Soviet Spitfire Mk Vb WIP

[andreww]

Ive started on a Tamiya Mk Vb Spitfire in 1:48. I am debating using a CMK Merlin engine, might not. I've installed a CMK radio bay and control surfaces, Eduard PE in the office. I have a set of AML decals in the mail to mark this out as a Soviet lend / lease.  I am also debating installing Eduard landing flaps. Ive started around it with my RB Productions riveter.

[deafpanzer]

The first image didn't appear unless you click on it but I was able to add it here. But I can't fix the second link.



To post images, you can use the tool bar and click on 'Insert Image' button. Then go to your Postimage host site and right click on the image that you want to share. A text box will appear and click on 'Copy Image Address' and you need to catch that data. Then come back here to paste the data on 'Insert Image' box so the image will appear here.

Hope it helps... I will tag you in the thread here how to post images too.

[handiabled]

To add to this I would also suggest changing the image resolution to 640x480 as this will make the image larger on the forum post and more viewable. If you need help just reach out for assistance, we would love to see your work.  HTH

[andreww]

Thank you both Handiabled and Deafpanzer, I followed to that post and was finally able to get an image to insert! Much appreciated!  I've spent this morning, in addition to walking dogs in the cold, cleaning up resin castings for the 20 mm Hispano and 7 mm cannons for the port wing.  Seeing how much surgery I'll have to do, and if I have any structure left to use my etch landing flaps, if I omit those, or if I can add styrene structure somehow...

[deafpanzer]

Jan 20, 2024 16:28:59 GMT -5 andreww said:

Thank you both Handiabled and Deafpanzer, I followed to that post and was finally able to get an image to insert! Much appreciated!

Anytime… glad it helped! Looking forward to follow your process here.

[kyledehart5]

I shall watch! Who doesn’t love a spit!?

[andreww]

Today involved removing the stiffeners on the wings, putting where I got a little 'aggressive' with the file, black primer to check my filling work, more putty and more sanding, and finally a result I was happy with. Then, because I am creating rivets over the aircraft, marking the wheel rounds on the upper wings and painstaking drilling with a pin vice and #80 drill bit to represent the rivets. I have been measuring, removing internal stiffeners, measuring again, test fitting and generally fretting lots before I commit to removing plastic for the Hispano 20 mm and 7mm guns.  I took the internal wheel round back a bit, enough to fit the resin insert, and removed the port lower wing stiffening rib.  CMK rudder glued on, with a slight kick to Port on purpose.  CMK elevators attached to the stabilizers - this was my biggest frustration - they are both port elevators in the kit   in terms of that little trim tab actuator.  Really nice rib tape detail on the CMK gear, but I had to file, sand, saw the little actuator tab from the original Tamiya elevator and attach it to the CMK elevator which I'm using to correct the lack of Tamiya detail.  Bah!!!!

[handiabled]

Bookmarked this! Your efforts look wonderful so far. You would think AM resin would have their act together so it wouldn't have to be modified.

[406 Silverado]

Looks like you've got the picture posting down pat now Andrew. Some good progress on this one bud. I've never seen a Spitfire in Russian markings before so this should be interesting to follow.

[andreww]

The resin kit instructions look extremely simple, but test fits bulge the wing chord about 1/8". I am trying to figure out if the resin inserts will protrude through the wing top, in which case I likely have a non issue, or if the wings need thinning, in which case they'll have to be paper thin. This is the marking I've found that I am aiming for: 

[jeaton01]

I'd bin those resin wing inserts if they are so oversize they won't fit just by trimming resin. That ain't right!

[andreww]

Yeah, thinking of not using them and doing the deployed landing flaps (PE) instead. The instructions are lacking, so I'm not sure I'm trying to fit them right. Thinking of taking some styrene sheet and doing some dummy fits and measurement before I give up completely, would be nice to expose the armaments

[406 Silverado]

Jan 20, 2024 20:26:36 GMT -5 andreww said:

