Hasegawa Spitfire Ia

This is a kit I purchased back in the early '90's and started shortly after, but didn't finish until 2009.

When I started it I thought it was a good kit. Well, okay the definition of "good" meant "easy to build" and "bad" meant "impossible to build". At the time this was a good kit, to me. I had no idea it had inaccuracies and because it was so easy to build I purchased two more. My desire was to build a series of Mk I subjects that represented the different schemes worn from 1938 to 1941. This kit actually comes with decals for two variants of the Mk I, an early machine from 19th Squadron in May 1939 and Al Deere's mount during the Battle of Britain.



I built the kit out of the box, however the decals were the wrong size and out of register. I had some spare roundels and codes in Medium Sea Grey. I did use the Kiwi marking for All Deer's KL-B as it was the right size.



Overall I enjoyed the build, albeit the other 2 kits in my stash may just be donors to other kits. The wing/fuselage is completely wrong, having no gull-wing shape. This was the 2nd time I'd tried weathering and I way overdid it.



Some day I'll redo the subject, but will use the new-ish Airfix Mk Ia kit.

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Heller LF XVI

Spitfire LF XVI, TB900/GE-D, 349 (Belgium) Squadron, Fassburg, 1946

This model was completed back in 2009 when my passion for Spitfires was just beginning to gain some steam.  I had this Heller kit for a number of years; the instructions indicate HELLER HUMBROL.  

The vintage of the kit is such that it has raised details.  Until the more recent Sword XVI was released, this was the most accurate XVI in 72nd scale.  Frankly, it still stands up well next to my more modern kits.  It does suffer from the radiators being too deep.  One modeler has suggested Heller was using photos of 349 Squadron when it flew both the XIV and XVI and made the mistake of presuming the key shots of the radiators were for the XVI.  

At any rate, it's an error that is easily fixed with a razor saw.  Simply cut the radiator off then reglue it.  The thickness of the blade is generally enough to fix the problem.  Unfortunately I wasn't aware of the problem with this kit when I built it, so did not know to fix it.  I do remember that when building it I thought the radiators looked odd, but I had few (read zero) Spitfire references back then.

During construction I took care to retain the details.  All was good and what little I lost along the fuselage seams was easily repaired with a hobby knife.  I simply rocked it across the seam until a slight ridge of plastic came up.  All sorted.

The Heller kit captures the shape very well.  The shot along the fuselage axis quite nicely shows the nose could fit a Merlin.  Some Spitfire kits are a bit anemic in that area.

The model is painted with Humbrol enamels.  Ocean Grey is Hu106, Dark Green is Hu116 and Medium Sea Grey is Hu165.  The model was coated with Future/Klear prior to decals.

Oh the decals!  The kit decals are useless; even on this kit released today.  The code letters are a sickly green, not Sky.  The national markings are off register.  I had found some Lifelike Decals, sheet 72-006, that had this scheme on it; since I wanted a Day Fighter Scheme for my first LF XVI, I decided to use these markings.  I remember having absolutely no difficulty with them; I probably used Micro Set/Sol, which was my setting solutions at the time.

Overall I'm very happy with this model.  It was an easy build over a few weekends and the kit looks the part.  I like it so much I keep an eye out for them at shows.  Typically they run $2-$3 each and are tremendous value for money at that price.

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Spitfire III Part 3

Over the holidays I able to make some progress on my long term project -- the Spitfire III N3297.  Readers may remember my previous posting wherein I summarized my knowledge, which hasn't changed much since.  I did decide since that N3297 was the bird I wanted to model, and her 1st configuration specifically.

So after studying my donor kit(s) carefully I decided to break out the saw and start cutting.

Since the Merlin XX added 4 inches to the engine cowling, but with no change from the firewall back, I essentially cut the nose cowling off the fuselage sides.  Done very carefully since I don't quite know I'll add that 4 inch plug.  Oh, and the firewall above mid-point of the fuselage cants forward -- that's got me a bit perplexed in terms of describing, but the first thing I have to do is get the nose extended properly.

