Spitfire Revell 1/72-Revival

[PATRICK FROM THE SANDS]

Hi there! 

Continuing my effort to revamp 15-year old kits built for my son, I gave up (temporarily) to restore the Airfix Storch, facing a problem with the canopy. Waiting for the solution to come to my mind, I did the Revell Spitfire MkV released on the market in 1996. If the engraved panels are absolutely awesome, the kit is plagued by a major issue with is a flat belly where it should be in a "gull wing" shape. This error was later corrected in the next kit versions. Other flaws are an appalling propeller and cone, a too flat upper cowling, and, logically at that scale a very thick one piece canopy.

So I have corrected these problems with a lot of putty, scratch built the whole cockpit and put an aftermarket Falcon canopy (superb) and a correct propeller. Decals come from an old Berna set, "Free French on Spitfire" but the code letters seem to me oversized..My machine belonged to WCdr Rene Mouchotte, 340 Sqn "Ile de France". Of course, as I am not a WW2 British fighter specialist, the result has certainly some mistakes.

However I had fun resurrecting this old lady, here are the photos, the Spitfire experts are most welcome for critics! 

 

The puzzle:

 

 

The resurrection:

 

 

 

 

 

...and the little dio: I added a Brockhouse 900gal fuel bowser close to my Spitfire, which was not a brilliant idea. This bowser is from "DJ Parkins", (well known for aircraft ladders) and is a mix of resin, white metal and photo edge parts. The whole stuff is very basic and wrong, difficult to build: The shape of the tank is too ovoid and I had to sctrachbuilt the whole chassis with Evergreen. From that bad experience, I gave-up building the Fordson tractor included. The colors are hypothetic, I had difficulties to find photos or reference about this bowser, where its little version (the 450gal) are more easy to find. No decals are provided. 

For the price paid (21 pounds), very disappointing and a waist of time. 

 

 

 

Thats it! Thank you for watching! 

 

[Sky Keg]

Very nice Patrick.  

 

Mike

[jean]

Splendid rebuild!

Congrats.

 

JR

[Mynimal]

Well done. 

[gaputz]

brilliant restoration.

[Dave Klaatu]

Nice job bringing it back to life!

[Mig88]

That's an amazing recovery indeed. The end result is superb. Bravo!

 

Miguel

[bigbadbadge]

What a cracking restoration job, looks absolutely stunning.

Chris

[PATRICK FROM THE SANDS]

Thank you for your kind words! I have corrected two mistakes since this posting, thanks to some comments of some Spitfire experts: The antenna wiring which disappeared from beg. 1942 (transition from HF to VHF) and the door bar, which should not be red but interior green or metallic color.  

 

Just an additional photo to show the belly, which I tried to rectify to reflect the famous "gull wing" aspect with a lot of Tamiya putty and sanding:

 

[kitchentable]

Really nice and I get what inspires you.  I have rebuilt a number of models my son made, including just recently a HMS Daring kit, posted on BM.  A few years ago I rebuilt a 1950’s issue Revell Hurricane that I built as a lad 50 years ago.  This hobby is about turning something unworthy (box of injection moulded bits or a less than perfect previous attempt) into a satisfying new state, via a satisfying process.  I very rarely go out and buy kits; I build from my son’s stash (he retired from the art) or do rebuilds of past attempts.  

I’m building an old 1970s Spit right now, and I have a previously completed version of it from a build in 1978.  It will be nice to compare the two when done.  I have improved skills somewhat.

 

Again, that is a very good finished article you have and the weathering is spot on.

 

kitchentable

[MACALAIN]

Well done Patrick.

 

Alain

[PATRICK FROM THE SANDS]

5 hours ago, kitchentable said:

Really nice and I get what inspires you.  I have rebuilt a number of models my son made, including just recently a HMS Daring kit, posted on BM.  A few years ago I rebuilt a 1950’s issue Revell Hurricane that I built as a lad 50 years ago.  This hobby is about turning something unworthy (box of injection moulded bits or a less than perfect previous attempt) into a satisfying new state, via a satisfying process.  I very rarely go out and buy kits; I build from my son’s stash (he retired from the art) or do rebuilds of past attempts.  

I’m building an old 1970s Spit right now, and I have a previously completed version of it from a build in 1978.  It will be nice to compare the two when done.  I have improved skills somewhat.

 

Again, that is a very good finished article you have and the weathering is spot on.

 

kitchentable

Hi Kitchentable! I completely agree with you, what I like in this hobby are the different approaches to it, from the quest of the "perfect kit on the market" to restoring or building old models, which brings you to some form of nostalgia...but as you rightly say, via a satisfying process and, at the end of the day, the most important is that everybody finds his own fun, whatever building a brand new kit freshly released or doing something different. 

 

Thank you for you kind words and comments! 

[georgeusa]

I do so like your reconstructions of past models built and how well you bring them back to life and correct the flaws of the old kits.  Another great job on this Spitfire.  Thanks for sharing.

[PATRICK FROM THE SANDS]

Thanks to the kind remarks of some Spitfire experts, I have corrected three mistakes: removal of the HF antenna wire, change of color of the door bar and addition of the IFF antenna wires each side of the fuselage:

 

[kapam]

You certainly like a challenge! 

Looking at the "puzzle", I think I would have thrown it in the bin and bought a new kit.

Having said that, what you have done with this is amazing, and I admire your skill and determination.

Fantastic work!  👋👋👋