My First Eduard ProfiPack - Spitfire Mk. VIII

[SecurityCodeRed]

Ok , yet another Spitfire, but a Mk., Model and Manufacturer that I'v not tried before.

 

 

 Going to make this one think.  Will make a change from RAF colours

 

 

Already made a start...  and found my favorite new tool... 

 

 

This kit comes with far more comprehensive photoetch than I've used before..  i didn't find superglue very much fun.... but this is a game changer ..for me anyway

 

 

Already enjoying the kit... more complicated than the Tamiya Mk. I

[Biggles87]

The Eduard Spitfires are very nice, the cockpits are probably the best ‘ from the box ‘ of any of the 1/48 Spitfires.

If you are tempted to get a one piece upper cowling, stay away from the Brassin version, it doesn’t fit. Your best bet is either Barracuda or Ultracast.

 

John

[Karearea]

Great start- the VIII is easily my favourite mark of Spitfire.

 

I’ll have to find some of that photoetch glue, I still have an absolutely torrid time trying to glue down etch with superglue. Is it a PVA type formulation or something else entirely?

[SecurityCodeRed]

5 hours ago, Karearea said:

I’ll have to find some of that photoetch glue, I still have an absolutely torrid time trying to glue down etch with superglue. Is it a PVA type formulation or something else entirely?

Here is a link:     https://deluxematerials.co.uk/products/photo-etch-glue-25g

 

I was just online looking for a fine applicating cyanoacrylate type glue and this popped up ... thought i'd give it a go... my local shop didn't have any ...so it was ebay i got the best deal... and came the very next day!  can't complain about that....

 

so  far very easy to use ...  not as harsh as the CA glues. goes tacky quick.....but easy to wipe away with water.   so maybe some sort of pva glue .... not really sure. i thought it was worth the punt.  

 

[2996 Victor]

A very nice start on this kit - your work on the cockpit is  excellent. As John says, the Eduard kits are the best OOB but a few extra details really like the cabling/piping you've added on the IP frame really make a difference.

 

Thanks for the link to the PE glue - I really struggle with PE and CA glue. Deluxe Materials make some great products (no connection, just a satisfied customer) so I'll definitely give that a go!

 

Looking forward to your next update.

Mark

[alt-92]

Nice touch on the pipe work on the left hand side of the IP bulkhead.

 

14 hours ago, Karearea said:

I still have an absolutely torrid time trying to glue down etch with superglue. 

Your average hardware store superglue tends to be a fast-setting one, but you can get slow setting CA from the likes of VMS that give you more time to push pieces in their place. Or different glue types like Deluxe.

 

 

 

[SecurityCodeRed]

Some time later.........

 

i'm not rushing it but does seem to be going together quite well,  well apart from one bit , but we'll get to that later.

 

 

Not much of a seam at all....

 

Lets start the wings ... already added the wheel wells.  If you think my spraying of silver looks a bot odd... there is a reason to my madness.   see below.

 

 

 

Not Bright   -> bright 🔆 

 

 

 

So the issue.....  oh why oh why ... did they make the top engine cowling in two parts?   it wasn't was it?     i have F...    Buggered up one .... luckly there is another ..from what i can see, identical on the sprue, so i'll give it another go ...  

 

 

oh well ... thats it for today.....

 

[bigbadbadge]

Great start on this one, the Eduard kit is nice  I built my first Eduard Spitfire a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. Looking good so far, it is odd that they did a two piece upper engine cowl.

Chris

 

[Biggles87]

The other thing I forgot to mention is that Eduard have the wings with rivets ( divots? ) showing on the leading edges whereas they were filled and smoothed ( as on the P-51 ) from leading edge up to the main spar line. If you already knew that  ignore this post. 😁

 

John

[2996 Victor]

2 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

The other thing I forgot to mention is that Eduard have the wings with rivets ( divots? ) showing on the leading edges whereas they were filled and smoothed ( as on the P-51 ) from leading edge up to the main spar line. If you already knew that  ignore this post. 😁

 

John

Something I always forget! Thanks for the timely reminder. 

 

Cheers, 

Mark 

[stever219]

2 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

The other thing I forgot to mention is that Eduard have the wings with rivets ( divots? ) showing on the leading edges whereas they were filled and smoothed ( as on the P-51 ) from leading edge up to the main spar line. If you already knew that  ignore this post. 😁

 

John

Thanks for that; I have a plethora of Eduard's 1/48th Spitfires that I'd forget to do that on.

[SecurityCodeRed]

Another day passes.....

Got so into just building I almost to forgot to document it! 

 

The build and fit ..just as good as Tamiya i think.

 

Wings on

 

 

 

Tail Fin and Rudder... and Elevators with classic drop.... and no need to cut anything

 

Replacement Engine Cowling on and much better fit.  Fitted the exhausts and the cowling in two pieces one at a time ... seemed to work better than gluing them together first

 

 

That will do for today..... Thanks for the comments so far. Any advice, you know its welcome.

[SecurityCodeRed]

Radiators on .... 

and Rear Identification light.  

and extra bit sprayed...........