I also have to shorten the wingspan.  With lots of study of both photos (not many) and my refs, the best I can surmise is the wingtips were removed at rib 19.  This is a full rib station further inboard than the later "standard" clipped wing.  It's easy to spot on the Airfix Mk I/II as it's the panel line that is inboard of the typical clipped line.  

Since the aileron was also shortened, I had to figure out to what length; ultimately I realized it was shortened to the hinge.  Note that later Mk VII/VIII and later Griffon marks had shortened ailerons, however the Spitfire III also had another few inches removed.  This will be easy as now that I've cut the tip off at the right place, I just have to fill the end and then sand to the contour.

So that is my next bit of work, time to sand and fill.

Thanks for looking…

SpitHawk

Hawk T.1 XX184/19 of 19 Squadron, 2008

I struggled with where to blog this one: on my Spitfire blog or my general modeling blog? Obviously I chose this one because it's aligned to Spitfires.

This is my response to our club theme of "Build the same kit". 2013 was a year where I was able to align a Spitfire to each of the monthly themes for the year, if one presumes the SpitHawk counts!


The Subject

Google "SpitHawk" and you'll find lots of info on this aircraft. Essentially 19 Squadron, now a training unit for the RAF, was authorized to repaint XX184 in a commemorative scheme in 2008 to recognize the 70th Anniversary of the first operational Spitfire squadron -- 19 Squadron. My own commemoration of that event, this year being the 75th Anniversary, is here.

There is a photo of XX184 flying in formation with a Spitfire IIa P7350/XT-L that is in BoB markings. To mimic that photo I chose to put both my Spitfire I K9797 and Spithawk XX184 on a double in-flight stand. The effect is precisely what I wanted.

The Model

Construction was strictly out of the box. The kit provides an in-flight option, so with some care I was able to close up the landing gear. There is no attachment point provided for the Airfix stands (those double holes usually flashed over on their other modern kits) so I looked at what should be the balance point and drilled two holes in the under-fuselage gun pod. I then filled the pod with some white glue to let it harden and redrilled so the pins of the stand would have something to "grab".

The intakes took some work as photos show it to be a smooth surface yet the kit had ugly seams and some other "panels" that all needed filling. Once done it looked good and the rest of the construction was straight forward.

Painting was per photos and decal instructions, I used Humbrol Acrylics for the Dark Green (Hu163) and Aluminum (Hu56). The Dark Earth is Vallejo 70.921 which matches perfectly the RAFM chip. The more I use it, the more I like it (color that is, I'm still not happy with adhesion of the paint).

Decals are by Model Alliance. I did not use all the stencils at most are not visible in photos so I chose that are readily visible. They all laid down well using Revell Decal Soft over a coating of Future/Kleer. A final coat of flat to tone it all down finished the model.

Summary

As many should know, I'm not a modern nor jet builder. This was an easy and enjoyable build and I can see why some modelers are fans of the BAE Hawk and this Airfix kit specifically. I'll never say "never" but I doubt I'd build another Hawk. The only other scheme that tempts me is the USN commemorative "yellow wings" scheme. Maybe if this becomes another theme…

Thanks for looking…

Another Anniversary

Mk I, K9797, 19 Squadron, Duxford 1938

This is my second attempt at an introductory Spitfire.  My previous attempt was a squadron-mate from just a few months later in the year, but essentially the same kit.  The relatively new tooling of the Airfix Spitfire Mk I/IIa.

The Subject

19 Squadron was the first Spitfire squadron, forming on the plane in Autumn 1938.  When first established on the Spitfire, the squadron did not carry squadron codes (later WZ was assigned) but instead painted their squadron number on the tail in flight colors.

This subject was built for two reasons: 1) I wanted this scheme on my shelf; and 2) it's the 75th anniversary of the Spitfire's debut in operational service this year.  The latter supports our club theme of "Anniversary" and this kit fit nicely.

