Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire mk.I

[user 22148]

I started this a few weeks ago - it's been ages since I built a 1/48th Aircraft. If you've not built one, it's a super kit, the fit of the cockpit parts is excellent.

I've been doing some basic painting in the cockpit, ready for washes and drybrushing.

I'll be building the 'Dunkirk' option of this kit. I think Spitfires look nice with the black and white undersides.

Cheers!

 

[Wig41]

Your build looks to be coming along very nicely. Marvelous job painting the pilot! I've not built this kit.

 

[user 22148]

Thanks @Wig41 - It's a really nice kit thus far if you get a chance to build one.

 

[Jantk14]

I have the same kit in my stash. Either I'm doing this or my a10 next. The figure looks great.

 

[Ron2]

Looking good! I've got the airfix 1/48 waiting in my stash.

 

[BarleyBop]

black and white undersides.

Yup... This is looking great!
I understand that some of the Fleet Air Arm Skuas that found themselves later in the Mediterranean had a similar scheme when they went North hunting the Scharnhorst, with only the wheel wells left like that once past Gibraltar.

 

[user 22148]

I have the same kit in my stash. Either I'm doing this or my a10 next. The figure looks great.

Thanks!

It's a great kit - I'm sure you'll enjoy it. the cockpit is a bit overly complicated in places but the fit is excellent. Mind you, I do love the A-10 as well so great choice either way.

Looking good! I've got the airfix 1/48 waiting in my stash.

Thanks Ron! The Airfix kit is great, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. If there's one thing Airfix do know it's Spitfires!

Yup... This is looking great!
I understand that some of the Fleet Air Arm Skuas that found themselves later in the Mediterranean had a similar scheme when they went North hunting the Scharnhorst, with only the wheel wells left like that once past Gibraltar.

Thanks!

I have to say I didn't know that about the Skuas, but it wouldn't surprise me - the RAF and FAA had various IFF schemes applied to various aircraft during the course of the war.

 

[user 22148]

So I've just about finished the cockpit - just a wash and a bit of metallics to add to the shoulder straps - and then I can start buttoning up the fuselage.

Cheers!

 

[Ron2]

That looks very nice

 

[user 22148]

That looks very nice

Thanks!

 

[BarleyBop]

Very much different feel with a pilot in there!
IP looks even better looking over his shoulder...

 

[user 22148]

Thanks BB!

I have to say I do like having a pilot in the build if I can. This is actually my first go at strapping one in with the PE straps and I think it went well. The IP is okay, just the decal over the plastic part. It looks good enough in-situ but I think if I were to build this again with the canopy open I'd replace it with an AM part.

I have to say I'm also enjoying building in a larger scale. The added detail from 1/72 is very much appreciated. It's a scale I've only really ever dabbled with in the past but I think I might do a few more this year.

Cheers!

 

[BarleyBop]

All I can say is, that cockpit is orders of magnitude nicer and more detailed OOB than my 1/48 'Special Hobby' Skua!
Probably a good thing though, mine being a first aircraft build.

 

[user 22148]

Yeah but it's 'Special Hobby' LOL - that's a hell of an ask for a first aircraft build btw, and kudos to you for doing such an excellent job of it, they're not easy kits to build... well okay, their recent more mainstream kits are a lot better. But yes you're right, some of the old kits in 1/48 are a bit lacking in detail - hence the prevalence of PE and Resin AM cockpits I guess.

But it's a Skua though, such a cool aircraft. You need to do a Fairy Fulmer to go with it.

 

[BarleyBop]

need to do a Fairy Fulmer

...one day, no doubt!
To keep it company, I have a Swordfish, a Sea Gladiator, a Walrus and a Hurricane 'in the wings' as is!
Come to think of it, if I live long enough, I'd love to build ALL the aircraft in these two books!

 

[user 22148]

LOL! Wouldn't we all - I commend you on your choices though, three cracking aircraft there. I'd certainly love to build the Walrus myself one day (need a kit first). I do love FAA aircraft.

Those books look good!

 

[user 22148]

Thanks Gents - really appreciate it.

I've been wondering what was missing from the cockpit on this kit and it's finally dawned on me - it's missing the armour plating from behind the pilot seat. It's nothing I've done, I'm just following instructions - so this is obviously a really early aircraft before they were retro-fitted

I'll have a look and see if it's actually in there.

Cheers!

 

[user 22148]

Progress, progress progress - all the main parts are together now - just a bit of PPP to add to the wing-roots and some bits and bobs to add and it;s ready for some paint.

All in all it's a nice kit to build - although a bit overly fiddly in places. The Radiators for instance, were 11 pieces.

Cheers!

 

[BarleyBop]

Cheers!

Have to admire your very clean build.

 

[user 22148]

Have to admire your very clean build.

LOL! I'm just good at hiding the mess

 

[Edbert]

it's missing the armour plating from behind the pilot

If you had that you could have left the tanks out since they'll be invisible. Nearly so in my 1/32 Spit with the canopy open, but totally when closed at 1/48.

 

[user 22148]

If you had that you could have left the tanks out since they'll be invisible. Nearly so in my 1/32 Spit with the canopy open, but totally when closed at 1/48.

Yeah I really don't get why we go all OTT over detailing cockpits sometimes - especially if you're going to button it up. I actually left the whole interior out of a Spitfire one, less the IP and a pilot and nobody noticed.

 

[BarleyBop]

nobody noticed

I guess it depends on who you build for, and if it's the process or the final product you prioritize.
I had a ww2 vehicle kit with no accelerator, brake or clutch. It just felt...wrong!

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Very nice!

 

[Glenn S]

Thanks Gents - really appreciate it.

I've been wondering what was missing from the cockpit on this kit and it's finally dawned on me - it's missing the armour plating from behind the pilot seat. It's nothing I've done, I'm just following instructions - so this is obviously a really early aircraft before they were retro-fitted

I'll have a look and see if it's actually in there.

Cheers!

I love the old Spitfire seats. I only learned a couple of years ago that the brown seats are actually made of paper and resin. They were designed to use paper instead of aluminum.

 

[Edbert]

I love the old Spitfire seats.

I believe there were many variants too, each mark changed with the time of production in small ways. The Mk.Va I built recently (Kotare) had three variants of the seat in the box.

 

[VegasAWACER13]

I believe there were many variants too, each mark changed with the time of production in small ways. The Mk.Va I built recently (Kotare) had three variants of the seat in the box.

So many variations among the Mk Vs: seats, canopies, windshields, gunsights, wing bulges, etc. But it was the workhorse of the Spitfire fleet.

 

[user 22148]

I'm still making some progress on this - the paint is done and I've completed one side of the decals.

 

[locomotive]

Must be 50 years since I built a plane of any kind let alone a spitty.
But I do remember them no where as nice as this. Mind they were crappy old airfix kits.
This is brilliant. Looking great.
Makes me want to build a 1/24 stuka!

 

[Edbert]

Makes me want to build a 1/24 stuka!

...and add an addition to the house?