Spitfire Mk IX - Eduard 1/48 'Royal Class'

[chris0423]

Well folks, I have finally done it. Mojo has returned with a vengeance!

Part of my renewed enthusiasm for this project, is that this will be a gift for a long and valued friend (which will explain the decal choices, later on in the build).

The kit, it the excellent Eduard ‘Royal Class’ 1/48 Spitfire Mk IX. The kit comes with two complete sets with pre-painted PE and ‘Brassin’ resin wheels and beer kegs. Not being an expert on aeroplane kits, all I can say the detail, engineering and quality is nothing like I have experienced before.

I decided to progress the build as best I could before blogging, as my previous posts have all never been finished, and I didn’t want to add another one to the list.

The instructions are very good, but I did get a little lost in places with the variations for the different options, so there may well be a few accuracy issues, but I am off the opinion...if it looks like a spitfire......it must a be a Spitfire.

Progress to date has the kit sitting primed (last picture) and ready for pre-shading tomorrow and camo on Sunday.

Pit & Side Walls, the dry brushing is not a vivid, just the flash picked it up.


The coloured PE belts where a dream to fit.




Easy Peasy IP.


Door which will be painted up and shown open. PE was a bit of a pain, but I got there in the end.


To me, it looks like a Spitfire.








Tamiya Priner....i hope the masking and sponge have done their job!


As always, all comments welcome, and thanks for dropping by.

Chris.

[wbill76]

Looks good so far Chris! Fingers crossed for you buddy on the masking and sponge, always a delicate balancing act crossed with some special prayers/rituals that it all pays off when you do the reveal!

[bbd468]

Hiya Chris, Got the Ole MOJO back eh....well It sure is payin off! Great build my man.

[Deleted]

WOW!!

[Leon]

Fine looking work on the Spitfire Chris.

[chris0423]

Thanks folks for stopping by & the encouraging comments. It looks like a reasonable day here in Belfast, so I'm off power up the compressor.

Chris.

[Deleted]

Hi Chris, great build of a beautiful Spitfire    Looking forward to the paint and decals 

[deafpanzer]

Cockpit looks lovely! Glad you found your mojo!!!

[chris0423]

Well, I got on reasonably well with the AB. A bit of a disclaimer here, this is the first aeroplane I have ever airbrushed, and only the second subject ever, so I am quite chuffed with progress so far

A bit of pre-shading, first attempt here using model air dark grey on top of Tamiya thin primer.




Underside painted with Lifecolor ‘Medium Sea Gray’


Lifecolor Ocean Gray and RAF Green - I know the paints should have sharp edges, but for the purposes of this project I am happy so far.




Plans today for some 'Kelar' and decals where thwarted when my stock of Klear seems to have been used by Mrs B.

Hopefully some more updates during the week.

Chris.

Chris.

[chris0423]

Hi Dicky,

Thanks for the support. I have to say, I was very impressed with the eduard masks, easliy applied and removed, no leakage and the end result was superb.

Looks like the Mojo is wingy focused, there is a Eduard BF110 (pardon the pub) waiting in the wings !

Beer kegs will get some attention next while i source some Klear.

Chris,

[chris0423]

Sept 22, 2013 16:09:33 GMT -5 @dickyf said:

"

...and I've never pardoned a pub in my life!!!!

Bit of a Freudian slip there, must be all this talk of 'kegs'

Chris.

[wbill76]

Nice work on the pre-shade, you've done a good bit of work here Chris, looking forward to more.

[Deleted]

Some great airbrushin Chris!

[DeafStuG]

Looking Good.

[deafpanzer]

Fantastic paint job!

[fightnjoe]

chris that is neat ab work. she looks very sharp.




joe

[Deleted]

Very nice build Chris, if you can't find the Klear, go for a Tamiya rattle tin of clear gloss, it covers well and nearly always shines like a new pin after one coat 

Don't worry about the demarcation lines in your camo either, there's many pictures showing a soft edge after a month or two in service 

[chris0423]

Thanks chaps for the comments, very much apprecieated Bill, Bruce, Jeremey, Andy, Joe & Steve for stopping by. Got my hands on some Klear and it worked OK,and the steer on the camo Steve.

Progress has been steady, and I'm nearing the end. just have to paint the wheels and U/C and then Im going to call it a day and be happy with it. As this is a gift for a very good friend, I designed up a small base made of two acrylic sheets with a section cut out of the top one. between the two is sandwiched a graphic a made up, using Eduard line drawing of the Spitfire and RAF emblem. the cut out accommodates an Eduard PSP section that will have a little grass on one corner.

Please forgive the decals, these are the initials of my friend, so its not entirely accurate.

JonP from Progressive Engineering deserves a shot out, once again he has done an absolutley great job in cutting the perspex sheets. mm perfect as usual.

well, here is some pictures.







Thanks again for stopping by.

Chris.

[wbill76]

Nice! I'm sure your buddy will appreciate the 'personal' touch that went into the markings.

[fightnjoe]

your friend is a lucky person. incredible work.




joe

[thug626]

Hello Chris,
It's always good to see someones mojo come back. It certainly came back with a vengeance here. You should certainly be proud of this one. 2nd or 200th build....this is one to place out front on the shelf.

Dave

[Deleted]

Great result, love the base too, superb idea 

[danb.]

That is superb Chris i have many a time nearly bought this kit at shows after some raving reviews you have nailed it buddy the base is amazing too nice to see something new and fresh and not the standard black wooden base looking forward to the next build

Dan B

[Rick]

Chris, awesome work all the way around. Your attention to detail is phenomenal. Hope this result keeps the mojo in high gear.
Rick

[venom1]

Great to see the mojo has returned with a vengeance Chris, and what better way to release it than to build a wingy!!

Fantastic job mate, especially as it's the first plane you have ever airbrushed!!

If I may make a suggestion for the future? Not sure how many wingys you have built, but I would advise leaving off the undercarriage until it is all painted and ready to install, for a number of reasons.

1) It stops it getting knocked off during handling (ask me how I know....)
2) It is much easier to mask up the underside of the fuselage when the gear bays are a different colour to the aircraft underside (ask me how I know...)
3) It will be MUCH easier to paint and weather the gear when you paint the gear strut, wheel and door separately and assemble them all at the end (ask me how I know...)

Lessons hard learned my friend!!

Ennyweigh, a small matter, and one I'm sure you will overcome wi'owt too much strife! Fantastic job buddy!!

Cheers,

Sam

[Leon]

Fantastic work on the Spit and base Chris.One to be proud of and your friend should really like it.

[chris0423]

Hi folks, great support from the MSC as usual, thanks for dropping by Dicky, Bill, Joe, Dave, Steve, Dan, Rick, Sam & Leon. Sam, thanks for the guidance, I certainly learned the perils of leaving the UC on !, but hey ho…a bit of CA and onwards and upwards !

Well time to call a day on this one, it was handed over yesterday and it was very well received. I great motivator indeed. Here are some pictures of the final product, I gave it a wash and put on some whisky barrels.











Thanks again chaps for stopping by and all the kind words.

Chris.

[Deleted]

Chris,a great finish on this beauty,and well displayed.I bet the recipient was well chuffed,eh?

[DeafStuG]

Chris - Awesome, Great work, Jameson whisky barrel fill the our shot glasses       lol - cheers up  

[wbill76]

Nice touch adding the 'beer truck' barrels!