Today involved removing the stiffeners on the wings, putting where I got a little 'aggressive' with the file, black primer to check my filling work, more putty and more sanding, and finally a result I was happy with. Then, because I am creating rivets over the aircraft, marking the wheel rounds on the upper wings and painstaking drilling with a pin vice and #80 drill bit to represent the rivets. I have been measuring, removing internal stiffeners, measuring again, test fitting and generally fretting lots before I commit to removing plastic for the Hispano 20 mm and 7mm guns.  I took the internal wheel round back a bit, enough to fit the resin insert, and removed the port lower wing stiffening rib.  CMK rudder glued on, with a slight kick to Port on purpose.  CMK elevators attached to the stabilizers - this was my biggest frustration - they are both port elevators in the kit   in terms of that little trim tab actuator.  Really nice rib tape detail on the CMK gear, but I had to file, sand, saw the little actuator tab from the original Tamiya elevator and attach it to the CMK elevator which I'm using to correct the lack of Tamiya detail.  Bah!!!!

 I COMPLETELY get where you're coming from on this. Sometimes I wonder at all the research that goes into these kits and everything that everyone has to go through to get it all right and then to have something like this show up. That's not to mention the cost of the kits these days. lol

However....it looks like you found your way around the issue and are moving forward in good fashion with it. 

[andreww]

I'm preparing to bugger off to work for a month, but figured out my 20 mm hispano cannon issue. The entire kit is for a B wing, but cannon has a magazine on top typical to the cannon in a C wing. So, possibly a rather easy fix with the razor saw in trimming off the magazine and watching the provided wing bulge fit, magazine not protrude through where it shouldn't. A little more sanding and filing and I was able to get the wing to almost fully close, with a 0.5 mm gap at the trailing edge. I think with a whisper of pressure and some Plast I Weld it will close up with the cannon insert installed. I'll have to wait to get home in February to find out. In the mean time, off to dry dock a boat.

[andreww]

I've had a little more time at it, a big life change, and managed to get the CMK cannons inserted in 2 points, a 20 mm Hispano and a 7mm cannon. I inserted Master brass Hispano farings, and even got a layer of primer shot, and started with some medium sea grey on the underside.  A rough mask to 'paint out' the RAF roundels and keep it looking applied in the field.  CMK control surfaces and a bit of styrene card to represent the attachment points.  Lots of Eduard photo etch along the way..

[kyledehart5]

Nice progress. Moving along well.

[406 Silverado]

Dude you’re really putting a lot into this build and it shows. Great to see you back on the swing of things Andrew!

[handiabled]

It's great to see both you and this back again! That's some wonderful progress you have made

[lyle]

Quite nice. I don't think I've ever seen one done up in Soviet markings.

[andreww]

Today was a big paint day, starting with RAF dark green. Black based, some highlights, a thin top layer and a touch of unaltered paint as a post shade. Then after dinner, cut some masks and start some highlighting with a mix of light grey and ocean grey, again a thin top coat, and a hint of post shade with ocean grey and Nato black. Tough to black base that second color and I didn't want to lose the location of highlights in my green, I want the streaking and shade to carry through both colors. Tomorrow I see a lot more grey paint in my future.

[andreww]

Lyle,

I like finding rare and unusual subjects if I can.  This seemed to fit that bill.

[Tojo72]

Going to be nice,love those different markings.

[handiabled]

Your modulated camo paint work looks wonderful!

[andreww]

As planned, this morning was spent wrapping up the ocean grey paint and gently lifting masking tape. I've been shooting Vallejo's model air for years, bit have recently started playing with their mediums, specifically the gloss medium. It adds transparency to my top coat for modulating the color, and adds a bit of gloss texture to the paint, which I'm hoping means I need less layers for decals and washes.

[kyledehart5]

Nice work!! That camo looks super sharp!!

[jeaton01]

Nice indeed!

[TJ]

Great work on the paint.

[406 Silverado]

That paint job really is smokin' hot andreww! Your masking efforts and patience paid off big time. Like you, I've been playing around with Vallejo's Mediums on the last couple of aircraft jobs that I've done and they do help out quite a bit. I've used MM acrylic gloss clear for years but this stuff is a smidgen better than MM's. 

[lyle]

So beautifully done.

[andreww]

Thank you all very much for the encouraging words!! So far it's been fun, and a great community to share this with. Now I'm down to painting 'fiddley bits' and hopefully shooting some Aqua Gloss in the next day or three.