The Kit

This is becoming my go-to kit for early Spitfires.  There's not much more I can say about it, it's just a great little kit.  The major differences in this build was the addition of the pilot and use of the "wheels up" option.  To make the pilot fit, unfortunately I had to shorten his legs.

Paints are acrylics throughout, Humbrol 29 for the Dark Earth and Vallejo 70.893 for the Dark Green.  The underside is Tamiya X-11 Chrome Silver (for a variation in the underside Aluminum).  

The decals are from Model Alliance and were included with the On Target Profiles 4 booklet.  

I put it on the Airfix dogfight double stand, to display with my other "anniversary" model, the BAE Hawk T.1A in commemorative markings in 2008.  But that's another subject to blog…

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Telford 2013

10 November 2013

So one of the things I got to do at Telford this year was sit in a real Spitfire. It's not a flyer, and has a few things that are actually fiberglass, but the fuselage is a real Mk IX with some history behind it.

I joined up with Jim Rotramel who came over to see family and of course do Telford while he's here.











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LF IXe, 5531, Air Operations School, AFS Langebaanweg, SAAF, May 1953

The South African Air Force was a long time user of the Spitfire. Almost from the earliest marks. I seem to have a few SAAF aircraft, Spitfires and Hurricanes, on my shelf and it's probably due to a combination of subject and color. Typically their national markings had the red replaced with orange, and of course later the gazelle was put in the center.

And their camouflage schemes were sometimes non-standard in that they used paints more appropriate to their mission and surroundings.

The Subject

The AOS was generally used in an operational training role, teaching pilots in other types what it be like when bounced by their adversaries. Given the timeframe I admit that I'm putting 2+2 and getting 5 -- I'd like to think these Spitfires were used to mimic Yak 9 fighters the SAAF pilots might have faced over Korea.

So I fancy the idea of Spitfires and Mustangs in 1v1, 2v1, and 2v2 mock engagements over Langebaanweg operating areas; then the Mustangs deploying off to Korea for operations. These LF Mk IXe were used from about 1948-1953. Some online and decal sources call these aircraft Mk XVI because they are rear view aircraft, but in actuality the only aircraft provided to SAAF were LF Mk IXe, both standard and rear view, with pointed/broad chord rudders.

I don't know the original serial number of 5531, but it was one of a batch of 136 provided to the SAAF just after the war.

The Model

This was meant to be a quick build, one of many Heller XVI kits I've got in my stash, picked up for about $2 each at swap tables. The Heller kit is fairly accurate, the only real issues are raised panel lines, sparse decals in the cockpit and wheel bays and the radiator baths are too deep.

The radiator baths are the most obvious fix that must be done. The other details were not an issue for me; I wanted to display this model in flight so the wells would be covered up and the cockpit would have a pilot in it, hiding any detail that might have been added.

The fix for the radiators is really straight forward. Cut them off, then glue them back on. Generally the thickness of most razor saws is enough to compensate for their deepness. It appears the the baths are more accurate for a Griffon Spitfire, and may have been an error introduced when Heller was researching the Belgian Spitfires, who had a mix of XVI and XIV airframes. At any rate, the Heller kit looks wrong if these are left alone, but if corrected it becomes a very attractive model.

I took care to ensure I didn't lose much of the raised detail, and replaced any I'd lost due to seam filling. The pilot and raised landing gear are from an Airfix Mk IXc kit.

The scheme is Extra Dark Sea Grey over Medium Sea Grey. I used Humbrol paints, a mix for the EDSG (to a tin of Hu123, add 1 ml Hu34 + 0.5 ml Hu25) and Hu165 for the MSG. The spinner is Hu25. Acrylics throughout, applied via airbrush.

The decals are from AlleyCat, sheet 72009. They went on quite well using Revell's Decal Soft.

The clear stand is from Airfix.

Summary

Another enjoyable build. Very easy and different on my shelf. The club theme was "Korean War" -- any subject from that conflict. This was a stretch, but I'd already done the FR.47 Seafire.

Thanks for looking...