ICM 1/48 SPITFIRE HF.VII, Child of Doom ***FINISHED***

[stikpusher]

When talking on another forum about my current Spitfire Mk.XIVe project, it came up that I had this long sidelined ICM Spifire HF.VII languishing partially built on my "Shelf of Doom" (actually a cabinet). I then pulled it out for a look, dusted everything off, and realized I had it fairly close to reasonably assembled...



So I decided to resume construction, first adding the upper wing surfaces and allowing those to dry overnite



Then the next morning I added the remainder of most of the external parts such as wingtips, ailerons, horizontal stabilizers, rudders, and a few other bits here and there...



Now I've gotten it to the point of where I have to repair what was damaged when I last sidelined it, the motor mounts. The ICM Spitfire kits are notorious for the cowling not fitting around the included engine, and I was addressing that area when the damage occurred and I sent it off to the shelf of doom prior to my last move. Now I have some new ideas to fix that damage... Stay tuned for more updates on this one...

[406 Silverado]

I’m looking forward to seeing the recovery efforts Carlos. This looks like a great kit to build!

[stikpusher]

Thanks Joe. I have a couple more ICM Spitfires in my stash. My learning experience from this particular build is that if you want to close it up, do not install the kit motor. I just is not gonna happen due to engineering. I tried and tried...

[406 Silverado]

Jul 22, 2023 14:06:41 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Thanks Joe. I have a couple more ICM Spitfires in my stash. My learning experience from this particular build is that if you want to close it up, do not install the kit motor. I just is not gonna happen due to engineering. I tried and tried...

It's kind of like the Eduard 190 line up. The engine is actually part of the building process.

[buddho]

Nice, clean build so far...looking forward to seeing the next steps!

[stikpusher]

Joe, I have heard that about the original Eduard 190's They pretty much force the builder to have it displayed all opened up.

Buddho, thanks. I need to do a bit of gap filling on the latest parts added.... there are some minor gaps at the wing roots and tips to address. I just don't want to lose any of the recessed detail while doing so.

[Joe Rix]

Sweet recovery project Stik. I’m not familiar with the ICM Spits so, that good info from you. How old are the molds? It will be fun to watch where you take this one.

[406 Silverado]

Jul 22, 2023 14:18:10 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Joe, I have heard that about the original Eduard 190's They pretty much force the builder to have it displayed all opened up.

Buddho, thanks. I need to do a bit of gap filling on the latest parts added.... there are some minor gaps at the wing roots and tips to address. I just don't want to lose any of the recessed detail while doing so.

If you like builds all opened up, they are the PERFECT kit. I'll never forget when I saw the Squadron flyer in 06 with one on the cover. I bought one the next day. Beautiful kit.

[TJ]

Jul 22, 2023 14:31:28 GMT -5 Joe Rix said:

Sweet recovery project Stik. I’m not familiar with the ICM Spits so, that good info from you. How old are the molds? It will be fun to watch where you take this one.

Joe the molds are from the early 2000's  but those original kits were rough. Lots of sink marks rough edges etc

[stikpusher]

Jul 26, 2023 6:45:30 GMT -5 TJ said:

Jul 22, 2023 14:31:28 GMT -5 Joe Rix said:

Sweet recovery project Stik. I’m not familiar with the ICM Spits so, that good info from you. How old are the molds? It will be fun to watch where you take this one.

Joe the molds are from the early 2000's  but those original kits were rough. Lots of sink marks rough edges etc

Not on mine. The trailing edges are sharp. A few sink marks on the rear of the propeller blades, but no others I can think of so far. The biggest problem is the cowling over the engine. You can not built the engine and install it inside the closed cowling. Great for opened up display though.

[TJ]

Stik I had a couple way back when. There were horrible sink marks in front of the ailerons on both wings

[stikpusher]

Jul 26, 2023 12:52:13 GMT -5 TJ said:

Stik I had a couple way back when. There were horrible sink marks in front of the ailerons on both wings

I bought mine way back around then... they were comparably cheap and quite affordable when ICM first arrived here in the US...   Started this one back in '11 or '12 at the latest... And it had sat in my stash probably for several years before then...

