Airfix 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk1a

[Lysion]

Time for my first build thread. I will start off with an easy kit built out of the box!

It is the Airfix Supermarine Spitfire Mk1a in 1/72 scale.


It gives you the choice of building one aircraft that is displayed on the backside of the box, namely the a plane from the No 610 Squadron, No 13 Group stationed at the RAF Biggin Hill in July 1940. You also find the paint callouts here, Humbrol of course. One of the annoying things is that they only write the numbers of the paintsto be used, and not the name of the paints. So you have to do some research of that first.


They also provide two decal sheets. The instructions are unclear why they do this. The thing that is different between the two sheets is two different instrument panel-decals, and the color of the identification decal on the side of the fuselage. If someone could explain this to a beginner like me, I would be grateful


The instructions are except of a proper paint list and decal instruction quite clear and easy to understand.


The sprues comes in one bag, and inside the bag there is a small bag with the clear parts consists of the windshield.


The sprues looks nicely molded with fine engraved panel lines. Although the panel lines looks quite deep. There are no flash and no ejector pin marks, except inside the cockpit where the instrumental panel should be placed. The parts seems to have oils left from the molding procedure so a rinse in water and some soap should fix that.
.

Overall it seems like a nice kit, and hopefully it goes together as easy as it look.

[Lee]

At least that's the new tool version. I have the old tool 1a and it's horrendous...lol

[Paul]

This is the one ive built and its a great little kit.

Good luck, look forward to seeing it come together.

[Nige201980]

what are the colours you need mate and ill have a look for the name for you if you'd would like.
looks a great little kit though.

[Paul]

If you look at the bottom of the box back, it tells you the name of the paint colours at the bottom

[Nige201980]

cheers paul did see that but not that clear on my phone.

9-Tan
11-silver
24-yellow
29-dark earth
33-black
53-gunmetal
61-flesh
78-cockpit green
90-beige green
104-oxford blue
163-dark green

hope this helps mate.

[Lysion]

Thanks for the comments. Here is my progress so far.
The cockpit consisted of six parts. Here are five of them, the sixth is some sort of tubes that goes behind the seat.


Here it is all glued together:


the cockpit got airbrushed with a mixture of Tamiya XF5:1 + XF21:3 + XF-65:1.


I highlighted the edges of the cockpit with some of the base coat mixed with yellow.


After painting some the sparse details on the cockpit sides, the seat and tubes. Glossing the entire thing for a wash and instrumental panel decal. It now looks something like this:


Next up is a coat of flat varnish. Then gluing together the fuselage halves. Thanks for reading.

[bullgill67]

coming along nicely

michael

[T3hGuppy]

Looks like this is coming together nicely so far.

[Johni044]

Progressing nicely, with regard the decals, Aitfix release the same kit as a starter set with brush glue and paint, these kits normally have a simplified decal sheet included, it could be the smaller one has been put in by mistake.

I'd use the large sheet.

[Lysion]

Progressing nicely, with regard the decals, Aitfix release the same kit as a starter set with brush glue and paint, these kits normally have a simplified decal sheet included, it could be the smaller one has been put in by mistake.

I'd use the large sheet.

Aha, maybe that is the case. The callouts in the instructions are for the larger sheet so that is what I am using. The other sheet goes into the spare box

[Lysion]

So after laying some putty on some of the seams, I found that the propeller had a huge gap. Probably me who didnt position it good enough. So I cut it with a knife and re-positioned it. Here is a before/after pic:



After sanding down the putty, and glueing the last parts.I primed the model with Vallejos Surface Primer Grey.



This is actually the first time I've used putty and primer. So it was interesting to see what it would show. While the primer layed down beautiful and even it showed some seams.



I had actually been worried about this particular place. But when feeling with my nail it felt smooth, but it was obviously not.
More luck on the underside where the seam is gone:



Since the recommendation I got here a while ago is to let the primer cure at least three days before sanding it. I will not be able to do anything more on this model before the weekend.

[Gav0909]

Yeah for sure with that primer you need to leave it a while before sanding it, otherwise it peels.

Good effort so far, and as was mentioned I would go with the proper decal sheet. The smaller one might well have been placed there by accident from the starter set. Nothing bad with having spare decals though!

[Maketci]

Hi Lysion;
Be careful. Decals been produced with the same error, so oversize !
Sample :






Regards,
Maketci.

