Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk Ia COMPLETED

[Bear43]

Got started on this kit on Saturday. It is a bit more challenging than the P40 was because this kit has serious flash issues and extremely prominent ejector pin marks. Quite a lot of sanding and trimming going on. Still, it is manageable.

 

[Bear43]

I have been making good progress on this kit even though it's a fight. This is obviously an older mold. Lots of flash and ill fitting parts but I am still enjoying it. I am even painting the pilot. I have never before painted a 1/72 figure but it is coming out well. Yes, I know the uniform color is wrong but I had the land uniform paint so I am making do.

 

[Bear43]

Rainy day progress.

 

[Pantherman]

Rainy day progress.

Coming along nicely Bear.
Pantherman

 

[Bear43]

Got the lower wings finished up now on to the rest of the belly. After that will be painting then topside.

 

[Bear43]

Bottom is all assembled and painted. On to the upper camo scheme.

 

[Bear43]

Landing gear gremlin strikes again! The left side landing gear popped off while penciling on the camo design. Not sure why I am having issues with one side just as I did with the P40 but it's a bit annoying. I got some super glue so tonight I will attach it for good....... I hope......

 

[Bear43]

I got the landing gear sorted. At Hobby Lobby I saw some Testors super glue and gave it a try. I was surprised by it having a brush! After that set up I started painting the top side. This is after the first coat of the Vallejo Dark Earth. Prior to painting I sketched the pattern with a pencil

 

[Pantherman]

I got the landing gear sorted. At Hobby Lobby I saw some Testors super glue and gave it a try. I was surprised by it having a brush! After that set up I started painting the top side. This is after the first coat of the Vallejo Dark Earth. Prior to painting I sketched the pattern with a pencil

Nice work and I'm loving the neat and organised bench. Pantherman

 

[Bear43]

Thanks Panther. I'm like you in that I have to have an organized bench or it drives me crazy

 

[Pantherman]

Thanks Panther. I'm like you in that I have to have an organized bench or it drives me crazy

A fellow neat freak........I'm not alone.
Pantherman

 

[Bear43]

The first coat of Vallejo Dark Green is on now. The one thing I dislike with brush painting is how awful the first coat always looks.

 

[Bear43]

Slow but steady progress. Note the left wing tip and the right horizontal stabilizer and you can see how nicely the dark green is building up. Takes a while though.

 

[Bear43]

Work has been keeping me very busy but I am slowly making progress on the paint. It is shaping up nicely.

 

[Pantherman]

Work has been keeping me very busy but I am slowly making progress on the paint. It is shaping up nicely.

It's coming together nicely. Pantherman

 

[Bear43]

Almost done. Decals and weathering to go after hitting it with some gloss.

 

[Bear43]

I put a dent in the decals tonight. Belly decals are all on, just a few top and side decals left. I do need to address issues with the wing roundels. Lower roundels cover an ejection port and the upper roundels don't want to lay down in the center of the loading hatches because of all the raised detail there.

 

[Pantherman]

I put a dent in the decals tonight. Belly decals are all on, just a few top and side decals left. I do need to address issues with the wing roundels. Lower roundels cover an ejection port and the upper roundels don't want to lay down in the center of the loading hatches because of all the raised detail there.

Looking nice, nearly there. Pantherman

 

[Bear43]

Tomorrow she gets a sealing coat of matte and the canopy and she will be finished. I made my own panel wash with acrylic paint and used some Tamiya powders for the staining. I kept the weathering and chipping minimal as the actual plane the markings represent was only in service for 5 months before being shot down.

 

[Bear43]

The final shots of the completed kit. I am happy with how it turned out. This was the first time doing any weathering at all, I never did that when I was younger. It does add a lot to it. I have been happy with the Airfix kits but I am even happier to get this scale done so I can move on to 1/48