the second cockpit is easy enough- get a second kit for it! All you need then is an instrument panel. The problem will be the rear canopy, I think- are you aware that it's not just a standard front canopy? Your drawing shows them the same length, but in reality it's about 20% longer than the front one: Dean Eeek I actually wasn't aware of that! Whoops, will have to find a way around that then. I'll be building it with both cockpits open, so maybe it wont be noticeable? Hahaha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 I'll follow along too if I may - always intended to get a Brigade Models conversion set when they were available, never got round to it and regret it now seeing the ridiculous prices they are going for on e-bay!! Good start on the engine. Keith 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 Yesterday's progess - calling the engine done! Still have the props to do, that should take up some time today. As such, ignore the messy prop blades ! A fair amount of scratchbuilding was needed for the ICM engine - all pipes and wires you see have been added, along with the two vertical fastener struts on the sides, along with the one under the exhausts and making the piece behind the exhausts thicker. Also added are ignition rails (i think!) on the side of the stacks, the carb air intake duct on the bottom plus the starter on the left side. Also the first sign of this Spitfire's identity with the red nose! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 And here's the finished thing - prop details done. Not going to win any awards with this engine but I rather like it! Next up: the scary bit.... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Looks absolutely lovely. That is splendid work. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 I just started work on the fueslage - the scary bit (cutting) has been done successfully! However, I've got to now start work on the cockpits. I have a load of spare parts from other kits that I can use, but I was wondering if anyone had any plans of the rear cockpit? Blueprints would be nice but if anyone has detailed photos that would help massively too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 21, 2021 Author Share Posted February 21, 2021 Yesterday's progress - the fueslage cuts have been made and all is well (i think!). They look very messy at the moment but they will be cleaned up once the fueslage halves are joined (they are currently held together by tape). And the front cockpit is also pretty much done (atleast the inner part - throttle, gear lever etc. needs to be attached to the wall.) The instrument panel is Eduard PE that I have recycled from another kit. Several other mods were made to fit PT462 - i.e there is no plate behind the pilot's seat, no headrest and there are triangular supports going from the instrument panel to the rear frame. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Nice to see you realised the layout of the front cockpit structure is different to the single seater. Nice one. If you want reference photos, have a look on Facebook at The Two Seat Spitfire Page- loads of stuff on there. As for the identity- PT462? Dean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Very nice work so far Olly taking shape & impressive attention to detail well done regards Eamonn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Looking great so far, cockpit details look good and Mods worked out well, great job Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 Thanks everyone for the kind words! The spitfire has progressed a fair bit over the past week - all major components are either complete or in the final stages. All is left is really assembly and the markings. So, here's the work this week. Apologises for the lack of posting - school (albeit online for the moment!) has started again so I'm a bit more stretched for time. Starting with the fuselage halves separate but the cockpit installed. Note the lack of instrument panel and other gadgets in the rear cockpit - soon to change! And here is said instrument panel. Hand painted so it looks pretty awful, but will hopefully be okay from a distance. Next - the wings. A LOT of filler and anger needed to be directed at the gun panels! Also, with PT462 being fitted with the shorter ailerons I had to use the correct wingtips. This also required the hacking off of the end of the ailerons. And just like that - it's a complete (ish!) Spitfire! Again, filler needed for pretty much anywhere that the wings joined the fuselage. This is also the first coat of paint - Humbrol 27. It seems incredibly flat so might have to buy some satin varnish for it (anyone have any recommendations?) Here is where I am at the moment - the photos were taken a few minutes ago. Camo applied plus the underside grey. Thanks once again! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marklo Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Olly_5 said: It seems incredibly flat so might have to buy some satin varnish for it (anyone have any recommendations?) Yes either mr Colour aqueous or Windsor and Newton galleria. Both airbrush nicely and are water based. The mr colour goes on well and is easy to live with. The W&N can yellow if applied too thickly, but you get a 250ml bottle for about a tenner and is available in most art shops. The spitfire is looking well btw. Edited February 25, 2021 by Marklo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly_5 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 Quote 1 minute ago, Marklo said: Yes either mr Colour aqueous or Windsor and Newton galia. Both airbrush nicely and are water based. The mr colour goes on well and is easy to live with. The W&N can yellow if applied too thickly, but you get a 250ml bottle for about a tenner and is available in most art shops. Thank you! I'll look into that then. Also forgot to mention, I added the longer glass piece between the two canopies. As its made from two 'normal' spitfire pieces, the join looks pretty bad so apologies for that. Along with that, I added the blisters just infront of the gear wells which are fitted to PT462 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 That's looking good, nice camo job! Another vote for Mr Color aqueous varnishes from me - I like their matt, satin and gloss! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Looking good and great to see it coming together. You have done a cracking job. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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