1/48 Spitfire IXe, Danish Air Force (Eduard) +++ Finished+++

[Bjorn]

While I am waiting for a paint mask to arrive for my Fouga Magister, I have plans for another build. A kit that has been waiting in my stash too many years now! Eduard's lovely 1/48 Spitfire. I have built the XVI version, but never the IX, my favourite Spit. I also have a sheet with Stoppel decals, so let's get started!

Edited December 25, 2021 by Bjorn

[desert falcon]

A Danish Spitfire, definitely something to follow 👍

[Bjorn]

I started this one last Saturday. This is truly an amazing kit!

A after few hours build the day after, and yesterday, most of the kit was assembled and primed! This one will be far a quicker build than I expected.



The only (well-known) challenge was the two-part upper engine cowling cover. Removing the seam took a while, and felt unneccesary, since a one-piece part would have been far better. Another challenge was my own fault, I was a bit tired when gluing the lower one, and completely forgot that this one had the long carburetor intake (luckily I used the right wing for that!). So I had to remove the intake part from the cover parts and glue that in place. But i think that I managed to hide my error.

[trickyrich]

wow you did sneak this one in!

 

Those Eduard Spitfires are such a nice kit to build, they just fall together! The cockpit looks amazing, well done.

 

Look forward to seeing her completed.

[Bjorn]

Thanks! Yes, they are a pleasure to build! And now it is painted!



I used Mr Paint colours. The Dark Green is a challenge, the first MRP edition was too brown, more like Olive Drab. So they made a completely new edition - which in my eyes is too green. So I mixed them into something that looked good to me.

Those of you that are Spitfire experts might wonder about the camouflage pattern. The Danish Spitfires were delivered in the normal RAF camouflage, but at least some of them were (for some reason) re-painted in a slightly different pattern. Another odd thing about them was that they flew both with clipped wings and normal wingtips. Initially, they were pretty much different from each other, but later they seem to have been more and more standardized.

[reini]

Nice lively colours Good work on the cockpit too.

[Col.]

Smart work Bjorn

[John Masters]

That'll look swell with those Danish roundels.

[Bjorn]

On 10/12/2021 at 15:31, John Masters said:

That'll look swell with those Danish roundels.

 

And here they are! Stoppel Decals can be a challenge, I have had lots of silvering problems before, however, this was not so much of a problem this time. But the reaction to Microsol was so slow, that I got a bit worried and had to find a relaxing F1 race to cool down with.

However, I am pleased with the result. The result with the decals, that is. My feelings about the F1 result will be left to other channels.


 

[John Masters]

Beautiful!  Did I just see this on Instagram this morning as well?

[Bjorn]

45 minutes ago, John Masters said:

Beautiful!  Did I just see this on Instagram this morning as well?

 

Thanks! Yes, that might be true... Btw, thanks for the Canadian GB tip. I have missed this!

[arfa1983]

That looks so good! One thing I always notice with planes with big roundels like that is that they always look a little stark contrasted with the beautifully weathered camouflaged paint job.

 

I suppose painting the roundels can allow for similar techniques to be used (not that I have ever done it!) But I have used a pale white or grey thinned to try and show a faded effect on the roundels. However it didn't look quite right.

 

I am absolutely not criticizing your beautiful Spitfire but just wondering if anyone has any ideas on this?

[Bjorn]

17 hours ago, arfa1983 said:

That looks so good! One thing I always notice with planes with big roundels like that is that they always look a little stark contrasted with the beautifully weathered camouflaged paint job.

 

I suppose painting the roundels can allow for similar techniques to be used (not that I have ever done it!) But I have used a pale white or grey thinned to try and show a faded effect on the roundels. However it didn't look quite right.

 

I am absolutely not criticizing your beautiful Spitfire but just wondering if anyone has any ideas on this?

 

So true. However, I will weather them after the wash. The matt varnish will also make them less sharp. And red colours almost always look sharper on photos than in reality. 

 

Some progress yesterday: Wash and propeller:

[Bjorn]

Weathering in progress... I hope to finish this one tomorrow. 

[Col.]

This one is looking great Bjorn  

[modelling minion]

Beautiful looking Spitfire Bjorn, really nice weathering.

[PattheCat]

My goodness, how could I forget to further follow your build.

Excellent build and painting. I am always in awe looking at such subtle painting and weathering.

 

Great! 

[trickyrich]

WOW now that looks amazing!!!  

 

That weathering is nice and subtle and looks spot on, very nicely done.

[Bjorn]

Thanks!  And here it is, finished! I added some more weathering, and the final details. This is truly a lovely kit, a pleasure to build! 

Edited December 25, 2021 by Bjorn

[Retired Bob]

Superb looking Spitfire Bjorn, looks great with the Danish markings. 

[desert falcon]

Lovely looking Danish Spitfire 👍

[trickyrich]

I agree well done, she looks great!!! 

 

I love the finish, just enough weathering to give her some life, very nicely done.

 

Thanks for joining us here, hope you enjoyed the build, now you can go off and enjoy all those Christmas treats........ or start building another model!