Eric B. Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Hello A fancy AeroMaster decal sheet attracted me to this nose art adorned Spitfire a few years back. I did not know about this aircraft at the time but a Spitfire with a huge painted lady was a bit surprising. Later on, a newer and even more precisely designed Kitsworls decal sheet increase the interest. I started documented the aircraft, only to find the aircraft was part of long range Spitfire tests mostly conducted at Wright Field (USA) and basically combining an additionnal fuselage tank and underwing P-51 tanks. Release of the splendid Eduard Spitfire Mk.IX models gave me the occasion to revive my project. Pilot was Lt Colonel Gustav Lundquist. Aircraft was equipped with a DF Loop for its flight back to England. That is during the return flight that the aircraft had to belly land in Greenland. Nose art was painting on the field during repair works. Building was straightforward and this was my first out of the bow build in a long time. Model is perfect, easy to build, sharp, accurate and detailed Paints mostly are Gunze and Tamiya. I was missing a few details to build the aircraft as I originally planned (ie with P-51 tanks). I then decided to complete this build without tanks but I hope I will eventually be able to grab additionnal information on specific pylons with plywood brace. I could not find photos of the aircraft with DF loop. I therefore stole a DF loop from a Hasegawa P-51 kit, kept fairing but rebuilt the loop from metal wire. My guess is based on the ground tests being held in the USA, long range navigation equipment may have been adapted from existing stock. And a few daylight photographs!! Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted May 18, 2021 Share Posted May 18, 2021 Holy heck but that's a beaut, especially for the scale! You've more than convinced me, I wish I'd have gone the Eduard route for the only Spitfire I've done.... Superbly done! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Hello Andrew, Thank you dearly, I was not expecting you as a first answer on a Spitfire topic 😃 Seriously, you're right : if one is to build one Spitfire in this scale, it has to be an Eduard kit. It was I very long time I had not used aftermarket on a kit (well bar decals here). Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Eric, I can well believe your testimony based on the build, as at first glance it appears as a 1/48. You're right that I'm not normally a Spitfire builder, although I did one piloted by a Free Dane in honor of my heritage. Also I'm trying to get in here more to appreciate other people's builds, something I haven't done quite enough of in the past. Very glad I did when I did otherwise I might have missed this gem! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Hello Andrew, I am myself more of a "jet" modeller >> US NAVY >> my favorite aircraft still is the F-14... that is where I have so often used the precise information and knowledge that you have shared here. Hence my little words about Spitfires. I do appreciate the kind words of the specialist in aviation that you are. Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Well, you're kind to say....I'm also mostly jet, especially the Tomcat! Have been blessed to have been friends with Brian Plescia (of Fightertown Decals) for 26 years now, and he is by far the most knowledgable expert on Tomcats that I have ever met! Any argument on the subject can be quickly put to rest with a word to him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 I have followed Brian too, and also used his knowledge and decals too... 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Fantastic build and finish, really! I just finished my own Eduard Mk. IXc, only mine was in 1/48. If you'd not written that your build was a 1/72 scale plane, I'd have never noticed it wasn't a 1/48. Great work, sir! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bolschoj Phantome Posted September 23, 2021 Share Posted September 23, 2021 Great job! A beautiful Spitfire! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SakisG Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Excellent built!👍 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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