Eduard 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IXc - Double Build

[doogsatx]

It's rare that I dive into a new kit literally the day I receive it - since I'm usually waiting for aftermarket details, decals and masks to become available (see: Hobby Boss P-61) - but these Spitfires are an exception, since Eduard 1) throws PE, masks and awesome decals into the box and 2) saw fit to launch a few Brassin detail sets alongside the new Spit.



In addition to the ProfiPack boxing, I also picked up an Overtrees (just the sprues), a Brassin cockpit, and Brassin fishtail exhausts. My plan - to see if the resin upgrades are worth it, since, honestly, the kit's plastic is pretty great.

As for markings, I'm planning on these two:

[doogsatx]

I started where one does...cleaning up the resin cockpit. Tedious but not difficult. Eduard paid decent attention to the process of removing the parts from their pour stubs so there's no hacking through miles of resin, but there IS a lot of fine sanding work.



The detail between the plastic and Brassin sidewalls shows off how good the resin looks...



For the plastic cockpit, I found it easier to trap elements between the fuselages and then glue them into the starboard fuselage half.



Base-coated with some black:



Then gone over with thinned Tamiya XF-71 Cockpit Green



More to come...

[doogsatx]

Here're the cockpits more or less complete. I did a terrible job of photographic the journey this time around, both in frequency (hardly ever) and equipment (bench lighting and iPhone vs. photo table and DSLR). But the Spits got the treatment at this point.

The cockpits have been detail painted with Vallejo acrylics and weathered with AK Brown Wash for green.

First up, the plastic cockpit





Now the resin:

[fightnjoe]

interesting. love the side by side comparisons.



joe

[Leon]

That looks awesome Doog.Definitely like the resin pit.

[wbill76]

Very cool to see these two build SBS doogs, keep at it!

[bullardino]

Great job on the office. This is a kit that aroused my curiosity. Probably beacuse of all the hype that eduard was able to generate

[wing_nut]

Am Am I I seeing seeing double double


I heard nice thinghs aboutthis kits and in oyur hand should be a fine show indeed.

[doogsatx]

More!

Got the fuselages and stabilizers joined. The fit is first-rate with the only problem I encountered being the need for some extra pressure just ahead of the cockpit on the OOB Spit.

Eduard has employed the novel idea of making the elevators a single piece, which really helps with aligning the stabilizers.



Also got the gear bay walls installed. This seemed a bit needlessly fussy, but everything fits up nice and tight.





I still need to thin down either the bottom of the resin cockpit or the opposing plastic, since the fuselage is sitting proud by just a bit.



Compared to the OOB build:



While I'm at it, here are two dumb things about the kit.

First up, the spinner backplate. It has a raised disc in the center...WHY? the part it mounts to is flat, so leaving the disc basically means a nasty gap between the spinner and cowl. Shaved that silliness off.



Next up, the exhausts. Eduard's overengineered what could have been a one-part affair (bank of fishtails) into a fiddly four-part assembly. All to give a glimpse of some engine block detail. Which is completely invisible once things are in place. That said, these exhausts are really, really good. The best I've ever seen in 1/48 styrene, in fact. IMO getting the resin set is a waste of time and money.

[ironhand6]

a mans gotta love the spitfire and you are doin her justice doog

[wbill76]

Nice update for the day doogs! That spinner design must be a hold-over from something else...what exactly I can't say but it does seem like it doesn't belong.

[doogsatx]

Apr 30, 2013 20:05:44 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Nice update for the day doogs! That spinner design must be a hold-over from something else...what exactly I can't say but it does seem like it doesn't belong.

Dollars to donuts it has to do with the forthcoming Brassin Merlin...

[Leon]

Nice update doogs.The spits are looking mighty fine.

[venom1]

I love this side by side build Doog! Really helps you to compare the resin goodies vs OOB.

