**** DONE: GB-49 1:48 Spitfire Mk.I - Favourite A/C of WWII

[fubar57]

Just checked Ultracast for one early seat and the later seat comes as a twofer. Shipping was just a bit more than the seats so I'll settle for plastic and P.E.

 

[Crimea_River]

I might have an extra Geo. I'll look tomorrow.

 

[Airframes]

Just as well you didn't get the seats Geo - the harness arrangement is wrong on both versions. The straps from the slot in the bottom of the seat back should go over the back of the seat, not through the slot, which was actually a "handle" to assist in removing the seat.

 

[fubar57]

Thanks Terry, I noticed that late last night. Beautiful seats though. I've got some P.E. RAF belts somewhere and I'll get back to you guys to see if one is correct for this one. Debating whether to head to PG now or in the early AM tomorrow. Snowing quite heavily right now I can leave around 4:00PM and take it easy or leave at 6:00AM and give 'er

 

[fubar57]

I might have to swap these builds around. This kite doesn't have seat or head armour but the kit parts have it. The other build kit has the with or without option. I'm going to see if I can do some modifications first; mostly how to mount the seat to the frame as the armour mounts to a lug in the back of the seat and then attaches to the frame via four lugs. The head armour will need to be ground off the frame thusly.......

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A nice little early Spitfire sample from Wingleader here...https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5a3...f979a5ca9e4fe65a619_Spitfire Bookbrochure.pdf

 

[fubar57]

I'VE SWAPPED KITS AROUND WITH THE OTHER BUILD DUE TO THE ARMOUR ADDITION IN THE EARLY KIT AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE BUGGERING AROUND WITH IT. SO....IF YOU'RE AS CONFUSED AS I AM, THE BUILD STARTS NOW

 

[Crimea_River]

Heck I don't even know what day it is so go right ahead.

 

[fubar57]

It's the little things that count. I noticed on the instructions that the tanks had a cross over pipe however the part itself lacked it so I added it using some sprue

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The new kit won't need the addition

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

This question will cover both; would the area behind the seat bulkhead still be in Interior Green or aluminum? I'm thinking yes to Interior Green for this but not sure of the change-over date

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far George!

 

[fubar57]

Thanks Hugh. I'm leaning to aluminum now for both behind the seat

 

[Crimea_River]

I went with aluminum behind the seat on my Spit Mk I. Had some good input from Darryl on my build so may be worth a look. I wasn't aware of a change over date for the colours so ignorance was bliss.

 

[Airframes]

As far as I know, it was bare aluminium on early Spits, with the green replacing this I think from late "L" serial numbers, or possibly from "N" serial numbers, but there were bound to be exceptions - I'd need to check all my refs to try to establish when etc.
WZ-H would be in the bare aluminium / silver, but Lacey's aircraft would almost certainly be the grey green.

 

[fubar57]

Thanks Terry, thy will be done. Finally got something accomplished. This was mostly an exercise using the new Liquitex Flat I purchased this weekend. First up was to spray the rear section aluminum. I chose Vallejo Metal Color Semi-Matt Aluminum which turned out pretty glossy. Due to the colour, I don't think you're going to notice much change but trust me, there is some

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I gloss coated with Liquitex Gloss.....just because. One side washed with Citadel Gryphonne Sepia

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The flat coat was then added. Tanks painted with Tamiya X-32 Titanium Silver just for variation and the straps done with Tamiya XF-16 Flat Aluminum, washed with Citadel Agrax Earthshade which is actually a shade. The copper paint is also Tamiya from one of those old big honkin' bottles

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I'll let this set-up and then paint the forward section of the cockpit and relevant bits with Innards Green. Hard to tell but the flat worked really well. I'll use it again once the rest of the cockpit is done, you may be able to see the difference better

 

[Airframes]

Looking good so far.
One point though, the crowbar on the cockpit door was not introduced until after the BoB, either very late 1940, or early 1941, although that said, it probably won't be visible under a closed canopy.

 

[fubar57]

Good stuff Terry. The tanks aren't mounted yet so removing the crowbar shouldn't be an issue

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far George!

 

[Crimea_River]

Mighty nice Geo.