[stikpusher]

While I wait for things to dry on my Academy Mk.XIVe Spit, I have also been working on this Child of Doom, and gotten it to the point where I have started to get paint on. I made up a custom mix of PRU Blue using Tamiya Medium Blue and Light Blue in an approx. 80/20 ratio.



I need to get the undersides masked off and then I can airbrush on the upper surfaces in Medium Sea Grey for the High Altitude scheme worn by most mk.VIIs.



more to come soon in the next few days...

[kyledehart5]

Great work! Always nice to recover something from the shelf of doom and get it on its way to completion!

[stikpusher]

Thank you Kyle. This won't quite be what I envisioned when I started it, but at least it will get finished and off the shelf of doom.

[armornutii]

   Intresting about fitting the motor Carlos. Glad ya saved this from the shelf. Looking forward to seeing it done.
    Airfix has the same issue with the 24th Typhoon, a good friend buikt one up and noticed that you could not install the engine AND cowls...one or the other. Wonder why some companies do that?

[stikpusher]

Yeah, I wondered about that fit myself. It's a shame too, as it is a very nice motor in the kit. I guess they were off a bit in the thickness dimensions, as it is so close. The two other ICM kits that have motors, Yak-7 and Mig-3 had minimal fit issues. None with the Yak, and just a small bit for the top cowl of the Mig that I thinned down with a grinding bit in my Dremel.

I hadn't heard about the fit problem with the Airfix 1/24 Typhoon. That is not a cheap kit, so I'd be a bit peeved to find that issue. I have a couple more ICM Spits in my stash, so I can build at least one with no motor and a fully closed cowling, and perhaps one with all of the cowling panels removed and the engine fully exposed.

[kyledehart5]

I love it when they’re all opened up to show off all the dirty spaces. That would be awesome. It does look like a nice powerplant sticking out of your cowling on this one.

[stikpusher]

Sept 25, 2023 22:41:32 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

I love it when they’re all opened up to show off all the dirty spaces. That would be awesome. It does look like a nice powerplant sticking out of your cowling on this one.

I didn't used to like that sort of thing, but now I do. This kit can be opened up quite nicely, with the wing cannon bays, cockpit side hatch, and full engine cowlings able to be built in open configuration. One of the other ICM Spits in my stash will get built with all that stuff opened up and where I can get stupid plumbing the engine...

But for now, my focus is on finishing this one and my Academy Mk.XIVe. I can dream about the others for now.

[jeaton01]

I have a bunch of these (9) as well, Carlos. There are giant sink marks in the middle of the instrument panel on many of them, and some had large sink marks around the tail wheel. They were so cheap at one time, I think I got some for $2.00, I just scrap the worst ones for parts for the better ones. I did put a spreader in the fuselage and that gave me good wing fit.

Here is a Mk XVI I finished, it is a favorite of mine. They look very accurate to me.

[handiabled]

Carlos I look forward to seeing your fix for the mounts. You know me, if an engine cowling can be opened I'll do it as well.


John- Beautiful looking Spitfire!

[stikpusher]

John, they do look good when built! Your Mk.XVI is a great example of that- beautiful! I need to look for one of those! And yes, I picked up two when they were dirt cheap. got another one as a freebie in a batch later on.

Brent, the final look will be about what it is now, cowling half on and half off. Even just having the top or both sides on just is too fidgety at this point... But yeah, the idea of having all the engine panels off is growing.... At least now I know what headaches are involved in going that route.

[stikpusher]

I got the topside color airbrushed on today. Humbrol Acrylic Medium Sea Grey

[mrt51]

Looking good Stik!

[stikpusher]

Thanks T. it sure looks way better than it did languishing on the shelf of doom for all those years...

[buddho]

Moving right along...thank goodness it made it off the shelf of doom!

[stikpusher]

Sept 27, 2023 22:37:22 GMT -5 buddho said:

Moving right along...thank goodness it made it off the shelf of doom!

Yes indeed! Just needed a little motivation and focus... 

[406 Silverado]

These ICM kits really pack a wallup when it comes to the details. This is building up to be quite the Spitfire Carlos and I'm glad you were able to rescue it from the cabinet and start work on it again.

[deafpanzer]

How can I miss this? Dig those tipped wings and you are making it look pretty good so far!

[handiabled]

Looks great from here!