Thanks to so many for donating bits

[maltadefender]

Well I hope that this model is a good advert for what can be achieved thanks to the friendliness and knowledge available on Britmodeller. After all, I only joined and got back into modelling as a result of surfing in to the discussion on the colours of Malta Spitfires back in the Spring. In the summer I was swapping PM’s on various subjects with Chris (bigbadbadge) and we exchanged some photos I took of the old Imtarfa military hospital in Malta – where he was born – for an Airfix 1/48 Spitfire Vc to use as a base for a ‘Malta blue’ Spit.

There were a few bits missing from the kit, but thanks to Jazzy Jase, BushBrit66, FZ6 and c.smith10 enough odds and sods among their spare sprues and decal sheets were generously donated to complete the build. I made and printed my own serial numbers and the full livery was complete for BR246, a Mk.Vc flown off the HMS Eagle during Operation STYLE on June 7 1942.

Having assembled all these bits together it was time for the build. Having done a lot of weathering since my return to the hobby I wanted to go for a freshly-finished look. Being Malta, this was not something seen often so the only real option was to go for a pre-delivery finish… so I bought a Quickboost 90-gallon slipper tank for a Mk.IX and thanks to markmarples I’ve got an aircraft carrier deck to sit the finished product on.

All that was left was building and painting it. The build was fun – the fuselage kept trying to pull itself apart, and after the wings were added it succeeded! Lots of swearing, filler and repair work later she was vaguely Spit-shaped. I put the flaps down ready for the short and nervy run along the Eagle’s flight deck and the canopy (a combination of Airfix and Tamiya) is open, as were pretty well all those on Spits taking off from carriers.

BR246 was reputedly painted Dark Mediterranean Blue over her desert camouflage while in Gibraltar awaiting the Eagle, with the top colour being ‘wrapped’ around the leading edge of the wing. For that top colour I used a mix of Revell 79 greyish blue with a dash of Extra Dark Sea Grey. The undersides are Azure Blue – which is a bit dark, I think probably a lighter blue-grey was used, but I love Azure Blue and it’s my model so there, see…

I painted desert camouflage on where the roundels and serials would be going using Xtracolor enamels, then once the decals were in place I closed up the gaps a little bit to hopefully give a reasonable look. The spinner is Tamiya Field Blue painted over black, a touch darker than the mix on the upper surfaces (although could stand to be darker I think).

And so finally here’s my Spit, with thanks to everyone for making it happen. I hope it lives up to your contributions.

[wkennerley]

Lovelly build and as you say the friendlyness/generosity of members of BM continues to surprise me -

Wayne

[stevehnz]

I like azure blue too & I think that it looks just great BUT, where're the wooden wedges to hold the flaps half down for take off?

Steve.

[maltadefender]

Ha ha - thanks, Steve! I did toy with the idea of using toothpicks or matches but... ambition got ahead of talent!

[bigbadbadge]

Hi Nick

Looks Fab, great work, I am glad she went to someone who could make good use as I would not have got around to it. Thanks for the photos they are great and provide me with a bit of an insight into my personal history which is great.

Thanks for sharing

All the best

Chris

[maltadefender]

You just need to get something together for the Malta GB now, Chris!!

Thanks a million - best Spit in the fleet for me.

[stevehnz]

I like that as much as any Malta Spitfire I've seen & will happily model one off it one of these days. I reckon it meets the all important TLAR criterium brilliantly, 'cept mine WILL have wedges.

Steve