Ghostbase Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 My entry for this GB, the original 1976 issue of PK-501 Supermarine Spitfire Mk-22/24. 20220108_143428 by Ghostbase, on Flickr The contents of the box (minus decals and instruction sheets). 20220108_143522 by Ghostbase, on Flickr Some sprue shots, this is the first showing the "three selected muted colours". 20220108_143714 by Ghostbase, on Flickr Second set of charcoal grey sprues plus stand base. 20220108_143827 by Ghostbase, on Flickr The original scale modeller who purchased the kit did make a start however it has been agreed that this falls within the 25% rule. The wings have not been cemented together. 20220108_144118 by Ghostbase, on Flickr The instruction sheet and the decals. 20220108_144305 by Ghostbase, on Flickr It will be built as a Spitfire Mk-22 at the end of her RAF career, I am not sure whether it will be in a day fighter scheme or overall aluminium. I have been wanting to complete this particular kit for many years. Looks like the next step is a good wash to clean off 45 years worth of grime! The kit, not me 😉 Michael 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Hi Michael Great to have this one in the GB, as you say those plastic colours are very subtle for Matchbox,you would have hoped at least one of them would have been bright orange 🍊 Best of luck with this one. Cheers Pat 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Great to see someone tackle this kit Michael,I have one hanging from the ceiling from the last GB,it does look good when built. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjwomack Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 I did one of these because my dad had worked on them in 73 squadron. It was not an easy build so best of luck 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 I always wanted one of these as a youngster the box art was so attractive with the dramatic artwork and lined drawing, I was so jealous of a mate having one, got the revell removing now and plan to convert it to a Seafire 47 with AA Productions conversion kit. Good luck with this build. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 An iconic Matchbox kit. I've built a couple of these over the years, both from the early boxing and both finished as the 603 Squadron option. My main memory is that getting the engine panels to fit is a major pain. I can't recall if they're meant to be removable but I know I glued them on. The Griffon's pretty basic so it's no great loss. A *lot* of these turned up at model shows in the 1980s converted into Seafire 47s - probably more than Spitfires 😃 John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 6 hours ago, John said: I can't recall if they're meant to be removable Yes they were the gun bay panels as well. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 Thanks for the comments 👍 I have heard that this kit can be a bit of a challenge but there are plenty of builds on BM and elsewhere so hopefully I can find some guidance. The next stage (when I get back home) is to apply primer to all the parts and see how good a job the previous modeller did. I am looking forward to this. Michael 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Go glad to see this 1/32 Spitfire kit in its original (although rather worn) state. My late Dad bought one of these not long before he left us and those images bring back so many good memories. I ought to try and source a good quality one just to rekindle those early childhood times. Your box of bits deserves to be built so we'll be watching on with great interest and intent from this side of the world. Cheers, welcome aboard and best of luck.. Dave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Nice to see this one! I got one of these for Christmas about 40 years ago, looking forward to seeing your build. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 On 1/9/2022 at 4:54 PM, alt-92 said: Yes they were the gun bay panels as well. Thanks for that. My main memory of the engine panels is that the edges seemed to have a subtle curve, rather than being flat, and you couldn't get them to fit together cleanly. The gun bays must have been OK - no traumatic memories there 😃 John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 I remember paying the massive sum of £1.50 for this kit. Took me a month to save it up from my pocket money. Has that rather odd clear IP part and fuel tanks that you never see. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Just a small update, I washed all the parts and after they had dried I applied Halfords grey primer to see what the surfaces look like as well as check the work performed by the previous owner of this kit. The two main parts he constructed were the engine block and the pilots seat. Once the primer dried I could see that he did a reasonable job considering that all he had was polystyrene cement applied via a thick tube! 20220113_191257 by Ghostbase, on Flickr It seemed a bit sacrilegious covering up those Matchbox coloured sprues with primer but it does help to bring out the detail on the parts. 