**** DONE: GB-62 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I - Spitfires

[Ralph Haus]

Here's the PDF I was talking about earlier, its Pt 1 to go with Pt 2 that Steph posted

Just now have been able to get to this. Some really interesting information. I guess it comes down to who does one believe regarding the marking and details, especially for my P9495 (DWOK)? I'm not sure if I'll spend the time measuring the Tamiya decals (scale size) and comparing to the the reported sizes in the article. Even if they do not match, size wise, I'll not be buying any 'accurate' ones anyway. Many thanks for the upload. One favorite part was the mention of the squadron upgrading the lower colors to the Sky1 color, that and the stencils were most likely over sprayed and not replaced. I'll latch on to that so that I don't have to fiddle with all those 'tiny' decals!!

 

[fubar57]

Close enough always works for me Ralph. If someone was paying me or I was entering a contest I might get out the micrometer but that's not gonna happen

 

[Ralph Haus]

Almost through to the end of page 4 of the instructions! Who would have thought there was so much detail and paint/glue drying times?

The cockpit area is paint detailed. Still left is the final cockpit assembly. And then the joining of the fuselage halves. Looking at the details that is in this, I'm somewhat pleased with the product but at the same time disappointed on how much will be unseen when finally assembled!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Goodness me Ralph, this is bloody marvelous!

 

[Wurger]

 

[le_steph40]

Excellent Ralph
Just one thing, if I'm not mistaken, the cockpit should be overall RAF interior green. I think the rear part of it was left unpainted or alu from mid 1943

 

[Ralph Haus]

Excellent Ralph
Just one thing, if I'm not mistaken, the cockpit should be overall RAF interior green. I think the rear part of it was left unpainted or alu from mid 1943

I'm probably not as 'rabid' as many when doing research (I do do some, but probably not enough), I was following the directions as called out in the Tamiya instructions. The color that they call for is AS-12 (bare metal) and the closest I have in my paint stash is Vallejo metal dull aluminum. Looked close enough to bare metal for me. As for if it was totally painted for this particular one (P9495), again I'll defer to Tamiya research and my own laziness.

 

[N4521U]

I guess it comes down to who does one believe regarding the marking and details, especially for my P9495 (DWOK)? I'm not sure if I'll spend the time measuring the Tamiya decals (scale size) and comparing to the the reported sizes in the article. Even if they do not match, size wise, I'll not be buying any 'accurate' ones anyway.

Therein lies the reason i do have custom decals printed. I see no reason why, if they are doing a specific A/C, the decals cant be accurate as well. The "look" is so different. For $50AU I can have 4 or 5 different planes printed. Numbers, nose art and serials. It becomes doable and worth doing to me.

 

[Ralph Haus]

Therein lies the reason i do have custom decals printed. I see no reason why, if they are doing a specific A/C, the decals cant be accurate as well. The "look" is so different. For $50AU I can have 4 or 5 different planes printed. Numbers, nose art and serials. It becomes doable and worth doing to me.

Something I should look into, although I'm not sure if I could provide the 'correct' decal info? When doing Eduard kits, many are mid $35 to high $45 (US) and come with, at best, a full plus a partial set of decals left over. This makes Eduard overtrees quite attractive (somewhere around $20) with a set of decals with multiple aircraft markings it makes kits (at least Eduard) more reasonable. But then you have a lot of very similar builds.

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely work so far!

 

[Ralph Haus]

Cockpit complete. The seat belts were a real chore, but finally after a 1/2 hour or so I got the tabs to hold.

Anyone who has built this kit know the purpose of that A47 piece? Both illustrations have a 'no-glue' symbol and then the piece seems to disappear in following pages? A glue guide? Which by the way does not fit with the no pilot PE part attached to the read bulkhead frame piece!.

 

[fubar57]

Nice looking pit Ralph. No idea about the part

 

[rochie]

Bloody hell Ralph that is incredible work, very well done !

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Bloody hell Ralph that is incredible work, very well done !

My sentiments entirely.

 

[Airframes]

Very nicely done Ralph.
I have never seen that item on any Spitfire - no idea what it's supposed to be.

 

[le_steph40]

Cockpit complete. The seat belts were a real chore, but finally after a 1/2 hour or so I got the tabs to hold.

Anyone who has built this kit know the purpose of that A47 piece? Both illustrations have a 'no-glue' symbol and then the piece seems to disappear in following pages? A glue guide? Which by the way does not fit with the no pilot PE part attached to the read bulkhead frame piece!.


View attachment 779208

maybe a template/jig for alignment...?

 

[Ralph Haus]

maybe a template/jig for alignment...?

Yes, my thought exactly. But as mentioned it doesn't fit when the non-pilot PE piece is applied. Given Tamiya's superb fits this is in my opinion overkill. The two bulkhead pieces fit tightly in their respective slots/notches, almost not needing any glue; and as straight as one could want.

 

[Crimea_River]

Steph has it. It's a temporary part to ensure that the frames are properly aligned when you glue them into the fuselage sides.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

It says in the instructions to temporarily place the part while securing the shoulder straps to pilot or the seat, then remove (instruction panel 10 or 11). In instruction panel 12, they say to fit part A42 which is a brace between the two ribbed frames. So as suggested this is a template which will ensure the when fitting the shoulder straps, the modeller does not pull these two support ribs closer. Then the brace A42 which is part of the kit will slot in easy.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!