Mig88 Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Here is my latest kit, the first of a project I have been working on for over 2 months. Supermarine Twin Spitfire F.I The original concept in service with No 11 Sqn, based in the UK in summer 1945, using the type as a "high-speed" interceptor and long-range escort, especially for the Mosquito which was starting to become vulnerable to new Luftwaffe types. Operational use quickly revealed the limitations of the one-cockpit concept and its poor visibility on the starboard side leading to the two-cockpit layout being definite in the next variants. Production of the F.I variant was short due to this. Earlier this year, I found the picture below in Pinterest which led to the "what-if" article in Hushkit.net (https://hushkit.net/2012/06/29/the-ultimate-what-if-siamese-supermarine-the-twin-spitfire/). I found the concept interesting and the idea of making one in kit form went on growing until I finally decided to get on with it. The problem is I found more ideas on the concept, mainly at https://www.strijdbewijs.nl/birds/spitfire/secret/spitproject.htm. As a result, this project expanded from making one kit to three with different configurations. This project was definitely going to be in 1:144 and, although there are no Spitfire F.21s in this scale, I decided to use Mark I Models' Spitfire XIV/XVIII kits rather than Eduard's Spitfire IX kits or F-toys' Griffon Spitfires as they were more readily available to buy and I think the bubbletop Griffon-engined Spitfire looks best for this project. I built the basic kits more-or-less from the box, cutting off opposite main wings and covering the cockpit on the starboard fuselage. The outer tailplanes were omitted and the holes covered. I used the smaller of the two types of rudder available in the kits. A central wing section and tailplane were made from pieces in my spares box. The central gun barrels came from other wings and from a rod in the spares box. The Mark I kit has some fit issues and the worst that didn't quite come out right was the propeller. Getting everything true was tricky and I wasn't 100% successful but it looks the part. The spine whip antenna and the underwing pitot were made from stretched sprue. The kit was fully painted and varnished with brush. I used the decals from the Mark I kits. The Sky letters and bands were too green and vivid so I had to overpaint them. Despite some problems and the tricky build, this project was fun and the end result was worth it. I think it looks fantastic though the second one looks better. I'll be posting the others as soon as I have the photos ready and time to post them. Thanks for looking and all comments are welcome, as usual. Miguel 24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 a very unusual aircraft and you've made a very nice model of it rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Nice Zwillingschpitt! Lovely work. Cheers, Andre 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Wow that's fantastic Miguel. Great idea for a WHIF and beautifully executed. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmm Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Love it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 STUNNING build. Love the colors. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petetasker Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Hi Can’t honestly say I’m a fan of ‘what ifs’ but that’s a very interesting concept and very well done. Nice one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig88 Posted August 24, 2021 Author Share Posted August 24, 2021 On 21/08/2021 at 17:08, shortCummins said: a very unusual aircraft and you've made a very nice model of it rgds John(shortCummins) On 21/08/2021 at 18:03, Hook said: Nice Zwillingschpitt! Lovely work. Cheers, Andre On 21/08/2021 at 18:29, binbrook87 said: Wow that's fantastic Miguel. Great idea for a WHIF and beautifully executed. 👍 On 21/08/2021 at 20:43, ajmm said: Love it! On 22/08/2021 at 00:04, HOUSTON said: STUNNING build. Love the colors. On 22/08/2021 at 09:52, petetasker said: Hi Can’t honestly say I’m a fan of ‘what ifs’ but that’s a very interesting concept and very well done. Nice one Thank you very much everyone. I'll be posting the second one soon - the one that I think came out best! Miguel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 Sweet! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig88 Posted August 30, 2021 Author Share Posted August 30, 2021 On 25/08/2021 at 17:46, Bertie Psmith said: Sweet! Thank you! Miguel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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