[Lysion]

Yeah for sure with that primer you need to leave it a while before sanding it, otherwise it peels.

Good effort so far, and as was mentioned I would go with the proper decal sheet. The smaller one might well have been placed there by accident from the starter set. Nothing bad with having spare decals though!

Thanks. After 4 days waiting, I wet-sanded the primer and it went fine although I could notice a tendency for it to peel. So waiting for it to cure properly, 3 days at minimum is probably good.

After sanding and re.priming, the seams looks alot better (They're gone ). But after masking the underside to get it ready for the Dark Earth-coat on the upper-side. I realized I don't have that color home . So I will be not be able to put more work on this bird until I put a new order online. (It is in these cases where a local hobby shop would come in handy...)

Nice Spitfire Maketci. I am going to try the exhaust stain weathering you have. What did you use? (Have any more photos, closeups?)

[longlance67]

this one of Airfix's best kits of late, its a lovely build and a great little model


yours is coming along nicely my friend



Shane

[Maketci]

Nice Spitfire Maketci. I am going to try the exhaust stain weathering you have. What did you use? (Have any more photos, closeups?)

Hi Lysion;
Thanks your kind words. I using dry pastel dust and after spraying mat varnish. Cheap and easy mate
First two sample pictures for dry pastel dust, third picture for sludge wash technique :






Regards,
Maketci.

[Meatloafsandwichs]

Fantasic build.i have that kit upstairs in my stash.working on old Matchbox Brewster Buffalo.upgrading the kit .but your kit of the wee spit is great :

[Rob]

Great job Lysion. It's a cracking little kit.

[Maketci]

Hi Lysion;


Ha hahaha hahahaaaa

Regards,
Maketci

[Hanger2]

Nicely made model, I notice someone mentioned that the decal were too big, this is not the case, please see pic of the real a/c



Geoff

[Maketci]

Hi Geoff;
Another more close picture. The first painting at the factory, roundels (and markings ) look different sizes :



Source : http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/inde ... otos-pag3/

Regards,
Maketci.

[Hanger2]

Nicely made kit Lysion certainly better than the old Spit, as regards decals I notice someone mentioned them being oversize, this is not the case, see pic, sizes did vary.



Geoff

[Hanger2]

Hi Maketci, The roundel certainly is a different size in your pic compared to the one I posted but the lettering is the same in both and is the same as the same Airfix Spitfire model lettering which I have in front of me, the roundel in the kit does seem to be slightly oversize, going by my pic, BUT DW-K was allocated to 3 Spitfires 1 or 1a's
L1062, first flew 17-7-39, joined 610 Sqdn 16-9-39, failed to return 30-9-39
N3289, first flew 15-1-40, joined 610 14-5-40, failed to return 29-5-40
P9495, first flew 16-4-40, joined 610 2-6-40, damaged by Bf109 12-8-40, scrapped 24-8-40
So as you can seen unless we can actually see the serial number of the aircraft in the pics it cannot be said the roundels are incorrect.

During wartime things were not always done by the book but I hope this gives you an idea of problems with wartime pics and how things are sometimes not what they seem.

Best regards
Geoff

[Maketci]

Hi Geoff;
Ok, Thank you for your information.

and Lysion, looking forward your finished model.

Regards,
Maketci.

[Lysion]

Thanks for the comments in this thread.

I've been away far too long, changing jobs and apartment. But finally got back to modeling. So I continued on my Spitfire. I've painted the underside and the upper surfaces. Only detail painting and finishing left now. What do you think of my paintwork?

First time doing this kind of camouflage.

[UKguyInUSA]

Looks like you made a really nice job with your first RAF camo scheme mate!

[thing]

What paint colours are you using for the cam in the last pic? Really nice painting.

[MikeyKb]

looks lovely. question: did you think the vallejo primer before spraying? if so, with what? how much?

gonna look great when it's done.

[Lysion]

Thanks for the kind comments.

What paint colours are you using for the cam in the last pic? Really nice painting.

Lifecolor UA 091 Dark Green and UA 092 Dark Earth

question: did you think the vallejo primer before spraying? if so, with what? how much?

No, I did not thin the primer. Straight from the bottle.

[Homerlovesbeer]

Any updates? How did it turn out in the end?

[Lysion]

The model is finally finished! It did not take long at all (Well, moved to another city and new job taking over hand.)

I am really proud of it actually.

[Homerlovesbeer]

Good Stuff!

This is where I am at currently.....