ThatJeffGuy Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Just a quick post to kick-off the build. This will be OOB except for the decals from Kagero The kit The refs :cheers:/>/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
geedubelyer Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Ooh!...nice :wub: I'm not sure I've seen one of these being built so I hope you are able to take plenty of progress pics along the way. I'd like to see how this one comes together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Looking forward to seeing this one! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Ooh!...nice :wub:/> I'm not sure I've seen one of these being built so I hope you are able to take plenty of progress pics along the way. I'd like to see how this one comes together. :foof:/> Me too. I've heard a lot about the kit, but haven't seen an in-progress yet. We'll cheer you on if you post lots of pics! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Thanks for looking in guys! I've done a little bit over the last couple of days. Here's the IP and rudder pedals. The call-out in the sheet is for XF-16 (Aluminum) for all of the pedal assembly. The AeroDetail book disagrees but I wimped out and went for the sheet lol :cheers:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Jeff, Ooh yummy :wub: :wub: Looks like I'm gonna be to be enjoying this one. . hoo. Good start on the rudder and the instrument panel. I like your reference books Very tidy, neat work.good luck. Will be back for more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Holy smokes! I swear I can study those engine instruments and learn the limitations for Merlin engine operation... Are those the kit parts? Decals included for those instruments? ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 ALF..yes kit decals. If you look really close I screwed up the compass decal. They all have a millimeter or so of carrier film that makes lining them up a little contentious. I keep thinking I should whip out the Waldron punch'n die set and individually punch just the dial out.....but I'm lazy and it might cause more problems than it solves :) The sandwich layout is front panel -> clear part with raised disks -> then the decal. So it's not like some of the acetate setups you see on some kits. The clear part fits nicely into a recessed area on the back of the IP. BTW Sorry to see the problems with the 104 :( I see you were thinking of trying Lacquer Thinner to strip it.....I would avoid that as the L/T will eat the plastic. If you want to try something that's (almost) as strong but easier on the plastic get a hold of some Mr. Color Thinner. It can be used to dissolve putty for paper-less sanding too. Great stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted February 22, 2013 Author Share Posted February 22, 2013 Things are moving along quickly for the spit so I thought it was time for an update. The various internal pieces were painted and ready to assemble but I thought I would dry-fit everything first. So this series of pictures is kinda in reverse order :)/> Starting with everything (taped) together. The cockpit has not been weathered and the gun-sight and seat-belts are missing Good old Tamiya fit. I only have to fill a couple of spots where I was a little too agressive trimming sprue gates :doh:/> More of the same The marks on the fuel tank were self-inflicted. I sprayed the internal frame colour first and then thought I could blu-tac the frame and spray the aluminum....but the blu-Tac stuck a little too well and I had a hell of time cleaning it off. The up-shot is this piece will not be visible so it doesn't matter A shot with the starboard side-wall removed The (un-weathered) side-walls And finally the whole sha-bang put together with the gun-sight, belts and a quick dry-brush So the fuselage halves will be joined tonight as I'm following the sheet assembly sequence. Thanks for looking in :cheers:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr B Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 Nice choice and nice work.....i am tempted to get one myself.....real cool looking aircraft....but the price and the waiting time from stash to table always makes me put the box back...maybe after seeing yours complete it my push me over the top rgds mr b Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I'm really liking this kit, and the great job you're doing on it. One day I definitely will do one of these. Thanks for the tip about the lacquer thinner eating the plastic. I have started sanding down the black paint again, and will not be proceeding with the Alclad finish on that 104. It will end up overall green, with a black nose, to hide some of the surface blemishes I caused. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted February 24, 2013 Author Share Posted February 24, 2013 Progress this weekend. Fuse buttoned up, wings assembled without a hitch and wings and LG attached This kit is a hoot to build. Everything fits like a glove and they even give you extra screws in case you lose one (almost did) The other neat thing is the underwing intakes....they look identical on on the sprue but for the heck of it I swapped them around to see if there was a difference. Sure enough they didn't quite fit in the opposite side. I started second-guessing which was which until I looked closely at the parts and they each had an R or L scribed into the plastic by Tamiya. Anyway...on to engine assembly. Weird doing that towards the end Thanks for checking in :cheers:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmthamade Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I've never seen this kit. I do like this version of the Spitfire, bubble canopy, engine bulges, clipped wings, wide tail... I'm tempted to get this kit, in 25+ years i've never built a Spit. Great progress. