nickdanger Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 (edited) Box is open ! Will be using the Aces of the Empire sheet for decaling. A little info on the subject: Sgt. Peter Durnford became a handful of RAF pilots to take part in night interception duties in late 1941/early 1942. Painted completely black and omitting serial numbers and wing roundrels, black Spitfire Mk Vs of No. III Squadron, were tasked with the complex mission of seek and destroy missions at night. Using an array of search light techniques, reckoning, and radar communication, pilots hunted for key targets in the dead of night. Unfortunately, the “Smack” technique of intercepting night fighters proved to be terribly challenging. Cockpit parts are in their temporary home: Altoid tin. Just have another dark skinned beauty to finish up. 1/72 Revell SR-71: My first total rescribe job. Lots of work. Edited September 17, 2015 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 If you are doing the black nightfighter scheme do some research on it as you need to add exhaust shields on both sides above and to the rear of the exhausts. It is very easy to do as you just need some thin rectangles of sheet plastic but you need to look at pictures as to size and placement. I did the same machine in 1/72 a few years ago. The plane also had the IFF antennas that ran from the front of the horizontal tail surfaces to the fuselage in the roundel area. again photos help. HTH... Cheers Bruce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 If you are doing the black nightfighter scheme do some research on it as you need to add exhaust shields on both sides.... I've looked through my books and done some Googling but I can't find any pictures of exhaust shields. Do you have any I could use for reference? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 (edited) Just moved and all my stuff is in boxes but they are the same idea as the ones put on Hurricane night fighters and there are probably more references in that regard as there were only a few night Spitfires. If I recall the info I used was in one of the Osprey Spitfire books but can't say which right now. I know some 1/72 Hurricane kits even include them and I may have even used a set of those but can't help as to 1/48. Sorry. P.S. Look at closest Hurricane here: http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/hurricane_87sqn.jpg Designed to shield pilots eyes from flame of exhaust... Edited September 18, 2015 by RCAFFAN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 (edited) Found a good pic using the Google: Thanks for the tip. Like you said, looks like a pretty straightforward mod/scratchbuild. Edited September 20, 2015 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 First batch of cockpit parts preshaded: Concurrent build, put a coat of primer on the Blackbird: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) The picture you found (in post #5) should serve you well although most shields I have seen are just rectangles with right angled corners, not the rounded ones like in you picture but I think that as long as you put the shields on all is good. Note that your picture also shows the IFF antenna wire I mentioned. You can see it coming from the lower right corner across the "F" code letter and into the center of the roundel where it enters the fuselage through the "pimple" to the left of the center red dot. It starts at the outer tip leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer and there is a wire like that on each side. Many plans of earlier Spitfires show these wires but it is nice to actually see them in pictures. They changed to a different IFF system (with small underside antenna) later in the war.IFF would be very important for a Radar operator to tell which was the Fighter when he was guiding it to a target. A nightfighter Spitfire is pretty rare as I believe there was only the one squadron so keep up the good work...... Cheers Bruce Edited September 21, 2015 by RCAFFAN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 I was actually looking forward to the IFF antennae. The last few Spits I've done have been later marks and I didn;t get to do rigging. This one will definitely have some cheese cutters! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 (edited) Good news to simplify your build. Was doing some unpacking and found my model of JU*H. While I remember researching the shield question, I did not correctly remember my findings. JU*H did not have the shields (but did indeed have the IFF antennae) so that simplifies your build. I know that what I built was confirmed by a picture somewhere but I can't say where right now but can say leave the shields off. I think I was remembering wanting to add the shields, not what I actually determined. Plane looks weird with nothing but black wings, except for small red square patches over the outer machine gun openings. Sorry for the confusion but don't think you have gone that far yet. Keep up the good work................ Edited September 22, 2015 by RCAFFAN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted October 13, 2015 Author Share Posted October 13, 2015 (edited) Finished up the Blackbird and so now I'm more focused on the Spitfire. Got the cockpit parts painted And assembled. Decided to use the kit's instrument panel decal. Not the greatest fit but with a little MicroSol and a squeeze, looks ok. Future is drying. Next step will be a quick dirty wash. Quick SR-71 shot for fun Edited October 13, 2015 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted October 18, 2015 Author Share Posted October 18, 2015 Added a quick black wash for depth and assembled the cockpit. Closing up the fuselage soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 Closed up the fuselage and wings Quote Link to post Share on other sites
infofrog Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Nice job . looking forward to see more Rick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Small progress - added guns, underside cowling, and rear control surfaces. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 She's black now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) Futured and ready for decals and weathering: Edited November 25, 2015 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 All decals are on: Might be my record for lowest number of decals on a 1/48 model - 8 total. Especially remarkable since it seems like Spitfire's are usually covered in stencils and such. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted December 4, 2015 Author Share Posted December 4, 2015 Subassemblies complete: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Quick SR-71 shot for fun Very 'atmospheric' photo !!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 @SERNAK - Thanks. There's more here. Since most sunsets are pretty here in Hawai‘i, gotta take advantage. Landing gear on: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Getting close now. Did some medium gray washes for the black and black wash for the wheels.... Pretty much down to a flat finish plus final pastels and I'll call it done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted December 14, 2015 Author Share Posted December 14, 2015 (edited) Forgot about the IFF antennae. Love working with EZ Line. Wow. Just updated my smartphone today. Much better photo quality with the camera now ! Stoked ! Edited December 14, 2015 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 (edited) All done ! Will post other pics to the completed thread Edited December 16, 2015 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 A couple of weeks after my last post here I ended up in the hospital for 7 weeks and missed you finishing this. Took a look at all your pictures today. Very nice job and well done..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.