Finished: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc

[406 Silverado]

Jan 30, 2024 3:04:36 GMT -5 Golikell said:

stikpusher  Steve Zuleski Thanks guys... 

406 Silverado  You got that beating part nearly right: I tried to see if the engine could be coaxed so that the plates would fit, which ended with a great crunch! Not only did the engine mount break, but also several ducts and the mounting frames for the cowling plates were broken and twisted... I managed to get it all in place again, but had to extend one of the engine mount frames with evergreen to get it all to fit. Of course on the side I left open!

Of course it is always with these things that it won't be noticed until so many steps further in the build that dry fitting it pointless  as it cannot be seen in an earlier phase... 

  Yeesh!! I hate those "crunchy" sounds that late in a build. Looking forward to the continued recovery process Erwin. 

[Golikell]

The recovery actually has been completed, now it is going forward again...

[lyle]

Excellent work. Great looking cockpit, and, well...all over. way to go on getting the cowling pieces back in line.

[stikpusher]

Jan 30, 2024 7:32:59 GMT -5 Golikell said:

The recovery actually has been completed, now it is going forward again...

Well, at least you can fix it... unlike the 1/48 ICM Spitfire kits. 

[Golikell]

lyle Thanks... The cockpit was enhanced using the Quita studios set... Makes a huge difference... 


stikpusher Are they that bad? 

[406 Silverado]

Jan 30, 2024 7:32:59 GMT -5 Golikell said:

The recovery actually has been completed, now it is going forward again...

 Looking forward to the next update Erwin. 

[robbo]

I left all my engine on show, seems such a shame to cover it up

[stikpusher]

Jan 31, 2024 2:35:10 GMT -5 Golikell said:

lyle Thanks... The cockpit was enhanced using the Quita studios set... Makes a huge difference... 


stikpusher Are they that bad? 

Erwin, in and of themselves, the kits are pretty nice. But they have a full engine like this one, and if you install the engine, the cowling parts will not fit properly around it.

[Golikell]

I know this from the Hellcat and Typhoon kits, but in this case they do... An extra frame to fit the plates is included...

[deafpanzer]

That was a great save to fix!!!

[lyle]

Jan 30, 2024 7:32:59 GMT -5 Golikell said:

The recovery actually has been completed, now it is going forward again...

Good news, indeed.

[paddy]

The problem with the cowls is...your engine is pointing up a bit so basically you need to get the bottom of the mountings down. I think i needed to shave a little off the supercharger air intake to allow the engine to sit down at its base a bit

[Golikell]

Well, that's basically what it came down to... The problem is that you won't notice this until it's too late as there are so many steps in between...

Yesterday I put on the base colours. After some correction (bleeding and not enough coverage in other places) this is the result. Enough work to do (specially the markings, as I have chosen to use the 1menarmy stencils, which will be my first time in using stencils), but I will be getting there..

[brandonk]

Very nice work and great save. I'm sorry I missed this before now, but better late that never.

[Steve Zuleski]

Great pattern, looks like you and Paddy are doing a team build, HA! Fine work, Erwin!

[Golikell]

Thanks guys.
I noticed some time ago that all the RAF planes of a particular type (say all Typhoons or all Spitfires with the later grey and green camouflage) has the same camouflage pattern. They must have used templates for this, which makes sense in a mass production process.
Airfix faithfully reproduced the pattern on the paint instructions so I did my best to to get it right on my model.

[jeaton01]

They definitely did have templates, set by the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP). I have made masks for several based on them.

goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/spitfire/templates/SpitTemp.html

goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/hurricane/1hurricane/0291hurricane.html

goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/hurricane/1hurricane/0301hurricane.html

[paddy]

The templates were rubber matts laid on the wing etc . they could be left or right handed

You can see here this is the same pattern but reversed

[kyledehart5]

Fascinating. I learn something here nearly every day.

[Golikell]

Very useful information indeed! It is always nice to see ones own thesis confirmed and that the work I put in it was not in vain...

[Medicman71]

Great work on fixing the cowling!

[Golikell]

Spit hasn't come to a standstill, but progress is very slow. I am using the 1manarmy templates for all the markings, but this is quite tedious and not easy to use.
Not sure if I will use them in the future... 
The roundels and fin flashes are on now. "Only" the letters and assorted stencils are left to done.

[handiabled]

The markings look fantastic! The build I am doing currently I picked up the One Man Army mask set for as well. How are they to work with? The stencil masks look like the printed detail is super crisp.

[Golikell]

I had quite a hard time getting this done,. There was some heavy bleeding to be corrected.
The roundel parts are rather difficult to position....
And they’re on the fuselage and lower wings ate through several layers of paint and into the plastic? Never had this with modelling paint! I used MRP paint for this colour…

[handiabled]

Mar 8, 2024 9:16:38 GMT -5 Golikell said:

I had quite a hard time getting this done,. There was some heavy bleeding to be corrected.
The roundel parts are rather difficult to position....
And they’re on the fuselage and lower wings ate through several layers of paint and into the plastic? Never had this with modelling paint! I used MRP paint for this colour…

Yikes !!   I can believe getting the roundels placed was a hassle. I'm still on my vast supply of MM enamels I've used them forever so I know how they behave. I've never really dealt with lacquers so the issue you experienced sounds as mystifying to me as yourself. I imagine it would have to have something to do with the thinner used to have that kind of reaction?

[Golikell]

I didn't thin the paint as it is very thin by itself.

[keavdog]

Awesome work!!!

[Golikell]

Thank you so much Kevin...
Awesome find, that picture!

[keavdog]

Ha! From Ford VS Ferrari.

[Golikell]

Annnnnnd... My Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk I is ready. It was quite a challenge but I managed to get it ready in time.
You all read about my mishaps with the engine. After correcting it I went ahead and nearly completed it. Then I lost both navigation lights! Airfix was so kind to send me new ones. To add insult to injury, the pitot tube decided to go on a permanent holiday! I had to recreate one, as it kept nagging me that it was missing.
The kit was enhanced by Quinta set for the cockpit and radio. Since it is a pity to hide the radio I detailed and opened the radio hatch.
Instead of the decals for the exterior I used 1manarmy stencils. This is no easy task but looks good...
Here are the results...