Gotta say, I'm really impressed with the quality of the OOB cockpit, so far in my opinion it really doesn't seem worth it for the extra expense of the resin. Sure there is some improvement in detail, but all in all Eduard have done a great job with the styrene detail. Better watch themselves, if they get much better than this, they will do themselves a disservice, 'cos no one will feel the need to buy their resin updates!!

Lookin' forward to the next update....

Cheers,

Sam

[Rick]

Absolutely gorgeous work!!! Love the Eduard kits. Shaping up to be a pair of masterpieces. Shall be keeping an eye on your progress.
Rick.

[bullardino]

Great progresses on the two british babies

[doogsatx]

Got my shipment of paint yesterday, including some new Gunze Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 in black. Been dying to try this stuff since I first heard about it, and the results did not disappoint! Think this is my new primer of choice.



After the primer was down, I went back with a thinned coat of Tamiya XF-83 Medium Sea Gray for both Spits' gear bays and gear struts. For the one that will be getting the standard camoflage, I also got in the radiator boxes so I won't have to muck with those later in the painting process.



Next up - closing the wings and joining them with the fuselage...

[bbd468]

Hiya Doogs, Outstanding builds my man! Great works!

Gary

[dupes]

It's a twofer!

Those pits look great.

[doogsatx]

More progress last night - got the wings joined up.

[deafpanzer]

They are looking good!!! You are pretty quick now!

[Deleted]

Nice work going on here Doog,I like what's happening,comparison wise.Is it worth getting the extra resin,or do ya reckon you could survive oob? I also noticed you get the choice of tail feathers,and wingtips?

[doogsatx]

Well, until I get slogged down in sanding and cleanup...that'll probably inspire me to up and finish the Snipe!

[doogsatx]

May 2, 2013 14:42:29 GMT -5 @chrisb said:

Nice work going on here Doog,I like what's happening,comparison wise.Is it worth getting the extra resin,or do ya reckon you could survive oob? I also noticed you get the choice of tail feathers,and wingtips?

I wouldn't get the resin. The kit cockpit is very strong OOB (particularly the seat). It could probably stand some scratchwork to add a sense of busyness to the sidewalls, maybe some of the wiring on the control yoke, but that's about it. The kit exhausts are VERY good, the kit wheels are more than fine (and most Spit IXs didn't wear the treaded tires anyway). I'll be super-interested when they release the full exposed Merlin, though...

As for the control surfaces, yes you get your choice of regular or stubbed wingtips, two styles of stabs/elevators and two styles of rudder. I'm guessing those are for the inevitable Mk.IXc "Early". And since only one marking option uses the pointy rudder, I'd say that basically screams that a Mk.VIII, at least, is on the way.

[Deleted]

Must admit Doog,my previous experiences with Eduard kits,they don't normally get too much wrong detail wise,that can be seen,anyway....
Last year I picked up one of their Royal combos of the F6 Hellcat,for an absolute steal!!!!!

[doogsatx]

May 2, 2013 15:07:31 GMT -5 @chrisb said:

Must admit Doog,my previous experiences with Eduard kits,they don't normally get too much wrong detail wise,that can be seen,anyway....
Last year I picked up one of their Royal combos of the F6 Hellcat,for an absolute steal!!!!!

I know their early 1/32 109s had some weird issues (narrow wheels, etc) - in my experience Eduard's biggest failing has been the fussiness of the construction and perhaps an over-addiction to opened panels. The Spit still has some fussiness (the radiator boxes, exhausts and a few other assemblies seem needlessly complicated), but represents a big philosophical change re: open panels. Basically, there aren't any, but provisions have been made for future resin sets. More opt-in versus opt-out, in other words...

More progress last night. Wingtips, ailerons and lower cowls installed. Moving close to the cleanup phase.

[wbill76]

Made a lot of progress on the pair in the last couple of days Doogs, looking good!

[bullardino]

What a nice couple of birds

[fightnjoe]

they both look good.



joe

[bbd468]

Doogs, those Spits look yummy!