Supermarine Spitfire Mk1b

[newpapajack]

Hi guys,
Haven't done a build thread before so thought I try one. Few weeks ago I bought this:

Going to do the alternate scheme of 'QJ-B' in 92 Squadron, 1940.

Also bought an Eduard Zoom photoetch set as not tried it before. Will see how it goes.

[newpapajack]

So far built up the cockpit parts, removing bits as necessary for the photoetch including the small door hatch, and a small bit of scratch building to add a bit more interest - seat cover and a bit of extra wiring.


Started to add a bit of colour and pick out the details...



Loving the detail in the Eduard photoetch set! Instrument panel done, just needs sealing in after a dirty wash. Think the extra wiring helps out.

[ManCupboardModels]

Looking gooood!

[newpapajack]

Finished making and painting up the cockpit - light clear coat then a dirty wash of Ultimate's 'dark dirt' no less, so now ready for the fuselage to go together. Excellent photoetch from Eduard, more detail than I expected and very enjoyable to build with. Will definitely be using photoetch more often .

[Willem]

Looking very tasty. Lovely details for that scale.

[e4rly1982]

Looks good, I'll be following along.

[Nige201980]

Great work on the cockpit mate love the detail in there.

[trekfanj]

Great work so far, Jack!

[newpapajack]

Hi guys thanks for all your comments. Glad you're liking the progress so far

Small update today. So I've buttoned up the fuselage, filled and re-scribed. Trial fitted the front canopy section and it's thankfully a great fit.




Added a bit more cockpit detailing such as the missing harness which extends beyond the rear bulkhead to the fuselage framework - I just used some tamiya tape glued in place and painted to match the existing harness colour. Also added a transparent gunsight made from a small piece of sprue bag and a bit more detail to the rear framework- this probably won't be seen very well with the canopy in place but may pick up a bit so I thought it worthwhile and sorted the cockpit door/hatch.
Fitted the wings and stabilisers too.

[patrickroos]

Fantastic work on the cockpit, hard to believe its 1/72!!!

[Joesdad]

Lovely work Jack
I did this kit a couple of years back, it's a lovely kit.
That cockpit's great btw....

[newpapajack]

Thought i'd do another update on the spitfire and run through to the finish seeing as its now finished.

Finished the building part ages ago - i replaced the guns with brass rod, fitted the exterior photo etch bits, cut off the centre section of the main canopy section so i could display it open, and built up the under carriage, prop etc. Unfortunately i don't have many pictures of this bit.





Did a little fine tuning with Mr.Surfacer, primed and started painting. This is where it all went wrong...

[newpapajack]

First try - primed beautifully and pre-shading all great. I decided to use vallejo model air's for this one and their recommend RAF colours. Painted the underside no problems, lovely. Laid down the green, went waay too heavy and lost the pre-shading. Nevermind, masked off anyway, i even made my own tape masks.





No more pics from then on but basically the brown went down waay to thick also and i had a massive step where the masking was. Also i have to say the recommended Vallejo colours were miles off mark, i even had to go back and double check the numbers. So i had a bad paint job with bad colours.

Experimented taking the paint off and ended up using Mr.Color Levelling thinner. Rubbed away gently with cotton buds and paper towels and took it back to plastic very nicely.

Second try i splurged the primer and scratched it purely from not being careful enough, stripped it back again. Undeterred i tried again, again.

Third try - took more time and sprayed a light coat of primer, pre-shaded roughly and sorted the underside again using vallejo's 'Sky', as i liked it before. However for the camo i reverted back to humbrol's classic dark earth and green, i think these colours are pretty good. also reverted back to the white worm camo masking technique. easy.







after a couple of little touch-ups and rub over the enamels to knock them back a bit and thin it all out, i Klear'd it to seal it all in. third time lucky

learned a LOT though through these mistakes so i wasn't completely mojo-less afterwards.

[newpapajack]

Gloss coated and decal'd. I ended up rubbing down the gloss coat and applying another few coats to get a super smooth finish.

Decided in the end to not use the Tamiya decals as they looked very thick. I bought a Techmod decal sheet with another aircraft of 92 squadron, QJ-F, so would have flown alongside my original idea of QJ-B. These decals from Techmod were difficult to apply to say the least, incredibly thin and very easily folded up, after they'd folded they were impossible to separate. Fortunately the ones that went bad were replaceable so no worries. Didn't even need Microsol at all and to be honest probably didn't need even Microset. Lovely clarity, great colours and nicely opaque though.



Sealed all in with a good 2 coats of Humbrol's Satin Cote. This stuff is superb. Perfectly smooth finish and great to apply. Nicer than Alclad's Matte Kote in my opinion.




Then onto the first stage of weathering -

Dark dirt wash on top and light dirt mixed with concrete for the black underside.

Next a selection of Ultimate washes left out to dry up completely, what remains is a superfine powder i use as pigments - a tip picked up from Making Models Again man Gary. Thanks Gary

Using a chopped brush i gently rubbed the pigments into the panels, highlighting centres and darkening along the lines. Its a very subtle effect built up with a few passes. The effect change is almost invisible until you compare the before and after.





Tweaked around a bit more, added light staining around fuel caps, radiator, hatches etc, bit of light chipping, gun and exhaust stains, unmasked the canopy , added the antenna wire, fitted all the other bits n whatnot, and i'm done!

Finished article here: http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=15717

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looking very good indeed
I had to look up the black underside wing paint scheme as not seen that before
It is at the top of this page, apparently for antiaircraft recognition
http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/spitmark.htm

[newpapajack]

Interesting, thanks for that Scott