 

 Canopy attached and masked ready for some Primer

 

Quick coat of interior green for the canopy frame

 

On 29/11/2024 at 14:26, Biggles87 said:

The other thing I forgot to mention is that Eduard have the wings with rivets ( divots? ) showing on the leading edges whereas they were filled and smoothed ( as on the P-51 ) from leading edge up to the main spar line. If you already knew that  ignore this post. 😁

 

John

 

You think i should go a bit heavier with the primer on the leading edge to fill the holes?  ... like they did for real?...  want to try and get an authentic look. but obviously dont want to fill in too much detail.

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2024 by SecurityCodeRed

[Biggles87]

I used Halfords acrylic grey primer on my last one, and sprayed it on just the leading edge and rubbed it down until just the rivets were showing, then when you spray an overall coat of primer this should leave you with just a faint impression of the leading edge rivets. I use Halfords because it settles nicely into the moulded detail and rubs down quite easily but any decent acrylic primer should do.

 

John

[bigbadbadge]

Coming along very well,  I brush paint so had to use good old PPP on mine for the leading edge rivets.

 

Chris

 

[Keeff]

Wow! This is progressing well and you're doing a great job! 

 

Like you, I'm building my first Eduard Spit ... but a IXc, so feel that front cowling pain! 

 

Keep up the good work! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[SecurityCodeRed]

14 hours ago, Keeff said:

Like you, I'm building my first Eduard Spit ... but a IXc, so feel that front cowling pain! 

 

Its a fun build, the cowling... ummm ... has come out ok ... if given a bit of attention... pretty much hidden seam now

 

 

 

 Wings after one coat.... i will give it a little gentle rub down and apply another ... hopefully gets rid of the flecks of dust.

 

 

Thats it for another day....

[Rob G]

On 11/29/2024 at 4:42 AM, SecurityCodeRed said:

luckily there is another ..from what i can see, identical on the sprue, so i'll give it another go ...  

 

I believe that there are subtle shape differences between the 2 upper cowlings to reflect changes between different marks. I cannot recollect what changes, or what marks, but the info's on BM somewhere (iirc).

 

Most onlookers will neither know nor notice, so you'll be golden.

[Christer A]

I think there are minuscule differences between the XVI cowl and the VIII/IX cowl. I think it's related to the Packard Merlin being slightly different.

 

I usually just blu-tack the cowl in place and glue it after painting. This way, it's possible to install the exhausts after main painting which helps a bit...

 

It's a lovely RAAF Spit you got there though!

[SecurityCodeRed]

Hi Chaps,

and thanks for the continued interest. 

 

22 hours ago, Rob G said:

I believe that there are subtle shape differences between the 2 upper cowlings to reflect changes between different marks. I cannot recollect what changes, or what marks, but the info's on BM somewhere (iirc).

 

 

13 hours ago, Christer A said:

I think there are minuscule differences between the XVI cowl and the VIII/IX cowl. I think it's related to the Packard Merlin being slightly different.

 

 

I put them next to each other on the bench...even counted the rivets... i could not see a difference.  i have cleaned up my first attempt ...because you never know when you might need a spare engine cowling! 

I'll take a photo ....after i prime them and lets see if other eyes are better than mine. I'm not going to worry about it. it fits ... still looks like a Spitfire.

 

Peter  

 

Edited December 4, 2024 by SecurityCodeRed

[SecurityCodeRed]

 

 

Dont think there is much in it .... 🤓   

[Christer A]

I agree, the difference is really minute! (and I can't see it either)

But there are for sure Spitfire Boffins who will insist that the bulge is different, and Eduard being Eduard went that route. 😇

 

Still: you managed the hard part which is to eliminate that seam!

[SecurityCodeRed]

While I had the paints out for the Beaufighter I could not resist doing a bit more on this Spitfire, not much, but enough to say it's not forgotten.

 

Just a quick pre--shading, first time I have done it .... looking now, not sure it's enough but didn't want to overdo it.  I'll start with a very fine coat of XF-82 (Sea Gray) and see how we go.

 

 

 

 

 

[Wince]

Looks great and this build has me thinking that first off the 1/72 is a scaled down version of this kit and secondly, I should build my kit!

 

Will stick with you til the end on this one

[SecurityCodeRed]

Its languished long enough on the "don't forget me shelf"

 

 

Since the painting for this RAAF spitfire requires an overpainted effect...  thought I'd do exactly that. rather than mix up paint which I thought was more of a pain.

 

A quick mask for the old roundels and a blast of RAF blue

 

 

Notice a bit of Masking Sol over the aluminum, think this is my preferred way of wear and tear now.

 

Then a blast of RAF Ocean Grey

 

Then for the fun part, never used Masking Putty before...

 

 

Looks like I have gone mad with the Marmite... 

 

 

and the reveal...

Can just about see the old RAF Roundels still.

 

After a quick rub down with an old toothbrush.

 

I wanted quite a used and abused look....  tick

 

Till next time... thanks for comments and suggestions as always.

 

Peter