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spokane-Modeller Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Fantastic Build and excellent Detail for sure!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Thanks guys...you're too kind! Don...no bulges it's a Merlin 266. The engine built in the US under license by the Packard Motor Co. The rest of the airframe is essentially a Mk IX with a low-back for the bubble. The Mk XVI was used because the difference in the metric (UK) and Imperial (US) measurement and assembly and small differences in the supercharger plumbing made it impossible to use the 2 powerplants interchangably Here's the update for today. Packard-built Merlin is assembled and weathered and installed in its cradle thanks for checking in :cheers:/>/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted March 2, 2013 Author Share Posted March 2, 2013 On to painting the rest of the ship Tamiya fine white primer (love this stuff) for those who are not believers in TFW it levels even when you think you prayed it too thick and it shows where your mistakes are. I had a little divot on the dorsal area that popped right out but after a re-putty/re-prime it's all good I went ahead and painted the leading edge yellow ID bands with Humbrol Insignia Yellow. I'll mask these off ahead of doing the other top colours. It's easier than trying to put yellow over the camo later on Up next is a spray of Alclad Duraluminum along panel lines and high-traffic areas. Then I'll splatter some Maskol on top along panel lines and wear-points. This plane was one of the first delivered to 127 Wing and they operated from some pretty dirty strips. The only operational photo I have (from Spitfire - The Canadians) shows it pretty dusty and beat up. So that's what I'm going with here :)/>/>/> It's not going to be all shiny like the one (with the wrong serial) in Mike Potter's collection. Late in 1945 Spitfires on the continent had their Sky spinners pained black and the Sky tail-bands over-painted (according to the Kagero publication). The spinner on this plane was black but it wasn't surface-prepped properly (we all know about that...right guys :)/>/>) so I'll have a black spinner with Sky paint chips (flakes!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Sir, That is exceptional detailing on the engine.{ I love engines }. She is coming along very neatly and nicely and I am SO impressed by the details, Your tenacity and had work has paid off. Looking forward to the end results .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 (edited) Thanks Holmes :cheers:/>/>/> Here's an update with the progress so far. After masking the leading edge ID stripes I sprayed Alclad Duraluminum and pre-shaded with WEM RLM66 (I find black a little to stark). Since I'm using the Tamiya camo colours issued for their Spitfire family I will be able to do some realistic chip and wear patterns by (gently) removing the acrylic Tamiya paints from the base Alclad Tonight I laid down the bottom colour (Tamiya XF83 - Medium Sea Grey) And here's an example of the wear'n tear on the prop. This is Alclad over-sprayed with Tamiya X18 and then the black removed from the leading edges and a bit on the air-foil of the prop. Thanks for looking in Edited March 6, 2013 by ThatJeffGuy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 And here's an example of the wear'n tear on the prop. This is Alclad over-sprayed with Tamiya X18 and then the black removed from the leading edges and a bit on the air-foil of the prop. Thanks for looking in Great looking spit so far Jeff. The scheme is one I am very fond of! but...I hate to break it to you but the prop is a little wrong. It would never weather like that since the blades on the Spitfire were(and still are) a wood core covered in a fiberglass like material. you can actually see the broken blades in these pics it is a minor detail that most modelers miss. my first two or three spits are done up the same as yours!! Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 Thanks for the tip Sean. Did not know that. I assumed the props were metal. I'll schedule it for a quick re-paint Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caughtinthemiddle Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Hi Jeff, Nice progress, thank you for choosing markings from MiniTopcolors. Good luck, Maciej Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 Here's another update. Top camo colours shot and engine dry-fitted The cowl pieces are a little fiddly....I think I remember reading a while back there are fit issues. It might get better once the Merlin is properly anchored And the prop got re-coated in black. I'll simulate wear with a dry-brush of something in a tan range :cheers:/>/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThatJeffGuy Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Ok...the pitot went on tonight so this thing must be done :)/> Most of my stash is 1/32 so I'll probably build something else for the GB...maybe the ZM Ta-152 Thanks for following along :cheers:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Nice she turned out great Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Nice job, Jeff. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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