PR XIX PS852

Spitfire PR Mk XIX, PS582, 81 Squadron, Kai Tek Hong Kong, 1951

When I received my new PR XIX I decided I did not want a typical PRU blue overall scheme as I already had a Spitfire PR XI in my collection with that scheme. It just so happened that XtraDecal released a PR XIX decal sheet that had many optional paint schemes so I purchased it.

The Subject

One of the schemes is PS852 which was in the high altitude scheme of PRU blue undersides, Medium Sea Grey uppersides and a black anti-glare panel on the nose. Very colorful with the bright post-war roundels.

I decided to look up PS852 to see why XtraDecal would include it on their sheet, other than it was colorful. The top hit on Google was http://www.spyflight.co.uk/spit.htm titled “Spitfires over China”.

In short, Flight Lieutenant Ed “Ted” Powles was detached from Tengah, Singapore as part of 81 (PR) Squadron with 2 PR XIX aircraft, PS852 and PS854, to Kai Tek, Hong Kong in January 1951. He and his flight spent the following year photographing sites along the Chinese coast and to a degree inland China as well. Two flights are of particular interest.

On 22 May 1951 he flew from Hong Kong to the southern end of Hainan Island to photograph the docks. Because he had to fly below a cloud deck he had to make 3 photo runs instead of the planned 2 and after evading pursuing Chinese fighters, he ran out of fuel on the return trip to Hong Kong.

Ultimately he was able to land, dead stick with the aircraft otherwise intact after 3 ½ hours of flight.

On 27 August 1951 he flew a similar mission to the northeast corner of Hainan Island to photograph the harbor, port and airfield at Haikou. Again he landed dead stick as his fuel ran out on final.

Ultimately Ted Powles flew 63 missions over China during 1951.

The Model

Airfix PR XIX, a new mold that is crisp, accurate and a very easy build. It’s also inexpensive at only $6 from Squadron. I built it straight OOB, the paint was Model Master enamels. PRU Blue and Medium Sea Grey. For both I air brushed them using Painters Oil Medium III(available at Michael’s) as my thinner. It allows a very smooth finish but takes about a week to fully cure. Very much worth it if time is not important. The black anti-glare panel is Tamiya acrylic, and the entire model was sealed after decaling with Future.

Summary

Much can be done with this kit if one wants to take care and add some detail.  Myself, I enjoy it for its ability to be a pallet.


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F Mk XIVe RN119

Fujimi Spitfire F Mk XIVe, RN119/AE-J, 402 Squadron, RCAF, March 1945

I have a number of these Fujimi kits in their various guises. While they seem scarce as hen's teeth in shops and priced as such, they do become available at online auctions from time to time. I've got all I want of this kit, as I haven't identified enough subjects to drive me to want more. It doesn't help that as a building experience I'd rather not tackle such over-engineering. I originally built this model in June 2010.

The Aircraft

RN119 was assigned to 402 Squadron RCAF; the photo above is from the IWM, catalog number MH 6855, and is from March 1945.   It later served with 412 Squadron RCAF and finally with the Belgian AF post war.  One search indicates it was used to shoot down a Ju88 on 19 April. 

Other than this photo ensures the modeler can build an accurate replica, I'm not sure of the significance of this subject.  For myself, it was Canadian (I like having some Canadian subjects on the shelf for some reason) and it's a Spitfire.

The Model

My memory of this build has faded. I don't remember building it at all but know I must have as no one else builds models in my house and I don't accept built models from anyone. I do remember photographing it as it was done as part of a group of models while my basement was being remodeled and my photo booth was stored away.

At any rate, I do know it went together quite readily and at the time I had little references so the mods needed to make an accurate F Mk XIVe were not done. The ailerons are the wrong length (you have to fill the panel line to represent the shorter, Mk VIII style, ailerons) and there are some bumps that are in the wrong places or represent the PR Mk XIX. Also the cockpit just plain wrong for a Spitfire and if accuracy is important it must be replaced. Additionally, the tail wheel represents a modern modification; operationally they were retractable but modern war birds typically have them fixed down for both safety and maintenance reasons. I didn't make all the mods because at the time I didn't care.

I am sure this is the first of the Fujimi Spitfires I made and I was obviously impressed as I went out and acquired at least 5 more to represent the PR, F and FR variants, including one to be a FR XVIII (which I later realized was not right). Until AZ released their F Mk XIV kit, this Fujimi kit was the bee's knees as the other, Academy, kit is so wrong in shape; it's only redeeming value is a pretty good cockpit and some other details. Snap up the Academy kit at bargain prices and you can tart up any Spitfire.

It was painted using Model Master enamels as that is what I had at the time. I am sure I used the FS equivalents of the RAF Dark Green, Ocean Grey and Medium Sea Grey as it is what I had and I wasn't aware of the subtle differences in color back then. Of course now I'd be horrified to use FS equivalents on a Spitfire!

Obviously I used the kit decals. I do remember looking up the subject, JE-J/RN119, as I wanted to know its operational significance. One thing I dislike about Japanese kit makers is they typically provide no historical context for the subjects of their decals, just the squadron and sometimes the pilot's name. I truly loved reading historical context in the old Airfix instructions, it's what hooked me onto model airplanes way back when.

Summary

On the shelf it looks good. This must have been a quick build given I've no memory of it. I do have a few of those where I look on the shelf and wonder when I made it, only to note the copyright of the kit is within the last 20 years! I do have a plan for the other Fujimi kits, one of which is Ginger Lacey's mount while he was in Japan.

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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.

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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…

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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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