LetLetLet ~ Warplanes

Let Let Let - Warplanes => Aircraft Modeling => Topic started by: Second Air Force on September 09, 2013, 06:31:59 AM

Title: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 09, 2013, 06:31:59 AM
Last week I was tempted to purchase this Airfix Spitfire kit, with hopes that it might be as enjoyable to build as the Bf 109E they produce.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/EduardSpitfire6002_zpsb0787e5e.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/EduardSpitfire6002_zpsb0787e5e.jpg.html)

After spending some time with this model, I found that this is not quite as much fun as the Emil....... The surface engraving and basic details are nice but the trailing edges of the wings and tail surfaces are quite thick. It isn't that hard to thin these by filing and sanding, so all is not lost. I spent a few hours (waiting on the clear gloss to dry on the Eduard Mk.IX project ;)) fitting the wing sections together and thinning the flaps also. Next was to do the same to the rudder until it was thinned to a proper dimension. Next was to do a bit of cockpit painting. The transparent parts of this kit are really quite thick and it was decided to build it with the canopy closed, so detail inside is somewhat basic:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/EduardSpit8001_zps827dd124.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/EduardSpit8001_zps827dd124.jpg.html)

More will happen on this one as time permits!
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: No.1 on September 09, 2013, 07:27:15 AM
Two blade propeller!!! This will be great to watch :-ok
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 09, 2013, 04:09:29 PM
I've always wanted to build a two-blade early Spitfire. This one will be strictly out-of-box but I'd like to try the Tamiya Mk.I at a later time with full details.
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: zetman on September 12, 2013, 11:39:17 PM
Although its poorly detail as an airfix kit,I have to admit that I love these vintage wings...
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 13, 2013, 03:23:26 PM
Yes, you're right about that--it needs LOTS of help to be 100% correct, but I've wanted to try one of these for some time now. In some ways it reminds me of working with vacuform (thick trailing edges and such) but I'm still having fun bashing it together. I'll eventually try the Tamiya Mk.1 also just for the fun of it.
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: draken35 on September 13, 2013, 10:09:50 PM
Nice! :-ok
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 14, 2013, 02:43:56 PM
Here is one of the modifications that must be done to correct the outline on this kit. The bottom of the vertical fin-fairing is too sloping as you can see by the marked line. I used drawings and the other Spitfire in the background to make my line, then used the Dremel tool and files to blend the shape to correct form:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Dogfight91413001_zpse9024b9e.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Dogfight91413001_zpse9024b9e.jpg.html)

After accomplishing this reshaping and doing some work at the nose I assembled all the principal parts into one:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Dogfight91413006_zps40450f62.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/Dogfight91413006_zps40450f62.jpg.html)

Though this one takes some filler and sanding I'm still enjoying the build. Soon it will be time for first primer and more work!
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: No.1 on September 14, 2013, 02:57:55 PM
I did not expect such a mistake on Spitfire
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: draken35 on September 14, 2013, 03:10:00 PM
Excellent work for correction!
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 14, 2013, 03:15:46 PM
I did some reading and there are quite a lot of little things that need work on this one. Also, and it surprised me a little, the same contributors had many issues with the Tamiya Mk.I, too. The Spitfire and Bf 109 are so well-documented that purists can always find things wrong if the model-maker doesn't get everything right.

In my case I wanted to build one of these for the experience of doing it and not so much to correct all the flaws, so I'm still having fun with it. I would like to combine the best of all worlds and build an accurate Mk.I someday by kitbashing several manufacturer's kits.
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 15, 2013, 04:47:43 AM
The first coat of primer was applied to the seams and joints, then a small amount of filler where I missed spots:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/SACSept004_zps33fa4bd3.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/SACSept004_zps33fa4bd3.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: draken35 on September 15, 2013, 11:48:10 AM
Coming nicely!
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 20, 2013, 10:58:25 PM
Last night I spent a bit of time cutting out and applying the masks for this machine:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpit1001_zps5e30c019.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpit1001_zps5e30c019.jpg.html)

And dark green applied:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpit1002_zpsdf2ade6f.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpit1002_zpsdf2ade6f.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: No.1 on September 20, 2013, 11:18:15 PM
Good work :))
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: draken35 on September 21, 2013, 11:21:16 AM
Excellent!
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Tweety on September 21, 2013, 07:15:05 PM
So sweet !!!  :-obey :-obey :-obey :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-clap :-clap :-clap :-ok :-ok :-ok
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 23, 2013, 08:20:06 PM
Here is the Airfix "practice" build. I must say, even though this is a very basic kit with some issues to correct (thick trailing edges, ill-fitting flaps etc.) I still enjoyed building it just for the fun of doing so! This also gave me another training session with the paper masks and Blue-Tack masking method and I've learned some new things there as well. About the only addition I made to this was the two-tube pitot mast that was common to the earliest Spitfires.

The model represents the 11th production Spitfire in the colors of 19 Squadron. The decals are straight from the box and went on wonderfully with some Micro Sol. The kit is actually worth the price just to get the decal sheet for other projects, in my opinion.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpitandHCP35001_zps8efdc049.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpitandHCP35001_zps8efdc049.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpitandHCP35012_zps5dcc0fc5.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpitandHCP35012_zps5dcc0fc5.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpitandHCP35009_zps012b03f8.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpitandHCP35009_zps012b03f8.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpitandHCP35008_zps65fdb0a2.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpitandHCP35008_zps65fdb0a2.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpitandHCP35004_zpsb5db976a.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpitandHCP35004_zpsb5db976a.jpg.html)

And a photo of one of the earliest Spitfire and one of the first Bf 109s, just for fun!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AirfixSpitandHCP35015_zpsda8c8174.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/AirfixSpitandHCP35015_zpsda8c8174.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: draken35 on September 23, 2013, 09:17:39 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: No.1 on September 23, 2013, 10:19:51 PM
Beautiful :-ok :-clap
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on September 23, 2013, 10:27:57 PM
Thank you!  :-flo

Next Mk.1 will (most likely) be a Tamiya kit with full detail. I have the Eduard cockpit set already and will study this machine much more fully before starting again. I did enjoy putting this one together as a start.
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: No.1 on September 24, 2013, 06:20:12 AM
This will be great pleasure mate :))
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Tweety on September 25, 2013, 09:16:57 PM
  :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-jump :-salut :-salut :-obey :-obey :-obey
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Akinator98 on October 17, 2013, 10:06:42 PM
Good work!!!
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Akinator98 on October 19, 2013, 09:26:06 PM
How long You make the masks?
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Second Air Force on October 19, 2013, 09:33:11 PM
How long You make the masks?

I came across the masks on this website: http://www.yolo.net/~jeaton/mymodels/spitfire/templates/SpitTemp.html
I've used them twice now and they work really well. They take a little tweaking to get a good fit where the fuselage meets the wings but it's worth the effort.
Title: Re: Airfix Spitfire Mk.I 1/48
Post by: Akinator98 on October 19, 2013, 10:34:36 PM
Than You for information!!!