TonyOD's Spitfire production line: Spitfire Mk Vb, Sqn. Ldr, Jan Zumbach, 303 Sqn., 1941: weathering finished, nearly there

[TonyOD]

As nowadays I pretty much only build the Supermarine Spitfire and its variants in 1/48 scale, to make life a little easier for myself I've decided to throw everything I have on the go into one Spitfire superthread that should see me through to the eventual end of what in my head I call The Project. This will entail building some 50 different Spitfires in 1/48 scale. It won’t be an exhaustive trawl through every marque and operator, just ones that take my fancy.

 

I've realised today that I'm causing myself unnecessary stress by overcommitting to group builds (I'm sure I'm not alone in this); not just that, but I'm forcing myself to do subjects just to fit a theme of a given group build (with Spits there's a lot of flexibility in this regard), when often I'd just like to give myself the freedom of the stash. So, inspired in part by @ModelingEdmontonian's Hawker Hurricanes Around The World project, going forward I'm going to try to have all my Spitfires under one roof, as it were, and dip in and out of GBs as and when I feel like it.

 

The Supermarine Spitfire was my first love when I started modelling, first time round, back around 2009. For a while I built nothing but Spits in 1/72 scale. Then I got into some other stuff, took a decade off, came back to it during the lockdown (like you do), did some other stuff and recently came back to Reg Mitchell's finest, albeit in failing-eyesight-friendly 1/48 scale. I've also been enjoying learning more about the rich history of this most iconic of aircraft. 

 

I already have an Eduard Mk Ia in the bag, and at the moment I have the following three builds on the go:

 

Spitfire Mk Vb EN951/RF-D, flown by Squadron Leader Jan Zumbach of 303 (Kościuszko) Squadron during 1941

 

 

A very well-known Polish Spit, actually the third Vb flown by Zumbach bearing a variation of his personal “Donald Duck” artwork.

 

This is the new-tool Airfix kit, which is very decent apart from a very poor gluing join for the wheel oleos. I had glued them on and masked them prior to painting only for them to snap off again. I’ll find a way. This build is OOB apart from the decals which are by Techmod. The only change to the plastic has been the deletion of the wing strengthening strakes. I’m nearly there with this one, it’s my first attempt at some meaningful weathering, so far some wing root wear using drybrushed acrylic paint, an enamel wash and a light oil wash. I’m going to have a go at some chalk weathering next before finishing it off. The WIP to date is here.

 

Spitfire Mk IIa P7308/XR-D, flown by American pilot P/O William “Poppy” Dunn of 71 (Eagle) Squadron, summer 1941

 

 

At a less advanced stage I have this IIa as flown by American pilot P/O William “Poppy” Dunn of 71 (Eagle) Squadron during the summer of 1941. The kit is Eduard’s Ia Overtrees set with a motorised undercarriage unit swiped from a Tamiya Mk I kit and  a Coffman start bulge from an Eduard Mk V kit. I’m using decals from 3D-Kits’ “Rotol Spitfires” sheet; it gives the option of either pre-August 1941 Temperate Land Scheme or post-August 1941 Day Fighter Scheme, proposing that the airframe flew with 71 wearing both colour schemes. For reasons I explored in the WIP I feel this is unlikely, and I’ve decided to go with DFS. It’s a box of bits and pieces at the moment.

 

Seafire Mk IIc MB218/S-A, 809 Naval Air Squadron FAA, HMS Stalker, Operation Avalanche, September 1943

 

 

Finally, this is the Seafire Mk IIc that I’m doing for the Salty Sea Dog GB that I’m hosting (I’m going to continue the GB WIP, of course). This is the Special Hobby kit, which I’ve been finding a bit of a bruiser compared to Airfix and Eduard. I’m building it as a striking shark-mouthed, clipped-wing Seafire that flew from HMS Stalker during the allied landings near the Italian port of Salerno in September 1943. Having lost one of the resin cannon from the kit I’m waiting for some brass replacements to arrive from the big H, then I’ll be able to press on. For the same GB I’ve also planned a Seafire Mk 46 and a Spitfire Mk Vc Trop as flown to Malta off USS Wasp via HMS Eagle, which in my heart of hearts I know I’m unlikely to be able to finish by the end of April, so they may well find their way here.

 

So, there we have it. I'm also going to be a little more disciplined by having one build on the go at any time, rather than serial starting and spinning proverbial plates, so my aim is to firstly drag the Zumbach Vb over the line. We'll see how it goes!

 

 

Thanks for looking in.

 

Tony

Edited February 22, 2023 by TonyOD

[ModelingEdmontonian]

Glad I could inspire. Not my scale, but I can overlook that because sounds like a great project and I like it's ambition!

[TonyOD]

11 hours ago, ModelingEdmontonian said:

sounds like a great project and I like it's ambition!

 

Well, I think it's likely to keep me busy for a few years with my current rate of completion! I will do some different stuff along the way, I have an appointment with a Lanc at some point, and want to have a crack at a couple of 1/35 desert dioramas.

Edited February 23, 2023 by TonyOD

[Roland Pulfrew]

Just the 50??  I love the plan, not least because I keep thinking it would be a nice collection to do.  TBH I’ve done a Mk XIX  and 2 x Mk 22s and I’ve got quite a few marks to do in the stash, in both 48 and 72.  All I need now is some time!!

[Zephyr91]

1 hour ago, TonyOD said:

I've realised today that I'm causing myself unnecessary stress by overcommitting to group builds

This sounds a very sensible appraisal.  Quite often we are our own worst enemies by over-committing and putting undue pressure on ourselves.  Well done for recognising it! 

 

Ambitious project even so.  Although not my scale, I'll be very intrerested to watch how it progresses.  Good luck.

 

Rob

[ModelingEdmontonian]

45 minutes ago, TonyOD said:

Well, I think it's likely to keep me busy for a few years with my current rate of completion!

Yes, I'm already at almost two years with Hawker Hurricanes around the world, and it's only half the a/c and smaller scale than what you're describing! By the way, I have a (less ambitious) Spitfire project of my own that I have yet to introduce, so I'll be watching yours with particular interest as I have no doubt I'll learn a lot!

[TonyOD]

47 minutes ago, Roland Pulfrew said:

Just the 50??

 

Well, it's a nice round number alright 😁

 

19 minutes ago, Zephyr91 said:

This sounds a very sensible appraisal.  Quite often we are our own worst enemies by over-committing and putting undue pressure on ourselves.  Well done for recognising it! 

 

Modelling isn't supposed to be stressful in any way, right? I mean, apart from encounters with the carpet monster...

 

17 minutes ago, ModelingEdmontonian said:

I have a (less ambitious) Spitfire project of my own that I have yet to introduce, so I'll be watching yours with particular interest as I have no doubt I'll learn a lot!

 

Sounds interesting! I'm learning as I go with the Spitfires. I've already built up a small reference library, and there are some knowledgeable folks hereabouts who are happy to share their expertise.

[TonyOD]

Spent a bit of time messing about with chalks to finish off the weathering on the Zumbach Vb. For a first attempt at meaningful weathering, I think I've got it about right and I'm fairly pleased with it. I've topped it off with a matt finish and removed the canopy masks. I have to work out how to stick the legs back on now.

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by TonyOD

[Dunny]

Tony,

 

A great project, and I shall continue to follow with interest,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Luke1199]

I'll follow along with this Tony, got a few Spits in the pipeline so always looking for a little inspiration 😉

[opus999]

Yes, I think you've got the weathering on Zumbach's Spitfire just right!