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Looking really pucker now Steve, I see you have washed / weathered the wheel wells now!
Good stuff,
Ron
Good stuff,
Ron
Tamiya's 1/32 SpitfireIX
- Thread starter stona
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stona
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Final act for today was to apply a filter. I dotted some oils on the upper surfaces (white,burnt sienna and a little blue and yellow) and then scrubbed them over everything with a brush moistened with a suitable solvent,in my case Winsor and Newton's "Sansodor" which as the name suggests doesn't niff too much.
The effect is very hard to photograph as on an aircraft you don't want to overdo it but it tones everything down a bit. The good thing is that if you don't like it or think it is overdone you can just wipe it off with a rag moistened with the solvent. The downside is oils dry very slowly so I can't do much else for a while!
Cheers
Steve
The effect is very hard to photograph as on an aircraft you don't want to overdo it but it tones everything down a bit. The good thing is that if you don't like it or think it is overdone you can just wipe it off with a rag moistened with the solvent. The downside is oils dry very slowly so I can't do much else for a while!
Cheers
Steve
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stona
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I'm on the final run in. I've given it a satin varnish (Vallejo) which is very similar to Xtracrylix matt varnish......weird. I've done it a bit less shiney than I'd do a Luftwaffe machine. I have seen some very shiney Spitfires and I know that the "finishers" used to wax them but in the only piccies I have of EN398 satin looks about right.
Anyway that can dry whilst I go and earn some money to pay for all this. Hopefully I can stick the rest of the bits on this evening and get it finished for tomorrow.
Cheers
Steve
Anyway that can dry whilst I go and earn some money to pay for all this. Hopefully I can stick the rest of the bits on this evening and get it finished for tomorrow.
Cheers
Steve
R
Richy C
Guest
Looks fantastic Steve
Richy
Richy
stona
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Last post on this thread. I will do some "proper" finished piccies in a couple of days,after I've figured out how to do some concrete.
First some explanations.
My reference photo was taken sometime in July 1943. EN398 was officially modified at an AST on 4/4/43,not long after Johnson got it, and then again on 27/7/43. There is no way of knowing what was done but almost certainly a gun camera was fitted in the port wing and I've opened that up. There is a conspicuous patch between the back of the cockpit running into the roundel. The only battle damage this aircraft received was a strike in the port wing root so that's not it. A lot of work was done in this patched area during the upgrading of the IFF system on Spitfires. Tamiya shows the earlier system with the "cheese cutter" antennae running from tailplane(s) to the fuselage in the red of the roundel. I can't see that antenna wire in my photo and most inconsiderately Johnson has stood infront of the more visible (if it's there) insulator in the roundel. I have assumed that EN398 has been fitted with the new IFF MkIII system and have fitted the rod antenna under the wing. This isn't visible in the reference either because the area is in shadow and no silhouette is visible because unfortunately the antenna and starboard radiator line up perfectly!
Anyway here's two photos to compare.
Cheers
Steve
Edit I will fix the rear view mirror!!!!!
First some explanations.
My reference photo was taken sometime in July 1943. EN398 was officially modified at an AST on 4/4/43,not long after Johnson got it, and then again on 27/7/43. There is no way of knowing what was done but almost certainly a gun camera was fitted in the port wing and I've opened that up. There is a conspicuous patch between the back of the cockpit running into the roundel. The only battle damage this aircraft received was a strike in the port wing root so that's not it. A lot of work was done in this patched area during the upgrading of the IFF system on Spitfires. Tamiya shows the earlier system with the "cheese cutter" antennae running from tailplane(s) to the fuselage in the red of the roundel. I can't see that antenna wire in my photo and most inconsiderately Johnson has stood infront of the more visible (if it's there) insulator in the roundel. I have assumed that EN398 has been fitted with the new IFF MkIII system and have fitted the rod antenna under the wing. This isn't visible in the reference either because the area is in shadow and no silhouette is visible because unfortunately the antenna and starboard radiator line up perfectly!
Anyway here's two photos to compare.
Cheers
Steve
Edit I will fix the rear view mirror!!!!!
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M
msm2
Guest
All I can say is "5 Stars". I hope I can get to the same level of skill you have. It is superb.
Tony..
Tony..
