nickdanger Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 (edited) Been waiting to start this kit for years ! Box is packed with sprues, PE, Decals, magnets, masks....top notch quality. Surface detail looks fantastic I bought the Aces of the Empire decal set in 1/32. While I'd like to try the Mk. VII - number 2 above - scheme that mixes PRU underside with D-Day invasion stripes and grey/green day fighter, I'd hate to lose being able to look inside with the sealed up VII door.... Edited June 7, 2016 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grandboof Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Off again looks like another great build Martin H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 Cockpit parts are preshaded. Been a bit slow off of the blocks due to hectic work schedule and airbrush failure. Went to the graphics supply store today so should be up and running this evening. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 Airbrush is back up and running. Painted most of the interior green parts: Started in on the detail panting and reverse mounted decals for the instrument panel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 Incremental progress on cockpit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 On a bit of a stay-cation so getting extra time in on modeling. Added some future to cockpit parts and banged out some detail painting. Especially happy with the metal bands on the oxygen bottles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grandboof Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Nice detail work Martin H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 (edited) Thanks Martin. Cockpit is just about ready to go together (just dry-fitted in the pics). I'm thinking this will be a "factory fresh" build but nevertheless I'll do a oil wash to bring out some shadows before I assemble. Got the PE harness painted so next up will be picking out details and installing Edited June 16, 2016 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tomcat Tweeker Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Lookin' Good! Just love the way the newer big scale Tamiya planes look and go together! Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 20, 2016 Author Share Posted June 20, 2016 @Tomcat - Tell me about it. What an insanely great kit. Painted the belt details but didn't install yet. First did a quick shadow wash on the cockpit parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grandboof Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 That's one great instrument panel Nice work Martin H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 21, 2016 Author Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) Wow, I'm loving this kit. Really top notch engineering makes it a super detailed yet very straightforward build. Cockpit completes: Edited June 21, 2016 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tomcat Tweeker Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Man that looks good! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 Shame to hide all that awesome detail but next step is closing up the fuselage: Just completed the first step that includes ploy-caps which allows the final model to be flexibly displayed. Really speaks to the top-notch engineering that Tamiya built into this kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 23, 2016 Author Share Posted June 23, 2016 The vertical stabilizer is poseable due to some interior metal parts and fancy engineering. Not too tricky but delicate work nevertheless. Makes for a nice look when added to the fuselage Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K5054NZ Posted June 26, 2016 Share Posted June 26, 2016 Gorgeous. I've just finished building the big Mosquito and it was like a dream, a Spitfire is next on my list. Keep up the great work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 28, 2016 Author Share Posted June 28, 2016 More axles and PE hinges for the horizontal stabilizers: Hanging nicely: Gear bays in progress: Painted: Wings are coming together Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted June 29, 2016 Author Share Posted June 29, 2016 (edited) It's time to cross the wing root hurdle. These are just dry fit pictures but I can say that hands down this kit is the best fit of any Spitfire at any scale that I've done. I've built them in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 and done Airfix, Academy, Tamiya, Hasegawa, ICM, Hobbyboss, and Eduard. Look at that wing root join ! No rubber bands or weights or clamps Even the underside join (which can be treacherous) is bang on (sorry - little out of focus) Love this kit. Yes it's pricey but wow, the quality just shines through. Edited June 30, 2016 by nickdanger spelings Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted July 1, 2016 Author Share Posted July 1, 2016 Time to begin the Merlin: A model in itself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grandboof Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 Easy to see why your loving this kit Great work Martin H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted July 4, 2016 Author Share Posted July 4, 2016 (edited) Some subassembly construction before painting In the spray booth Building the parts up With a little detail painting and future for gloss Starting to look like a Merlin Edited July 4, 2016 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted July 10, 2016 Author Share Posted July 10, 2016 Engine is just about done. What amazing engineering. Some people will add wiring but for me that would be gilding the lily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grandboof Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 WOW that's one awesome engine Martin H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 Been banging out some of the smaller detail parts: Time for overall painting. Not unlike the Eduard kit, if you follow the instructions you need to mask the exhaust stacks during the overall painting. As such I decided to only install the engine temporarily so that I could leave off the exhausts. To hold the cowling on I just stuffed some Uhu-tac (or blue tac to some) in the front. For this build I'll be trying something new to me. Rather than the classic and much debated preshade I've primed in all black and will go with more of post-shading and mottling. Before: During: After: Yeah. Kind looks like the original gray of the plastic but it is RAF light sea grey. So glad that Tamiya came out with the exact colors in coordination with the release of this kit. Now if they would just make a proper RAF cockpit green.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nickdanger Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) Started in on the upper side camo I've taken to freehanding the first color and then going section by section for the final dark color. Good first step. The cowlings will be a trick though Edited August 3, 2016 by nickdanger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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