20220113_191450 by Ghostbase, on Flickr I removed many parts from the sprues. The plastic was easy to cut and this photo shows the quality of the panel lines and side-cockpit detail which I thought was good for a kit issued in 1977. 20220113_191407 by Ghostbase, on Flickr I don't have RAF Interior Green in the paint stash so went to Hobbycraft this afternoon and purchase Tamiya XF-71acrylic paint. 20220113_191733 by Ghostbase, on Flickr And some reference material from the stash, I bought this for the 1/48th Airfix Spitfire 22 many moons ago 🙂 20220113_191031 by Ghostbase, on Flickr Michael 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 The engine looks good from the top in primer, , nice reference book, I have their Whirlwind book and it was very helpful indeed. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Nice update. Those parts do look good after a smear of primer and Tamiya's XF-71 is a good equivalent for Grey Green, I often use it on my builds. Cheers.. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Hi Michael Have you had a chance to do anymore since we last heard from you ? Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 23 hours ago, JOCKNEY said: Hi Michael Have you had a chance to do anymore since we last heard from you ? Cheers Pat I'm still here! Currently near to finishing a 1/48th HobbyBoss F-14B Tomcat which has taken much more time that I intended however I have not forgotten the Spit 22. Michael 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted March 29, 2022 Share Posted March 29, 2022 Hi Michael Have you managed to evict the Tomcat from the workbench yet ? Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted April 17, 2022 Author Share Posted April 17, 2022 Finally picked up the paintbrush today and started applying Tamiya XF-71 Cockpit Green and it feels good to have got started 'proper' on this kit 🙂 20220417_184951 by Ghostbase, on Flickr I think I might have found a couple of reasons why the original builder might have stalled and given up but I will cover those as I get to them. My deadline for completing this build is Saturday 21st May (*this* year 😎) Michael 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted April 18, 2022 Author Share Posted April 18, 2022 Some more work on the Spitfire 22 today, I wanted to complete the major cockpit pieces so I can put the two fuselage halves together, also the Hispano 20 mm cannon bays in the wings, again so I can put the wings together. The photo below shows the following components. On the left the pilots seat which I painted with Vallejo Model Color 70.950 Black and Vallejo 70.874 FS30219 Tan Earth as well as gunmetal around the lever assembly. Next is the pilots footwell, pedals and instrument panel. This is a strange assembly because the rear part is one of the transparencies which the modeller is instructed to paint. I tried dry-brushing light grey over the instrument panel but it didn't work too well. Next is the engine bulkhead, then the pilots joystick. I am keeping to the Matchbox paint colour references which come from the Humbrol Authentic range and bear no resemblance to todays colour chart! 20220418_191000 by Ghostbase, on Flickr The Hispano 20 mm cannon bays were fun! The photo below shows the cannon and 20 mm ammunition belts. The Hispano cannon were painted gunmetal with black ammunition drums; the ammunition belts were sea grey with silver shells and bright bronze casings. I don't nomally do this level of detail however I was satisfied with the end result. 20220418_190724 by Ghostbase, on Flickr And a dry fit of the wing halves showing the 20 mm cannon bay. 20220418_190843 by Ghostbase, on Flickr Hoping to continue this build later this week. Michael 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 Cockpit and cannon bays look good. Great work Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Nice crisp workmanship Micheal, that’s all looking really lovely. Nice progress. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 Looking good Michael nice to see these big scale kits coming together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 Sadly another 'Fail', I thought even I could complete a build in six months but a fight with Covid, extra work due to Covid, and catching up on two years worth of holidays, as well as a mojo crisis... However I am still smiling. I have had that kit for at least 30 years and I HAVE now started it and it WILL be completed one day, thanks to Pat who had the idea for this GB and Jockney who has been our host. Thanks chaps 👍 Michael 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 Hi Michael Don't be disappointed you didn't finish this one in time. Ive lost count of how may GBs I haven't finished ! You can still finish it on here if you want to, or ask for the build thread to be moved to the aircraft section. Having had the kit for that long it deserves to get finished. Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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