F
Fenlander
Guest
Not only a great build, and quick one to for a 1:32 kit, but a great tribute to a man and his machine. You have stepped out of your Axis aircraft comfort zone to build this and it looks flawless. Lovely piece of work Steve.
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Beautiful build of a beautiful aircraft.
Very well done Steve.
Ron
Very well done Steve.
Ron
stona
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Thanks chaps,I've added a B+W image for a bit of fun.
It is a fantastic kit to build,remember I did this absolutely out of the box.It isn't cheap and it's a judgement call as to whether it's worth it. I think it is,I'm not an expert on Spitfires but any idiot can see that this makes a superb model of that most famous airplane. It is one of,if not the,nicest kit I've ever built.It can be built with no filler,the only bit I used was on a badly removed sprue attachment and on the lower airscoop. Both of these were due to me rather than the kit. It didn't take very long but then,after a three month tour,I find myself "resting" as the nice lady who does my accounts calls it! I've put a few hours in almost every day since I started.
If I had to rate the kit I'd give it 10/10. It's hard to see how it could be done better.
Cheers and thanks again for your nice comments.
Steve
It is a fantastic kit to build,remember I did this absolutely out of the box.It isn't cheap and it's a judgement call as to whether it's worth it. I think it is,I'm not an expert on Spitfires but any idiot can see that this makes a superb model of that most famous airplane. It is one of,if not the,nicest kit I've ever built.It can be built with no filler,the only bit I used was on a badly removed sprue attachment and on the lower airscoop. Both of these were due to me rather than the kit. It didn't take very long but then,after a three month tour,I find myself "resting" as the nice lady who does my accounts calls it! I've put a few hours in almost every day since I started.
If I had to rate the kit I'd give it 10/10. It's hard to see how it could be done better.
Cheers and thanks again for your nice comments.
Steve
Great result there Steve.
Re the IFF.
"In early 1943 a new IFF, the Mk III started being fitted to all front-line fighters. On the Spitfire the fuselage to tailplane wires were replaced by a single rod aerial mounted under the starboard wing."
There is a photo of a couple of mk IX's were the antena can just be made out. ( if you what to see more about Spitfire antena have a look at http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-masts-and-aerials.html/2 ).
Five stars from me too!
Ian M
Re the IFF.
"In early 1943 a new IFF, the Mk III started being fitted to all front-line fighters. On the Spitfire the fuselage to tailplane wires were replaced by a single rod aerial mounted under the starboard wing."
There is a photo of a couple of mk IX's were the antena can just be made out. ( if you what to see more about Spitfire antena have a look at http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-masts-and-aerials.html/2 ).
Five stars from me too!
Ian M
W
wanna_be_aviator
Guest
First of all, hi you all! It's my first post and just decided to "barge in" to congratulate Steve for his incredible work on the Spitfire. I'm a total novice on modelling (being a child's dream that only now I could fulfill) and my first and only model so far was a 1/72 Spitfire (having made a mess of things, by the way). I love the subject and loved the work you did on your kit! Thank you all masters and pros for the wonderful wealth of information you guys have been providing to us newbies!
Another wonderful build! Absolutely ***** for that.
Gern
PS Those are definitely stars and not kisses.
Gern
PS Those are definitely stars and not kisses.
HI steve, ive been watching this one all the way through and can honestly say the end result is flawless. The kit is a superb example of modern moulding and youve built it perfectly, you should be well chuffed.5 stars from me too, excellent stuff mate , cheers tony
Hi Steve
I've been rather busy lately and haven't spent as much time as I would like on the forum so apologies for not following this superb thread. It's clear to me that you really enjoyed this build and it definitely shows. Absolutely stunning and faultless model - brilliant! It definitely gets the 5 star treatment from me and you should be justifiably proud.
Lovely Spit great build nuff said!!!
:no1b:
Paul
I've been rather busy lately and haven't spent as much time as I would like on the forum so apologies for not following this superb thread. It's clear to me that you really enjoyed this build and it definitely shows. Absolutely stunning and faultless model - brilliant! It definitely gets the 5 star treatment from me and you should be justifiably proud.
Lovely Spit great build nuff said!!!
:no1b:
Paul
Well I can only repeat what everyone else has said about this fantastic build, it really is amazing, well done. Mind you, I'm glad I'm not in your shoes. What would you do next ? How are you going to beat this ?
Regards
Colin M........
Regards
Colin M........